Palm Sunday Church leaflet (BIP)

Aloha Peace Ohana,

This coming Sunday, March 16th is Palm Sunday in the Christian calendar.  Below is a DRAFT of a  leaflet some of us are planning to distribute outside several Hilo churches and temples.  We have a few signs as well:  "War is Sin", "Repent" and "Stop the War"  Possibly even some taped words of Rev. Martin Luther King on his famous speech of "Breaking the Silence" on ther Vietnam war.  Change Vietnam to Iraq and the speech is right on point today.  Perhaps we will even throw in a few peace songs.

Please join us if you can.  We plan to meet at 7:15 AM Sunday, March 16th at the downtown Hilo Federal Building/Post Office as a gathering place to go to the various churches between 8 and 11AM.  The church schedule is still in flux depending on finalizing the times of the church services.  Call me Saturday for details of where we will be and at what times.  Mahalo.

Jim Albertini
Malu `Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box AB
`Ola`a (Kurtistown), Hawaii 96760
Phone 808-966-7622
email ja@interpac.net
www.malu-aina.org

 

Breaking the Silence

of our Churches & Temples!

A call to action: end the USA lead war and occupation of Iraq!

 

     The Iraq war is "unjust, immoral and illegal". Pope John Paul II   "If the Church stays silent in the face of what is happening, what difference would it make if no church were ever opened again?" Blessed Franz Jagerstatter *

*Franz Jägerstätter (May 20, 1907 - August 9, 1943) was an Austrian conscientious objector during World War II and has been declared Blessed by the Roman Catholic Church. As in most countries at the time, refusal to serve mandatory military service in war time was a criminal offense in Germany, and Jägerstätter was sentenced to death and executed.

     As we approach the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war on March 19, 2008, the silence of our churches and temples in not condemning the invasion and ongoing occupation of Iraq by the U.S. is deafening. Where are the voices of conscience in our churches and temples today? And where is the courage of conviction to stand up and be counted in non-violent action against this war and the acts of terror and atrocities committed against the Iraqi people in our names.

     Even if churches take action on the national level, where is the translation into local action? How did a first century Christian movement, whose members refused to join any army, get so corrupted that today many Christians not only support the current war but embrace the doctrine of global nuclear superiority and pre-emptive attack? Did Jesus really mean it when he said "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9) and "Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you." (Matthew 5:44)?

     We are here on Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008 to join with you in changing our hearts of hardness, indifference, and complicity to hearts of compassion, solidarity, justice and peace. We would be glad to sit down and dialogue with you and your pastor.

     Please join with people all over the world in protesting this war. In Hilo we are having a Peace Vigil & Rally on Wednesday, March 19th from 3:30-5:30 PM at the corner of Pauahi St. and Kamehameha Ave. under the monkeypod trees. All are welcome. Please also join the weekly Hilo Peace Vigil 3:30-5pm at the downtown Post Office now in its 340th week. Call Hawaii's Congressional delegates: Sen. Daniel Akaka 935-1114, Sen. Daniel Inouye 935-0844, and Rep. Mazie Hirono 935-3756 to cut off the funding ($3 BILLION PER WEEK) to stop this war. Whatever steps you take to help end this "unjust, immoral, and illegal" war will be much appreciated. Mahalo and aloha.

Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Ola`a (Kurtistown),

Hawai`i 96760. Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@interpac.net http://www.malu-aina.org