Wouldn't you agree it's time to create a US Department of Peace?

I urge you to at least scan Marianne Williamson's powerful article entitled "Waging Peace" - published November 16 in the Boston Globe - then peruse the links connected to my own specific comments about it - below:
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There are several practical ways to support all the good things that could come of out this (besides a bunch of us peace promoters getting up to speed about the hopes and intentions of the co-sponsors of House Resolution 3760 and Senate 1756 -- and here's a good place to go to do that: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/12/67

We need to ask more of our Congressmen/women to become co-sponsors! http://tinyurl.com/y4vept (So far only two Senators in the whole country - what is wrong with this picture?)

You can take action here if you want to be supportive as a local volunteer: http://www.webdataresources.com/peacealliance

And don't miss this additional list of excellent ways to offer tangible support to the emergence of a Department of Peace: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/86/113

Surely a lot more students could be involved from the various Peace Clubs on campuses across the country as this picks up steam! http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/197/166

Grace and Peace,
Clair

Director's Final Cut of "America: Freedom To Fascism"

The authorized version of Aaron Russo's 2006 documentary, "America: Freedom To Fascism" (AFTF) is at hand. Aaron's movie has been in select theaters around the country since June of 2006, and, true to his word, he uploaded his "Final Director's Cut" of the entire groundbreaking documentary "for free" onto Google Video during the evening of October 19-20. Mr. Russo has done this saying the hour has come for Americans to either be brought to their senses and awakened to help restore our country and our personal freedoms -- or be swept aside by the dark global forces of fascism that seeks to enslave the whole of humankind.

Warning: AFTF just might evoke a personal transformation of sorts -- especially with respect to how one thinks about the purpose and role of government, commitment to taking personal responsibility to make a difference; AFTF provides extensive historical background information and causes one to seriously evaluate (and weigh the personal "costs") regarding whether or not to even pay federal income taxes. In any case, it offers a powerful civics lesson.

When I first viewed AFTF late in the evening of November 12-13, 2006 I thought I might watch a half-hour or so - simply to "get the feel of it" - and then get to bed. However, my full attention was riveted by what I heard and saw, all the way to the end. This movie delivered a powerful kick to the gut of my consciousness; thus I suspect it will also seriously motivate most other viewers to take action -- or at least do more research, questioning and weighing of alternatives.

The viewer will be confronted by the opinions of a variety of experts in their fields - because Aaron Russo has really done his homework. I urge readers/listeners here to make it a priority to block out the 110 minutes it takes to view the whole thing, then share a personal assessment or challenge it offers as a comment below on this blog. Include where and why you think this movie is off-base, or if you agree with it's premises.

For myself, while I wish one or two issues were portrayed differently near the end (such as the current Latino/Hispanic immigration issue) on balance I think it carries an urgent and important message for us all.

Note: after viewing the movie, I invite you to visit http://www.freedomtofascism.com where anyone will be able purchase a "high quality" personal copy of the DVD. If you wish, sign up as an affiliate to sell/distribute copies of this documentary DVD to others. I also encourage you to register there for further email alerts and to tell your family, friends and neighbors about this groundbreaking movie.

Now, click on the title heading above or here to see the movie on Google Video!

Clair

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Later this morning , a friend who saw what I posted replied with this:

Clair Hochstetler writes: "....AFTF just might evoke a personal transformation of sorts -- especially with respect to how one thinks about the purpose and role of government, commitment to taking personal responsibility to make a difference; AFTF provides extensive historical background information and causes one to seriously evaluate (and weigh the personal "costs") regarding whether or not to even pay federal income taxes."

Dear Clair,

You're being hornswoggled again. Here is the reference for the text of the law that requires us to pay income taxes:

Title 26 of the US Code ("Internal Revenue Code"), Subtitle A ("Income Taxes"), Chapter 1 ("Normal Taxes and surtaxes"), Subchapter A ("Determination of Tax Liability"), Part I ("Tax on Individuals"), Sec. 1. ("Tax Imposed")

§ 1. Tax imposed (a) Married individuals filing joint returns and surviving spouses

There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of--

(1) every married individual (as defined in section 7703 http://tinyurl.com/yl5jx2 who makes a single return jointly with his spouse under section 6013, and

(2) every surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a), http://tinyurl.com/yg6eqh etc., etc. )

Here is the URL: http://tinyurl.com/y49tbq

The people who advance the argument that we're not legally obligated to pay income taxes are scam artists. If you follow their advice, you'll go to jail, as many of them have. cf. Wesley Snipes, the actor who is currently in deep doodoo for following their advice.

Here is a good website for debunking these claims: http://www.quatloos.com/tax_protestors.php

Wesley Snipe's advisors, American Rights Litigators, are mentioned here: http://www.quatlosers.com/eddie_kahn.htm

Kahn's name is immediately below that of Wesley Snipes on his recent indictment: http://news.findlaw.com/cnn/docs/tax/ussnipes101206ind.html

Gene C. Miller
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So...here is a copy of what I sent to Gene in response:

Gene,

Thanks for doing some initial research but you didn't take time obviously, to view the documentary. I respectfully disagree that I am being hornswoggled. I looked at the content of your links and can say that I am already well aware of all of them, including the recent news about Wesley Snipes. I know why he lost his case. I have studied all the critiques from Quatloos for three years already, and am not naive regarding the personal consequences of not paying income taxes - in other words well aware that some are going to jail over their convictions and for not substantiating their claims properly. I nuanced my words very carefully, about the need to weigh the personal consequences.

Sure you can find citations in the Tax code itself, but the law upon which the Tax Code itself has to be based is not there - not clear. (See the documentary!)

I don't think I'll be very interested in responding to any further comments on this thread unless I know that you have actually taken the time to see it - because it's about a whole lot more than the issue of income taxes -- it sets up a whole context for discussion -- the issue of taxes is only a "case study" forming a substantial part of the documentary's concerns in the first half. There are some facts in that movie that do educate, that I think are irrefutable, and point to scenarios we are likely to face in the future - I think they are worth discussing. I don't agree with all the content of the movie myself. I'm hoping we can talk about the macro rather than the micro issues - after establishing some common reference points.

Now, specifically regarding the income tax issue, I have been researching "off and on" as I have time and energy, over the last several years, (not out of a libertarian political motivation, but as a point of concern to find a way to legally withhold my contribution to the "war machine" - my real motivation, since a Peace Tax bill has not yet been passed.) Interestingly, just this past weekend I had the following testimonial sent to me on a list serve I am a member of, and share this as an illustration of LEGAL alternatives, which are out there, and apparently ARE effective:

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"If I may humbly share briefly my story, it may help. I am not a tax expert by any means, but I am a kindred spirit with those who share the need to fight the IRS. Since 1996, I have tried several methods to keep the IRS from stealing my hard earned money. American Asset Protection from Florida (they are all in jail now), to Aegis company in Chicago (several overseas trust were set up, and now they are out of business as they are undergoing trial), Dan Meador (who set up statements to hand to the IRS, and he has passed away since then). For 8 years, they sent escalating threatening letters, including requests for audits, meetings, notice of third party investigations and even criminal investigators coming to my house. They would give me about 2-3 months in between letters, and kept increasing my tax burden through interest and penalty with each letter. In 2004 they placed a notice of levy in my county, and obtained all my money in my checking account (a small amount). They even made threatening calls to the independent contractors I was working with. I was getting a list of lawyers and was almost ready to give up as I knew the next step would be a garnishment of my wages.

I, in desperation, contacted a former collegue of Dan Meador, who assured me that he had new info that may help me. I was skeptical, as I had already gone through 3 different "experts" and had spent tens of thousands of dollars to only have the IRS continue their harassment. It's now been almost a year and a half since I have received a letter from the IRS and there has not been anymore contacts to my contractors. I have been afraid to share this info with anyone but I feel guilty not sharing my good fortune. I do not think it is just a coincidence that the IRS suddenly stopped their letters after receiving my last reply (they were sending letters almost weekly before stopping.) The gentleman who helped me is the author of a recently published book, "Why the Citizens of the Several States Are Not Generally Liable for the Federal Income Tax." He may be visited on www.nontaxpayer.net And I would be glad to give more details if anyone might be interested. Thanks for letting me share."
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All the best,
Clair Hochstetler

Did anyone else hear a clip of this on the news on Thursday? I know when I heard it on NPR that evening, my mouth dropped open and I stopped dead in my tracks. But first some background:

Apparently President Bush's handlers have started to develop some sensitivities to rising levels of criticism that he has insulated himself from his critics -- so the President went this week to North Carolina to have a rare unscripted public forum. It was sponsored by the nonpartisan World Affairs Council of Charlotte at Central Piedmont Community College, and the two institutions invited nearly 1,000 people.

Now as we all know, it's one thing (and quite a bit easier!) to criticize the President clearly and rationally in writing, and certainly quite another to do so in person -- especially considering how rare it is that Bush is ever seen in a non-scripted public moment.

So...you have to really hand it to Harry Taylor, a commercial real estate broker in North Carolina, who may be the very FIRST person in the last six years to tell the President directly what the problem really is!

(For a Washington Post article containing the text of the complete "dialog", including a somewhat muffled video, go here: http://tinyurl.com/ns6ap )

The core of what Harry said, minus the joking interruptions of the President and the shocked titters from the audience, is something to behold:

"You never stop talking about freedom, and I appreciate that. But while I listen to you talk about freedom, I see you assert your right to tap my telephone, to arrest me and hold me without charges, to try to preclude me from breathing clean air and drinking clean water and eating safe food. What I want to say to you, is that I, in my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of, nor more frightened by, my leadership in Washington. I feel like, despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been left far behind during your administration. I would hope, from time to time, that you have the humility and the grace to be ashamed of yourself."

The result? Bush, of course, didn't respond by stuttering around or apologizing for all the bad he's done and then promising to resign immediately. But perhaps, as the protestors outside chanted "Liar" and "Worst President Ever," he had a little more idea what in tarnation they were talking about!

Meanwhile, in an interview afterward with the Washington Post, Harry Taylor said he had become an activist in recent years out of discontent with Bush and was pleasantly surprised he was allowed to challenge the president. "I didn't think I'd be let in the room," he said.
Bush hardly won him over, though. "I didn't care about his response," Taylor said. "I wanted to say what I wanted to say and I wanted him to know that despite being in a room with a thousand people who love him . . . there are plenty of people out there who don't agree with him in any way, shape or form."

I say, "Hooray for Harry!" Finally, here is an ordinary, thoughtful citizen with enough chutzpah to take advantage of a rare opportunity and just talk, "mano a mano", respectfully and with carefully measured words, not screaming or shouting, but with conviction and a great deal of courage. I'll bet participants in subsequent public forums will be heavily "screened" from now on, but we shall see...

Clair Hochstetler

"Free At Last" (The CPT3)

I suppose that many, like me, have been following the story of the CPT4 hostages in Iraq. Not only Christians, but countless Muslims the world over have been watching and agonizing over this saga. This, of course, has highlighted the significant kidnaping problem in Iraq, but also raises questions about who would do such a thing because of a major difference in who was kidnaped this time - since Christian Peacemaker Teams is well-known in hot spots around the world for its risky advocacy work, especially, in that particular environment, among Iraqi detainees.

However, the news today is really BIG with the release of the remaining three as a result of some applied intelligence and a crew of rescuing troops who did not have to fire a shot because the captors had fled. Many are rejoicing around the world today, with gratitude, though it is significantly tempered because everyone is now fully released to grieve the recent death of Tom Fox, the American who died for peace. Some of hardly dared to hope for such an outcome, as they are in very good health it seems, judging from a plethora of news reports later today.

This trauma, and the subsequent freeing of these captives, raises theological as well as emotional/spiritual issues -- and of course, some unavoidable but interesting political discussion.

I am not surprised that some are wondering just how we -- those of us who hold to a firm theologically-grounded position of peaceful non-violent intervention as the best tactical strategy for resistance to evil -- are now going to respond to these developments and outcomes. Comments like "So...NOW you're grateful for the role of the military, those who had to rescue these foolish people..." and so on...

Certainly, some very important questions remain to be addressed, especially regarding what has been learned and what the next steps should be. (I'm personally engaged in all that as a friend and former colleague of one of the visionaries who helped start the CPT organization, with whom I maintain contact. I also have two friends among those currently active "on the front lines" of CPT, one of whom was on hand to help receive Tom Fox's body at Dover Air Force Base, and was able to confirm that, contrary to previous news reports, there was no evidence of torture - he did NOT have his throat slashed - before he was shot. CPT has asked Newsweek and other press to retract that false report.) I won't go further into my personal thoughts on "who did this and what motivated them" in this column -- I have addressed that previously. Much discussion is already underway within the world-wide Christian "peace and justice movement" on all these questions.

Meanwhile, what I want to offer right now, for readers to ponder, is a carefully nuanced reflection by a kindred spirit who really "says it all" for me on this subject - from a theological/faith perspective. The writer is not someone from my own Anabaptist theological background, as one might first suspect (check the byline at the end):

'Free at Last'
by Rose Marie Berger

I woke at 5:30 a.m. to the news on the BBC that the remaining three Christian Peacemakers held captive in Iraq and finally been released. I knelt by the side of my bed and wept - with the joy of liberation and the grief of the suffering these brothers have endured for the sake of the cross.

For nearly four months, as a global community, we have prayed our way down this via dolorosa. We have prayed for Jim Loney, Norman Kember, Harmeet Sooden, and Tom Fox's safety and protection. We have prayed for the state of the soul of their captors. We have mourned and cried out to God when Tom's broken body was found on the airport road in Baghdad. We have prayed and labored for the thousands of detained, disappeared, kidnapped, abused and tortured Iraqis. And now, we break our Lenten fast from the resurrection word, and say "Alleluia! Alleluia! Our brothers are free at last!"

As the news of their experience unfolds it will no doubt be controversial that the release of these pacifists was catalyzed by a multi-national military force. No doubt, some will use it as proof that Christian nonviolence and unarmed peacemaking are a fool's errand. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Christian Peacemaker Teams have done more to advance "liberty and justice for all" without ever wielding a weapon than all our "shock and awe" campaigns.
Every Christian is charged with resisting evil, but none are given the right to kill. Jesus did not kill anyone, nor threaten to kill anyone if they didn't follow his command. His strength and persuasion were in his spiritual authority, not in the weapon.

The "peace" that comes through military action is a weak creature that develops through submission and fear, not the deep peace of Christ rooted in righteousness and justice. Conversely, "sword of righteousness" wielded by the Christian peacemaker is a metaphor for the Word of God that cuts through the gauze of worldly custom; a sword to prick the conscience; a choice that must be made to take up the cross of Christ.

We pray for the soldiers who risked their lives to free Jim, Norman, and Harmeet. We give thanks to God that, through excellent intelligence work and skilled operations, they manifested an unprecedented respect for CPT's commitment to nonviolence by rescuing them without a shot being fired and without injury to any parties. Like the soldier in Matthew 8: 5-13, they too were able to participate in the moment of God's liberation. We pray that they will be convicted by the spiritual authority of these brave Christian peacemakers and with the wisdom and knowledge of Christ who said "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
It would be easy to pit the peacemaker against the soldier - but it would be wrong to do so. There are soldiers who serve "the least of these" in Iraq. It was an unknown American soldier who decided to drape Tom Fox's casket with a flag to honor his sacrifice. And there are peacemakers who thrive more on their own anger, self-righteousness, and personal purity, than on authentic deeply rooted sacrificial love.

"In the Exodus-Sinai tradition," writes black liberation theologian James Cone, "Yahweh is disclosed as the God of history, whose revelation is identical with [God's] power to liberate the oppressed. There is no knowledge of Yahweh except through [God's] political activity on behalf of the weak and the helpless of the land."

We rejoice that our brothers have been "brought out" of and liberated from their captivity by the God of history - working through our human capacities. We celebrate with their families, loved ones, and colleagues around the world. We give thanks for all those who risked their lives to speak out on behalf of the Christian peacemakers - especially those in the Muslim world. Now, also, we are free to grieve completely for Tom Fox, who laid down his life for his friends.
We revel in our knowledge of a God who "acts on behalf of the weak and the helpless of the land" - a living God of history. It is this living God that gives us the strength and commitment to continue advocating for the the estimated 14,000 Iraqis held in prison by Coalition, Multi-National and Iraqi forces, of whom, according to Coalition intelligence officers, "between 70 percent and 90 percent of the persons deprived of their liberty in Iraq had been arrested by mistake."

Jim, Harmeet, and Norman: Welcome home.

Rose Marie Berger, an associate editor of Sojourners, is a Catholic peace activist and poet.
Source: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojomail.display&issue=060323#3

Peace -- at what price? (Tom Fox, CPTer)

Here's one retrospect well worth passing along, shared with me by a good friend working at my alma mater. Jim is the Communications Officer of Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA. This was his latest missive in his weekly column, the "Bishop's Mantle", in the Daily News Record - their local newspaper (written just before the release of James Loney, Harmet Sooden and Norman Kember, Tom Fox's CPT colleagues.)

What We Have is a Failure to Communicate
by Jim Bishop

The office phone rang about 7:45 a.m. I offered the most pleasant early morning greeting possible, and a gruff-sounding voice growled: "Who do you think you are? You people are on the wrong track. Tom Fox is a (expletive deleted). He knew what would happen to him over there (in Iraq). He got what he deserved. He's a (expletive)." Then, a dial tone.

At first, I sat there, somewhat stunned. Not the best way to start the day, but I wasn't overly surprised. I only wished I'd had my wits about me and checked my caller ID so I could have tried calling back for a more civil, two-way conversation.

I have little doubt that the anonymous caller's sentiments would reflect others in this community who consider the late Tom Fox a dreamer at best or a fool at worst. Tom, most people know by now, was being held hostage in Iraq along with three other Christian Peacemaker Team workers since Nov. 26 by a group calling itself the Swords of Righteousness Brigade. He was found shot to death on Mar. 9 by Iraqi police in western Baghdad.

Fox's body was returned to the U.S. for burial. The Eastern Mennonite University community joined others in the greater Harrisonburg area community in a memorial service in his honor Mar. 15.

It was a powerful service of spoken word, music and visual images, celebrating a life given up while trying to help the disenfranchised and remembering others who remain unjustly imprisoned, not only in Iraq but in other regions of ongoing conflict worldwide.

Tom Fox was willing to stand in harm's way just as thousands of soldiers are doing. Both realize their commitment may lead to paying the ultimate price for their actions. Tom marched to a different battle cry and paid the ultimate price while living out his call to active nonviolence and
love.

Some are calling Tom a "hero." I suspect he would be uncomfortable with that term. Rather, the 54-year-old Quaker would likely prefer something along the line of "servant," a humble follower of the Prince of Peace.

While I'd be willing to stand in the line of fire to protect any of my loved ones, I'm not sure I'm as ready to go the extent that Tom did. Some of his words shared at the memorial service clearly indicated that he entered his assignment fully aware of the possible consequences.

A Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper editorial of Mar. 14 stated, "Tom Fox lived what he believed . . . This is not a time to judge but humbly to recognize the heroism of those who voluntarily walk through the valley of the shadow of death, not fearing evil but in the expectation of casting in the darkness an inner light."

The words of the Prince of Peace from the Sermon on the Mount echo in my mind: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteouness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5: 9-10).

In another setting, Christ declared, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

Tom Fox's body now rests in the soil of his homeland after laboring in a hazardous vineyard thousands of miles away, where the seeds of peace that he sowed others will water and, ultimately, will bear fruit.

Perhaps the hardest part to deal with in situations like this is that life goes on, the secondhand doesn't slow down, commitments and deadlines continue beating on our hearts and minds. There is scarcely time to grieve.

My hope and prayer is that the other CPT hostages - James Loney, Harmet Sooden and Norman Kember - along with journalist Jill Carroll and hundredds of others being held captive without legal recourse or trial - will soon be released unharmed.

I firmly believe that Tom's death was not in vain, that this tragic loss may inspire more people to work to resolve conflict through other than the violence and force found through guns and bombs.

We don't all understand each other in this country, but we can listen to each other and respect differing opinions. That is what democracy is all about. That is what both Tom and the U.S. military soldiers are giving their lives for in Iraq, albeit in different ways. Without listening and tolerance for our differences, there will be no peace or security, indeed, no democracy.

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"Dance like nobody's watching,
dream like you will live forever,
live like you're going to die tomorrow
and love like it's never going to hurt."
- Meme Grifsters