For us, the death of Osama Bin Laden is a time of profound reflection. With his death, we remember and mourn all the lives lost on September 11. We remember and mourn all the lives lost in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan. We remember and mourn the deaths of our soldiers. And we say, as we have been saying for the past nine years, “Enough.”
As an organization led by women, our hearts go out to all the women who are living with the ravages of war and violence. And we say, “Enough.”
As lovers of peace, we call on our leaders to let the death of this mass murderer move us to a deep reexamination. How have we have allowed the unspeakable violence against us turn into unspeakable violence by us? Invading Iraq on the basis of lies and leaving that proud nation in ruins. Torturing prisoners in Abu Ghraib. Imprisoning people without trial in Guantanamo. Bombing wedding parties in Kandahar. Unleashing drone attacks on Pakistani villagers. Destroying ecosystems with depleted uranium. It is time we say, “Enough.”
Let us give meaning to the death of Osama Bin Laden by putting an end to the violence. Sign our petition to President Obama: Enough -- Let the Peace Begin.
Our military, and our federal budget, must focus on rebuilding at home, not making new enemies abroad. Let us not sink into a false sense of triumphalism in the wake of Bin Laden’s passing. His death will only have meaning if it marks the beginning of the end of this ruthless cycle of violence.
As Julia Ward Howe proclaimed in her Mother's Day Proclamation, "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice." Join us in commemorating a Mother's Day of Peace by holding a vigil to mourn those killed in the illegal and immoral wars and drone attacks or ask your mayor to sign our Bring Our War $$ Home resolution.
Let the peace begin,
Ali, Alli, C.J., Chelsea, Dara, Farida, Gayle, Janet, Jean, Jodie, Kristen, Medea, Nancy K, Nancy M, Rae, Sanaa, Shaden, and Tighe
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