Invitation Letter to President Obama
April 2009
Dear President Obama,
We invite you and your family to join Christian Peace Witness for Iraq as we worship together on April 29, the eve of the 100th day of your administration. In particular, we invite you or your representative to meet us between 9:00- 10:00 p.m. in front of the White House, where we will conclude our worship in Lafayette Park with an address from the Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, and blessing and breaking of bread. We would be honored if you or your representative would be present at least briefly to receive a loaf of bread, a symbol of the bread of life, as we call ourselves and our nation to choose the way of life.
Our worship will begin at the National City Christian Church at 7pm, and our preachers there will include Rev. Tony Campolo, Elizabeth McAlister, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Fr. Daniel Berrigan, and Sr. Diana Ortiz (www.christianpeacewitness.org). We will then join in a candlelight procession to Lafayette Park, where we will gather hundreds of loaves of bread in an act of remembrance of those who have lost their lives and a call to our nation to reclaim the things that make for peace. There will be a sound system in the Square for the conclusion of our worship. I can be contacted by cellphone or email in order to help with any arrangements for your participation (Rick Ufford-Chase 845-608-4056, or rickuffordchase [at] gmail [dot] com). These are challenging times, and we know that strength for the work at hand grows out of meaningful and authentic worship.
Following your family’s example of commitment to those who are hungry in our own country, the rest of the bread we gather will be shared in Washington D.C. through organizations like Miriam’s Kitchen. Simultaneously, we expect to raise tens of thousands of dollars to give to organizations working to rebuild Iraq and support Iraqis who have been displaced by the war.
As you may know, our ecumenical advocacy team also anticipates a meeting Wednesday afternoon with Lt. General Douglas Lute to discuss our concerns about Iraq. The hallmark of CPWI’s witness over the past three years has been our commitment to worship, take action and do advocacy together in a way that makes clear our commitment as followers of Jesus, who was creative, bold and consistently nonviolent in his teachings and interactions with those who opposed him.
As Christians and peacemakers, we know peace is built upon a strong foundation of fairness, respect and right relationships with all people. We have watched your first 100 days in office with profound appreciation. Your integrity is seen constantly as you attempt to honor your campaign promises, step back from the destructive policies of the previous administration, manage our nation out of a financial tempest and unite all Americans.
Following your family’s example of commitment to those who are hungry in our own country, the rest of the bread we gather will be shared in Washington D.C. through organizations like Miriam’s Kitchen. Simultaneously, we expect to raise tens of thousands of dollars to give to organizations working to rebuild Iraq and support Iraqis who have been displaced by the war.
As Christians and peacemakers, we know peace is built upon a strong foundation of fairness, respect and right relationships with all people. We have watched your first 100 days in office with profound appreciation. Your integrity is seen constantly as you attempt to honor your campaign promises, step back from the destructive policies of the previous administration, manage our nation out of a financial tempest and unite all Americans.
You obviously share our commitment to diplomacy and development in our relationships with other nations around the world. We are grateful for your early moves to end the war in Iraq and your boldness, clarity and risk-taking in telling the world that torture is never acceptable.
Respectfully, we request that you:
- Set a timeline to remove all U.S. military bases and troops from Iraq. Healthy relationships are impossible if the Middle East fears we seek military and economic dominance in the region.
- Help Iraqis rebuild their country and resettle five million Iraqis displaced by the war. We must pursue the future well-being of Iraqis with the same vigor we applied to war against them.
- Continue your good work to help unite the nation in supporting our soldiers and their families as they reconstruct their lives after sacrificing so much.
- Avoid the trap of making Afghanistan the "good war" that will unite Americans while ending war in Iraq. Growing the war in Afghanistan or Pakistan is a road fraught with peril.
- Continue to stand firm against torture and extraordinary rendition. Torture is always wrong, whether we do it or arrange for other nations to do it for us.
- Continue to strengthen the well-being of our communities here at home. True security will come when all parents know their children can succeed, and all children know that hard work and creativity will be rewarded with opportunity.
Finally, as a critically important “first step,” we ask that you offer an apology to the people of Iraq on behalf of our nation. Healing cannot begin without making it clear we are sorry for the suffering we caused for millions of Iraqis who have lost loved ones, suffered lasting injury, lost their livelihood and their homes, or been displaced by the violence.
President Obama, you have our support. We will stand with you when you stand firm for the cause of peace and justice and we will encourage you when you are under attack. We ask you to stick to the values that won you the White House, and those we clearly share as followers of Jesus.
Gratefully,
Rick Ufford-Chase, for
Christian Peace Witness for Iraq