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March 14, 2003
To all people of good will round the world, Love and Peace of
Christ be with you.
We are addressing President Bush and all the American people as
human beings, not as a president of United States. We presume
that as Christians you have hearts full of love and compassion.
You will pity our Iraqi children, our elderly, and our youth
that have no hope in a better future and a decent life. We,
Dominican sisters and brothers in Iraq, are living and sharing
with our people in their sufferings. The Iraqis have been going
through hard times for twenty-three years, for they have
witnessed two disastrous wars. If President Bush starts another
military attack against Iraq, we think this will be a
catastrophe. We believe that you can feel the danger that is
looming over the Iraqi civilians. That is why millions of people
from different countries round the world are demonstrating,
writing letters and trying to put pressure on President Bush not
to initiate a new military attack.
President Bush
defends the rights of animals. Have we less value than animals?
He claims that he is trying to defend human rights in Iraq. He
is willing to build a new Iraq. He tried to convince the people
in the US and the peoples round the world that he will only bomb
the army and the weapons in the country. He promises that he is
not going to bring any harm to the civilians. Is he throwing
flowers on people? He is going to use mass destructive weapons,
which are going to result in great damage to our culture, our
land, and history, and cause the death of thousands of our
innocent people of all ages.
As some of you who have visited Iraq may know, the army camps
are very close to people's houses. We have two convents: one at
the beginning of the army camp and the other at the end. Will
the bombing kill the soldiers or the people? We are living in
great fright, panic, and extreme worry. We are suffering not
only a military war, but also we have been suffering from very
hard psychological situation since President Bush has started
his inhuman threats to initiate another war on our people. The
uncertain moments and the hard current times have made us wait
for our death in no time. Everyday we thank God for being alive
because we do not know what tomorrow has hidden for us. The
nightmare of the new war is haunting us always and everywhere.
God has granted us life freedom as His precious gifts. Why Does
President Bush want to take it away and deprive us of our
freedom? You cannot imagine that even our children can no longer
stand these threats and can no longer bear the psychological
tension and despair. They inquire, when will the war begin? You
are deceived and we are captured by your mass media, which is
the biggest liar. Our children, women and people are dying of
malnutrition and starvation because of the inhuman sanctions.
The sanctions have caused the death of one million and a half of
Iraqi people, mostly women and children. Why do you want to
finish them by a new war?
We will ask the American youth, "Do they face or wait for their
death every single moment? If so, will they not explode?" Why
should the American people have the right to live in peace,
safety and prosperity? Is their life more valuable than the life
of other people, for instance the Iraqi people? Our university
students have waved goodbye to each other on Saturday, the 15th
of March and they are prepared for the war. They have no mood
for study. We think they are right because they are disappointed
and hope for them seems the most hopeless thing.
A couple of days ago, we could dream of safety and peace, but
now we no longer know what these words mean because violence,
suffering, and fear are enfolding us. At last we would like to
say that we are not cured of the Gulf war. How can we persevere
the effects of the new one, which will be even worse? The war is
not only disastrous and destructive in its direct effects, but
also in its lasting effects. The innocent people will not only
be the victims of the bombing, but also the preys of
contaminated drinking water, polluted environments, depleted
uranium, inadequate medical supply, and crippled electric power.
We ask all of you who have compassionate heart and love for
humanity to bring the suffering and the worry of the Iraqi
people in every pulpit, every classroom, and every place where
the Word of God is preached. Let everyone hear about the truth
of the Iraqi people's pain. Please listen to the cries of the
Iraqi children and double your efforts to stop the new war from
happening. In this way only you can eliminate the anguish, calm
down the cry of the Iraq Children in the midst of their sleep:
"Here are they come to bomb us and bring about our death."
Is it fair to be going through all this? Is it acceptable? Is
our crime that we are floating on a huge sea of black gold? What
is the use of it, except to pay for our death? Why are we unable
to dream of a bright future and a decent life?
We greatly appreciate your efforts on our behalf and also your
prayers. Love and prayers can work miracles.
God bless you all!
Your Dominican Sisters in Iraq |
