2013-04-25   Today, Anzac Day, a good day to re-read this:

(Bishop) Pat Power, Canberra   23 October 2003 (in front of Parliament House, while Mr Bush was inside)
  An appeal to President Bush

Last Tuesday morning I was preparing to say a Mission Mass for school students from our Archdiocese.  The theme of the Mass was "Peace for Life".  As students were about to enter the Cathedral a helicopter gunship flew over, seemingly in preparation for your visit.  The students saw the irony of the clash of the two events and prayed even more fervently for peace in our world.

That is surely the deep desire of every person of good-will - that there be global peace, peace based on justice which recognizes that we are all part of the one human family.

Gathered with the young people last Tuesday, I thought of youngsters of similar age in Afghanistan, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, North Korea and other countries often viewed by you as "the enemy".  Those children along with their parents and grand-parents easily become the innocent victims of threats and hostile actions played out between you, the President of the United States, and their own political leaders.

I appeal to you today to demonstrate to the Australian people and to the world that you are a man of peace.  Up to now you have shown yourself to be more intent on issuing threats, on wreaking revenge and on waging war.

Can't you see how your so-called war on terrorism has only succeeded in increasing the threat of terrorists attacks?  Can't you see that our world has become far more volatile and fragile since you embarked on this senseless campaign?  Can't you see that there must be a better way of bringing stability into international relations?

I suggest that there is another way.  Instead of talking of waging war on terrorism, let us begin to talk about a war on poverty.  This means recognizing the great imbalance in the distribution of the world's wealth and resources.  Can countries like the United States and Australia continue to flaunt their extravagant life-styles in the face of the dire poverty of Third World countries?

During the Jubilee Year 2000, a campaign was conducted to remit or at least reduce the international debt of those Third World countries whose whole economy is locked into trying to pay off impossible interest debts.  A fraction of the price of the war on terrorism would have gone a long way towards lessening those crippling debts.

Surely it is in everyone's interest for the United States and its allies to be viewed as friends to the rest of the world, rather than trying to beat them into submission by threats and brute force.  Isn't it time for a bit of humility from you, Mr Blair and Mr Howard, admitting that you got it wrong over the invasion of Iraq, time to act in the interests of the people most affected by the war, rather than what is best for the United States?

It should be clear to you that there will never be peace in the Middle East until there is a resolution of the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.  Clearly, the violence and terrorism on both sides needs to be condemned in the strongest terms.  But the United States needs to take a more even-handed role in the resolution of the conflict, condemning not only the desperate acts of Palestinian suicide bombers, but also the illegal occupation by the Israelis of Palestinian land, the unjust restriction of movement of the Palestinian people, the building of a wall that makes Palestinians prisoners in their own land and the heavy-handed use of sophisticated American-made weaponry against people barely able to defend themselves on such a scale.  A Jewish leader recently wrote that "peace can only come through deeds of peace"*.

The United States should use its influence (and its financial clout) with Israel to bring about negotiations with the Palestinian people.  Only then will the State of Israel be safeguarded and a truly free and independent Palestinian state come into being.

Pope John Paul frequently reminds us that there can be no true or lasting peace unless it is underlined by genuine justice.

It would be wonderful if you and the Australian Prime Minister this afternoon would declare yourselves men of peace in those terms - leaders prepared to offer a hand of friendship to your former enemies, leaders committed to a fairer distribution of the goods of this world, leaders who acknowledge the dignity of every human person, leaders brave enough to take the risk of loving, leaders renouncing hatred and fear, leaders who will boldly tell the world that every person is our sister or brother. 

* David Knoll, Vice-President, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Sydney, writing to THE TABLET (London) 4 October 2003.