Letter from Marnie Dear Friends, Happy New Year, New Century, New Millennium! But it does seem to look a lot like the one we just left, at least so far--though as the New Year rolled around the world--followed by live television coverage--a couple of things did strike me. One was that it was remarkably peaceful, especially considering the temptation for terrorists or fanatics (even so-called "Christians" seeking to hasten the Second Coming) to make some violent gesture for their cause in the full glare of worldwide TV. In fact, although there are various brutal little wars going on, such as the one in Chechnya, there was a general calmness over the world that night, and the gunpowder was mainly confined to the fireworks. (I love fireworks, and was totally delighted with the Eiffel Tower shooting skyrockets out over the Paris skyline.) I thought it very appropriate that the "worst" Y2K glitch was that a US spy satellite went out of commission for an extended period of time. It kind of went along with the rather astounding fact that the Russian military sent people to us and we sent people to them to watch each other's weapons to be sure nothing was triggered by mistake. Perhaps this will be the century we decide that it's both immoral and stupid even to continue aiming at each other. The other thing I noticed was the wonderfully different ways people chose to celebrate in the pictures they knew were going to be sent around the world--Pacific islanders chose to do traditional dances, and Asian dancers literally rose out of the sand on a beach to greet the sunrise; musicians in the far north of Europe played instruments made of ice, and the very familiar noisy throngs gathered in Times Square and the Washington Mall. It was a like a great wave of friendly greetings rolling around the world with the New Year, saying "Hi! This is who we are. We hope you like it." It was fun--and, I believe, a sacred time. This is what we can be, joyfully celebrating together in our wonderful variety. Sacred time. Quakers used to say that all times were sacred. We still sometimes say it, but do we live it? In a recent article, philosopher Amitai Etzioni observed that many faith traditions are now calling for a renewal of religious commitments and traditional observances; he points out that with the rapid multiplication of choices that we all face, we must "redouble our efforts to secure room in our lives for family, community, and religious life." He argues that this call does not rise out of the typical traditionalist resistance to rapid change. We shouldn't do it just because "tradition" requires it, or even because God or the Bible commands it. We should do it because there is time that is ii~ sacred, and new developments in cyberspace and electronic communication give work and commerce the power to demand our attention everywhere and all the time (like the recorded voice on the phone that keeps interrupting my dinners with a sales pitch). As Etzioni observes, "cyberspace has neither Sabbath nor holidays," so we must learn to protect life beyond commerce and work. The choices and demands are shoved at us, like it or not. So we have to choose. And perhaps there is no more important choice for us to make in this century than the choice for sacred time, from which the Spirit can then flood out to fill all times. May the Spirit of Christ truly fill your year. Love, Meeting For Healing Ministry and Counsel has decided to continue the midweek Meeting for Worship for Healing for members and attenders who are going through difficult or troubling times in their lives, or who have family members or friends who are in this situation. We meet downstairs in the Meeting House for a Meeting for Worship with a worship sharing format, where people may share burdens to be held in the Light. There will be only one Meeting for Healing this month, on Wednesday, January 26 at 7:30 PM in the Meeting House. Beginning on Wednesday, February 9, we will return to our twice monthly schedule. Celebration and Pot Luck for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity A celebration at the Slatersville Congregational Church on Sunday January 23 from 3-5 will mark the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. There will be a slightly different format this year, with a "Town Meeting" style discussion of the traditions of local churches, followed by ecumenical worship. And that will be followed by a grand and glorious potluck for all local churches. Everyone is invited. Contribution to The Haven of Grace: At the December Meeting for Business, Friends decided to give all Christmas eve contributions to the Haven of Grace, and to add to that amount any overage from contributions for the pizza dinner at our Christmas party. The combination totalled $457.27. Thank you, Friends. End the Embargo of Irag Text of Congressional Letter initiated by Representatives Conyers and Campbell Deadline 1/27/2000 Dear President Clinton: We are again writing to you to ask that you de-link economic sanctions from the military sanctions currently in place against Iraq. More than nine years of the most comprehensive economic embargo imposed in modern history has failed to remove Saddam Hussein from power or even ensured his compliance with his international obligations, while the economy and people of Iraq continue to suffer. Reports from UNICEF, (the United Nation's Children's Fund) and other United Nations agencies operating in Iraq estimate that over one million civilians, mostly children, have died from malnutrition and disease as a result of the embargo. UNICEF also reports that, despite the UN's Oil-for-Food program, several thousand children under the age of 5 die every month. ("Situation Analysis of Women and Children in Iraq." 1998, UNICEF). Earlier this year, a special United Nations Security Council panel reported that "the gravity of the humanitarian situation is indisputable and cannot be overstated." Iraq has "experienced a shift from relative affluence to massive poverty." Prior to sanctions, Iraq's health care was regarded as amongst the best in the Middle East. Today, children die from epidemics of once preventable diseases. The special Security Council panel reported "infant mortality rates are among the highest in the world." Meanwhile the embargo effectively prevents Iraq from purchasing equipment and spare parts required to restore water purification, sewage treatment, medical infrastructure, electrical, transportation, agricultural, and industrial production systems that were severely damaged during the 1991 Gulf War. The U.S. Administration has argued that sanctions remain necessary to prevent Iraq from threatening its neighbors and rebuilding its arsenal. The goal of these sanctions, however, seems to have changed. The original UN resolutions imposed sanctions to pressure Iraq to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction programs. Statements by U.S. officials, including Secretary Albright and Sandy Berger, however, suggest that sanctions will remain in place until Saddam Hussein is removed, or even beyond. This policy clearly undermines the original intention of the sanctions, around which the international consensus against Iraq was originally based, and makes the children and families of Iraq into virtual hostages in the political deadlock between the U.S. and the government of Iraq. Morally, it is wrong to hold the Iraqi people responsible for the actions of a brutal and reckless government. Politically, this policy deprives the Iraqi regime of any incentive to comply with UN resolutions and international norms.. The time has come to turn a new page in or dealings with Iraq. While we have no illusions about the brutality of Saddam Hussein, the people of Iraq should be allowed to restore their economic system. We simply ask you to do what is right: lift the economic sanctions. At the same time, we support the continued embargo on military equipment and materials. PLEASE WRITE OR FAX OR TELEPHONE OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, PATRICK KENNEDY, AND URGE HIM TO CO-SIGN THIS LETTER ON OUR BEHALF. HIS WASHINGTON ADDRESS: THE HONORABLE PATRICK KENNEDY, MEMBER OF CONGRESS, FIRST DISTRICT, RHODE ISLAND, 312 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, DC 20515 HIS PAWTUCKET OFFICE: 401 729 5600 FAX: 401 729 5608 Fellowship with those who are concerned in "strengthening the Christian witness throughout the world" has helped Friends in appreciating the importance of standing together for a belief in the purposes of God in a world where indifference and materialism prevail. Friends have come to see the importance of a common witness with others arising from a common Christian faith rather than because they happen to agree in some one application of such faith. Responsibility for maintaining our special testimonies remains; but these should not be seen in isolation, but as expressions of our Christian faith. -London Yearly Meeting, 1954 Smithfield Monthly Meeting of Friends 108 Smithfield Road Woonsocket, RI 02895