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AWSC Supporters, Support Resolutions

VETERANS UNITED FOR TRUTH 2006

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VETERANS UNITED FOR TRUTH, Inc

P.O. Box 42202, Santa Barbara, CA 93140

7 September 2006

Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director
People’s Lobby Inc.
359 Jean St.

Mill Valley, CA 94941

Dear Mr. Hunn,

Veterans United For Truth, Inc. gladly endorses the proposal of the People’s Lobby Inc. to form an American World Service Corps. We endorse the goals of that effort as embodied in your proposed federal legislation.

Those who have borne the brunt of the country’s military excursions into foreign lands, know better than most how much additional, non-military programs would help to meet this country’s foreign policy goals, while doing real good in the world.

We are proud to be recorded as supporters of your proposal.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Handy
Chair

AWSC Supporters, Support Resolutions

Veterans’ Caucus California Democratic Party 2006

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California Democratic Party
Veterans’ Caucus

7 September 2006

Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director
People’s Lobby Inc.
359 Jean St.  Mill Valley, CA 94941

Dear Mr. Hunn,

The Veterans’ Caucus of the California Democratic Party is proud to endorse your proposal for an American World Service Corps.

We agree that only when the United States matches its military might with its capability to do good will we lessen the need to exercise that might. We also agree that such service as is envisioned by the American World Service Corps initiative is what is needed to expand the original idea of the Peace Corps to encompass the full range of services that a successful country should offer the world in its foreign policy.

Please list our organization among your supporters.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Handy
Chair

AWSC Supporters

General Paul Monroe on American World Service Corps Proposal

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General Paul Monroe statement:

 The American World Service Corps (AWSC) strengthens our nation.  It not only encourages volunteerism in support of our fellow citizens, it also demonstrates to the world community that the United States is a participating member of that community. This service, by an estimated million Americans a year, will also strengthen the moral fiber of our nation,

Today, America depends on its military for its national security.  They bear the brunt of the “Global War on Terrorism”.  We need more.  The nation building stability of the American World Service Corps will reduce the pressure on our military, by creating robust teams of volunteers that reinforce American values here and abroad. These teams will significantly contribute to world security and stability.

America stands tall and strong on the shoulders of its military. They have served in peace and war, and kept us free of totalitarian powers, by fighting and winning our nation’s wars.  They explored our frontiers, built strong families, and contributed to our country’s values. We have been blessed with these national role models by generations, who have willingly served and given up the comforts of family, home, and career to serve our country.

America has always put its best citizens forward when the nation was threatened. That time has come again, and not just for our military, for every American.  We are fast becoming a global village. We have the world’s most reliable warriors, and the best military that history has ever known.  But now, we need to augment our courageous service members with a strong team of citizens, who will stand beside our military.  The humanitarian service these teams provide is just as vital to our security and world stability, as the military has been.

We can no longer wait for the world to evolve into a safer more stable society. We must move quickly to implement the AWSC program. The more rapid we implement this program, the better America, and the world, will be able to deal with international challenges, and become a safer global community.

Email of August 8, 2006

AWSC Supporters

Candidate Berg, lost son Nick to war

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World Service Corps: Imagine

 Imagine!

Imagine Peace!

Jesus asked us to.

Mahatma Ghandi showed us how to.

The late Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. described to us his legendary vision of a peaceful society.

Even Beatle, John Lenin, sang to us words asking us to imagine peace, and lately his widow, Yoko Ono, distributed thousands of small white buttons bearing the words “IMAGINE PEACE” on them. I am wearing one, as I write. I wear it everyday.

But I do not have to imagine peace anymore. I recently learned of an organization called Peoples Lobby sponsoring citizen-initiated  World Service Corps Congressional Proposals.  They have proposed legislation that were our congress to enact it would surely bring about world peace. It does not depend on bombs, tanks, guns and bullets. It does depend on the good hearts of the American people.

Their proposed bill would establish, progressively, in ten years a core of volunteer Americans who would serve for two years in organizations like:

The Peace Corps

AmeriCorps

Head Start

Habitat for Humanity

Doctors Sans Borders

Red Cross

International Rescue Committee

Ox Fam

Mercy Corps

State Conservation Corps

And others.

After two years volunteers would receive money for a four-year college education in Community and State Colleges and Universities, or the equivalent for a family member, or the equivalent for a scholarship or donation, or the equivalent in an IRA or Health Care account.

The way it was explained to me, amongst its many service projects would be the building and equipping of state of the art schools along the Palestine-Israeli border and other areas of unrest. These schools would house students from both Palestine and Israel or either side of any border, political or cultural. Growing up together, young people would learn to live together in peace.

So, imagine.

Imagine if The World Service Corps had existed at the end of World War I in Versailles when that punitive treaty was conjured up and subsequently enacted. If instead of humiliation and economic hardship, the German People would have come to know Americans and Europeans as the kind of people who would volunteer their time in service towards their fellow human beings, would the only offer they had for National or personal pride at the hands of a demented dictator been so warmly welcome? Would the Second World War in Europe have been fought?

Imagine if in 1948 instead of equipping the infant state of Israel with bombs, guns, tanks and bullets to defend herself, we had flooded her and Palestine with World Service Corps Volunteers helping constructively, building that border school, and teaching peace. Would the Middle East and the United States be in the sorry state they are today?

You ask how I know this would work. I know it would work because I know that getting to know one’s neighbors whether across the lawn or across the sea is the best way to learn peace. I know because after my Jewish sister married an Iraqi Muslim, he became part of my family and still is forty two years later though my sister’s 1982 death did them part. The international students this couple lived amongst were frequently invited for parties. I learned that these people of all colors, all religions, all nationalities and all cultures were as much like me as my fellow Americans are.

This lesson was reinforced in my teaching career. Working in diverse populations to begin with, my assignment frequently brought me in contact with foreign exchange students. Though that was many years ago, I am still in contact with many of these friends.

When asked in the past what restorative justice I would ask for George Bush, the man I hold most responsible for my son Nick’s 2004 murder in Iraq, I have asked that he be compelled to administer and fund an international exchange citizen program much like the exchange student programs I experienced as a teacher. Perhaps if we just put the president in the World Service Corps he would learn to shed his xenophobia and love his neighbors from that experience.

Since I’ve learned of the Americas World Service Corps vision of peace, it’s not so hard to imagine peace any more.

Hey Folks, won’t you just give peace a chance!!!

Michael Berg, August 1, 2006

Father of Nick Berg

Green Party Candidate for Congress – Delaware

AWSC Supporters

Nadia McCaffrey, Gold Star Mom

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 The San Francisco Bay Guardian Opinions   July 5-12, 2006

 “This government took my son, my most treasured gift, in a war we did not need to start.”

After my son’s death

OPINION: I am a mom who never wanted to have a gold star after my name.

Last month, after two years of requests, I finally received the Army’s report on how my son, Patrick, died. Some of the information I already knew, through some of Patrick’s brave soldier friends who were with or near him when he died. They told me much of what was in the report. They told the truth, and the government reprimanded them for doing so.

But having the information reported to me in detail on June 21 only increased the hurt — and my determination to stop other mothers from having gold stars after their names.

Patrick was a loving boy with a great sense of humor. He grew to be a strong man who was friendly to everyone, and he especially loved and cared for children. He raised his two children to be the same.

At 31, he was successful in business, earning a comfortable income. He was also a patriotic American who, after Sept. 11, wanted to serve his country. Against the advice of his Army veteran father and me, he joined the California National Guard Engineering Battalion out of Petaluma, being assured that he would serve stateside.

He was not trained as an infantryman. He was not trained to train Iraqi soldiers to be our soldiers.

Patrick was killed on June 22, 2004, outside of Fort Anaconda near Balud, Iraq. Iraqi soldiers he had been training killed him.

This government took my son, my most treasured gift, in a war we did not need to start. Now my life is dedicated to stopping mothers from losing sons, on both sides. You can help me with that.

I want to build centers for our veterans, who are having serious problems when they come home. I know our government should care for them, but that’s not happening. The returning soldiers have physical and psychological needs that are being ignored and that will come back to haunt them and us in years ahead.

I want to see good alternatives to military service that ordinary citizens can contribute to and benefit from.

That’s why I support the World Service Corps proposal sponsored by the People’s Lobby. If Congress adopted the plan, by the time the World Service Corps entered its seventh year, one million Americans could be voluntarily serving in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Head Start, Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee, Oxfam, Mercy Corps, or state conservation corps.

Had this been in existence when Patrick wanted to serve his country, I believe he would have joined a nonmilitary organization, and he would be alive today.

Had this program been in existence for decades, there would not be as much hatred fired at our soldiers. There would not be as many soldiers coming home with serious needs.

Ask your congressperson to support the World Service Corps plan. Please help by visiting the Web sites listed below and giving whatever you can, to help make these lifesaving programs happen. SFBG

Nadia McCaffrey

Nadia McCaffrey lives in Tracy.

www.patrickspirit.org

www.worldservicecorps.us

www.peopleslobby.us

www.freedomfromwar.org

 

AWSC Supporters, Support Resolutions

Democrats for America-Marin 2006

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Resolution of Support

For Peoples Lobby’s citizen-initiated

America’s World Service Corps

Congressional Proposals

  WHEREAS Democrats for America-Marin are dedicated to help fellow citizens to better themselves and to improving their public policy decision making, and

 WHEREAS recent natural calamities, growth in terrorist recruitment ant terrorists acts, spreading pockets of poverty and increasing income disparity remind us of our need to field a respected, effective, and substantial team of peaceful, productive volunteers, which Presidents from John Kennedy through George H. and George W. Bush have urged Americans to build, and

 WHEREAS a preponderance of scientists contend that Global Climate change is underway and our Bay Area will not be exempt from the problems associated with recent hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornados, floods, and inadequate disaster responses and

 Whereas within eight years of implementation the Peoples Lobby’s citizen-initiated American World Service Corps (AWSC) proposed congressional legislation, one million additional Americans would be nation building in pockets of need at home and abroad under the umbrella organization of America’s World Service Corps (AWSC), and

Whereas these one million additional Americans would be nation building in pockets of need at home and abroad through established, effective organizations such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Head Start, Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, International Rescue Committee, OxFam, Mercy Corps, and State Conservation Corps,  and

WHEREAS those who live in pockets of need, greed, and ignorance at home or abroad would value and respect the benefits having one million Americans helping them better themselves, and

Whereas Democrats for America-MARIN  supports the nation  building performed by those organizations that would comprise the umbrella organization of America’s World Service Corps (AWSC) and value the work such volunteers do, and

 Whereas Democrats for America-MARIN know, value and understand the need for more Americans to engage in such work in today’s global village of needs, and

 Whereas the voluntary citizen service that will result from implementing America’s World Service Corps exemplifies the progressive ideals that we espouse, and

 Whereas the financial and other incentives offered to those who volunteer are cost effective and strengthen our college, vocation, and graduate education programs and/or our medical and retirement needs, and

 Whereas by having successive waves of Americans practicing these ideals in the classroom of the world’s needs will dramatically raise America’s public policy IQ and thereby make life safer for the world’s and America’s citizens and soldiers.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democracy For America-Marin on June 29, 2006  urges its elected representatives and citizens of California and the nation to support Peoples Lobby  citizen-initiated America’s World Service Corps (AWSC) proposed congressional legislation www.WorldServicecorps.us <http://www.worldservicecorps.us/> .www.PeoplesLobby.us <http://www.peopleslobby.us/>   We hereby encourage Congressional representatives to cosponsor and pass the proposals into law

 Carole Simon Mills, Co-chair Marin DFA

1008-C Los Gamos Rd.

San Rafael, CA 94903

(415) 246-5837

 

AWSC Supporters

Denis McQuaid, Congressional Candidate, Mayor

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Dwayne,

     The WSC concept is an excellent refinement of the mandatory National Service concept I supported when I ran for Congress 25 years ago. You can certainly use my name as a supporter. I suspect Susan will also support the idea, especially for Michael.

     I will sign the on-line petition.

     Good for you for taking this on as a cause.

              Dennis

 Dennis McQuaid was the Republican candidate for Congress in 1980, 1982, and then served as Councilmember and Mayor of Novato.

 

AWSC Supporters

Charles McGlashan, Marin Supervisor

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“The WSC could be a critical factor in building a unified marketing approach, to people of all ages, encouraging all of us to participate in national service.  A wide variety of federal programs would benefit, from the Peace Corps, to state conservation corps.  Gaining a million citizens, performing community service at home and abroad, not only would improve our collective international and national policy IQ, it would help us become better ambassadors to all our neighbors.”

Charles McGlashan

Marin Supervisor

Marin County

 

AWSC Supporters

John Rensenbrink, Co-founder US Green Party

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Rensenbrink WSC endorsement:

Co Founder Green Party of the United States

Dwayne,

The World Service Corps is a World Winner!

The World Service Corps idea, vision, and bill moving before Congress go to the heart of what America is all about. The WSC is a powerful non-partisan call toAmerica’s young people and those who are older who share with them the flame of youthful daring and sense of service.

The idea, the vision, and the bill bring that daring and sense of service to peoples everywhere around the world. It could not come at a better time. Indeed, it is vitally needed as never before. We want to assure peoples everywhere, including our own people in these United States, that we can and will go to work to help them, and work with them, to find solutions together to tough practical problems in their neighborhoods, their farms, their businesses, their factories, their streets, their schools, their hospitals.

The caring and working together is good for everyone, both those who serve and those who are served. The World Service Corps will stand as a beacon of hope and courage. It will go a long way to dissolve the discouragement and even apathy that grips many throughout the world. It will overcome the feeling of powerlessness and loss of life’s spirit and morale. It will channel people’s grief and anger into life productive activity. It will express and demonstrate the true strength of America for all to see and share.

John Rensenbrink

Co Founder Green Party of the United States,
President, The International Society for Universal Dialogue, and
Professor Emeritus, Department of Government, Bowdoin College
March 18, 2006

AWSC Supporters

Charles Brown, Congressional Candidate

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The World Service Corps is an idea whose time has come.  The Peace Corps laid the groundwork by sending citizen ambassadors from the United States to perform humanitarian service throughout the developing world.  The World Service Corps expands upon this mission by providing appropriate volunteer resources to meet the human needs resulting from catastrophic events and mobilizing patriotic Americans to address the root causes of poverty and violence around the world.

 Charles Brown

Candidate, California 4th Congressional District www.Brown4Congress.org

Lt. Col USAF Retired

3-15-2006