Editor,
On March 18, 2006, the community of Albuquerque will be coming together to mark the third year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
In three years, no stability has been brought to Iraq. Instead, the war has increased the suffering of all involved. Iraq is fermenting with violence, trauma and death, engulfing more and more confused people, mostly youths, looking for a solution through brute force.
More than one-third of our soldiers returning from Iraq are seeking mental help, while hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians also need it. Not only is the mission far from being accomplished, but the Iraq war also has redirected many resources that could be used to the benefit of those on our own soil.
While a quarter of the children in New Mexico are in poverty, and thousands are displaced with no solution in sight due to the inadequacies of handling Katrina, oil companies' profits exceed the gross national products of hundreds of countries combined.
It is time for a change. United, we will gather at the UNM Bookstore at 11 a.m. on Saturday in memory of the police riot that occurred three years ago, and march to the offices of Rep. Heather Wilson and Sen. Pete Domenici at 11:30 a.m. Outside the offices, people are welcomed to state grievances toward this war, the precedent it establishes and the use of violence.
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People are also encouraged to share words of inspiration that promote cooperation, love, peace and nonviolence. After this, everyone is welcome to gather at Robinson Park for several hours of entertainment and opportunities to meet members of the community. Entertainment will include local musical acts, communal art projects, information booths, poetry and an open microphone. Free food will also be provided.
All people in favor of true progress and the media are welcome and urged to join us for a great day for Albuquerque. Things will not end afterward, but only start to begin, as the community networks and becomes a strong, unified voice focusing on the people.
The endorsers of this event include the Albuquerque Mennonite Church, the Arab-Jewish Peace Alliance, the Bernalillo County Green Party, Code Pink, the League of Young Voters, the Southwest Indigenous Alliance, the League of Pissed Off Voters and the Social Justice Council of the First Unitarian Church, among others.
In addition, I find it appalling that people choose to destroy advertisements for an event promoting openness, free speech and true social progress. It is a sign of the nation and the times. Don't people realize they are what they claim to be fighting - hypocrites and gluttons?
What happened to equality and freedom? Now it is oppression, exploitation, death and free doom. Time for a change.
Jedrek Lamb
UNM student
