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Rolla Peace News December 14, 2021 |
Dear Friends:Editor's note: Please consider writing for our newsletter. It's always very exciting to be able to publish submissions from our readers.In this newsletter is: 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021 2. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) From Our Readers: Islam and Marriage b) From Our Readers: Women's and Children's Rights Today c) Abu Zubaydah: 20 Years of Torture d) Final US Strike of Afghan War: No One to be Held Accountable 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021 We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office, THIS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, FROM NOON TO 1:00 PM (and most subsequent Thursdays until Peace is established). Please join us this Thursday in saying NO MORE WARS — LET PEACE PREVAIL. The temperature is predicted to be in the 50s. If you do not feel comfortable joining us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign. Note 1: Since there are so few of us, generally 2 or 3, no need to cancel; but let's maintain social distancing. Note 2: In case of inclement weather, vigils may be canceled or terminated early. 2. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) From Our Readers: Islam and Marriage b) From Our Readers: Women's and Children's Rights Today c) Abu Zubaydah: 20 Years of Torture d) Final US Strike of Afghan War: No One to be Held Accountable From Our Readers: Islam and Marriage In reference to last week's snippet on Islam and marriage, a reader writes: My response:“My mother comes from a long line of prominent Shi’ite scholars. Among them was my great-grandfather, who was a marja (scholar of reference for other Shi’ites). He was invited to perform a wedding ceremony. He asked the bride if she consents to the marriage (using the boilerplate Arabic language typical of Shi’ite marriages). She said, ‘No.’ The wedding was canceled. Everyone went home. This was at least 100 years ago, in Iran! Many people in the US assume that we’re still being forcibly married off.” Thank you for this wonderful story. Little more than 100 years ago, women demonstrating in the United States for the Right to vote were arrested for “obstructing sidewalk traffic,” jailed and tortured. Here's a short video of a presentation that a reader sent me over a decade ago. From Our Readers: Women's and Children's Rights Today Another reader recommends the article, “With Maxwell Sacrificed, the Ruling Oligarchs Will Once Again Escape Justice” by Chris Hedges. Hedges outlines some of the details of the Jeffrey Epstein / Ghislaine Maxwell sex ring. He points out that two former presidents of the United States, billionaires, and other assorted illuminati participated in this gross violation of the Rights of women and children. However, they are unlikely to receive any punishment, much less jail time. Maybe someone would explain to me: What Right does a country that permits such abuses have to preach to others about Human Rights? Abu Zubaydah: 20 Years of Torture And here's an article by Abby Zimet discussing the torture of Abu Zubaydah, who is still, after 20 years, being held in Guantánamo without charge. Abu Zubaydah has said, He was once waterboarded 83 times in a month. At one point he stopped breathing, literally died and had to be revived. Now he has petitioned the court for his release on the grounds that the War Against Afghanistan and al-Qaida is over; so he can no longer be held as an enemy combatant.“I was told that I was one of the first to receive these interrogation techniques, so no rules applied. It felt like they were experimenting and trying out techniques to be used later on other people.” Abu Zubaydah's story, “The Forever Prisoner,” is now a movie by Alex Gibney on HBO. It appears unlikely that the people who tortured Abu Zubaydah for 20 years will ever be held accountable. So, again, I ask, What right does a country that permits such abuses have to preach to others about Human Rights? Final US Strike of Afghan War: No One to be Held Accountable And in case you wondered... No one will be held accountable for the August 29 drone strike in Afghanistan that killed ten civilians including a two-year-old child. The strike was totally gratuitous. The US had already acknowledged defeat and would finish its withdrawal within days. Meanwhile... Daniel Hale, who exposed the heavy civilian death toll from the US drone campaign, languishes in prison, serving a multi-year sentence for leaking classified information. We, the People, have an absolute Right to know what atrocities are being committed in our name. Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesdays (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (click on Rollaites for Peace: near the top of rightmost column).Wage peace, Tom yushasager (at) yahoo.com |