Don't Send Rice, Send Prayers
I've received an email from several people about sending rice to the
President -"Feed thy enemies". It sounds like a lovely project
and might have been effective in the 50's but in this day and age --
little padded packages addressed to President Bush create Fear and
Chaos for our postal and government workers. A friend mailed 1/4 cup of
rice Friday morning and was visited by four secret service men
later that day. So YES it is important that we put our energy
into Peace -- just don't send rice -- foster the energy of love
don't create fear ---- send a postcard and let the president know that
you support him in finding a peaceful solution.
Dear fellow peace activitsts,
You
might want to check out the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center's
web site for information about how to send rice to the White House:
www.rmpjc.org. If you're concerned about not gumming up USPS equipment, this site tells you how to mail rice harmlessly.
This
is the organization behind the rice for peace movment. They have the
Eisenhower story on their web site. They may not know that it is
untrue.
You might also want to check out
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/rice.asp again.
It was updated on Sunday. The Eisenhower story has been debunked and
explained. The wheat for China movement did get attention, but it had
nothing to do with war.
I am very doubtful of
the story of someone who sent rice to the White House Friday morning
and received a visit from 4 Secret Service agents "later that
day" because:
- the Post Office is not that efficient
- the Secret Service is not that efficient
- the story is of unknown origin, about unknown people, in no particular
location, and hasn't made the news (which makes it a likely urban
legend)
- it doesn't say what these "Secret Service Men"
did when they visited this woman--did they arrest her, warn her, or
come in for tea? :-)
- it makes an emotional plea for prayers supporting the president instead of nonviolent action to make a point.
Nevertheless, moving right along...
The Listserv for the Baptist Peace Fellowship (web site
www.bpfna.org)
has contained some recent discussion about the rice for peace movement
(including commentary from Du Page County's own Wendy Morris).
Comments were made that sending a few grains of rice is as effective
for making a point as sending 1/2 cup; or sending rice may be a waste
of food in a hungry world. Acknowledging that the Eisenhower story was
a hoax, one person said, "The Send Rice to Iraq action, whether it be
1/2 cup or a spoon full, with the message of feed your enemies is an
appropriate response of people of faith to their warmongering
government. The rice speaks peace more clearly than our words."
Trust your own judgment. I'm just sharing some information and thoughts.
War is looking more and more imminent, however it is not a done deal yet.
We can still put a stop to this insanity. Recently, there was a proposal to
send packets of rice to Mr. Bush with a note saying "If your enemies are
hungry, feed them (Romans 12:20)."
I would like to make a futher suggestion for rice packets. I spoke with
Representative Jim Oberstar's aide in DC. Mr. Oberstar, who is our rep.
from the Duluth MN area has taken a strong antiwar stand. Chip (his aide)
said that sending rice packages to representatives nationwide would be a
great visual aid in Congressional debates. The reps opposed to war could
use the packets to show the others that their constituents remain firm in
their opposition to the war in Iraq. The reps that are pro war would be
forced to see their constituents position against the war.
Chip indicated that with Bush's State of the Union Address and Powell's
upcoming "proof" that Iraq has WMD, the antiwar position had lost a little
ground. He is welcoming of any ideas that people might have to help keep
our voices against war heard and he was particularly supportive of the rice
package idea.
All of our representatives will be on break between February 14 through
February 24 and they should be back in their home states during that time.
The suggestion would be for folks to send the rice packages to their local Congressional offices as they would not get bogged down in the surveillance
of mail going into DC.
The protocol for mailing would remain the same:
Place 1/2 cup uncooked rice in a small plastic bag (a
snack-size bag or
sandwich bag work fine). Squeeze out excess air and seal
the bag. Wrap it in a
piece of paper on which you have written: "'If
your enemies are hungry,
feed them.' Romans 12:20. Please send this rice to the
people of Iraq; do not
attack them."
Place the paper and bag of rice in an envelope (either a
letter-sized or padded
mailing envelope--both are the same cost to mail) Mailing cost is $1.06
(you can use 3, 37 cent stamps) and
address them to: your local congressional office
Please forward this message to your email address list so that we can get
this out nationwide.