Our government is now considering a major military action to overthrow the Iraqi government.

All of us long for a secure future. But war is not the way. War will:

• cause suffering and death for ordinary Iraqis (mothers, fathers, children);
• mean numerous U.S. soldiers returning home in body bags;
• further ruin an already collapsing Iraqi civilian infrastructure;
• spread violence and further destabilize the Middle East;
• aggravate anti-American sentiment.

• thoroughly explore peaceful solutions;
• cease making threats and begin building trust;
• acknowledge positive and address negative behaviors, rather than labeling a whole nation as evil;
• work cooperatively with other nations rather than acting alone;
• value the well-being and safety of Iraqi citizens as highly as our own security.

Download various sizes of our advertisement.
Adobe Acrobat Reader Required

Download Ad (224KB)
(As seen in Wisconsin State Journal on 9/15)

Download Full Page Ad (11.625" x 21")
 (1.2MB)

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 (918KB)

Download Letter Size (8.5" x 11")
 (406KB)

Every man, woman, and child deserves peace.

Questions or Comments? contact@madison-mennonite.org

Post Yard Signs

Madison Mennonite Church has run out of yard signs. However, alternate signs are available with the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice by
phone: (608)250-9240 or e-mail: wnpj@mindspring.com. Otherwise, wallpaper versions for your computer are available for download. To download a larger version of the sign, Right-click the link to the desired version and select "Save Target As..." or "Save Link As...".

(800x600, 1024x768)

(800x600, 1024x768)

(800x600, 1024x768)

Different formats of the original files used to produce the yard signs are also available.

Illustrator EPS (Windows 2.9 MB | Macintosh 2 MB)

QuarkXPress (Windows 1.4 MB | Macintosh 950 Kb)

Acrobat PDF (4 MB)

Contact Your Area Representatives

To voice your own concerns around a possible war against Iraq, contact your area representatives. As a potential starting point, the ideas used in our advertisement were taken from a set of talking points provided by Mennolink.

Otherwise, additional suggestions for successful phone calls or letter writing may be found at: Hints for Effective Letter Writing, Phone Calls, Faxes, E-mail and Visits

In general, area senators and representatives may be reached using the following information.

Senator [Name]
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121
www.senate.gov

Representative [Name]
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121
www.house.gov
To find your representative:
www.house.gov/writerep

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone: Comment Line 202-456-1111, Switchboard 202-456-1414
Fax: 202-456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov
www.whitehouse.gov

Senator Herb Kohl
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Russ Feingold
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Representative Tammy Baldwin
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Learn More About Iraq

Bill Thomson's Image Gallery (main image photographer)

Overview of Iraq

Legacy of the Gulf War

A Brief History of United Nations Sanctions Against Iraq

U.S.-Iraq Policy: Has the Die for War Been Cast?

Reflections on U.S. policy toward Iraq: Making space, saving face

A Guide for North American Christians Concerned about Iraq

Learn More About Peace Opportunities

Madison-Area Peace Coalition

Global Coalition for Peace

Mennonite Church USA Peace and Justice Committee

Why Do Mennonites Work For Peace?

Mennonites believe that peace is an essential part of the good news of Jesus. Most Mennonites get their primary ideas about peace from what Jesus said and how he lived

"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God"
(Matthew 5:9).

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”
(Luke 6: 27.).

We see Jesus' message of peace in his teachings and also in the way he treated others, including those who put him on trial. Although he talked often of peace, Jesus was not passive. Indeed, his challenges to the religious and political leaders of his day led to his death. In raising Jesus from the dead, God showed for all time that love will triumph over evil and violence.

Mennonites try to show God’s love in their actions, working to eliminate war, violence, and injustice.

(Adapted from Third Way Café website.)

For more information about Mennonites and peace, see the following links:

Third Way Café

Mennonite Church USA

Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA

What can you do?

• Post yard signs
• Contact your area representatives
• Learn more about Iraq
• Learn more about peace opportunities
• Learn why Mennonites work for peace