Dear George:

Today the bombs have started falling on Baghdad. Those defendants of whom I wrote the day before yesterday may tonight be standing in vigil at Seattle's Federal Building, witnessing against the war they sought to prevent. It is a sad day. But I can think of nothing more heartening than to spend some time thinking about them. They were given ten minutes by the judge to talk about themselves and their failure to comply with a lawful order. They took those minutes to witness against war and to affirm their love of the Iraqi people.

It is meaningful, I think, to consider for a moment one of the guiding principles of these defendants - they endeavored always to keep the means of their struggle in conformity with its ends. The evidence of courtesy abounded in court. In testimony the defendants complimented the members of the Federal Protective Service who arrested them for their kind behavior. Members of the Federal Protective Services returned the compliment. At many junctures all participants, judge, prosecutor, defendants, and attorneys for the defendants acknowledged each other in positive ways. And, at the conclusion, the judge complimented us, in the audience, for our respectful attention. Charlottesville and Seattle may have a kinship here.

It was serious business,however. And, as I told you before, two of the defendants, Jean Buskin and Ann S. Hall received jail time in conformity with the recommendation of the prosecutor. This was because they had had prior convictions. Ann Hall had been arrested in November of 1989 at a Trident protest and for failure to comply (to a lawful order) in February of 1981. She was given 7 days. I don't know any of the details of Jean Buskins arrests except that they were for failure to comply. She had a longer history of resistance so she was sentenced to 20 days. They chose to start their confinement together this coming Monday.

As I knit together my notes and my recollection to tell you about what these people said I may make some errors. I will endeavor to correct these errors in the future. Since I do not know the form of address that the women prefer, I will use Ms. for all of them. I know some of these people fairly well. I got to know others as they spoke. This is some of what they said.

Ann S. Hall

Ms. Hall began by telling us that she was married to David Hall, a child psychologist. She then told us of the career path that led to her present position as co-pastor of University Baptist Church. Next she told us about her church and its parishioners.

University Baptist has been a sanctuary church for Guatemalan and El Salvadoran refugees. Many of the members of that church have been arrested for causes such as this.

Next she recounted how she had plead with the guards to let her stay at the Senator's office. She was convinced that on the next day Congress would give Bush the right to wage war.

In conclusion she declared that she was glad that she refused to go. She was resolved to "walk in Jesus' way, the nonviolent way. We must love our neighbors. That way was not easy for Him or for us and it was threatening to the empire of the that day." She declared "I have no problem going to jail. I would rather be in jail than free (when the US goes to war)." She pledged to commit civil disobedience in the event of war.

Jean Buskin

During the trial Ms. Buskin was so respectful and knowledgeable about the court system and its rules that I thought she might be a lawyer. She's a part time biochemist, however. Characteristically, she began by saying "I respect the federal court system". She told us about her many activities. She compiles a Peace and Justice Calendar yearly. She is a co-founder of SNOW (Sound Nonviolent Opponants of the War) http://www.snowcoalition.org/ , volunteers at a homeless shelter and at the state prison at Monroe, WA. (where she works in a program which promotes alternatives to violence).

She agreed with the government's sentencing recommendation (20days imprisonment) but said that it would be a hardship. Finally she said "I'm glad I did what I did. I'm proud that I helped delay the war. I'm sure that, if given a chance, an Iraqi mom would choose (later rather than sooner for her child to die)" She urged us to call the White House "202.456.1111" to stop the war. She urged us to educate ourselves about the childred who have died as a result to sanctions, about the United States Soldiers who were disabled following our first war in Iraq and the campaign to end land mines.

Finally she said that many of her relatives were killed in the Holocaust. She asked "why didn't the German people stop it?" "There is a Jewish saying" she said (I hope I get this right) "Whoever saves a single soul, saves the world."

Well George, that's all I can share with you tonight. My friends are out working for peace. I'll help them tomorrow.

Best wishes,

Craig Anderson (electronic mail, March 20, 2003)