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Afghanistan War

 

The Wichita Peace and Social Justice Center supports a full and immediate withdrawal of U.S. military presence from Afghanistan.  We believe strongly that democracy is a system of government that works best when responsibility for creating, benefiting from, and comprising citizen-voice is firmly in the hands of the citizens of that democracy.  In short we believe that no true democracy can emerge outside of America if aided by American military might.

While the Peace Center disagrees with some norms of Afghan society,
particularly related to the treatment of women, we remain convinced that
violence, force, and oppressive military occupation model precisely the
values we would like to see diminished there and throughout the world. We endorse non-military nonviolent tactics for shifting norms and empowering Afghani female and male citizens.

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Palestine-Israel Conflict

(Adapted from the United for Peace and Justice Statement of Principles and Policies)


Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center of South Central Kansas believe in working for a just and lasting Palestinian-Israeli peace based on human rights and international law. We recognize that a just and lasting peace should take into account the legitimate needs and aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis and that such a peace will benefit both peoples.

Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center recognize that ending Israel's military occupation and settlement of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (O.P.T.), i.e. the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, is a necessary, though insufficient, condition for achieving a just and lasting peace.

Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center recognize that ending all policies and actions of the Israeli government, both inside the Green Line and within the O.P.T., that deny equal rights to Palestinians, is a necessary, though insufficient, condition for achieving a just and lasting peace.

Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center believe that U.S. military, economic, and diplomatic support that sustains Israel's occupation of the O.P.T. and its denial of equal rights to Palestinians is wrong and is the central factor inhibiting the development of conditions necessary for a just and lasting peace. As concerned and responsible residents of the United States, we will focus our efforts primarily on ending all forms of U.S. support that sustain Israel's occupation of the O.P.T. and its denial of equal rights to Palestinians.

Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center have differing interpretations of what a just and lasting peace should look like. Therefore, Peace Center members will not endorse a particular solution, such as two states, one state, the Geneva Initiative, the Road Map, etc. at this time, though member groups are free to advocate for their preferred solution.

Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center recognize that addressing the rights of Palestinian refugees in a manner consistent with human rights and international law is a necessary, though insufficient, condition for achieving a just and lasting peace. Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center have differing interpretations of what implementing recognition of these rights should look like; therefore, the they will not endorse a particular policy at this time, though individual members are free to advocate for their preferred policy.

Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center lend their moral support and encouragement to all Palestinians and Israelis who work in good faith to achieve a just and lasting peace consistent with the principles articulated above.

Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center oppose attacks on civilians-be they carried out by the Israeli military forces or by Palestinian groups-because they deny the inherent value and dignity of all human life and violate human rights and international law. Furthermore, Palestinian attacks on civilians make it easier for Israel's government to build support for its violent policies toward the Palestinian people with claims that it is "fighting terror." At the same time, members of the Peace and Social Justice Center recognize the fundamental power imbalance between Israelis and Palestinians and the systemic violence inflicted on the Palestinian people through Israel's military occupation. Members of the Peace and Social Justice Center recognize that until the Israeli government ceases its systemic violence towards Palestinians and takes genuine steps to achieve a just and lasting peace consistent with the principles articulated above, it is unlikely that Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians will stop.

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Immigration


As its name implies, the Peace and Social Justice Center operates on the principle that peace cannot exist without social justice. Right now, some Americans are waging a war against immigrants, a war that will be ended, not by creating policies targeting certain people based on ethnicity or skin color, but by creating policies that bring social justice to all people. It is a matter of social justice that if we want to deal with people coming across U. S. borders, lawmakers need to enact policies that take into account that these people are just as hard-working, decent and worthy of regard as those who were born here.

It is our position that no border created by human beings can strip other human beings of their humanity. Every immigrant deserves to be treated as an equal member of the human race. We support federal policies for a just pathway to citizenship for current undocumented people within our borders. Social justice dictates that no human being is illegal. Only when we acknowledge this will we find peace.