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Join the Nationwide 9/11 Call for Freedom from Fear
In response to 9/11, the U.S. invested in war--and got what it paid for.
Five years after 9/11, it’s time to invest in peace.
This summer, FCNL is encouraging individuals, communities, meetings, churches, and faith groups to organize events on Sunday, September 10, such as lobby trainings, sermons, and discussions, in preparation for a Monday, September 11, in-district lobby day. This at-home lobby effort in communities across the country will urge Congress to re-evaluate its post-9/11 choices and to invest in a better toolkit to address global insecurity.
Download a flyer
for the event (PDF) Join FCNL and colleague organizations in asking Congress to take the following steps toward a better response to global insecurity:
- End the war in Iraq which has cost nearly half a trillion dollars and made the U.S. less secure as a nation;
- Prevent the next wars now by dramatically expanding funding for internationally-led development and diplomacy efforts to address the root causes of violent extremist activity before it begins;
- Model the best of democracy – stop the erosion of our constitutional rights and freedoms in the name of “security.”
Take Action
We need your help to spread the word about this event in your meeting or church, community groups and organizations, friends and neighbors - so that local events and congressional visits can be scheduled in advance of September 11.
Here are some specific things you can do this month to help make this call to action a success:
Find out more about the Nationwide 9/11 Call for Freedom from Fear and sign up to participate by visiting http://www.fcnl.org/911call or calling FCNL at (800) 630-1330.
Background
This year, people around the country will mark the fifth anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, with memorials, remembrances, and private reflection. But the fifth anniversary of September 11 also represents a critical moment to focus public attention on the overwhelming failure of the “war on terror” response to global insecurity and calls for a new approach to peace-building that heals rather than feeds cycles of violence in the world.
Freedom from Fear
Can you recall your immediate feelings and experiences on September 11, 2001? Many of us were frantically reaching out to assure the safety of our friends and family. We were afraid and distressed as images of senseless destruction played across our TV screens. We watched as nations of the world one by one stepped forward in solidarity to reject these violent acts and pledge support. Grassroots efforts from alumni networks to neighborhood aid organizations sprang into action, providing information, comfort, and material support. Many acted quickly to build bridges of understanding with Arab-Americans within their communities to reject and denounce impulsive acts of revenge.
Have these choices made us more secure since September 11, 2001?
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The U.S. military budget has increased by 45 percent – yet more violent groups are planning attacks on the U.S. than immediately after September 11
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Record budget surpluses have turned to record deficits – yet we have cut funding for the tools of development and diplomacy that increase world stability
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Civil liberties have been seriously compromised in the name of security – threatening the very democracy this nation has gone to war to protect
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Yet in that fragile crossroads, U.S. leaders under pressure to do “something” in response to that crisis chose to take a different approach, answering with retribution and preemptive violence. Today, the entire nation is paying for that choice.
This year we have an opportunity to acknowledge the failure of those policies and call for a new course. This debate is long overdue, and the moment is right for this nation to take stock of its choices and discern a better course to true security.
The policies of the past five years will not change overnight—but we hope that this call will help to begin a new conversation in Washington about how we might truly make our families, our communities, our nation, and our world more secure. We encourage you to share information about the Nationwide 9/11 Call for Freedom from Fear with others in your meeting, local coffeehouses, peace and social justice groups in your area, and other faith groups in the community.
Five years after September 11, every small step we take can make a big difference in reshaping the “war on terror” – leading this country beyond the debilitation of fear and toward building a true and lasting peace.
Contacting Legislators
Contact your members of Congress through FCNL's web site.
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Sen. ________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Rep. ________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Contacting the Administration
Contact the President through FCNL's web site.
White House Comment Desk:
202 456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
White House web site
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
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