Resolution on Rep. Kucinich's 'Prayer for America'

The following resolution dealing with post-Sept. 11 issues of war, civil liberties, economics and more, was initiated by United Association (UA) Local 393 in San Jose, California, and was passed by unanimous vote of the delegates from 26 local unions on May 11 at the 82nd Convention of the California State Pipe Trades Council, representing some 30,000 members of the Plumbers and Fitters Union throughout the State of California. Kucinich's speech, delivered the weekend of Feb. 23, can be found in the March 2 edition of the People's Weekly World or at www.pww.org.


WHEREAS, with tax cuts for the rich financed by tapping into Social Security and Medicare funds and cutbacks for working families, on March 5, 2000 [sic] Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), in the best American tradition, delivered a Prayer for America challenging the conduct of the Bush-Cheney-Ashcroft administration in post-Sept. 11 America - a prayer that concludes with these words:

"[T]he defense budget grows with more money for weapons systems to fight a cold war which ended, weapon systems in search of new enemies to create new wars. This has nothing to do with fighting terror. This has everything to do with fueling a military industrial machine with the treasure of our nation, risking the future of our nation, risking democracy itself with the militarization of thought which follows the militarization of the budget;" and

WHEREAS, the Kucinich Prayer reflects President Dwight Eisenhower's 1961 words:

"The conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence - economic, political, even spiritual - is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

"We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together;" and

WHEREAS, the words of Congressman Kucinich and President Eisenhower follow a tradition laid down by President Abraham Lincoln who, in 1864, warned:

"I see in the future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed ...;" and

WHEREAS, in 1945, after seven years in a Nazi death camp, Pastor Martin Niemoller said:

"In Germany they first came for the socialists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a socialist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me - and by that time there was no one left to speak up,"

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we encourage this body to speak up in appreciation for Congressman Kucinich's clarity, eloquence, honesty and courage in opening a national dialogue on the many difficult issues relative to the economy, terrorism, war, and civil liberties, issues which challenge all our members, all working people and our labor movement in our quest for peace, democracy and social and economic justice; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we encourage this body to send this resolution to the UA, the AFL-CIO, to Congressman Kucinich and to all of our Representatatives in Congress along with a copy of his Prayer for America.