Page 5 -The Michigan Daily- Friday, September 5, 1986 Peaceful civil, action leads to change By Jonathan Ellis Why would someone decide to break the law, not for individual gain, but for reasons of cpnscience? People weigh the decision to commit "'civil disobedience" in the privacy of their hearts, so I can only give you my own reasons. This summer I spent three days in the Washtenaw County Jail for an act of protest at congressman Carl Pursell's (R-2nd district) Ann Arbor office. 118 of us were arrested there last March in a peaceful, even potite demonstration opposing congressman Pusell's support for U.S. military aid to the CdAtras in Nicaragua. Such civil disobedience is one of the most visible forms of political protest, and one which can be misunderstood. At its best, civil disobedience is not an expression of physical force, but of moral force. It does not claim that certain individuals are above the law, or that they should be able to disrupt any activity to which they object. Rather, civil disobedience asserts that citizens have the right, and sometimes the- obligation, to bring about their arrest only when two specific conditions are present: first, when the activity to which they object is, in their belief, an especially serious wrong, a grave injustice to individuals, or the most dangerous threat to the community as a whole; and second, when other channels have been ineffective. Does the civil disobedience which took place at congressman Pursell's office meet these criteria? There are literally dozens and dozens of people living right here in Ann Arbor who have visited Nicaragua in the last several years. They include ministers, pro - fessionals, students, faculty, working people of varied backgrounds- --and I have met and talked with many of them. Two common elements emerged as I listened to their independent reports about Nicaragua. First, given the real or only purported flaws of the current Sandinista government there, the vast majority of Nicaraguans wholeheartedly support the Sandinistas. I have heard people I know and respect come back from Nicaragua month after month and tell me that. The Nicaraguans, they report, not only tthank the Sandinistas for ousting the hated Somosa regime, but also widely support tthe policies of the Sandinistas since they took office. The second element I heard from Ann Arborites who went there to see for themselves is that Nicaragua is hurting. Innocent Nicaraguans are regularly killed by the Contras, and the United States is paying for the bullets. We, the U.S. taxpayers, are paying for the bullets. U.S. aid to the Contras is also forcing the Nicaraguans to spend more than 50 percent of their government budget on defense, in a country which is struggling to provide even basic services like health and education. Our fellow Ann Arbor citizens who go to Nicaragua do not come back only with statistics. They bring back the names and stories of families whose members have been killed by the Contras our government supports. I heard those stories and I wrote to congressman Pursell about his votes in favor of Contra aid. I called his Washington office and talked with his legislative assistant. I joined otherss who called on the congressman to at least meet with us in person and hear the information his Ann Arbor constituents had to give him about Nicaragua. Congressman Pursell repeatedly refused to reconsider his position or even to talk about it. So. I felt the usual means we have in a democracy were not working and that the situation was worsening. The recent debate about a congressional allocation of $100 million in aid to the Contras has surfaced a harsh reality. If this administration cannot work its will there in other ways, President Reagan seems prepared to invade Nicaragua if he thinks the U.S. people will let him get away with it. We have seen before how non-military aid is followed by military aid, then by U.S. advisors, then by logistical support and bombing, and finally by U.S. troops. I wanted to be arrested before more Nicaraguans are killed and our soldiers start coming back in body bags again. I would not expect congressman Pursell to base his votes on Contra aid solely on a demonstration in his office. yet congressman Pursell, and the Reagan administration he supports, must know that there are United States citizens who are willing to go to jail now rather than wait to protest an American war with Nicaragua. For me, that is the message which the tradition of civil disobedience, from Thoreau to Gandhi, has sent over the decades: we believe that the action our government is taking is so wrong that it will have to put us in jail to continue doing it. My three day jail sentence was not long. I have friends who have been in jail for months on end, and some are there now, because our government continues to build weapons for a nuclear holocaust. Their civil disobedience, and the courage of Nicaraguan families whose stories I heard, inspired me and still does. Ellis has worked at the University of Michigan and Canterbury House and is now with the Poseidon Foundation, a non-denominational spiritual center offering programs on campus and in the community. LETTERS: Baker's campaign is real grassroots politics I j I f i w t r' s , 8 c° t ' - {e < U , i i t t t 4 I i i I I , I To the Daily: Good news to all returning students! This semester will be the last that Representative Carl Pursell (R-2nd District) represents, or fails to represent, Ann Arbor and the rest of the Second Con- gressional District. Dean Baker, together with hundreds of Ann Arbor activists, is challenging Pursell forhis seat inthe U.S.' House of Rep - resentatives. They are part of a broad based coalition that is fed up with having a Representative who is a rubber stamp for the Reagan administration. While Pursell has voted for the MX missile and to cut school lunch programs, Baker will reverse the present trend of spending more for a wasteful military build-up than for social s Baker believes in the r ght to self-deter - mination for the people of Central America, whereas Pursell has voted repeatedly for aid to the terrorist Contras. ment, and the Graduate Employees Organization. This campaign is a unique grassroots organization that depends on volunteers, not money. We proved this when we won the August primary in which we were outspent eight to one. Door to door canvassing is a major part of the campaign strategy. For the general election we need many more volunteers in order to overcome Pursell and elect a truly rep- resentative congressperson. Come down to our office on 211 N. Main (next to the Heidelberg) and participate in this historic campaign. There is always work to be done in the office. We have campaign meetings every Tuesday night at 8:00, and everyone is welcome to participate. On Sept. 7 from 3:00 to 6:00 we are having an open house at the Democratic Party Headquarters. There will be a mass meeting for the College Democrats on Sept. 11. (Look for posters for details.) This is no ordinary campaign. If Bakerwins, all of Congress will know that Pursell's demise was a direct result of his votes for aid to the Contras. And if this can happen in a district that was considered to be a Republican stronghold, it will be the end to Reagan's war on Central America and an end to the rest of his belligerent foreign policy. --Billy J. Gladstone --Diana Markel September3 Co-op living is both rewarding and inexpensive To the Daily: As school begins and "moving in" resumes, we are reminded of those dreaded landlord problems. . . last minute rent increases, unkept promises of house repairs, and landlords who are impossible to reach, etc. THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE More than 500 University students live in cooperative housing. The Intercooperative Council (ICC) is a housing corporation that owns 17 "co- ops." Unlike dorms and apartmentsdwhich arercon- trolled by landlords or the University, co-ops are owned and run by the members who live in them. Students decide everything from what color the house will be painted (one is purple!) to what type of meals will be served. Because each member does four to five hours of work each week, and because no profiteering landlords are involved, co-ops are con- siderably less expensive and more fun than other housing options., As Rush approaches, new students especially feel the need to "belong" somewhere. The ICC promotes a system of housing that is based on human worth as opposed to other housing systems in which prospective members are judged on monetary worth, social standing, or how many goldfish they can swallow. We emphasize cooperation not only as a means to low cost quality housing but also as a way to self-empowerment, economic democracy, and as a way of life! Last year the ICC purchased three new homes and a building we are turning into an education center. We'll be organizing workshops, teach-ins and other programs for ICC members. Any groups interested in pre- senting community issues or the like should contact the - ICC office (662-4414). Also, interested persons who are enthusiastic about living cooperatively should inquire about our fall openings. CO-OPS- TO WARDS CHANGE!!! A STEP SOCIAL --Shawn A. Wistrom -Michael'Burton ICC Vice President s September 3 Letters to the Daily should be typed, triple- spaced, and singed by the individual authors. Names will bewithheld only in unusual circum- stances. Letters may be edited for clarity. gram- mar, and spelling. As education increasingly becomes a privilege of the wealthy, Baker wants to protect student loans, as opposed to Pursell who has voted to cut funding for those who depend on student loans. Dean Baker is well *qualified for the job. He has been active in community and national issues for many years. He is a doctoral candidate in Economics at the University. ' He has also been involved in the Latin American Solidarity Com- mittee, Free South Africa Coordinating Committee, Rackham Student Govern- THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO BECOMING A NURSE IN THE ARMY. AUDITIONS FOR CHORAL UNION Join in a holiday tradition: Sing with the University Musical Society's CHORAL UNION in its annual r performances of Handel's MESSIAH, December 5, 6, & 7. AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 5-13 For an audition appointment, call the University Musical Society office in the Burton Tower, 764-2538, 9:00-4:30 And they're both repre- sented by the insignia you wear as a member of the Army Nurse Corps. The caduceus on the left means you're part of a health care system in which educational and career advancement are the rule, not the exception. The gold bar on the right means you command respect as an Army officer. If you're earning a BSN, write: Army Nurse Opportunities, PO. Box 7713, Clifton, NJ 07015. Or call toll free 1-800-USA-ARMY PIF, VIOLIN. LESSONS Beginning through Advanced. Doctorate from U of M. 20 Years Experience. Near Central Campus. ARMY NURSE CORPS BE ALLYOU CAN BE. 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