It is estimated that a war in Iraq would cost at least $100 billion. War in Iraq would cause tremendous human suffering, as well as take resources away from programs at home, such as buying land for preservation. A peaceful solution to the problems in Iraq is in everyone’s interest.

“Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. .. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."

William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, 1599

Call your Congressmen and Sentators and let them know how you feel about bombing Iraq.
Senator Clinton – 518/431-0120
Senator Schumer – 518/431-4070
Congressman McNulty – 518/465-0700

On January 7, 2003 and published in the January/February 2003 newsletter, this correction was added:

The Pine Bush and Bombs —
A Correction

by Lynne Jackson

In our last newsletter, I wrote a short piece in which I mistakenly said that William Shakespeare, in Julius Caesar, 1599, wrote the following:

“Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. .. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar.”

Many readers wrote to me to let me know that this quote is not in Julius Caesar. I apologize to everyone for this error. We at Save the Pine Bush strive to tell the truth, and the last thing I want to do is mis-quote the Bard.

See "The Pine Bush and Bombs Part II"

Printed in the January/February 2003 Newsletter

 

 

Printed in the October/November 2002 Newsletter