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Statement on War in Iraq |
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| June
2, 2004 The swelling tally of abuse inflicted on Iraqi prisoners by United States military personnel in Iraq demands a response by all concerned Americans. The evidence of such evil, as documented by the International Red Cross, Amnesty International, and others, cries out for concerted condemnation. Particularly humiliating for the U.S. image across the world have been the actions of U.S. personnel in the Abu Ghraib prison facility in Baghdad. President Bush’s pledge to destroy the building and replace it with a new one is a feeble ploy in the face of U.S. violation of international treaties regarding the treatment of prisoners. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld’s attempt to explain the “technical difference” between abuse and torture along with other U.S. expressions of regret cannot be expected to impress those multitudes who believe that the United States is the cause of their suffering rather than their protector from terrorists or their liberator from despots. Wars produce “unspeakable” actions. But our commitment to human rights, civil liberties and common decency obliges such organizations as The Rothko Chapel to publicly protest such actions for the record. We owe this to our conviction that global peace in these perilous times cannot be achieved without understanding, compassion, and respect for the dignity of the individual and the sanctity of human life. The Rothko Chapel, dedicated in 1971, is an intimate space available to all people, with respect for all religions and beliefs. The Chapel welcomes visitors from around the world to the meditative environment created by the architecture of Philip Johnson and the paintings of Mark Rothko. The Chapel and its programs serve as a universal sanctuary with a call for hope – hope in the advent of a renewed humankind.
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(c) 2004 Rothko Chapel. All Rights Reserved. |
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