MESJ Proclaiming Peace on the Airwaves

At noon, on 19 September 2007, MESJ members Bart Tippets and Ash Bledsoe were interviewed by KRCL Community Radio host Frank Feldman. Ash Bledsoe joined the conversation by phone from Provo, while Bart Tippets and special guest Democrat Pete Ashdown were present at the KRCL studio in Salt Lake City for this one hour interview.

Ash Bledsoe is co-chair of the Utah County chapter of MESJ and was part of the "BYU-25" , Bart Tippets the chair of the Salt Lake City chapter as well as National Liason for NGO's and a staff member of MESJ National. Pete Asdown, of course, was a previous candidate for Utah Senator and spoke at the BYU Alternative Commencement earlier this year.

A short report about the interview:

Pete Ashdown disagrees with the idea that Provo is the reddest county in the reddest state. He testified that he was actually surprised to find so many interested in his message as he goes door to door to inform and involve people, calling many of those concerned citizens the 'vocal minority'. Since 'Justice for All', is terminology from our Pledge of Allegiance, Pete found it very fitting that MESJ - Mormons for Equality and Social Justice is involved in the the efforts for peace and bringing an end to the war in Iraq. He pointed out that president Bush is involved in exactly those things that he earlier declared to be so much against: nation building and tax increases. The situation in Iraq is the largest nation building in our history, and the staggering financial costs will be a heavy burden on our children and grandchildren! He further suggested that when speaking of democracy for Iraq, we need to ask the people of Iraq what they really want, through a process of what Pete calls: 'collaborative democracy'.

Ash Bledsoe was able to voice some of the sentiments in Provo; she has noticed a change in the way people look at things, and how they no longer support the war. This was also the effect the work of other activists like Jason Brown, the former chair of the Utah County chapter of MESJ. She mentioned that: "You can fool some people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time", refering to the way this administration has taken advantage of people's faith and trust.
Ash: "People need to take contol back over their country from corporate powers".

Bart Tippets spoke as a Vietnam veteran about his experiences on the battle field.
He remembered that in 1967 the orders were to kill as many Vietcong as possible in order to demoralize the enemy. He compares the situation to the present war in Iraq, where once again everything seems in flagrant contradiction with the principles of the gospel.
He reminded us how the Doctrine and Covenants clearly condemn war and call us up to proclaim peace." There is place for pacifists in our church but also for those who want to serve our country when under attack". The overall message of the Doctrine and Covenants though is clear: we are to present an olive branch, be patient and not be war-mongers. Bottom line: Mormons should be categorically against war, unless in self defence.

Calls and emails were taken from listeners during the show:

Jack (Salt Lake City):
I'm curious where Pete Asdown stands on how to bridge the gap between supporters and opponents of the war in Iraq. Pete answered that this should be done through dialogue and conversation, instead of accusation.

Chris (Provo):
Chris quoted some powerful scripture verses from the Book of Mormon (Alma). He came to the conclusion that we are never to give first offense, should not be thinking of pre-emptive strikes, but turn the other cheek as Jesus tought us.

Laura (email):
Laura observed that the contributions of religion seem to be more the problem than the solution... Bart anwered that theology is the basis for our behaviour as Christians or as Muslims.

Jenny (email):
The LDS church speaks out on 'moral issues' but is in fact silent about the war in Iraq because of the address of pres. Hinckley which seems to go both ways.

David (Layton):
He has served in both Afghanistan and Iraq and will do so again.
He thinks that outsiders should not complain, and that positive details about the war never make the press; like the support for schools by the military in Iraq.
He also wondered why we speak about why Mormons should be against the war, instead of speaking of the people of Utah being against the war. Pete answered that in the church the leadership speaks for the membership.

Loise (West-Valley):
Mentioned that the United States has a record of not keeping her word by not honoring numerous treaties throughout her history, thus betraying many for her own benefit.

Mickey (email):
What about the slaughter going on in the Old Testament?
Pete: I don't want to go into a theological debate, but I think it is more human nature than religion causing war.

At the end of the hour-long interview Bart and Ash talked about the upcoming event:

Provo Citizens Protest the War:

Join us on Friday September 21, at 7:00 PM at 51 S Center Street, Provo, in front of Senator Hatch's Office to build up for the October 27th Anti-War Mobilization in Salt Lake City.

To read more about the Citizens Protest: click here