NEWS AND EVENTS

November 20, 2007

Happy Birthday, Norman Thomas! Click here to read Norman Thomas: Socialism and the Social Gospel. Thank you, Dwight Welch, for providing the link to the Christian Century article.

November 3, 2007

Statement in Solidarity with the Protestors in Myanmar (Burma)
by Tino Rozzo for the Faith and Socialism Commission

The Faith and Socialism Commission of the Socialist Party USA reaffirms its commitment to nonviolence and its abhorrence for violence and militarism.  We encourage diplomacy for resolving conflicts.

We would like to express our support for the Buddhist monks and others who are engaged in peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar (Burma).  We are saddened to learn that the military dictatorship responded violently and caused numerous fatalities.  Furthermore, the government imprisoned many citizens and monks, and the whereabouts of many citizens are still unknown.  In addition, the military government is responsible for looting and destroying many Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Peace cannot be established through violence.  Violence gives rise to enmity and continues the cycle of revenge.  Shakyamuni Buddha once taught, "Everyone fears violence.  Everyone cherishes life.  Seeing others as oneself, one should neither kill nor allow others to be killed" (Dhammapada 130).

Myanmar is a country with a deep Buddhist history.  Ninety percent of its citizens are devout Buddhists.  The Faith and Socialism Commission is shocked and concerned that the military dictatorship of this country is responding to the Buddhist monks' peaceful demonstrations with deadly violence and incarcerations.

The Faith and Socialism Commission calls on the government of Myanmar to immediately release the monks and others it has detained.  We further call on the governments and religious leaders (Buddhist and non-Buddhist) of the world to exert peaceful pressure on the military dictatorship of Myanmar until there are democratic reforms, freedom of expression, and free and open elections.