CASA CRY APRIL, 2017
Many Catholic Workers, including us, refuse to pay federal taxes. Some say that this is wrong since some of the money goes to help people, but we could be helping a hundred times more people if the tax money was used in the right way. Almost half of the federal taxes ($1,377,000,000) are spent on the military to train our young to fight, maim and kill those deemed “enemies” by the U.S. government. We do not believe this is helping anyone but the military corporations, who lobby Congress and give Senators and Representatives lots of money, long for more wars because they want to sell more and more of their weapons. Military corporations get billions of tax dollars to create the weapons and then taxpayers are to pay billions of dollars for medical care for the injured and disabled as well as the rebuilding of what was destroyed by the weapons. Many of the weapons are confiscated by those whom the military is fighting and are used against the U.S. troops. Weapons are sold to countries known for human rights abuses, such as Saudi Arabia who is still attacking Syria, creating more and more refugees and disabled people. The U.S. military cannot account for $3.5 trillion, and the government says it is impossible to audit the military. We, in conscience, cannot say we are opposed to war, and at the same time pay for it. We cannot condemn weapons while at the same time pay for them. We cannot say we are opposed to waste, pollution and killing, and at the same time pay for more waste, pollution and killing. Those of us who believe in the message of Christ to love our enemies, do good to them and pray for them cannot give assistance to those who ask us to kill our enemies, make their lives miserable and create more havoc and disrespect in the world. We do not want our money to go toward building a trillion dollar wall to keep others from enjoying what we have. We want our money to go to help those who lack the basics of life, like the refugees and victims of natural and unnatural disasters. The U.S. gives less than 1% of its budget on foreign aid, and President Trump wants to pay even less than that now. Plus, 75% of foreign aid goes to Israel and Egypt alone, 2 countries who do not do well observing human rights. If tax money was used for life-giving projects, the world would be a much better place in which to live. However, so much of the taxes go toward creating terrorism and destroying human rights around the world. We have yet to learn that peace can only come through love, not weapons. When you pay for violence you will get violence. Rather than giving your money to the military, give it to the many groups who are working for the betterment of the world. Yes, you may be punished for doing this, but at least you will be doing what God wants. Christ was punished for doing good. Can we expect anything less? -----Don Timmerman
The U.S. is cutting funding for the U.N., the E.P.A., education, etc. to feed the Pentagon $54 Billion more for war.” ---Code Pink
“What would you do if someone came to your door with a cup in hand asking for a contribution to help buy guns to kill a group of people they didn't like?” — Wally Nelson
To explore this forms of conscientious objection, please contact the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee at www.nwtrcc.org or (800) 269-7464 – for information, literature, counseling and guidance.
JOKES
President Trump says he was treated unfairly by the writers of the U.S. Constitution. ---New York Timers
I was about to do some spring cleaning, but then I realized this book is not going to read itself. I feel I should clean the house, but I’ll read until that feeling passes.
What is President Trump’s favorite dog? The Border Collie! A man with a gun walks in to a bar. He takes out the weapon and waves it in the air, shouting, "I have a 45 caliber Colt 1911 with 7 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, and I want to know who's been sleeping with my wife!" A voice from the back shouts, "you're gonna need more ammo!
Police Captain: I have one final question, before we give you your badge. Recruit: Yes, sir? Police Captain: What would you do if you were required to arrest your own mother? Recruit: Call for backup, sir!
When I die, I want to go out peacefully, in my sleep, just like my dear old Grandpa. Not screaming hysterically like the three other people riding in his car with him. How do you get a squirrel down from a tree? Stand on the ground and act like a nut.
Blood stains on clothes are removed with a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and wiping off the blood stain. (Now, what to do with the body?) Imagine that awkward moment when the guy who discovered milk had to explain to the village what he was doing to the cow. Doctor: “Try and stay calm, Sir. There’s no use in both of us panicking.”
INTERESTING FACTS
Presidential campaigns magnify the cries for more military spending. Candidates ignore the facts and declare “the U.S. is weak on defense. Trillions of dollars and endless war have bought a steady growth in terrorism over the last decade, with the highest number of deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, countries the U.S. was “helping. Fifty million refugees or internally displaced people are due to these armed conflicts, the most since World War II. A hundred million barrels of oil per year burned by U.S. military equipment releasing millions of tons of pollutants. Major human rights violations occurred, including detention without trial, torture, expanded U.S. government surveillance, and racial profiling. ----FCNL The U.S. is planning to spend $1 trillion over the next 30 years on nuclear weapons.
One in four refugee children from Syria, around 2.5 million, are on the brink of developing a mental health disorder. Some 13.5 million people remain in need of aid in Syria, and almost half of these are children. ---- UNICEF
President Trump is now allowing 500,000 people, who just days ago were prohibited purchasers, to buy guns. We’re talking about fugitives and people with mental illness who may be a threat to themselves and/or others. ---WAVE
Gallons of diesel fuel that leaked from an Iowa pipeline 1 day after Trump pledged to build 2 new pipelines: 46,830.
Twice as many Americans work in the solar industry than work in fossil fuels.
Percentage by which the average amount of gun violence in popular PG-13 movies exceeds that in popular R movies: 23
Number of Americans aged 50 or older who have outstanding student loans: 2,800,000. Portion of those borrowers who have taken on debt to pay for a child or grandchild’s education: ¾.
Percentage change since 2010 in the number of firearm silencers registered in the U.S.: +217 Number of golf courses worldwide operated by the U.S. military: 170. Number of suicides committed by U.S. veterans each day, 8000 per year -----Harper’s Index
The Pentagon employs 3 million people with taxpayer money and owns 70% of federal government’s $1.8 trillion in property, land and equipment. The Army uses more than twice as much building space as all the offices in New York City. The Veteran’s Administration serves 9,6 million wounded or ailing veterans. It is the largest free healthcare service in the U.S. Economists Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes estimate that the wars’ overall costs will top $4 trillion. Military planes cost $32,6 billion, The F-35 military plane has 1,400 suppliers in 48 states. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the most expensive, and possibly the most error ridden, project in the history of the United States military. But DOD has sunk so much money into the F-35 — which is expected to cost $1.5 trillion over the 55-year life of the program -- that the Pentagon deemed it "too big to fail" in 2010.(CNBC) Lockheed Martin gave money to 425 members of Congress in 2012 and has spent $159 million on lobbying since 2000. ---Mother Jones
The U.S. military has 800 or more bases in the world and numerous missile silos containing nuclear weapons which, if ever used, could possibly mean the annihilation of the world population. U.S. taxpayers already spent $4 trillion on making, maintaining and serving the missile silos. ---NukeWatch
There are still 174 US “base sites” in Germany, 113 in Japan, and 83 in South Korea. Hundreds more exist in around 80 countries, including Aruba and Australia, Bahrain and Bulgaria, Colombia, Kenya, and Qatar, and other places. The U.S. currently has 5,113 atomic warheads deployed in silos, bombers, and submarines, mostly in the continental US. That doesn't include thousands of "zombies" being kept in reserve and a backlog of more than 3,000 warheads awaiting dismantlement. The cost of manning and maintaining these each year is over $150 billion. ---The Nation
The U.S. military does not prevent wars. No one really wins in war. ----Dispatch.com 3/18/16
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: We were in Minneapolis for our trial. Don & I, along with other Midwest Catholic Workers, were arrested last April for blocking the light rail and busses going to Target Stadium for the season opener of the Twins. We were informed and assisted by Black Lives Matter. Jamar Clark, a young unarmed black man, had been shot by the police, and no indictment was issued to the officer who pulled the trigger. The Black Lives Matter movement had been very active in the streets getting arrested and drawing attention to the problem of racism in police actions. We were to draw attention to the fact that the white population cannot remain silent but must speak out and demand justice for Jamar Clark and other black people who have been killed by police. The judge ruled that all 25 Catholic Workers could not be tried all together. Thus, Don and I had a jury trial on March 20. There were pictures of Don and me standing in front of a bus. I used the necessity defense. You do not charge someone with trespassing for breaking into a burning building to rescue someone. I believe it is the same issue when unarmed black people are shot and killed by police with impunity. It was hard for the jury to find us not guilty. We must peacefully and nonviolently do what we can to draw attention to and stop this from happening again. The prosecutor told the jury that no one should be above the law. I agree, but I also believe that laws should be broken in order to bring about justice, as Christ and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others did who were committed to nonviolence. Peace, Roberta
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TUES., APRIL 4 ---NO MORE GUNS VIGIL FROM NOON TO 1 P.M. to stop the proliferation of guns. About 40% of all U.S. guns are sold through private sellers with no required background checks. Those who use guns get their guns ultimately from those who bought guns at a gun show, gun shop or online. The more guns there are the more the possibility of more murders with guns.
THURS., APRIL 6 ---PRAYER VIGIL AT ICE FROM NOON TO 1 P.M. at Knapp & Broadway Sts., to stop the separation of families, to release refugees in detention and stop the harassment of those wishing to come to our country. NO MORE WALLS!
TUES., APRIL 11 ---VIGIL AT ROTC AT MARQUETTE U., 15th & Wisconsin Ave., from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. calling for the closing of military training on a Christian campus. A Christian institution must begin to teach Christ’s message of loving one’s enemies if there is ever to be peace in the world. Did Christ die for nothing? Money for education, not training for war.
SUNDAY, APRIL 16 ---RESURRECTON OF CHRIST! ALLELUYA! May we all rise to living better lives by loving all people.
SAT., APRIL 15 ----TAX DAY VIGIL AND ACTION at the military base on 51st & Silver Spring Dr. from Noon to 1 p.m. No more training our young to fight and harming their neighbors and contributing to the violence, bloodshed and misery in the world. Move the money from bullets to bread!
SAT., APRIL 29 ---CLIMATE CHANGE MARCH. Please call Julie for details at 414-964-9478.
Needs: We need someone to help us with the baby and children’s give away room every Monday and Wesnesday mornings. Thank you for your kind attention.
Have a great celebration of Christ’s rising above hatred, enmity and retaliation and giving us the secret for true happiness….returning good for evil. Let us rejoice.
Many Catholic Workers, including us, refuse to pay federal taxes. Some say that this is wrong since some of the money goes to help people, but we could be helping a hundred times more people if the tax money was used in the right way. Almost half of the federal taxes ($1,377,000,000) are spent on the military to train our young to fight, maim and kill those deemed “enemies” by the U.S. government. We do not believe this is helping anyone but the military corporations, who lobby Congress and give Senators and Representatives lots of money, long for more wars because they want to sell more and more of their weapons. Military corporations get billions of tax dollars to create the weapons and then taxpayers are to pay billions of dollars for medical care for the injured and disabled as well as the rebuilding of what was destroyed by the weapons. Many of the weapons are confiscated by those whom the military is fighting and are used against the U.S. troops. Weapons are sold to countries known for human rights abuses, such as Saudi Arabia who is still attacking Syria, creating more and more refugees and disabled people. The U.S. military cannot account for $3.5 trillion, and the government says it is impossible to audit the military. We, in conscience, cannot say we are opposed to war, and at the same time pay for it. We cannot condemn weapons while at the same time pay for them. We cannot say we are opposed to waste, pollution and killing, and at the same time pay for more waste, pollution and killing. Those of us who believe in the message of Christ to love our enemies, do good to them and pray for them cannot give assistance to those who ask us to kill our enemies, make their lives miserable and create more havoc and disrespect in the world. We do not want our money to go toward building a trillion dollar wall to keep others from enjoying what we have. We want our money to go to help those who lack the basics of life, like the refugees and victims of natural and unnatural disasters. The U.S. gives less than 1% of its budget on foreign aid, and President Trump wants to pay even less than that now. Plus, 75% of foreign aid goes to Israel and Egypt alone, 2 countries who do not do well observing human rights. If tax money was used for life-giving projects, the world would be a much better place in which to live. However, so much of the taxes go toward creating terrorism and destroying human rights around the world. We have yet to learn that peace can only come through love, not weapons. When you pay for violence you will get violence. Rather than giving your money to the military, give it to the many groups who are working for the betterment of the world. Yes, you may be punished for doing this, but at least you will be doing what God wants. Christ was punished for doing good. Can we expect anything less? -----Don Timmerman
The U.S. is cutting funding for the U.N., the E.P.A., education, etc. to feed the Pentagon $54 Billion more for war.” ---Code Pink
“What would you do if someone came to your door with a cup in hand asking for a contribution to help buy guns to kill a group of people they didn't like?” — Wally Nelson
To explore this forms of conscientious objection, please contact the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee at www.nwtrcc.org or (800) 269-7464 – for information, literature, counseling and guidance.
JOKES
President Trump says he was treated unfairly by the writers of the U.S. Constitution. ---New York Timers
I was about to do some spring cleaning, but then I realized this book is not going to read itself. I feel I should clean the house, but I’ll read until that feeling passes.
What is President Trump’s favorite dog? The Border Collie! A man with a gun walks in to a bar. He takes out the weapon and waves it in the air, shouting, "I have a 45 caliber Colt 1911 with 7 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, and I want to know who's been sleeping with my wife!" A voice from the back shouts, "you're gonna need more ammo!
Police Captain: I have one final question, before we give you your badge. Recruit: Yes, sir? Police Captain: What would you do if you were required to arrest your own mother? Recruit: Call for backup, sir!
When I die, I want to go out peacefully, in my sleep, just like my dear old Grandpa. Not screaming hysterically like the three other people riding in his car with him. How do you get a squirrel down from a tree? Stand on the ground and act like a nut.
Blood stains on clothes are removed with a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and wiping off the blood stain. (Now, what to do with the body?) Imagine that awkward moment when the guy who discovered milk had to explain to the village what he was doing to the cow. Doctor: “Try and stay calm, Sir. There’s no use in both of us panicking.”
INTERESTING FACTS
Presidential campaigns magnify the cries for more military spending. Candidates ignore the facts and declare “the U.S. is weak on defense. Trillions of dollars and endless war have bought a steady growth in terrorism over the last decade, with the highest number of deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, countries the U.S. was “helping. Fifty million refugees or internally displaced people are due to these armed conflicts, the most since World War II. A hundred million barrels of oil per year burned by U.S. military equipment releasing millions of tons of pollutants. Major human rights violations occurred, including detention without trial, torture, expanded U.S. government surveillance, and racial profiling. ----FCNL The U.S. is planning to spend $1 trillion over the next 30 years on nuclear weapons.
One in four refugee children from Syria, around 2.5 million, are on the brink of developing a mental health disorder. Some 13.5 million people remain in need of aid in Syria, and almost half of these are children. ---- UNICEF
President Trump is now allowing 500,000 people, who just days ago were prohibited purchasers, to buy guns. We’re talking about fugitives and people with mental illness who may be a threat to themselves and/or others. ---WAVE
Gallons of diesel fuel that leaked from an Iowa pipeline 1 day after Trump pledged to build 2 new pipelines: 46,830.
Twice as many Americans work in the solar industry than work in fossil fuels.
Percentage by which the average amount of gun violence in popular PG-13 movies exceeds that in popular R movies: 23
Number of Americans aged 50 or older who have outstanding student loans: 2,800,000. Portion of those borrowers who have taken on debt to pay for a child or grandchild’s education: ¾.
Percentage change since 2010 in the number of firearm silencers registered in the U.S.: +217 Number of golf courses worldwide operated by the U.S. military: 170. Number of suicides committed by U.S. veterans each day, 8000 per year -----Harper’s Index
The Pentagon employs 3 million people with taxpayer money and owns 70% of federal government’s $1.8 trillion in property, land and equipment. The Army uses more than twice as much building space as all the offices in New York City. The Veteran’s Administration serves 9,6 million wounded or ailing veterans. It is the largest free healthcare service in the U.S. Economists Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes estimate that the wars’ overall costs will top $4 trillion. Military planes cost $32,6 billion, The F-35 military plane has 1,400 suppliers in 48 states. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the most expensive, and possibly the most error ridden, project in the history of the United States military. But DOD has sunk so much money into the F-35 — which is expected to cost $1.5 trillion over the 55-year life of the program -- that the Pentagon deemed it "too big to fail" in 2010.(CNBC) Lockheed Martin gave money to 425 members of Congress in 2012 and has spent $159 million on lobbying since 2000. ---Mother Jones
The U.S. military has 800 or more bases in the world and numerous missile silos containing nuclear weapons which, if ever used, could possibly mean the annihilation of the world population. U.S. taxpayers already spent $4 trillion on making, maintaining and serving the missile silos. ---NukeWatch
There are still 174 US “base sites” in Germany, 113 in Japan, and 83 in South Korea. Hundreds more exist in around 80 countries, including Aruba and Australia, Bahrain and Bulgaria, Colombia, Kenya, and Qatar, and other places. The U.S. currently has 5,113 atomic warheads deployed in silos, bombers, and submarines, mostly in the continental US. That doesn't include thousands of "zombies" being kept in reserve and a backlog of more than 3,000 warheads awaiting dismantlement. The cost of manning and maintaining these each year is over $150 billion. ---The Nation
The U.S. military does not prevent wars. No one really wins in war. ----Dispatch.com 3/18/16
NOTES FROM 21ST STREET: We were in Minneapolis for our trial. Don & I, along with other Midwest Catholic Workers, were arrested last April for blocking the light rail and busses going to Target Stadium for the season opener of the Twins. We were informed and assisted by Black Lives Matter. Jamar Clark, a young unarmed black man, had been shot by the police, and no indictment was issued to the officer who pulled the trigger. The Black Lives Matter movement had been very active in the streets getting arrested and drawing attention to the problem of racism in police actions. We were to draw attention to the fact that the white population cannot remain silent but must speak out and demand justice for Jamar Clark and other black people who have been killed by police. The judge ruled that all 25 Catholic Workers could not be tried all together. Thus, Don and I had a jury trial on March 20. There were pictures of Don and me standing in front of a bus. I used the necessity defense. You do not charge someone with trespassing for breaking into a burning building to rescue someone. I believe it is the same issue when unarmed black people are shot and killed by police with impunity. It was hard for the jury to find us not guilty. We must peacefully and nonviolently do what we can to draw attention to and stop this from happening again. The prosecutor told the jury that no one should be above the law. I agree, but I also believe that laws should be broken in order to bring about justice, as Christ and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others did who were committed to nonviolence. Peace, Roberta
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TUES., APRIL 4 ---NO MORE GUNS VIGIL FROM NOON TO 1 P.M. to stop the proliferation of guns. About 40% of all U.S. guns are sold through private sellers with no required background checks. Those who use guns get their guns ultimately from those who bought guns at a gun show, gun shop or online. The more guns there are the more the possibility of more murders with guns.
THURS., APRIL 6 ---PRAYER VIGIL AT ICE FROM NOON TO 1 P.M. at Knapp & Broadway Sts., to stop the separation of families, to release refugees in detention and stop the harassment of those wishing to come to our country. NO MORE WALLS!
TUES., APRIL 11 ---VIGIL AT ROTC AT MARQUETTE U., 15th & Wisconsin Ave., from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. calling for the closing of military training on a Christian campus. A Christian institution must begin to teach Christ’s message of loving one’s enemies if there is ever to be peace in the world. Did Christ die for nothing? Money for education, not training for war.
SUNDAY, APRIL 16 ---RESURRECTON OF CHRIST! ALLELUYA! May we all rise to living better lives by loving all people.
SAT., APRIL 15 ----TAX DAY VIGIL AND ACTION at the military base on 51st & Silver Spring Dr. from Noon to 1 p.m. No more training our young to fight and harming their neighbors and contributing to the violence, bloodshed and misery in the world. Move the money from bullets to bread!
SAT., APRIL 29 ---CLIMATE CHANGE MARCH. Please call Julie for details at 414-964-9478.
Needs: We need someone to help us with the baby and children’s give away room every Monday and Wesnesday mornings. Thank you for your kind attention.
Have a great celebration of Christ’s rising above hatred, enmity and retaliation and giving us the secret for true happiness….returning good for evil. Let us rejoice.