By Felician Masumbuko

Even though many countries may seem to be divided on the war with Iraq, they all have peace as a goal in mind.

“The cause of these things is fear,” said Christopher Barbera, one of the few people who attended a conference organized by Bill Marx, a retired priest and Buffalo Pax Christi leader, in early March.

“I believe that Saddam Hussein is a threat and I don’t like the way he is killing his people,” said Peter Catania, a retired military and a political science graduate from the University at Buffalo.

Even though Baghdad is now burning, many people believe it was a great place to live in.

“When it was time for me to leave Baghdad, I did not want to leave. People are so lovely,” said Marx who visited Iraq last year.

“Eight years of war, 12 years of sanctions, but yet they are peaceful people, they are grateful people. They have great faith in God. How did they maintain this?” said Marx. According to Marx, they were an inspiration for him.

“There are so many people in the world opposed to the war, but so many Americans are for it. Why?” asked Marx. “We have been misled.”

According to Marx, if you listen to Canadian news or European news and compare them to the American news, it is a whole different form of information.

“I believe these people have more information about the reality and the underlying goals of America than we do because we believe that we can do no wrong,” said Marx.

According to Marx, this war is not justified.

“The communism, the great threat for decades is no longer a threat and we did not go to war,” he said.

“We should not disarm Iraq we should be disarming the world,” said Marx

“We can’t say that war will bring peace,” said Barbera.

Women in Black also stood up

In late March, on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Bidwell Parkway, Women in Black, an organization of women and all of those who oppose war, rallied silently against the war.

Marie Cappola, one of the women who were at the rally said: “I am here to take a stand for peace and protest the policies of the United States government.

“War is not the answer. There are better ways to solve the problems.”

Roxanne Amico, another woman opposed to the war said: “We should have handled Saddam as a criminal and we had the whole world with us, but today all are pulling away from us.”

According to Cappola, there is too much talking and less is being done to stop the war. That is why Women in Black conduct rallies in silence and wear black.

“We say stop talking, but solve problems peacefully,” said Cappola.

According to Amico the main goal is to create a society that is sustainable.

“Get this over and support your president. Stop blocking roads,” said Catania

“We told this guy to disarm through peaceful means, we did it through the United Nations and the guy did almost nothing,” said Catania. “I don’t want any other Pearl Harbor.”

Liz Mariani, a UB student who attended the rally, said: “I don’t feel like my government is representing me and I believe that this war should end. It is caused by interests and greed.”

According to Mariani, people should register to vote and vote so that they can be heard.

Harry Disson, one of several men rallying against the war said: “It is a visual sign against the war that we think was unnecessary.
“We are in solidarity with people that are suffering trough this war, especially the military and the Iraqis people.”

Gwennor Loyed, an attorney who attended the rally as a legal observer, said that Women in Black advance the idea that war is not an answer to conflicts, especially international conflicts.

“They are here to protest against the illegal invasion of Iraq,” she said. “I am here to observe and document any incident that may come by.”

“When you talk about Saddam, there is fear, but Iraqis still need democracy in their way,” said Marx

Pax Christi USA is a branch of Pax Christi International, an international Christian organization that promotes forgiveness, reconciliation and peace of Christ.

For more on Pax Christi, click here http://www.paxchristiusa.org

For Women in Black, click here
http://www.womeninblack.net/