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Campus "Unrest" demonstrations and consequences, 1970-1971

1971-11-12 American Report: Review of Religion and American Power Page 3

Disciples Meet 

Getting On To Vital Issues 

The biennial General Assembly of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ) put itself on record "against war and for peace," The action taken at the 6,000 voting delegate meeting held in Louisville Oct. 15-20  came after an unsuccessful attempt to place the Disciples on record as being a "peace church ... against all war," similar to the Quakers and Mennonites. 
The Disciples also urged Selective Service boards to grant conscientious objector status to Disciple members who request it. The adopted resolution directs the denomination's president and general minister to transmit the statement to the nation's Selective Service headquarters and asks each congregation to present the resolution to its local draft board. 
Vigorous discussion and debate came as delegates made attempts to state their position through a series of three prepared drafts of the resolution. Usually encumbered by many agency reports to be voted on, delegates at this Assembly adopted all but one of 19 reports and program projections unanimously in a single vote. Said Stanley Barlett, an Ohio delegate, who moved for the single resolution for adoption. "Even today 300 Southeast Asians are dying .. Let's get on with this and on to vital issues."
In other actions, Disciples struggled with issues like the church's witness for peace, ministries with persons in prison for conscience's sake investment policies, threats to civil liberties, bail reform, Indochina social welfare, national health care the crisis in Pakistan, and prison reform. 
The Assembly resolved "to work to defeat the Bail Reform Amendment (S. 2600 and H.R. 12806) now pending before Congress. This section would amend the Bail Reform Act of 1966 to authorize preventive detention the detaining of defendants on the possibility that may commit a crime. Citing the relative case with which wealthier persons obtain bail as compared to poor people, the Disciples suggested "release on recognizance" procedures as a successfully tested experiment to ease injuries. 
A resolution was passed to appoint a task force to develop guidelines for investment policies and stock voting aimed at making a "positive contribution to the attainment of justice, freedom, peace and an ecologically sound environment."
Declaring that there is "a growing mood and pattern of repression in the United States regarding civil liberties, mentioning preventive detention, no knock, entry. electronic eavesdropping, subpoenaing of news medial personnel and collection of dossiers, among others, the Assembly called upon its church members, "to work with our legislative representatives in Congress, the judges in our courts, and the law enforcement officers in our communities to assure that the civil liberties that we cherish are equally available to air including the poor, the powerless and the unpopular. 
Citing the recent "tragic violence" in the Attica prison, the General Assembly urged the "employment of substantially more blacks and Spanish personnel as guests and in other capacities in correctional institutions" and other measures aimed at prison reform. 
A resolution denouncing the "inadequate and decreasing role of women" in the church and calling for recommendations on "appropriate ways to increase participation of women in... the life of the church." was denounced by some as accenting reform in local congregations when it is most needed in state and national administrations. 
During the convention over 500 persons wore tags reading "300 More Today" to remind the delegates of the number of Southeast Asian deaths because of American military action. The Disciples Peace Fellowship with membership topping 1,500 an all time high , organized a silent vigil during an evening session of the Assembly to emphasize the expanding and escalating war and calling on "we Christians [to] join in the peacemaking that will bring an early end to the Indochina war."

Crime Notebook 
Some Scenes From The Drama
[Cont. from p.1]

into a single one.." Believe it or not this speech was followed by Ambassador George Bush who said" ...we can in good conscience say to both parties: the halls of the United Nations are open to you both...."(Italics added)

The Vote:
There were some surprising votes for the admission of the People's Republic of China and the exclusion of Taiwan. The answer that was given by many delegates was that the issue was simply who was the legal representative of the Chinese people. Most delegates had little doubt. Hence the vote of nations like Israel for the Peoples' Republic. The Japanese vote surprised many. reports indicate that it was a combination of arm twisting and some personal loyalty of Premier Sato to Chiang Kai-Shek Former Canadian Ambassador to China Chester Ronning suggested Japan's economic and political interest in its former colony my have something to do with the pro-Formosa vote. The scene on Tuesday after the Monday evening vote was described by one veteran observer as "like being in an English pub on Christmas eve. After all these years people finally voted their consciences."
According to one authoritative report China did not expect to gain admittance at this session and this is why they were taken by surprise at the size of the vote. So while it was a major propaganda victory for the Chinese the effect would have been stunning if a high level delegation had been prepared to take their position following the vote. 

Taiwan's Debt 
An interesting side story is that Taiwan leaves the world body owing $30.2 million in back dues. Doubt if even the Sears Roebuck bill collector could collect on this one. Despite attempts to present Taiwan as a "Christian nation" 

U.N. NEEDS PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Tower News Service

and China as a "godless atheistic" country by certain fundamentalists, there was within the religious community satisfaction with the action. 
While expressing sorrow over the expulsion of Taiwan the Vatican saw the inclusion of China as "favoring the cause of peace and justice." Bishop Walsh, who was released from prison by the Chinese last year saw it as the "only sensible thing to do" Much of mainline Protestantism had been for the administration of the Peoples' Republic since the early 60s (One disturbing note had been raised by the American Jewish Committee, which charged in a report that right wing Christians are using President Nixon's trip to China to intensify anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic campaigns in the U.S. The claim is made by these extremists that somehow the Communist Chinese are under the control of "international Zionism.")
No one really knows what role the Peoples' Republic will play expect another super power has been added to the U.N. Third world forces are probably hoping that at last they will have a supporter with genuine power that may break the Northern bloc of two super power. We could of course, have entered the age of triangles and that offers little hope for the developing nations. Everyone is agreed that the presence of the Chinese means a new ball game and the Chinese are up to bat. 

Bolovens Become a Battlefield
[Cont. from p. 1]

the Laotians one more "victory" in a country that can only lose whichever way the fighting tips. 
While U.S. gunships filled the air , U.S. artillery men directed support fire and C.I.A. "case officers" commanded their irregular troops by radio U.S. Air Force helicopters airlifted three battalions of Laotians into Paksong, and declared it a famous victory. The units entering Paksong found only a few dozen North Vietnamese troops, who withdrew to surrounding hills to join other communist units harassing the occupying forces from distances as close as a thousand yards. 
Although U.S. helicopters and firepower can place Government troops in a surrounded perimeter almost anywhere in Laos, it is difficult to maintain them, and most military observers here expect the Paksong once again will fall under communist control during the beginning of dry season.
Far more crucial to the fate of southern Laos than troops being helicoptered into empty towns, however, is Hanoi's evident resolve to bond on to the Bolovens, which overlooks Pakse Laos' second largest city, the center for C.I.A. operations in the area, and the capital of an area that feels little loyalty to Vientiane and its northern born premier. Prince Souvanna Phouma. 
Observers here agree that Hanoi's interest in the plateau, which became primary only last year, can only grow stronger so long as the basis of the Nixon Administration's Indochina strategy remain one of trying to impede Hanoi's supply lines to South Viet Nam regardless of what "protective reactions" they may elicit from the communists in Laos and Cambodia. 
The sad fate of the war torn Bolovens - which once was the

0 Mi9les 100 
N. VIETNAM, LAOS, Savannakhet, DEMILITARIZED ZONE, THAILAND, Mekong, DaNang, Saravane, HO CHI MINH TRIALS, BOLOVENS, Pakse, Paksong, PLATEAU.Attopeu, Sekong, CAMBODIA, Se San, Strung Treng. S VIETNAM

peaceful preserve of some of Indochina's most untouched hill tribes and a few French coffee plantations - is strikingly similar to that of the Plain of Jars in northern Laos, Until a few years ago, both areas were generally peaceful, the Plain under communist control, the plateau under Government control. But the United States in 1969 escalated the Laotian war into the Plain when its "secret war" of harassment among North Viet Nam's border began to turn sour. Similarly,. Hanoi has expanded the Bolovens to cover the possibility of U.S. attacks against its trail network. 
As things stand now, the pattern of ever widening destruction in Laos seems likely to go on so long as Washington keeps looking for "short cuts" to military success in Indochina, as it did in Cambodia. The communists, both North Viet Nam and the Pathet Lao, repeatedly have offered a general cease fire in Laos, but the Americans are unwilling to accept any agreement that would not permit them to continue bombing and launching ground probes - against the Ho Chi Minh Trail. 
Of much more significance for the Laotians than the presently costly fighting around Paksong is the fact that had there been a cease fire in Laos a year ago, the entire plateau would have remained under Government control. The main question now is whether there will be any non communist presence there at all, if and when peace eventually comes.

Saving...

Disciples Meet Getting On To Vital Issues The biennial General Assembly of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ) put itself on record "against war and for peace," The action taken at the 6,000 voting delegate meeting held in Louisville Oct. 15-20 came after an unsuccessful attempt to place the Disciples on record as being a "peace church ... against all war," similar to the Quakers and Mennonites. The Disciples also urged Selective Service boards to grant conscientious objector status to Disciple members who request it. The adopted resolution directs the denomination's president and general minister to transmit the statement to the nation's Selective Service headquarters and asks each congregation to present the resolution to its local draft board. Vigorous discussion and debate came as delegates made attempts to state their position through a series of three prepared drafts of the resolution. Usually encumbered by many agency reports to be voted on, delegates at this Assembly adopted all but one of 19 reports and program projections unanimously in a single vote. Said Stanley Barlett, an Ohio delegate, who moved for the single resolution for adoption. "Even today 300 Southeast Asians are dying .. Let's get on with this and on to vital issues." In other actions, Disciples struggled with issues like the church's witness for peace, ministries with persons in prison for conscience's sake investment policies, threats to civil liberties, bail reform, Indochina social welfare, national health care the crisis in Pakistan, and prison reform. The Assembly resolved "to work to defeat the Bail Reform Amendment (S. 2600 and H.R. 12806) now pending before Congress. This section would amend the Bail Reform Act of 1966 to authorize preventive detention the detaining of defendants on the possibility that may commit a crime. Citing the relative case with which wealthier persons obtain bail as compared to poor people, the Disciples suggested "release on recognizance" procedures as a successfully tested experiment to ease injuries. A resolution was passed to appoint a task force to develop guidelines for investment policies and stock voting aimed at making a "positive contribution to the attainment of justice, freedom, peace and an ecologically sound environment." Declaring that there is "a growing mood and pattern of repression in the United States regarding civil liberties, mentioning preventive detention, no knock, entry. electronic eavesdropping, subpoenaing of news medial personnel and collection of dossiers, among others, the Assembly called upon its church members, "to work with our legislative representatives in Congress, the judges in our courts, and the law enforcement officers in our communities to assure that the civil liberties that we cherish are equally available to air including the poor, the powerless and the unpopular. Citing the recent "tragic violence" in the Attica prison, the General Assembly urged the "employment of substantially more blacks and Spanish personnel as guests and in other capacities in correctional institutions" and other measures aimed at prison reform. A resolution denouncing the "inadequate and decreasing role of women" in the church and calling for recommendations on "appropriate ways to increase participation of women in... the life of the church." was denounced by some as accenting reform in local congregations when it is most needed in state and national administrations. During the convention over 500 persons wore tags reading "300 More Today" to remind the delegates of the number of Southeast Asian deaths because of American military action. The Disciples Peace Fellowship with membership topping 1,500 an all time high , organized a silent vigil during an evening session of the Assembly to emphasize the expanding and escalating war and calling on "we Christians [to] join in the peacemaking that will bring an early end to the Indochina war." Crime Notebook Some Scenes From The Drama [Cont. from p.1] into a single one.." Believe it or not this speech was followed by Ambassador George Bush who said" ...we can in good conscience say to both parties: the halls of the United Nations are open to you both...."(Italics added) The Vote: There were some surprising votes for the admission of the People's Republic of China and the exclusion of Taiwan. The answer that was given by many delegates was that the issue was simply who was the legal representative of the Chinese people. Most delegates had little doubt. Hence the vote of nations like Israel for the Peoples' Republic. The Japanese vote surprised many. reports indicate that it was a combination of arm twisting and some personal loyalty of Premier Sato to Chiang Kai-Shek Former Canadian Ambassador to China Chester Ronning suggested Japan's economic and political interest in its former colony my have something to do with the pro-Formosa vote. The scene on Tuesday after the Monday evening vote was described by one veteran observer as "like being in an English pub on Christmas eve. After all these years people finally voted their consciences." According to one authoritative report China did not expect to gain admittance at this session and this is why they were taken by surprise at the size of the vote. So while it was a major propaganda victory for the Chinese the effect would have been stunning if a high level delegation had been prepared to take their position following the vote. Taiwan's Debt An interesting side story is that Taiwan leaves the world body owing $30.2 million in back dues. Doubt if even the Sears Roebuck bill collector could collect on this one. Despite attempts to present Taiwan as a "Christian nation" U.N. NEEDS PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Tower News Service and China as a "godless atheistic" country by certain fundamentalists, there was within the religious community satisfaction with the action. While expressing sorrow over the expulsion of Taiwan the Vatican saw the inclusion of China as "favoring the cause of peace and justice." Bishop Walsh, who was released from prison by the Chinese last year saw it as the "only sensible thing to do" Much of mainline Protestantism had been for the administration of the Peoples' Republic since the early 60s (One disturbing note had been raised by the American Jewish Committee, which charged in a report that right wing Christians are using President Nixon's trip to China to intensify anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic campaigns in the U.S. The claim is made by these extremists that somehow the Communist Chinese are under the control of "international Zionism.") No one really knows what role the Peoples' Republic will play expect another super power has been added to the U.N. Third world forces are probably hoping that at last they will have a supporter with genuine power that may break the Northern bloc of two super power. We could of course, have entered the age of triangles and that offers little hope for the developing nations. Everyone is agreed that the presence of the Chinese means a new ball game and the Chinese are up to bat. Bolovens Become a Battlefield [Cont. from p. 1] the Laotians one more "victory" in a country that can only lose whichever way the fighting tips. While U.S. gunships filled the air , U.S. artillery men directed support fire and C.I.A. "case officers" commanded their irregular troops by radio U.S. Air Force helicopters airlifted three battalions of Laotians into Paksong, and declared it a famous victory. The units entering Paksong found only a few dozen North Vietnamese troops, who withdrew to surrounding hills to join other communist units harassing the occupying forces from distances as close as a thousand yards. Although U.S. helicopters and firepower can place Government troops in a surrounded perimeter almost anywhere in Laos, it is difficult to maintain them, and most military observers here expect the Paksong once again will fall under communist control during the beginning of dry season. Far more crucial to the fate of southern Laos than troops being helicoptered into empty towns, however, is Hanoi's evident resolve to bond on to the Bolovens, which overlooks Pakse Laos' second largest city, the center for C.I.A. operations in the area, and the capital of an area that feels little loyalty to Vientiane and its northern born premier. Prince Souvanna Phouma. Observers here agree that Hanoi's interest in the plateau, which became primary only last year, can only grow stronger so long as the basis of the Nixon Administration's Indochina strategy remain one of trying to impede Hanoi's supply lines to South Viet Nam regardless of what "protective reactions" they may elicit from the communists in Laos and Cambodia. The sad fate of the war torn Bolovens - which once was the 0 Mi9les 100 N. VIETNAM, LAOS, Savannakhet, DEMILITARIZED ZONE, THAILAND, Mekong, DaNang, Saravane, HO CHI MINH TRIALS, BOLOVENS, Pakse, Paksong, PLATEAU.Attopeu, Sekong, CAMBODIA, Se San, Strung Treng. S VIETNAM peaceful preserve of some of Indochina's most untouched hill tribes and a few French coffee plantations - is strikingly similar to that of the Plain of Jars in northern Laos, Until a few years ago, both areas were generally peaceful, the Plain under communist control, the plateau under Government control. But the United States in 1969 escalated the Laotian war into the Plain when its "secret war" of harassment among North Viet Nam's border began to turn sour. Similarly,. Hanoi has expanded the Bolovens to cover the possibility of U.S. attacks against its trail network. As things stand now, the pattern of ever widening destruction in Laos seems likely to go on so long as Washington keeps looking for "short cuts" to military success in Indochina, as it did in Cambodia. The communists, both North Viet Nam and the Pathet Lao, repeatedly have offered a general cease fire in Laos, but the Americans are unwilling to accept any agreement that would not permit them to continue bombing and launching ground probes - against the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Of much more significance for the Laotians than the presently costly fighting around Paksong is the fact that had there been a cease fire in Laos a year ago, the entire plateau would have remained under Government control. The main question now is whether there will be any non communist presence there at all, if and when peace eventually comes.