Constant Readers,
Proposition U on November’s ballot would make it official San Francisco policy that our “elected representatives…should vote against any further funding for the deployment of United States armed forces in Iraq with the exception of funds specifically earmarked to provide for their safe and orderly withdrawal.” It was put on the ballot by the signatures of Supervisors Ammiano, Daly, Peskin, McGoldrick and Mirkarimi.
Now, I understand why many in San Francisco feel the need to articulate a foreign policy. I grew up the youngest child in a large family whose unifying trait was the ability to boss me around. With no one lower in the pecking order, I resorted to telling my toys what to do. My Mom loves nothing more than to regale the table at Thanksgiving with the story of the time she caught me reading the riot act to my Cabbage Patch Kids. (Apparently, I felt they weren’t pulling their weight in the chore department.) Obviously, they just stared at me with their mockingly naive eyes; never lifting one chubby little finger.
But while I know that sometimes any outlet will do, I have to wonder: do our elected representatives really need another reminder that we are against the Iraq war? Does anyone not know where San Francisco stands on this issue?
Since 2002, the Board of Supervisors has passed at least 13 resolutions on the subject of Iraq - including one opposing the invasion of Iraq before the war started. They’ve declared it “End the War in Iraq” day, recognized the “National Day of Action to Support GI Resisters,” and told our representatives to endorse two anti-war resolutions. (Our representatives refused both times.) They’ve supported American citizenship for all U.S. troops, called for the flag to fly at half-mast, and expressed solidarity with Iraqi labor leaders. (See bottom of post.)
In November 2004, 63 percent of San Francisco voters supported Proposition N, which made it official San Francisco policy that “the federal government should take immediate steps to end the US occupation of Iraq and bring our troops home now.”
When the Rules Committee heard public comment on Proposition U, folks argued that we need this proposition in order keep the pressure on the federal government. In light of previous official statements, I doubt the passage of Proposition U would be “news” much less additional “pressure” on Capitol Hill. But maybe the frustration is so great that folks just need to let it out. Even if it is unlikely to cause our representatives to lift one chubby little finger.
--Melissa
Here are the Iraq-related resolutions: Download iraq_resolution_1.pdf, Download resolution_2.pdf, Download resolution_3.pdf, Download resoluton_4.pdf, Download resolution_5.pdf, Download resolution_6.pdf, Download resolution_7.pdf, Download resolution_8.pdf, Download resolution_9.pdf, Download resolution_10.pdf, Download resolution_11.pdf, Download resolution_12.pdf, Download resolution_13.pdf
Comments
Dear Ms. Griffin:
I totally disagree. This "war" has gone on for more than 5 years. 5 years! Enough is enough, don't you agree? An illegal, unnecessary, trilion dolllar war.
We need to go back to the ballot again and again to remind Nancy, Gavin, Dianne, and all the rest, to end the funding and to stop the mayhem.
Thank you.
Rick Hauptman
Progressive Democrats
San Francisco
Frustrated is a major understatement! What would you have us do Melissa--scream from our rooftops? The point is that the rest of the country feels almost as strongly as we San Franciscans but someone has to take that first step and we are the city that knows how. People are more than annoyed that Nancy Pelosi had the power to stop the war by not allowing any funding except to bring the troops home and she didn't. We have to ask ourselves "why". She writes a book on "power" but drops the ultimate ball herself. So this is just another way, besides faxing and e-mailing and tv and radio ads, to let her know that we are mad and "we're not going to take it any more."
Shirley: San Francisco already has taken the "first step." And the second step. And the third. And so on. Can there really be any serious question as to where San Francisco stands on the issue. And as for you comment of telling Nancy Pelosi that we're mad and "we're not gonna take it anymore." I seem to recall that we had a primary. And I think Pelosi got about 88 percent of the votes cast by SF residents when she was presented with a staunchly anti-war opponent (you). I'm with ya on the war issue, but it seems that SF voters have had their say on Nancy Pelosi.
Rick: Gavin has control over the purse strings for funding the Iraq war? I had no idea.
@Shirley - I'm not opposed to shouting from rooftops, email, faxes and interpretive dances. And I'm not against Prop U. I'm just wondering aloud whether these messages are ever going to make a difference.
@Rick - I'm just not sure that whether someone needs to be "reminded" of something that never affected the way they vote in the first place is a good use of time and energy. Why not find someone to run against Nancy P? Or support Sheehan?
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