Letter from Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Organization, an international faith partner of the UUA, to President George W. Bush, Feb. 17, 2003

February 17th, 2003

H.E. Mr. George W. Bush
President
The United States of America

Dear Mr. President,

Witnessing irreplaceable lives have often been infringed in changing international affairs, we, as the individuals with faith, have always kept our prayer for the realization of a world where all lives are cherished.

In this respect, we were deeply saddened to have known the loss of lives caused by the terrible accident of the Space Shuttle Columbia. From our heart, we express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families and the citizens of your country, a great nation of the world. We all share with you and your people the sense of great loss. But, the astronauts' contribution to the betterment of humanity will be remembered for many years to come.

At the same time, we are deeply concerned about the situation in Iraq. Regardless of the inspection efforts by the United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), doubt of Iraqi's possession of weapons of mass destruction remains. As a result, the United States is determined to solve the problem even through military means.

While recognizing Iraq's responsibility in fulfilling its obligations fully incurred by the United Nations' resolutions, we must not neglect that many invaluable lives are under the threat of military attacks. We are of the strong view that all lives, including Americans', Iraqi's and others', are equally precious.

Therefore, we, who seek a world respectful of all lives, call on the government of the Republic of Iraq to cooperate with the United Nations' inspections unconditionally and totally. Such a decisive step can retrieve innocent Iraqi people from the fringe of fear.

We call on the government of the United States to choose the path of peaceful settlement to the situation because a solution through violent means will only create a never-ending cycle of hatred.

Human beings tend to renounce violence whilst they aim at a world where all lives are respected. Non-killing and non-violence are crucial pillars in the contemporary world where tension is so high. The spirit of the above-mentioned principles is indispensable in finding a way-out of world problems.

We acknowledge that the current Iraqi crisis is not the matter only between the United States and Iraq. Rather it is the matter of concern of all the human beings who eagerly hope for peace. It is because how the current impasse be solved either militarily or peacefully could be a watershed which makes the twenty-first century remain to be"the Century of Confrontation" or become in a true sense "the Century of Reconciliation".

Facing the current crisis, the global citizens as well as people of faith might think of their limit in contributing to the amelioration of the situation. But we strongly believe that a positive action of an individual will bring about a wider wave of peace. Let us all make the first step for the establishment of a peaceful world with our prayer so as to make this century be "the Century of Reconciliation".

Yours respectfully,

SIGNED

Reverend Katsunori Yamanoi
Chairperson
Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Organization

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