Bill Ayers speaks out! An In These Times exclusive.

Catching Courage

By John Malkin

For her work as co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness, a campaign to end the economic sanctions against the people of Iraq, Kathy Kelly has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Voices in the Wilderness delivers medicine and other supplies to Iraqis in defiance of the U.S. government sanctions. As a result, the group has faced tens ofreturn to article

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    Try though I might, there are some people whose motivations, whose hardwiring one might say, I cannot seem to figure out.  Unfortunately, Kathy Kelly is one such individual.  Would that I could, however.  Would that I could convince myself, on that level that fuels action, that there could not be a more rational action than to stop the business as usual of my life and be there in Iraq, or in the countless other places on the planet where similar catastrophe has been wreaked by a species not yet mature enough to control itself.  If only I--and the millions of other “I’s” out here--could wake up and claim our humanity by setting as our number one priority, the assurance of the right of survival, hope and justice to all the world’s citizens that we take for granted as much as the air.  I cannot, not yet at least.  But it is
    to her and to Voices that my heart goes out; not to our troops who know not whom they serve and care not to question why. 

    United States Posted by Ean Behr on Mar 20, 2003 at 1:51 PM

    Kathy kelly is a real hero

    Europe Posted by H Garse on Mar 21, 2003 at 9:47 AM

    The plight of Iraqi citizens is a direct result of the brutal,stalinist regime headed by Saddam Hussein,
    who has a personal est. net worth of 7 Billion dollars, more than enough to feed and care for his people.
    As for oil, I understand the price is set by OPEC, not the US, and further, we buy Iraqi oil, and have contracts to buy Iraqi oil, for decades to come, regardless of any other consideration.
    Further, they are pretty damn lucky they have oil, otherwise they would have Nothing.
    And their plight, and that of many arab countries, as well as the rest of the world, would be 10, or 100 times worse than the current situation, FOR All Concerned.

    United States Posted by Sid Seven on Mar 24, 2003 at 10:09 PM

    Resources & Capital Drive the world.
    Resources & Capital Govern the world.
    The balancing of resources & capital
    is what is wrong with the world.
    Because resources & capital are
    NOT balanced throughout the world.
    If they were, all we would have left to war about would be religious differences, which usually are enough by themselves.
    In buying Iraqi oil, we are attempting to balance the situation in Iraq: what the Iraqi leadership does is entirely up to them.

    United States Posted by Sid Seven on Mar 24, 2003 at 10:17 PM

    Ok Sid, lets try a little communist economics and distribute all the money and valuable items equally.  It would be great to assume everyone would then live a happy life, throughout the world. 
    Looks good on paper, right? 

    Anyone with a religious or strategic bone to pick anywhere in the world would love this.  The US would be crushed!  Nevermind the fact that some people require or want more than others, some share more and give more… Why do I respond to this crap?  IT’S A NICE LITTLE PHILOSOPHY BUT LIFE ISN’T THAT SIMPLE!!!!!  Go spend a year in Pakistan or Colombia or Algeria and spread that peaceful word around.  How do you think you would be accepted there?

    United States Posted by ROCKTIME on Mar 25, 2003 at 7:27 PM

    Wonderful people exist. We are ashamed to do so little (going to anti-war demonstrations, that’s it) while others dedicate so much of their lives. Anyway, thank you very much.

    Thailand Posted by Eva + Olaf on Mar 25, 2003 at 10:56 PM

    Excellent, insightful and educational interview.  The questions were very thoughtful and Kathy Kelly is definitely walks the walk along with the talk.

    United States Posted by Gabriel Constans on Mar 25, 2003 at 11:33 PM

    thank you, Kathy Kelly.

    Canada Posted by Qi on Mar 30, 2003 at 2:04 PM

    We can catch courage, spirit, and power from Kathy Kelly, and get the word out.

    United States Posted by Jim Bement on Apr 14, 2003 at 1:27 AM
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