Topeka Center

for Peace and Justice

Contents:

• Back from the Brink: Avoiding an Accidental Nuclear War

• Diversity and Human Rights: Where Does it start? Where Does it end?

• Students Promote Diversity Through Discussion

• Martin Luther King Celebration

• Call to Renewal Update: Overcoming Poverty in Topeka

• Victim Offender Mediation Local Appointment

• Martin Luther King Week Activities

Back from the Brink: Avoiding an Accidental Nuclear War
by Kent Fellenbaum

During the November summit between Presidents Bush and Putin, Bush pledged that the U.S. would decrease its arsenal of nuclear weapons by two-thirds over the next ten years. Putin declared that Russia would "try to respond in kind," but did not give a specific number. While these pledges have brought renewed hope that the two leaders are working to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, nothing was mentioned about taking these weapons off of hair-trigger alert.

Over the last several months, the CENTER has been working with the Back from the Brink campaign in Washington, DC, to notify regional religious leaders in Kansas about this issue. Back from the Brink is a national organization that works with communities in the U.S. and around the world to educate individuals and organizations on the issue of "de-alerting" nuclear weapons. Over 40 Kansas religious leaders added their signatures to letters, which were sent to Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, urging them to work with President Bush to get nuclear weapons taken off of hair-trigger alert.

Why is this such an important issue? To this day, thousands of nuclear missiles, both in the United States and Russia, remain ready to be launched literally at a moment’s notice, even though the Cold War ended a decade ago. In a time of crisis or perceived attack, decision makers only have a matter of minutes to decide whether or not to initiate a massive strike. De-alerting, on both sides, means lengthening the time needed to launch these missiles, which would decrease the risk of accidental launch due to human or computer error.

The world has already had at least one major close call with catastrophe. In January 1995, Russian military technicians detected a missile launched from a U.S.

submarine off the coast of Norway. For a few anxious minutes, officials thought it was a possible attack. President Boris Yeltsin was quickly notified and, for the first time ever, his "black briefcase," the electronics case that can order the response firing of nuclear missiles, was activated. Fortunately, senior military officials determined that the rocket posed no threat to Russia as it headed out to sea. The rocket turned out to be a U.S. scientific probe sent up to investigate the northern lights.

An incident like this clearly demonstrates the need to remove nuclear weapons from their current high-alert status. President Bush reiterated this in May 2000, during his election campaign: "For two nations at peace, keeping so many weapons on high alert may create unacceptable risks of accidental or unauthorized launch." Bush’s father set a precedent in September 1991, while he was president, by ordering a stand-down of many U.S. strategic bombers. He also de-alerted strategic missiles slated to be scrapped under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties (START) I, which included 450 Minuteman II rockets. President Mikhail Gorbachev responded to the action by ordering the deactivation of more than 500 land-based missiles and six strategic submarines.

Something else to consider: Russia’s ongoing economic crisis has prevented its military from being able to maintain their satellite and radar systems designed to detect a nuclear attack. These systems are breaking down, creating a bigger threat for false alarms, like that which occurred in 1995.

Several possibilities exist for increasing the time needed to prepare nuclear weapons for launch, according to Scientific American. One idea is to physically remove the warheads of missiles, such as the MX or Trident-type, to storage. Having safety switches pinned open on all Minuteman III missiles so that they are disabled would also increase the amount of time needed to launch. Other practical solutions include shutting off missile launch circuits and deploying submarines out of range of their intended targets.

The CENTER continues to work on this issue with plans to hold editorial board meetings with national Back from the Brink Chairman Ira Shorr, as well as a meeting between Kansas religious leaders and Sen. Roberts.

If you would like to help, please call the CENTER at 785-232-4388. You can also write to Back from the Brink, 6856 Eastern Ave. NW, Suite 322, Washington, DC 20012, call (202) 545-1001, or visit their web site at www.backfromthebrink.org. Concerned citizens should also contact Senators Brownback and Roberts.

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Diversity and Human Rights: Where does it start? Where does it end?
by Lakiesha Sanders, 8th grade, Chase Middle School

Martin Luther King had a gift. The greatest was his love of God and Jesus. In the beginning, we all came into the world born by a woman. Somewhere along the way things and meanings where changed. Instead of being brothers and sisters to one another, separatism occurred. Our brothers and sisters began to judge one another by how we looked rather than what they knew of us. Never judged by our character, but what was different about us.

To be judged in this manner affected some people’s lives, thus the creation of separate but not equal. Failing to recognize the similarities between all of us, this change was evil and lasted for a long time. Destined to need a conqueror and a hero with purpose and determination. According to the Declaration of Independence, fought for and won. All men are to be treated equal on all levels.

In the past, black people were not allowed to sit in the front of the buses. They were also denied drinking from the same water fountain as whites. They lived in certain areas of the city. They entered businesses from the back door. They were seated in the high balcony of theaters. They attended all black schools. They worked at lesser paying jobs, and basically had a life with a lesser meaning and purpose. Violence was not a part of Martin Luther King’s crusade. "Peace" was the key to all his challenges.

Some of my favorite quotes are from the passage "I Have A Dream." "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." "I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed." All of these quotes mean something.

Don’t judge people by their skin color, size, or the way they dress. I think what it all sums down to is when God comes, he’s not judging you by your skin color or weight. He is judging you by your heart and knowledge. Another passage I liked was "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last!" This particular passage was on his headstone.

This next passage is called "Drum Major:" "If you want to say I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice, say that I was a drum major for peace, I was a drum major for righteousness." This passage meant that he was a leader, because a drum major is a leader. Martin Luther King changed everyone. In conclusion, I would like to say, "Martin Luther King, you will be missed. We put up our hearts and put down our fists."

(Lakiesha Sanders was one of several winners in this year’s "Living the Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Essay Competition.")

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Students Promote Diversity Through Discussion
by Lynette Farmer

Students at Topeka West High School are working to reduce prejudice and encourage the appreciation of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds through dialogue.

The Heritage Panel is a group of students who are available to lead discussions about diversity. An adult, serving as the discussion moderator, accompanies the students. Students begin by describing themselves in terms of their culture and heritage. They also speak about how to handle prejudice. The students’ presentations are followed by a guided discussion with the audience. Heritage Panel is part of the program of the National Conference for Community and Justice, a long-established, nationwide anti-prejudice organization.

Heritage Panel members are chosen to represent various racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds. They are also selected for their commitment to promoting respect and communication among all people.

Because panel members share information on a personal level about the traditions and teachings of their families, Heritage Panel presentations raise awareness about the experiences of other people, and how they differ from or are similar to our own. Through the discussion of prejudice, panel presentations help to develop a shared commitment and strategy for handling issues of diversity in the community.

Heritage Panels speak to classes in the high school, middle, and elementary schools. They also speak to groups in Topeka and surrounding communities. To request a panel presentation, please call Lynette Farmer at 785-271-3556.

(Lynette Farmer is a social worker at Topeka West High School. A longtime member of the CENTER, she coordinates the peer mediation and peer assistance programs at the high school.)

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Martin Luther King Celebration
Monday, January 21, 7:00 p.m., free soup supper at 6:00 p.m. (Donations and desserts welcome)

Topeka's Ninth Annual Community Celebration of the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 3601 SW 17th, Topeka. Bishop William P. DeVeaux, Presiding Bishop, 16th Episcopal District, A.M.E. Church will speak on the theme of "Dr. King's Dream in an Era of Terrorism." Featuring Highland Park High School African-American Cultural Club Gospel Choir and Topeka High School Jazz Ensemble. For more information, call 785-232-4388.

(The annual celebration of Dr. King's birthday is organized by Whose Dream Is It?, a coalition of religious and community leaders committed to facing the challenge of living and promoting the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. among all faiths and all people.)

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Call to Renewal Update: Overcoming Poverty in Topeka
by Kent Fellenbaum

Since Jim Wallis spoke in Topeka two years ago at the Martin Luther King celebration, local church leaders have set aside theological differences to join in the fight against poverty. Wallis is the convener of Call to Renewal, a network of individuals and congregations that have come together in an effort to overcome poverty in the United States, by intentionally bringing together Evangelicals, Mainline Protestants, Catholics, Historic Black Churches, Historic Peace Churches, and Pentecostals, as well as other major faith-based organizations.

In August 2000, area clergy participated in a Roundtable gathering at the Topeka Rescue Mission. Participants met in small groups to discuss the basic uniting principles of faith, programs, and public policies. Following these brainstorming sessions, the results were brought back to the larger group. Many agreed that churches need to work together against poverty, not only out of obedience to Biblical teachings, but as the most realistic way of addressing the enormity of the problem.

An underlying goal of the Roundtable was to bring together different streams of the Christian Church that traditionally have had little interaction. Some leaders had expressed apprehension before the meeting about whether or not the ministers and lay leaders could disregard their differences in theology and doctrine to focus on the issue at hand. In some ways, the gaps being bridged between denominations are more substantial than those between Christianity and other faith traditions. But afterwards, the sentiment was overwhelmingly positive.

The next step following the Roundtable involved contacting local organizations, including Doorstep, Let’s Help, Topeka Rescue Mission, and the Salvation Army, to assess the specific needs of the poor in Topeka and what churches can do to address them. A related workshop was held later that August with Faith Works of Kansas, an organization that links together struggling families with local churches. Representatives were also on hand from Jobs Partnership, a cooperative program, based in Raleigh, N.C., through which churches and businesses provide mentoring, training and employment for the needy. They explained how their program could benefit the Topeka community.

Jobs Partnership uses a 12-week curriculum that incorporates work ethics along with the skills to find and keep employment. This not only benefits the job seeker, but potential employers as well by providing well-trained, church-supported workers who know the expectations of obtaining, maintaining, and advancing in employment. Communities also benefit by supplying unemployed persons with jobs, which then empowers them to become productive, tax-paying citizens. Since its inception in 1996, Jobs Partnership has established agendas in 20 cities across the U.S. with 92 percent of those participants still working and 12 more programs under construction. An additional 68 cities have expressed interest in starting a program like Jobs Partnership.

Like the Topeka Roundtable, members of the national Call to Renewal network have made poverty, racism, and the restoration of families and communities a priority, so as to not let religious differences distract from the main objective. At the same time, the movement seeks to draw upon the strengths of each denomination’s traditions in the fight against poverty. For more information on how to become involved with Topeka’s Call to Renewal, please contact the CENTER at (785) 232-4388. Also visit the Call to Renewal (www.calltorenewal.com) and Jobs Partnership (www.tjp.org) web sites.

(Kent Fellenbaum, a Mennonite Voluntary Service worker, is serving this year in the CENTER’s office as Administrative Assistant.)

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Victim Offender Mediation Local Appointment
by Bill Beachy

The Shawnee County Board of Commissioners appointed the CENTER’s Victim Offender Mediation Project Coordinator, Kent Reed, to the Shawnee County Community Corrections Advisory Board at its December 20, 2001, meeting. Kent is a natural for the Board position because of his good and hard work this last year establishing the Project in Topeka as a leading application of restorative justice at work.

The Project finished the year with its first six completed agreements. It offered services to 65 case clients and had 18 juvenile offenders referred to the Project. The agreements resulted in $3,584.40 of restitution for victims of crime in Shawnee County and the opportunity for the juvenile offenders to face their victims in accounting for their mistakes.

The Project owes a heartfelt thank you to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Family Division, 3rd Judicial District Judges, Court Services and Shawnee County Community Corrections for the case referrals and support.

The Project also continues to support and promote restorative justice in Shawnee County and across Kansas. In celebration of National Restorative Justice month in November the Project co-hosted a Conference on Restorative Justice at Washburn Law School. It has also teamed with the Kansas Children’s Service League and Safe Streets to promote mediation through the Shawnee County Mediation Association.

Kent will be busy the next few weeks speaking to two Neighborhood Improvement Association meetings; and attending the Kansas City Regional Victim Offender Mediation Association, the quarterly Children, Youth and Family Community Planning Team, the 3rd Judicial District Service Providers meeting and the Advisory Board.

In order to increase referrals and thus provide greater service the Project plans to soon team with local law enforcement to develop options for additional case referrals.

Please let Kent know at the CENTER’s Project office (785-232-4144, vomtcpj@yahoo.com) if there are groups that you want to have contacted about mediation or restorative justice or if you are interested in volunteering as a mediator.

(Bill Beachy is the Executive Director of the CENTER and Editor of COOPERATION TIMES.)

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Martin Luther King Week Activities
(The "LTD" events were organized by the Living The Dream committee.)

The week kicks off with a Proclamation given by Mayor Butch Felker in support of the week’s activities at the City Council meeting, 218 SE 8th Street, at 7:00 p.m. LTD

Dale "Mad Dog" Messmer speaks to students at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. Messmer, a convicted felon who served more than 10 years in prison for drug smuggling and armed robbery, now speaks about his experience, emphasizing the harsh realities of bad choices. LTD

A Jazz Extravaganza for area high school students will be held at White Concert Hall. Bands from area schools display their talents from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The group Dark Complexions will also perform. Public invited. LTD

The work of Student Art and Essay Competition participants will be displayed. Winning entries will also be published in the Topeka Capital-Journal and displayed at the Living the Dream Awards banquet. LTD

Area businesses will hold their own Diversity Day by encouraging employees to dress in their own ethnic attire and bring cultural foods to share with others. Adult and high school Diversity Heritage panels will speak at area businesses from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. LTD

The Governor's March from the Judicial Center to the second floor rotunda of the Capitol will begin at 10:30 a.m.

The Baptist Minister's Union is sponsoring a public church service at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, 2222 SE Madison, featuring the Rev. Billy Blackmon and the choir of the New Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

The Living the Dream Awards invitation-only banquet will be held at the Ramada Inn Downtown at 6:00 p.m., with awards and Topeka High student Bo Freeman speaking. LTD

The Sons of Glory will perform at a free gospel concert held at White Concert Hall, starting at 3:00 p.m. LTD

Let Freedom Ring will host a Noon celebration honoring Dr. King at St. John AME Church, 7th and Topeka Blvd., featuring the Rev. Terrell Davis, a high school principal from Wichita. Dinner will immediately follow the program at the Sweet Building, 635 Topeka Blvd. ($5 donation).

Whose Dream Is It?, sponsors the annual community celebration at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 3601 SW 17th, at 7:00 p.m. William P. DeVeaux, Presiding Bishop of the 16th Episcopal District of the AME Church, will speak on "Dr. King's Dream in an Era of Terrorism." A free soup supper starts at 6:00 p.m. See page 3.

For more information on any of these events, please contact the CENTER at 785-232-4388.

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