OTTAMWA IA 52501 9 156 E ALTA VISTA 1362 ELLEN WEINBERG SHOFAR ALEPH ZADIK ALEPH (AZA) B'NAI B'RITH GIRLS (BBG) APRIL-MAY, 1972 B'nai B'rith Youth Organization The answer is at this time 'No.' As until we get the POW's back, those Something precious will have been long as there are Americans who who choose to desert their country, a lost by the American people if they choose to serve their country rather few hundred, they can live with their regard amnesty as a matter of mercy. than desert their country, and it is a choice. That is my attitude. Much of the hope of the future depends hard choice, and they are there in Viet- -President Richard M. Nixon upon a clear recognition that resistance nam, there will be no amnesty for those CBS-TV interview to an unjust cause is a sacred right of who deserted their country. As long as man. there are any POW's held by the North Rabbi Abraham Heschel Vietnamese, there will be no amnesty Professor of Mysticism for those who deserted their country. Jewish Theological Seminary Just let me say, Mr. Rather, on that score, I don't say this because I am hardhearted. I say it because it is the Vietnam has rent the fabric of Amer- only right thing to do. Two and a half ican society for nearly a decade. We million young Americans had to make must begin to understand the implica- the choice when they went to serve in tions of having 70,000 Americans as Vietnam. Most of them, I am sure, did political exiles. not want to go. It is not a very pleasant We are a nation that has prided itself place. as being a refuge for those fleeing from I imagine most of these young Amer- A political orders they could not bear. I icans when they went out there did so firmly believe that we must remain with some reluctance, but they chose QUESTION true to our heritage, and find ways to to serve. Of those that chose to serve, OF restore fully to our society all those thousands of them died for their who have suffered because of the war. choice, and until this war is over, and AMNESTY Sen. Edward M. Kennedy There are few questions which attract responses have the opportunity to give his views and ques- The last such proclamation was issued in 1924 by as emotionally charged as the question of amnesty tion the participants in part one of the program. President Calvin Coolidge, and applied to those for Vietnam draft evaders. At the recent meeting individuals convicted of desertion after the STEP THREE of the B'nai B'rith Board of Governors, a resolu- Vote by secret ballot. The ballots should be Armistice of World War I, restoring their right tion was introduced calling for amnesty for Viet- counted and the vote recorded on the special to citizenship. nam protesters. After a great deal of discussion, ballot provided on this page. Please, only one There was no general amnesty granted to indi- the Board of Governors referred the question back ballot per chapter. We are only interested in the viduals who deserted during World War II or dur- to the lodges of B'nai B'rith. Background informa- vote of those attending the meeting. ing the Korean conflict, though an amensty board tion and a poll has gone to every B'nai B'rith lodge. set up by President Truman eventually pardoned SOME ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES We now present the question to all members of 1500 World War II resisters. BBYO: Since this is the kind of chapter program which will attract a large attendance, make sure you AMNESTY AND THE VIETNAM WAR Should there be amnesty for Vietnam draft evaders? publicize it to all of your members. Have the Today, in an effort to reconcile divided elements telephone committee tell all chapter members in the United States, several amnesty bills have The question of amnesty for Vietnam draft and send flyers out to your full chapter mailing list. been introduced in Congress to deal with Viet- evaders can make for an exciting program for a Schedule the meeting at least three weeks in nam protesters and draft evaders (but not with chapter meeting. By presenting the facts and tak- advance and give the participants at least two deserters). ing a vote in the chapter, for the first time we can weeks notice to prepare for their presentation. The question that faces the American people get a true reading of the feelings of the entire Most of the major news magazines (Time, to day is: Should the United States grant amnesty B'nai B'rith Youth Organization on an issue of Newsweek, US News) have devoted articles to to the estimated 75,000 or more of its citizens great importance. amnesty if you need more information they can who are presently in jail or living abroad because be helpful. Your local library should also be able of their refusal to fight in the Vietnam War? to help you with material on the issue. Resisters who have fled to other countries face a STEP ONE Present the three major positions: No amnesty maximum penalty of five years in jail and a AMNESTY: ITS HISTORY now; Conditional amnesty; Total amnesty. $10,000 fine if they return. IN THE UNITED STATES Three chapter members can research the three Amnesty implies a sovereign act of forgiveness WHAT DO YOU THINK? points of view and present their arguments to the for past acts, granted by a government to all On the next page we present a few of chapter. We give you here a few of the major persons or to certain persons, and often condi- arguments, but you can go beyond this. the arguments for and against am- tioned upon their return to duty within a pre- Or, you may want to ask people from the com- nesty and some additional back- scribed time. The authority to grant pardons or munity to represent various positions or stage a amnesties has, on occasion, been exercised by ground on the subject. panel discussion. You may want to involve a the President of the United States. It was used for Read the material, discuss it at your representative of the local draft board, your Rabbi, the first time in 1807 when President Thomas chapter meeting, and then AS A a representative from a local peace group, a Jefferson granted pardons to individuals who had CHAPTER complete the BBYO poll representative from a veterans organization. deserted from the Armed Forces during the 1795 on Amnesty and return it to the ad- STEP TWO Whiskey Rebellion. Through the years other dress shown. Results will be pub- Allow plenty of time for full discussion by the Presidential proclamations granted pardons to lished in a future issue of The Shofar. entire chapter. Every chapter member should deserters, with certain stipulations or conditions.