I received nearly 100 responses
to the Board of Directors' letter about the war in Iraq (October
2002) and my subsequent column in the NASW News (April 2003).
Although the war is officially over, additional comments are
coming in through the Web, letters to the editor, and e-mail,
as well as through personal letters, cards, and phone calls to
me.
The topic and opinions expressed have
produced a remarkable range of passionate and reasoned viewpoints
from a diverse group of members who are comfortable sharing their
views and advocating so intensely for their positions.
As anticipated, there were those who
agreed and those who disagreed with the Board's position, and
my own. The ability to freely and openly debate issues and express
dissenting views is the hallmark of a healthy democracy. I encourage
all members to keep the dialogue and discussion going. We will
continue to post your comments and link to related articles and
resources.
Regardless of your personal views,
we hope you are as proud as we are of our profession, which includes
in its ranks so many dedicated social workers.
Terry Mizrahi, PhD,
MSW
NASW President
 Sample comments from NASW members:
"Can NASW
afford to alienate social workers like myself who supported the
removal of arch-dictator
Saddam Hussein?"
(Bruce Birnberg 4/11/03)
"What
happened to being able to disagree with policy, but supporting
the troops, who have a job to do?"
(Lennard
Wedderburn 4/10/03)
"Such
a terrible place we are in at this point in time and moment in
history. The Bush administration
is tearing this country apart from the inside out."
(Pat Johnston
4/1/03)
"We
work for peace and justice. I stand for peace and justice."
(Moya Atkinson 4/3/03)
"I take exception to the idea that
the Board should unilaterally take a position against the United
States' decision to go to war."
(Randy Freeman 4/7/03)
"While
we look at the broader geo-political policies and dynamics
that shape our shared worldview, which
often well up into a critical voice in our profession, we need
to be very sensitive to our own American people, who serve selflessly
and heroically in our defense."
(Richard Voss 4/9/03)
"I am pleased to hear of the board's
position against the war in Iraq, as well as its devastating
effects on the people and the economy."
(Richard Pearce 4/9/03)
"It is crucial that we connect our
profession's ethic of social justice with foreign policy, as
well as with domestic policy."
(Scott Nash 4/8/03)
" I think that NASW is misrepresenting
some of its members, especially me. Not all social workers share
in NASW's public stance opposing the war with Iraq.
(Mina-Ayesha
Blair 4/4/03)
"I
know my opinion my be adverse to many, but I believe that what
we are doing in Iraq is necessary
to save our way of life."
(Laura Campbell 4/3/03)
"Violence
only begets violence, and we are seeing that played out clearly
in Iraq and around the
world. We are the richest nation in the world and are able to
help so many grow, rather than aid in the destruction of those
we deem less important."
(Heidi Behr 3/27/03)
"I
am proud to be a soon-to-be social worker, in a profession
that upholds the standards of human rights,
social justice, and peaceful resolution."
(Kristen
Nolen 3/25/03)
"After reading 'A Legacy of Peace,' written
by Dr. Mizrahi, I feel especially proud to be a social worker."
(Dan
Bannister 3/24/03)
"It
is time we assume a leadership role in these changing times.
It is time to stop stating our
positions, and it is time to act on them."
(Kimberly Malcolm
3/21/03)
"I am of the opinion that we need
more voices of women in today's world. Personally, I think it
is time for a woman president of this country."
(Jean Sanville
3/21/03)
"I am glad that President Terry Mizrahi's
very eloquent article will appear in NASW NEWS, but we
need more than opinions and ideas."
(Moya Atkinson 3/21/03)
"I
would not expect George Bush to tell me how to do my job, and
I do not intend to tell him how
to do his."
(Joy MacThomas 3/25/03)
"The
International Federation of Social Workers has always supported
the United Nations, and believes
firmly in its central role as a global voice for democracy and
peaceful solutions to conflict."
(Imelda Dodds and Tom Johannesen
3/18/03)
"I am greatly concerned that NASW
has taken such a strong position in foreign affairs. I fail to
see how this position fulfills the association's mission and
its Code of Ethics. "
(Beth Koon 3/19/03)
"I
cannot, in good conscience, as a school social worker, justify
or apologize for the calculated
killing of an enormous number of children and families." (Richard
Morris 3/13/03)
"I
believe we as social workers need to support the men and women
who will be putting their lives
on the line. I also believe we should support President Bush
during this time."
(Richard Behnke 3/8/03)
"The cost — in
terms of deaths of innocent people, the money to run a war plus
re-building Iraq after a war, erosion of American influence in
the region, as well as all over the world — results
in a no-win situation."
(Karen Moore 3/5/03)
"We,
as a country, are risking the stability of the world by our
unilateral actions, which will
have consequences beyond immediate TV network coverage of successes
on the war field."
(Ronald Furniss 3/20/03)
"All
social workers must pressure the Democrats in Congress to take
courage and oppose the militarism
of the Bush administration, while, at the same time, fighting
for legislation that will benefit poor and working people."
(Carol
Kaplan 3/11/03)
"Our publications, and our focus,
should be about peace, and we should be out there on the front
street with others waving 'NASW for PEACE' banners." (Molly Brudnick
2/14/03)
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