Activist argues for Iraqi aid

"They were hit with the Gulf War. Instead of ever getting relief, this is a society that's been shunned," she said. "They've been given every possible reason to feel bitter. Iraq is always precarious. It's always vulnerable."

As part of an extensive speaking tour in the U.S., she will talk Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., at St. John/St. Ann's Church in Albany.

Connecting to Iraq

Yet, during her visits to bring food and medicine in open violation of the sanctions, she said, "we're treated as if we're long-lost brothers and sisters. We eat with them. We snuggle up next to them on rooftops to sleep. If anything, they'd do ten times more for us [than we do for them] if we let them."

While she has heard people, even children, voice contempt and a desire to kill Americans, she has more often experienced "an astounding level of forgiveness."

Shortages

As a result, the government has maintained only a minimal network of civil servants, doctors and teachers to meet the educational and social service needs of the country. Ms. Kelly said that at one point she stayed at a school so filthy it was unfit for children. When she offered to help clean the rooms, she learned the head teacher had not even a broom and mop.

"If we have any hope of helping another country to democracy, you need education first of all," she said. "But you can't even get a journal there."

Working for change

The members also have organized protests in this country. Ms. Kelly was involved in a 40-day hunger fast and public vigil outside the United Nations in New York City on Sept. 11. Each day, she and 11 others brought uncooked lentils and rice, and a jug of untreated water to the UN and invited staff to share the meal and discuss the suffering in Iraq. Because security was too tight around the United Nations and because they were so stunned by the attack, Ms. Kelly said her group continued the vigil privately.

But there will be further protests, including a Nov. 25-Dec. 5 walk from Washington, D.C.to New York City and a teach-in next January.

Protecting children

"What I'm suggesting is that in the weeks to come, we could gently ask our friends, co-workers, neighbors and family members to consider what we now have in common with ordinary Iraqi families and children," she wrote recently. "Recalling our feelings when we watched buildings collapse, saw bodies dragged from the ruins and learned that thousands of innocents were instantly incinerated, can we possibly think that Iraqi people have felt differently when they've been attacked?"

(For more information, visit www.vitw.org, call 773-784-8065 or write 1460 West Carmen St., Chicago, IL 60640.)

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