Iraqi Democracy

  • Author:
    n/a
  • Send To:
    President Bush, members of Congress, the State Department, the US Agency for International Development, the National Endowment of Democracy, the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, the United States Institute of Peace an
  • Sponsored By:
    Students for Global Democracy
  • More Info at:
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Petition sponsored by Students for Global Democracy (SGD), www.sfgd.org

THIS PETITION seeks to support Iraqi students in their efforts to help develop a democratic society in Iraq. With this petition, we declare our intention to aid students who seek to build an Iraqi society that respects its citizens' political and civil liberties.

WE BELIEVE that every human being is born with the natural rights of self-determination. As Americans, we enjoy these rights in our daily lives; Iraqis should too. Because today's Iraqi students will lead their nation tomorrow, the best way to ensure a long-term Iraqi democracy is to listen to the students. We must ensure that their efforts to promote democracy are encouraged, funded, and assisted as much as possible.

WE DO NOT TAKE a position on whether the invasion of Iraq was just. We the undersigned include both anti-war and pro-war students in our movement. Because the United States is committed to Iraq, however, we Americans owe a special debt to the Iraqi people, no matter one's position on the war itself. We must do whatever we can to help build democracy in Iraq.

WE BELIEVE that the upcoming elections in Iraq are vital to that nation's development and that succesful democracy there will help bring American soldiers home. Around the world, including in the United States, students have always played a key role in the development of democracy of their nations. Students' youthful idealism, energy, and desire for freedom make them a vital part of any project to expand democracy.

THEREFORE,

WE DECLARE our support and solidarity with all Iraqi students, and

WE CALL ON President Bush, members of Congress, the State Department, the US Agency for International Development, the National Endowment of Democracy, the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, the United States Institute of Peace and other Non-Governmental Organizations to take the following steps:

(1) Fund and train efforts by Iraqi students, including activist organizations, newspapers, television and radio broadcasting, and Internet sites that seek to promote democracy and freedom in Iraq. Encourage the formation of a nationwide, student-led, pro-democracy network.

(2) Seek out Iraqi students and listen to their opinions on the successes and failures of U.S. policy in Iraq. We need advice and cooperation from Iraqi students to ensure the success of the upcoming elections.

(3) Encourage, train, and sponsor students to work at the polls on election day, to participate in Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaigns, and to volunteer in every way possible in their country's electoral process.

WE URGE all Americans promoting democracy in Iraq to take special care when working with students to ensure their security.

(Note: Please choose to make your email address available to petition authors to remain abreast of future developments in global democracy.)

97 Signatures

  • Charlie Szrom
    • Location (City, State)
    • Bloomington, IN
    • Organization
    • Students for Global Democracy
  • Andrew Allaby
    • Location (City, State)
    • Bloomington, IN
    • Organization
    • Students for Global Democracy
  • Rachel Becker
    • Location (City, State)
    • Bright, IN
    • Organization
    • SGD affiliate
  • Corinna Hann
    • Location (City, State)
    • Williamsburg, Virginia
  • Michael Cecire
    • Location (City, State)
    • Richmond, Virginia
    • Organization
    • Campus Forum for Mideast Democracy
  • William Buttrey
    • Location (City, State)
    • Los Angeles, CA
    • Organization
    • AHFA
  • Brian Stewart
    • Location (City, State)
    • Bloomington, Indiana
  • Melody Hines
    • Location (City, State)
    • Bloomington, Indiana
    • Organization
    • Students For Democracy
  • James David Handley
    • Location (City, State)
    • Bloomington, IN
    • Organization
    • Students for Global Democracy
  • Blythe Dorn
    • Location (City, State)
    • Chicago, IL
    • Organization
    • Student Committee on the Middle East
  • Heidi Rosbe
    • Location (City, State)
    • Brooklyn, NY
  • Anya Salganik
    • Location (City, State)
    • Boston, MA
  • Michael Bertolini
    • Location (City, State)
    • Kensington, CT
    • Organization
    • CCSU History Club
  • Ro Ding
    • Location (City, State)
    • 2200 E.Lingelbach Ln, Redbud Hills Apt.#1401,Bloomington, IN 47408,USA
    • Organization
    • NLD (Burma)
  • Christina Preslar
    • Location (City, State)
    • Norwalk, CT
    • Organization
    • International Relations Association
  • Elizabeth Hunter
    • Location (City, State)
    • Ann Arbor, MI
  • Darren Favello
    • Location (City, State)
    • lisbon, ct
  • Zachary Lazarus
    • Location (City, State)
    • Flossmoor, IL
  • Talia Barrett
    • Location (City, State)
    • Middletown, CT
  • Arthur Edelstein
    • Location (City, State)
    • Berkeley, CA
    • Organization
    • Berkeley campus SGD
  • Shirley
    • Location (City, State)
    • Daly City, CA
  • Josh Remsburg
    • Location (City, State)
    • Evansville, IN
    • Organization
    • College Republicans
  • Jeff Gore
    • Location (City, State)
    • Berkeley, CA
    • Organization
    • SFGD Berkeley
  • Ashali Singham
    • Location (City, State)
    • New Haven, CT
  • Tyler Theofilos
    • Location (City, State)
    • New Haven CT
  • Jed Glickstein
    • Location (City, State)
    • New Haven, CT
    • Organization
    • Yale University
  • Brian Frange
    • Location (City, State)
    • Wantagh, NY
    • Organization
    • Students for Global Democracy
  • Hari Shroff
    • Location (City, State)
    • Berkeley, CA
  • sari bourne
    • Location (City, State)
    • stanford, ca
  • Elisabeth Russo
    • Location (City, State)
    • Davis, CA
    • Organization
    • Move On Student Action at UC Davis
  • Dawn Sung
    • Location (City, State)
    • Berkeley, CA
    • Organization
    • Asian Political Association
  • Mariana Huerta
    • Location (City, State)
    • Stanford, CA
    • Organization
    • Stanford University
  • Albert Wu
    • Location (City, State)
    • Berkeley, CA
    • Organization
    • Asian Political Association
  • Alisar Aoun
    • Location (City, State)
    • Berkeley, Ca
  • richard lechtenberg
    • Location (City, State)
    • berkeley, california
    • Organization
    • driving votes
  • Inna Parizher
    • Location (City, State)
    • Berkeley, CA
    • Organization
    • Berkeley National Organization for Women
  • joyce yaghi
    • Location (City, State)
    • San Francisco, california
    • Organization
    • Le Club Francais
  • Ronald Tong
    • Location (City, State)
    • Berkeley, CA
    • Organization
    • Singapore Malaysian Students' Association
  • Grace M. LaVance
    • Location (City, State)
    • Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Naser Halteh
    • Location (City, State)
    • San Francisco, CA
    • Organization
    • GUPS RBG
  • Kirsten Powers
    • Location (City, State)
    • Katy, TX
  • Elizabeth
    • Location (City, State)
    • Riverside
  • Christina M Yocum
    • Location (City, State)
    • Ypslianti, Michigan
  • Sarah Bove
    • Location (City, State)
    • Boone, NC
  • Harris Cohen
    • Location (City, State)
    • College Park, MD
    • Organization
    • К
  • Bret Cohen
    • Location (City, State)
    • College Park, MD
    • Organization
    • ACLU-UM
  • Kaylan Johnson
    • Location (City, State)
    • New Hill, NC
  • Adam S. Hare
    • Location (City, State)
    • Forest Hill, MD
    • Organization
    • University of Maryland at College Park
  • Dan Bremer
    • Location (City, State)
    • College Park, MD
    • Organization
    • ACLU-UM
  • Nicholas A. Hartmann
    • Location (City, State)
    • Bloomington, Indiana
    • Organization
    • Students for Global Democracy