The Most Tusted Man in America says Democracy is Threatened

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Tue, 26 Oct 2004 20:20:25 -0700

Subject:Cronkite: Democracy is threatened

 

 

 

[From my email: URL not available]

The Most Tusted Man in America says Democracy is Threatened

 

SANTA BARBARA, CA -- October 25 -- Walter Cronkite, selected by the

American people in the mid 1990s as the most trusted man in America,

has called the upcoming presidential election the " most important

since the Civil War. "

 

Cronkite, who was in Santa Barbara on October 23rd to

receive the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation's 2004 Distinguished Peace

Leadership Award, stated that the November presidential election

provides an opportunity to reverse the Bush administration's dangerous

doctrine of preemptive war, a doctrine that he believes is setting the

wrong example for countries throughout the world.

 

In a live interview with ABC news correspondent Sam Donaldson

following the presentation of the Foundation's award, Cronkite argued

that the US is far less secure today as a result of initiating the war

against Iraq.

 

Cronkite added that the way to peace is through diplomacy and

cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nations.

 

As a solution to the Iraq War, Cronkite suggested convening

high-ranking retired US military leaders who have opposed the war and

asking them to design a plan to bring US soldiers home in six months.

Cronkite further suggested that the returning soldiers should be

greeted as heroes on the main street in every US city and that the

government provide a " GI Bill " for their education and to get them

back on their feet in business.

 

Referring to the importance of educating the public on critical issues

such as the Iraq War, Cronkite stated, " We are on the precipice of

being so ignorant that our democracy is threatened. "

 

The Distinguished Peace Leadership Award was presented to the former CBS

Nightly News anchor for his " uncompromising integrity " in reporting the

news to the American people and for his commitment to building a more

peaceful world. David Krieger, president of the Nuclear Age Peace

Foundation, stated, " The principal function of a journalist is to bring

the truth to the people so that power will not be abused. That requires

hard work and integrity, and it is what has characterized Walter

Cronkite throughout his distinguished career. Mr. Cronkite has served

democracy well, and set a high standard for all journalists to follow. "

 

For more than 20 years, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation has been

committed to advancing initiatives to eliminate the nuclear weapons

threat to all life, to fostering the global rule of law, and to building

an enduring legacy of peace through education and advocacy. The Nuclear

Age Peace Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan international

organization on the Roster in consultative status to the United Nations

Economic and Social Council. Some of the previous recipients of the

Foundation's Distinguished Peace Leadership Award include Archbishop

Desmond Tutu, The Dalai Lama, Jacques Cousteau, King Hussein of Jordan

and Jody Williams.

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