Bluffton, OH; Saturday, September 7, 12:00 noon the public gathered at St. Mary's Catholic Church for a time of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria. People of all backgrounds and faiths came together to fast and pray for the people of Syria. Forty citizens signed the following letter.

We object to the use of violence as a solution in Syria for the following reasons

1. In a military strike, it is likely that Assad would be absolutely the last person in the country to get hurt.

2. For a brutal leader of a country divided by conflicted identities and civil war, there is no more sure way to garner support than an outside enemy who brings destruction.

3. The US does not officially count civilian casualties of its military operations, which alone should make us suspicious. It is clear that no military strikes are clean.

4. When people become collateral damage they leave behind grieving friends and family. This will spread and reinforce the belief that the US is an evil enemy.

6. It is unacceptable for a president to begin a war in order not to be embarrassed or accused of inaction.

7. We have more options to communicate our objection to chemical weapons than a cruise missile, and more means of negotiating than to present an absolute choice between surrender terms and destruction.

8. Threatening the death of Syrian people will do little when the Syrian state has already demonstrated little regard for them.

Sincerely,

Forty Citizens of Bluffton:

Elysia Bush

Angela Schroeder

Barbara Chappell

Amy Lehman-Mikesell

Basil Meyer

Rosemary Meyer

Edna Conkling

Nanci Mistovich

Rachel Friesen

Ivan Friesen

Jeanne Wehri

Richard Weaver

Laurel Neufeld Weaver

Kerry Bush

Paul Neufeld Weaver

Matt Meyer

Oliver Lugibihl

Pat Lugibihl

Andy Chappell-Dick

Judith Kingsley

Cindy Basinger

Ben Roeschley

Caroline Laudon

Willis Sommer

Shahad Aldori

Jon Sommer

Sally Weaver Sommer

Philip Murphy

Sara Chappell-Dick

Lynda Nyce

Jonah Agner

Melinda Estell

Jeff Gundy

Carol Inkrott

Rebecca Gambrell

Gerald Mast

Jan Wiebe

Elizabeth Kinglsey

Wendy Chappell-Dick