TEXT OF THE LETTER
26 September 2001
George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President-Select Bush,
Did you ever notice those funny looking guys with
beards but no mustache? They were Brethren, Mennonites
and Quakers - members of the Christian peace churches.
Back in the 1800's, they noticed that US military
uniform protocols allowed officers to sport no visible
facial hair except a mustache. Thus, in opposition to
armed conflicts, as an obvious visible protest to
military engagements, male members of those peace
churches chose to grow beards without hair over the
upper lip.
According to photo I saw in yesterdays' paper, the
protocols remain. As the United States assumes a
"war footing," I have joined with other
activists to do the same thing until the fighting ends,
believing that peaceful options are available and should
be used instead of committing armed forces to strike or
invade another country.
I enclose my mustache hair.
Sincerely,
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director
AJB/WA
