A couple of days ago I packed up my sister and my kiddos and attended a rally in support of closing the camps on the southern border of the United States. In recent weeks, several reports have come out describing the horrific conditions under which immigrants are living (and dying) and each report seems worse than the last. Like many people, I have been left with a sense of helplessness and sickened with horror.
This is my personal blog, which is focused on creating peace. Come on in and kick off your shoes! I appreciate feedback and would love your thoughts and comments.
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Close the Camps
A couple of days ago I packed up my sister and my kiddos and attended a rally in support of closing the camps on the southern border of the United States. In recent weeks, several reports have come out describing the horrific conditions under which immigrants are living (and dying) and each report seems worse than the last. Like many people, I have been left with a sense of helplessness and sickened with horror.
Women's March and Silence
Today, January 21, 2017, is the historic Women's March, which started in Washington, D.C. and has spread across this nation and even to other countries.
In our tiny rural community over 200 people showed up for today's march. Quite mind-blowing in a county in which Trump got more votes.
In our tiny rural community over 200 people showed up for today's march. Quite mind-blowing in a county in which Trump got more votes.
Whose Life Matters?
Imagine for a moment that someone is bulldozing the graves
of YOUR family. In addition, they are
doing it to build a giant oil pipeline under your property, and your only
source of drinking water. Then do a
little research on ongoing oil leaks and spills and the effect on drinking
water and human health. How would you
feel about that? Would you put your body
on the line to make it stop?
Palestine
I knew very little about the Palestine/Israel conflict until
I read a book a few years ago entitled, “Our Way to Fight” by Michael Riordan. I’m not claiming to be any kind of expert
now, but that book gave a viewpoint of activists, in their own words, who are
working for peace in the region, both Israelis and Palestinians.
There is no doubt that this ongoing conflict is
complex. However, it is obvious that
there is one side with a huge advantage.
While Hamas terrorists fire rockets into Israel, they are quite
literally outgunned by a very powerful Israeli military. Unfortunately, it is not the Hamas rocket
shooters who are paying the ultimate price for the rocket attacks; it is
hundreds of Palestinian civilians, many of them children. Israel somehow thinks it is justified to
retaliate by committing indiscriminate genocide against the people of
Palestine.
Before this recent flare-up of events, there has been a slow
simmering boil up of tension in the region.
Why would Palestine attack a much larger and better armed foe, when it is
obvious the outcome will not be good? It’s
not because they have a death wish; in fact, I believe they are fighting for
their lives. They may be taking a knife
to a gun fight, but it’s all they have.
Palestine has been living under crippling sanctions for
decades under the iron fist of Israel, and shamefully, this oppression has been
funded and supported by the United States.
Thanks to our habitual propping up of despots and dictators, Israel has
become a powerhouse of military might.
Are we so naïve to think they are not abusing that power?
Many people are unaware of the conditions under which Palestinians
are forced to live. They are content to
assume that since the Jews are “God’s chosen people,” then whatever they do is
okay. This kind of simplistic and lazy
thinking is costing many innocent lives.
Palestine is screaming for help, and instead of listening,
or even taking the time to research the situation, it is being turned into
partisan bickering. This is shameful.
What if we had responded this way to Hitler’s siege of
Europe? Would it matter if this were
happening closer to home? How would you
feel if a neighboring country decided that the farm your family had owned for
generations belonged to them? They
kicked you out into the street, destroyed your buildings and farm equipment,
and moved in people from their own country?
What if, in order to travel to the next county, or even town, you had to
sit for hours at a checkpoint set up by that other country, even if it meant
not being able to get to a needed surgery, or other critical surface? And if you protested, it may mean being shot
and killed, or your family being killed?
What if your child needed medicine, but the ship carrying those needed
supplies was turned away by the neighboring country, just because they could? This isn’t a sudden, unwarranted attack by
Hamas; it’s a response to a crippling and deadly occupation.
Palestinians, and even their Israeli allies, are
assassinated, or disappear. This isn’t
about the Jews having a homeland; it’s about Israel committing atrocities
against their neighbors and us turning a blind eye, or worst yet, twisting
Bible scripture to justify the murder of innocents.
Most Palestinians don’t back Hamas, the militant group
responsible for the rockets being fired, which have done very little collateral
damage in comparison to the bloody siege instituted by Israel against the
Palestinian people. That may change as the
people of Palestine’s outrage grows at the atrocities being committed. From npr.org:
" 'The world must wake up and stop consuming Israeli propaganda,' he added. 'More than half of the population in Gaza is not affiliated with Hamas. But we have been collectively punished.' "
Frankly, I’m NOT consuming Israeli propaganda. I think what they are doing is disgusting and we must all speak out against it, and hold our elected officials accountable for aiding and abetting this murderous rampage with our tax dollars. We have blood on our hands.
Just yesterday, Israel bombed a hospital in the Gaza Strip, killing four people. As of yesterday, the death toll of Palestinians had risen to over 570, and at least 3,350 wounded. The death toll in Israel as of that same date was 27, only two of them civilians. Now they are conducting a ground campaign, raiding West Bank towns and villages and arresting hundreds of citizens, including children.
I believe that Hamas would have never gained power in a population that was not being horrifically oppressed in the first place. The recent cease-fire that was rejected by Hamas was not rejected because more Palestinians want to die; it was rejected because Israel refuses to lift the seven-year blockade over Gaza, which has crippled society in Gaza, and resulted in immense human suffering.
David does not usually pick a fight with Goliath. This is a fight for survival against a death crush. I watched a video last night of a spider quickly wrapping up a bee, which was helpless. In a desperate attempt to save its own life, against insurmountable odds while covered in a sheath of webbing, the bee used its last bit of energy to try to sting the spider. Did that make the bee the aggressor? At some point, the bee knew it was hopeless, but it continued to use the last of its life force to try to survive. Palestine doesn’t have fighter planes, or state-of-the-art war equipment, which we have generously helped fund for Israel. Yet they are in the throes of hell and trying to survive. All the while, Israel commences air strikes against hospitals, homes, and other places that are decidedly not terrorist targets. Theirs is a campaign of terror against an entire people, with the intent to wipe them off the face of the earth.
In reading Michael Riordan’s aforementioned book, I heard the voices of Israelis who have seen the truth, who have witnessed the ongoing injustices committed by their own government. They are appalled and horrified at these crimes against humanity. I join them in their outrage, and I hope that others will take the time to research this situation, while keeping in mind that someone’s innocent children are being murdered here.
While I realize this conflict is long-term and complex, I cannot remain silent to the Israeli government’s horrific actions against the Palestinian people, or my own government’s complicity in this. I hope others will join me in speaking out. This is about more than sticking up for the underdog; it’s about the same spirit that led the world to combat Hitler’s outrageous treatment of the Jews and many others in the earlier part of the 20th century. Nobody with a conscience should stand for this.
Groups such as Combatants for Peace, Rabbis for Human Rights, and ICAHD (the Israel Committee Against House Demolitions) are comprised of both Israelis and Palestinians working toward justice and equality in the region. Here are some other groups doing good work, and some ways to help:
http://www.palestinefreedom.org/
http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/25-ways-help-palestine-refugees
http://www.gazamom.com/2009/01/what-you-can-do-10-way-to-help-gazapalestine-2/
http://www.pchrgaza.org/about/help.html
http://interfaithpeacebuilders.org/
http://www.codepink4peace.org/
Here’s a link to sign a petition to our government to help put a stop to this madness: http://codepink.salsalabs.com/o/424/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=7216
A cursory search of the internet will find many other resources to learn about the situation and assist the victims of the Gaza massacre. I hope you will join me.
Let Freedom Ring!!
Wedding bells are ringing!
Since Oregon overturned the same sex marriage ban last month, two
couples I know have set wedding plans. Last
Saturday, in a lovely intimate setting in a beautiful wooded garden area, my
friends stood before friends and family and pledged their ongoing love and
commitment.
These two women have been together for 27 years, so I had to
stifle a giggle when the minister mentioned the enormous commitment it takes to
enter into a marriage. I’m pretty sure
they’ve had some time to think it through.
The wedding was beautiful, with a sing-along, accompanied by guitar and
recorder, and even a kazoo (you had to be there!). Even some tinkling wind chimes in a nearby
tree contributed as if on cue. It was
magical.
As I sat listening to their vows, watching their glowing
faces, I thought of the struggles that people have had throughout American
history with such issues, back to the time when only white, male, landowners
were allowed to vote.
The same people who would deny these two women the right to
marry appear to have the same mindset (and arguments) as the group that opposed
interracial marriage in this country back before the 1967 Supreme Court
decision lifting that ban. The same
people who would be horrified at the idea of arranged marriages often seem to
have no qualms about thinking that two consenting adults in this country can’t
make their own decision about marrying one another. How stupid this same-sex marriage ban
will look to future generations! The “fabric
of society” will not be compromised one tiny bit by same-sex marriage any more
than it was by abolition of slavery, blacks and women voting, or interracial
marriage. I even feel silly pointing that
out. For some people, progress provokes
great and unreasonable fear.
So these were my thoughts as I sat there, and I got a little
irritated with myself for focusing out on this and not just enjoying this
beautiful, historical moment. Here I
was, a part of something sacred, a moment to savor and celebrate! Here was a reminder of all that is right in
this world, and that’s why I feel that in some ways, the world is getting
better, not worse as some would believe.
It’s taken huge sacrifice, and many people have put jobs,
reputations, even lives on the line for the right to marry who they want, and
here I was watching this huge victory, in a way a culmination of all that struggle. I’m
honored to be a witness to this, and grateful for all the people who spoke out,
knowing laws don’t change unless people MAKE them change. The tipping point seems to take place when
people run out of justifications for their bigotry. It also makes a difference when it affects
your neighbors, your friends, your family members, someone you care about. The scales of justice have finally tipped in
the right direction, and it’s a sweet, long-deserved victory.
What hurts one of us ultimately hurts us all, and I’m
committed to helping to create a world where people aren’t being hurt. It’s a tall order, but one step at a time,
things are getting better. By taking a
stand, win or lose, we can embolden people to safely be themselves, knowing
there are people who have their back.
My friends who married last Saturday have spent decades in
the trenches, as activists for marriage equality. Their victory is about even more than
marriage equality; it’s about promotion of the idea of equal rights for
all.
So what’s next? Well,
the Senate passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) for the first
time ever. President Obama recently
announced he’s moving ahead on an executive order that will ban anti-LGBT
discrimination among federal contractors. Now we need passage of ENDA in the House of
Representatives to get it signed into law.
June is LGBT Pride Month. For so many Oregonians, this particular June will be the sweetest one of all. Let’s relish this moment in history and keep fighting the good fight!
June is LGBT Pride Month. For so many Oregonians, this particular June will be the sweetest one of all. Let’s relish this moment in history and keep fighting the good fight!
Happy Pride Month!
Ukraine
I've noticed over the past few months that I have a larger group of readers in Ukraine than in the United States. I found this fascinating, especially considering the size of Ukraine compared to the U.S., and the fact that I'm pretty certain I don't know anyone there. I have a friend who wrote a blog, and had a large following in a particular country. When he asked some of his readers in that country why they read his blog, they stated that they were learning English that way.
I like to think that, regardless of my logic or ideas, my English skills, grammar, and punctuation are pretty good, so that would not bother me one bit. It's a weird feeling to think about how somewhere, complete strangers from the other side of the planet are reading my blog. I never get any feedback from them, but I'd really like feedback right now.
If you are in the Ukraine and reading this post, I would love to hear more about what is really happening in your country. To say the least, American media is deceptive. My understanding is that the President of Ukraine, who is now in hiding, basically broke promises to the Ukrainian people, and cast his alliances in opposition to the will of the people. Then when peaceful protesters marched, they were gunned down. This of course, is a very over-simplified explanation of the situation.
To be honest, I could probably learn more from news sources, but I don't necessarily trust them. I view this as an opportunity to hear directly from the people impacted the most: the people of Ukraine. I would love to hear your comments about how you perceive the situation (whether you choose to comment on this post, or email me directly at carverromy@gmail.com). With your permission, I'd like to share your comments without identifying you. I also share my blog on my Facebook page.
I am frustrated that so much of what is going on in the world is being spun by my country's corporate media, to the point that the truth is unrecognizable, and I'd like to hear from you. For that matter, wherever you are, I'd like to hear from you. I'd like to hear about your viewpoints from whatever corner of the world you inhabit.
You all know a little about me and my viewpoints if you read my blog. I'd like to hear about you. I am inspired by populations that stand up and take back power from the despots and the tyrants. Your name may or may not end up in the history books, but only you can know the struggles you have endured, and you are the REAL game changers. The real changes in power throughout history have not taken place because of political leaders. The changes have happened when everyday people got fed up, stood up, spoke out, and made a difference. This takes an unbelievable amount of courage for the masses to put their lives on the line, join hands, and gather together in the name of justice.
God bless the people of Ukraine. May you be granted justice and peace, which go hand in hand. May the will of the people be heard, may bloodshed end, and may you come out stronger as a people through your sacrifice and struggle.
If there is something you would like to say to the rest of us out there, I would love to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
I like to think that, regardless of my logic or ideas, my English skills, grammar, and punctuation are pretty good, so that would not bother me one bit. It's a weird feeling to think about how somewhere, complete strangers from the other side of the planet are reading my blog. I never get any feedback from them, but I'd really like feedback right now.
If you are in the Ukraine and reading this post, I would love to hear more about what is really happening in your country. To say the least, American media is deceptive. My understanding is that the President of Ukraine, who is now in hiding, basically broke promises to the Ukrainian people, and cast his alliances in opposition to the will of the people. Then when peaceful protesters marched, they were gunned down. This of course, is a very over-simplified explanation of the situation.
To be honest, I could probably learn more from news sources, but I don't necessarily trust them. I view this as an opportunity to hear directly from the people impacted the most: the people of Ukraine. I would love to hear your comments about how you perceive the situation (whether you choose to comment on this post, or email me directly at carverromy@gmail.com). With your permission, I'd like to share your comments without identifying you. I also share my blog on my Facebook page.
I am frustrated that so much of what is going on in the world is being spun by my country's corporate media, to the point that the truth is unrecognizable, and I'd like to hear from you. For that matter, wherever you are, I'd like to hear from you. I'd like to hear about your viewpoints from whatever corner of the world you inhabit.
You all know a little about me and my viewpoints if you read my blog. I'd like to hear about you. I am inspired by populations that stand up and take back power from the despots and the tyrants. Your name may or may not end up in the history books, but only you can know the struggles you have endured, and you are the REAL game changers. The real changes in power throughout history have not taken place because of political leaders. The changes have happened when everyday people got fed up, stood up, spoke out, and made a difference. This takes an unbelievable amount of courage for the masses to put their lives on the line, join hands, and gather together in the name of justice.
God bless the people of Ukraine. May you be granted justice and peace, which go hand in hand. May the will of the people be heard, may bloodshed end, and may you come out stronger as a people through your sacrifice and struggle.
If there is something you would like to say to the rest of us out there, I would love to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing...
I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be defending not only Superbowl commercials, but Coca-Cola as well, but here I am. Coca-Cola's human rights abuses as a company are legend, and I don't drink soda anyway, but here I feel the need to defend them from the knuckle-draggers who are throwing a fit over this lovely commercial:
2014 Superbowl Coke Ad
I watched very little of the Superbowl yesterday, but did manage to catch this particular ad, and found it touching. Apparently, some people didn't feel the same way, because (gasp!) the entire song wasn't sung in English. It never occurred to me that people would stoop to this level of bigotry, until I looked at Facebook today, and saw this meme (and others like it):
Particularly ironic about their complaints is the fact that three of the languages being sung were being spoken in this land called America for centuries before the arrival of English-speakers. Of course this irony would be lost on people who seem only to be intent on something to complain about.
They missed the entire point of the ad (besides selling soda) while they were busy spouting their vitriol: that the American ideal is people coming from all over to fulfill their dreams, being welcomed with open arms, and working together to create a great society. Or at least that's the drivel I was taught in school. Of course, growing older, I learned the truth: there is no equal playing field. Native Alaskans, Hawaiians, Native Americans, and Mexicans were driven off their land, or forced into slavery to benefit white masters. Africans were shipped here for similar purposes, and worse. Immigrants have historically been given the hardest, dirtiest, least respected jobs, while being blamed for crime rates, treated with suspicion, and persecuted. It happened with the Chinese, the Irish, and now the Mexicans. And God forbid someone move here from the Middle East, because that entire group is automatically assigned the title of "terrorists," by the same group invading, occupying, droning, and bombing the rest of the world. But I digress.
This ad could serve as a reminder of our common humanity... make us all want to try a little harder... to sing the same song, to be a team? I would like to believe more than soda unites us, things like freedom and equality. Apparently this group of Einsteins does not agree.
So now we have a patriotic American song being sung by people in different languages, and the xenophobes just can't deal with it. Since they don't appear to be the sharpest tools in the shed, I am going to craft my message to them in simple English words that they can understand and here it is:
"Get over it. The world does not 'belong' to English-speaking white people. Nobody is hurting you by singing a song you like in another language. I know it may be hard for you to believe, but there are wonderful, intelligent, thoughtful, kind people everywhere who don't speak a word of English. You are not superior. They are not inferior. It's not 'un-American' to show real Americans from another culture singing in a tongue you don't understand, just because they don't look and sound like you. You are not 'more' American than they are. People like you are the reason that people all over the world think Americans are stupid. You don't speak for me or any other intelligent, thinking American. Lastly, grow up."
History Repeats Itself
This post will be a little shorter than some of my
previous posts. This is such an important issue, and I am hoping
that people all over the world will become aware of what is happening and step
up to do the right thing.
Right now, as we speak, the Greek government is detaining
people in internment camps. They started with migrants (who were
racially profiled). Then they moved on to drug users.
Next they targeted sex industry workers, forcing them to have HIV
tests. Their latest target: transgender individuals.
What “Operation Zeus” amounts to is a “cleansing” effort
to dispose of human beings Greek’s government considers to be
undesirables. Transgender people are told to “return to normal” or
be locked up. People are being incarcerated simply for existing.
Right now, there are 5,000 individuals who are locked up, and the
Greek government has announced that camp capacity is about to
double.
If this doesn’t give you chills, I encourage you to read
the history of Nazi Germany. Who knows who they will come for
next? Are you differently abled, or do you worship the “wrong”
god, or are you gay? Perhaps you have the wrong skin color, or
have strongly stated public opinions. Who knows… but this is
unacceptable.
After WWII, we all said “never again.” Now
it’s happening again, and we must put a stop to it. The question
is not so much “who will be next,” as “who is going to speak up?”
WE MUST.
I hope you will join me in signing this petition to the
European Union, demanding a stop to this outrage. To do anything
less is to be complicit in human rights abuses.
To learn more details about this situation, please
visit:
To help even more, please share this information with
others.
Organizing for Peace
What were you doing in 1992? I was going through a divorce, and on welfare, with three small kids. I was living in the small rural town where I grew up, and unbeknownst to me, a movement was being born right under my nose.
That year, a group called Oregon Citizen’s Alliance, headed by extreme conservative and homophobe Lon Mabon, proposed a measure designed to deny civil rights to lesbians and gays in Oregon, and all hell broke loose. Measure 9 said all governments in the state should not support homosexuality - or "pedophilia, sadism or masochism" - in any way and that they "must assist in setting a standard for Oregon's youth which recognizes that these behaviors are abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse and they are to be discouraged and avoided." (The group had already succeeded in 1988 in repealing former Governor Neil Goldschmidt’s executive order banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in state government, via Measure 8. The 1988 measure also prohibited protection for lesbian and gay workers from job discrimination. In 1992, the Oregon Supreme Court overturned it, declaring it unconstitutional.)
Although their rallying cry was “no special rights,” Measure 9 was really about no rights whatsoever, not even the right to live and exist in our society. This created arguably one of the most hotly contested elections in Oregon history. More people voted in this election than in the presidential election.
At kitchen tables across Oregon, groups were coming together to talk about LGBT rights, and they were starting to organize. In larger urban areas, it was easier to find like-minded people, but in the small, rural areas of the state pockets of awareness were forming. Small, isolated towns were forming human dignity groups in response to this attack on our fellow citizens. I had a “No on 9” sign in the front window of my house, much to the annoyance of my next door neighbor, a very conservative Christian, whose lawn was peppered with “Yes on 9” signs.
Meanwhile, a small group was traveling across Oregon, from kitchen table to kitchen table, connecting ideas and people. The Rural Organizing Project was born. By connecting like-minded people who had been geographically isolated from one another, local human dignity groups, under the statewide umbrella of the Rural Organizing Project, banded together and soundly defeated Measure 9. Many younger people in Oregon have never even heard of the OCA, or Lon Mabon, but those of us who remember will do whatever we must to prevent the hostile takeover of state law and government by hate groups. Perhaps we should thank Lon Mabon, the creepy little bigot for kicking a hornet’s nest of fair-minded activists.
In 1993, the Rural Organizing Project held a Rural Caucus and Strategy Session, bringing together human and civil rights activists from all across the state, and the permanent organization was formed. On June 8, 2013, the 20th annual ROP Rural Caucus and Strategy Session was held in Woodburn, and for the first time, I was able to attend. I was honored and humbled to be in the company of people who had spent decades defending the rights of others. This year’s was the largest ever, with over 160 people in attendance.
I firmly believe that in the absence of justice there is no peace, and there is no peace activism that does not include the responsibility for social justice. I came away from the caucus believing more firmly than ever before that, while peace rallies are great, every single one of us can be a peace activist every single day. We all have our niche in which we can create peace through social justice.
Some of the issues discussed: preventing corporate takeover, treatment of the homeless, LGBT rights, immigration reform, the drones program (and of course war), privatization of public services, fair housing, marriage equality, Guantanamo Bay, self-sufficient living, economic justice, creating welcoming communities, poverty and hunger, youth leadership.
I left with a packet full of information on a variety of issues, feeling empowered and happy. You don’t have to sign every petition, attend every rally, or march every march to be an activist. But if you can find something, one thing, that matters to you… that’s where it begins. Everyone who was there had their passion. I had the privilege of hearing so many voices, and it was overwhelming, but in a good way.
I am hoping, over the next few blog posts, to highlight a few of the efforts taking place, some of the partnerships that are being formed, and maybe some stories of how they got started. But for now, I’ll simply share the overriding values identified by the Rural Organizing Project… democracy, human dignity, justice, and solidarity… and encourage you to go to their website and learn more:
In closing, I will share my all-time favorite story about my dad. When I was growing up, my dad was not known for his open-minded spirit. He used to remind me of the character Archie Bunker off the TV show All in the Family. At about age 68, he quit drinking and I saw his demeanor become kinder. At age 72, he went completely and irreversibly blind from macular degeneration. In 1992, at the height of the OCA debacle, he was 76 years old and eating lunch with my mom at the local senior meal site. The discussion turned to politics, and inevitably to Measure 9. My brave dad, in spite of his blindness, in spite of his awareness that since World War II, he had lived in an extremely conservative community, STOOD UP, and spoke out loudly and boldly to his peers AGAINST Measure 9. My dad, who I had once compared to Archie Bunker, took one small action that will forever define him in my book as an activist. I have never been so proud as I was of him when I heard about it from my mom. He didn't define himself as an activist, but he believed in fairness.
My dad would have turned 98 yesterday. He passed away in 1994. For the past 19 years, I have tried to live in a way that would make him proud, but most of all, to be as brave and outspoken about my truth as he was that day. That one moment changed my perception of him forever, and sometimes all we need is one moment to speak out for justice to create peace.
Peace Out Loud
This is a post I have really been looking forward to writing ever since I started my blog, because it’s about who I really am, what I stand for, and why I decided to start a blog.
I work for a non-profit that helps violence survivors and part of our goal is to educate and raise awareness to help our community to prevent violence. In my spare time, I am a peace activist, as much as I have time to be while playing a very active role in the lives of my grandchildren. I wouldn’t have any of this any other way!
Every Friday evening, a small group of us stands peace vigil in our small, rural town… often only two of us, but that’s okay. We stand as a human reminder that yes, there’s still a war going on, several in fact, and they need to stop. We stand for the people who can’t: the troops who are sent far from their families to fight in a battle that isn’t theirs, for those who won’t come home (on all sides of the battle; the “enemy” has family too), and for those living in the war zones. There are other reasons why we stand; I’ve been doing it for a couple of years now, and my friend Linda has been standing since the very beginning of the war, shortly after 9/11. Maybe the biggest reason is the need to, literally, take a stand for peace.
When I started, a couple of years ago, I noticed that we were frequently flipped off, screamed at, etc., by passers-by. But I felt very passionate about why I stood and those people only made me stronger. Over the past several months, I have experienced a change in attitude. More people honk, and give us thumbs up and other positive feedback, than ever before, and the rude gestures and remarks are fewer and further between. I think people are beginning to get as fed up as we are.
As time went by, I decided that reading about peace and standing vigil was nowhere near enough. I started using my Facebook page to promote peace. It started with a month-long effort to post a song about peace each day; this ended up going on for several months, at which point, I switched to posting a peace/anti-war quote each day. I continue to do this daily.
I have become much more outspoken than I used to be; to be honest, I can’t NOT be outspoken about a life or death issue that impacts every human on earth. I have not shied away from posting videos and photos showing the real devastation of war that network TV doesn’t want the public to see. I have promoted sites and efforts to resist the military draft, because our young people deserve better than that.
It takes more than the bombing to stop to create peace, although that’s a start. I see peace as a very holistic thing. Peace, like violence, can occur on all levels. Individual peace leads to more peaceful interpersonal relationships. It’s hard to be hateful and angry at others when you are happy with yourself. Once you reach the point of not carrying that anger and fear and malcontent, it’s much easier to create peace on a larger level. An example is speaking out against racism, and in favor of more peaceful means of communication. Violence becomes unthinkable and abhorrent. All the things that we as humans fight about seem petty and childish. On a global level, I really do believe that peace can be achieved. But it starts within each of us to care enough to talk about it.
Peace is about so much more than peace signs and hippies and tie-dye… it’s a way of life. It’s not wishful thinking; it’s faith in action. It isn’t always easy. It means choosing non-violence, no matter how justified violence may seem. It means respecting people, even if they are being disrespectful. It means being open to new ways to handle conflict that respect the person and the situation, then teaching it to our children and to others. Finding the good in someone you are angry with is a victory, not a weakness. And it means understanding the concept of karma: that revenge is pointless, because the person who hurt you has already created bad energy and you don’t need to go and create it too. It means listening, mediating, negotiating, and putting pride aside. These are values that traditionally have not been valued in our society, but I believe that, like many things, things are starting to change. Each generation seems to inch its way a little closer. The struggle for equality and civil rights didn’t begin or end in the 60’s; it’s on a continuum, and old, intolerant beliefs continue to be challenged and dismantled. I believe this is growing, as younger generations see the futility and stupidity in the previous oppressive behaviors.
Obviously, none of us are perfect, and we all fall short, but these are my goals in my daily life. Peace is hard work. But it can be habit-forming, because it feels good to live with purpose. We do each make a difference, you know. It’s just a matter of what kind of difference we make.
Peace can be created consciously. So how do we work more effectively toward world peace? I believe the keys are education and non-judgment. That takes effort, and it means having an open mind and doing research. If I hear something inflammatory about a particular group of people, I tend to distrust it immediately. After all, are you the same as every other person of your skin color, gender, religion, etc.? Of course not, and nobody else is all the same either. Whenever I hear stereotyping, I discount it, because I don’t believe in stereotyping. The best weapon against hateful thinking is facts. When I hear something that sounds like hate propaganda, I research it and refute it with facts. Needless to say, not everyone enjoys being corrected when they are trying to justify hateful beliefs, but I think it’s important to prevent the spread of misinformation. This is especially true when hateful stereotyping has led to violence, such as the racial profiling and hate crimes against people of Middle Eastern descent after 9/11. We can do better than this.
Another way to promote peace is by talking to combat veterans, especially in these most recent wars. Hear the truth, instead of the prime-time television pablum you have been fed. Realize that our money is being used to prop up the false concept of American exceptionalism, which essentially means, “we are Americans so we are better than you.” This kind of concept does not create peace. It causes resentment, and rightfully so. We are not better, and we are all just human. I am always baffled by people who refer to themselves as Christians who ascribe to this type of thinking… I don’t think Christ (the Prince of Peace) would be pleased with this arrogance.
This is also part of the reason I refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag. While others recite the verse they are told to recite, I stand with my hand over my heart and silently pray. I pray for those innocents we have killed, I pray for the American soldiers needlessly in harm’s way, and I pray for forgiveness of our nation’s warlike ways. First of all, I have a hard time picturing Christ pledging his allegiance to ANY flag, and I do try to live my life by those principles. I believe Christ saw the big picture, and was not caught up in nationalism. I cannot in good conscious be for global peace while supporting this thinking. I support my nation and those in it, just like I support other humans, but I will not support the drone strikes, the land mines, the obscenely huge war budget, the signing of the NDAA, the invasion and occupation of other countries under false pretenses, and the boosting of despotic regimes that has been carried out under this flag with my tax dollars. It makes me ashamed.
Needless to say, some have called me unpatriotic. I’d like to differentiate between patriotism and nationalism. Nationalism doesn’t question anything; it pledges blind allegiance, on the assumption that the government will do what is right. Patriotism wants what is actually best for the people. It wants justice, and fair laws, and equal rights. Nationalism cares about being number one. Patriotism means wanting to represent your country with pride by being the kind of person your country can be proud of. Therefore, I consider myself deeply patriotic. I value ALL human lives, not just American lives… kind of like Jesus would do.
If you are anything like me this way, and are being blasted as unpatriotic, take comfort in the fact that you are in prestigious company: Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, Mark Twain, many of the Founding Fathers, Howard Zinn, Albert Schweitzer, Ralph Waldo Emerson… well, you get the idea, and I’m sure you can think of many of your own. In other words, people who didn’t settle for the status quo. It’s called thinking for yourself, and that’s a good thing.
I decided a while back I really wanted to write a book about war and privilege. It occurred to me that with my busy schedule, that would be a Herculean project at best. I don’t have the time to do the research to complete it in any reasonable time period. I suddenly realized that a blog would promote peace in a meaningful way, and in doable chunks. Best of all, it can morph and change and stay caught up with current events, unlike a book. I was hooked!
As soon as I decided to write a blog, ideas started to fly into my head, except for what to call it. A couple of days later, I was standing on the corner at my Friday night vigil when the phrase “Peace Out Loud” came into my head. It was perfect! After all, for peace to be effective, it needs to be spoken about, practiced mindfully, and lived out loud.
My goal with this blog is for every post to be in some way connected to peace. It may be personal peace, it may be world peace, or anything in between. Some of it may be very political, but it’s impossible to talk about peace without talking about such realities. Peace isn’t some lofty ideal to me, it’s a practical matter, which requires practical discussion about both the spiritual and the worldly.
At the end of the day, I always come back to myself and examine how I have behaved. Some days I get an “A,” and some days an “F.” We’re all a work in progress. Like a novice gardener, I’m starting with a small plot and dreaming big. Why not? I may be dreaming big and starting small, but I’m starting, and I’m learning, and that’s what counts. I’ll never be Gandhi, but it doesn’t matter. We only get a few decades on this planet to do what needs to be done, and my intention is to grow and learn while I’m here, and leave it nicer than when I came.
I am humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to share my thoughts and ideas. A big thank you to everyone who reads my blog, and I always welcome your feedback, thoughts, ideas, and dreams. Thank you for coming to visit, and I wish you peace!
I work for a non-profit that helps violence survivors and part of our goal is to educate and raise awareness to help our community to prevent violence. In my spare time, I am a peace activist, as much as I have time to be while playing a very active role in the lives of my grandchildren. I wouldn’t have any of this any other way!
Every Friday evening, a small group of us stands peace vigil in our small, rural town… often only two of us, but that’s okay. We stand as a human reminder that yes, there’s still a war going on, several in fact, and they need to stop. We stand for the people who can’t: the troops who are sent far from their families to fight in a battle that isn’t theirs, for those who won’t come home (on all sides of the battle; the “enemy” has family too), and for those living in the war zones. There are other reasons why we stand; I’ve been doing it for a couple of years now, and my friend Linda has been standing since the very beginning of the war, shortly after 9/11. Maybe the biggest reason is the need to, literally, take a stand for peace.
When I started, a couple of years ago, I noticed that we were frequently flipped off, screamed at, etc., by passers-by. But I felt very passionate about why I stood and those people only made me stronger. Over the past several months, I have experienced a change in attitude. More people honk, and give us thumbs up and other positive feedback, than ever before, and the rude gestures and remarks are fewer and further between. I think people are beginning to get as fed up as we are.
As time went by, I decided that reading about peace and standing vigil was nowhere near enough. I started using my Facebook page to promote peace. It started with a month-long effort to post a song about peace each day; this ended up going on for several months, at which point, I switched to posting a peace/anti-war quote each day. I continue to do this daily.
I have become much more outspoken than I used to be; to be honest, I can’t NOT be outspoken about a life or death issue that impacts every human on earth. I have not shied away from posting videos and photos showing the real devastation of war that network TV doesn’t want the public to see. I have promoted sites and efforts to resist the military draft, because our young people deserve better than that.
It takes more than the bombing to stop to create peace, although that’s a start. I see peace as a very holistic thing. Peace, like violence, can occur on all levels. Individual peace leads to more peaceful interpersonal relationships. It’s hard to be hateful and angry at others when you are happy with yourself. Once you reach the point of not carrying that anger and fear and malcontent, it’s much easier to create peace on a larger level. An example is speaking out against racism, and in favor of more peaceful means of communication. Violence becomes unthinkable and abhorrent. All the things that we as humans fight about seem petty and childish. On a global level, I really do believe that peace can be achieved. But it starts within each of us to care enough to talk about it.
Peace is about so much more than peace signs and hippies and tie-dye… it’s a way of life. It’s not wishful thinking; it’s faith in action. It isn’t always easy. It means choosing non-violence, no matter how justified violence may seem. It means respecting people, even if they are being disrespectful. It means being open to new ways to handle conflict that respect the person and the situation, then teaching it to our children and to others. Finding the good in someone you are angry with is a victory, not a weakness. And it means understanding the concept of karma: that revenge is pointless, because the person who hurt you has already created bad energy and you don’t need to go and create it too. It means listening, mediating, negotiating, and putting pride aside. These are values that traditionally have not been valued in our society, but I believe that, like many things, things are starting to change. Each generation seems to inch its way a little closer. The struggle for equality and civil rights didn’t begin or end in the 60’s; it’s on a continuum, and old, intolerant beliefs continue to be challenged and dismantled. I believe this is growing, as younger generations see the futility and stupidity in the previous oppressive behaviors.
Obviously, none of us are perfect, and we all fall short, but these are my goals in my daily life. Peace is hard work. But it can be habit-forming, because it feels good to live with purpose. We do each make a difference, you know. It’s just a matter of what kind of difference we make.
Peace can be created consciously. So how do we work more effectively toward world peace? I believe the keys are education and non-judgment. That takes effort, and it means having an open mind and doing research. If I hear something inflammatory about a particular group of people, I tend to distrust it immediately. After all, are you the same as every other person of your skin color, gender, religion, etc.? Of course not, and nobody else is all the same either. Whenever I hear stereotyping, I discount it, because I don’t believe in stereotyping. The best weapon against hateful thinking is facts. When I hear something that sounds like hate propaganda, I research it and refute it with facts. Needless to say, not everyone enjoys being corrected when they are trying to justify hateful beliefs, but I think it’s important to prevent the spread of misinformation. This is especially true when hateful stereotyping has led to violence, such as the racial profiling and hate crimes against people of Middle Eastern descent after 9/11. We can do better than this.
Another way to promote peace is by talking to combat veterans, especially in these most recent wars. Hear the truth, instead of the prime-time television pablum you have been fed. Realize that our money is being used to prop up the false concept of American exceptionalism, which essentially means, “we are Americans so we are better than you.” This kind of concept does not create peace. It causes resentment, and rightfully so. We are not better, and we are all just human. I am always baffled by people who refer to themselves as Christians who ascribe to this type of thinking… I don’t think Christ (the Prince of Peace) would be pleased with this arrogance.
This is also part of the reason I refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag. While others recite the verse they are told to recite, I stand with my hand over my heart and silently pray. I pray for those innocents we have killed, I pray for the American soldiers needlessly in harm’s way, and I pray for forgiveness of our nation’s warlike ways. First of all, I have a hard time picturing Christ pledging his allegiance to ANY flag, and I do try to live my life by those principles. I believe Christ saw the big picture, and was not caught up in nationalism. I cannot in good conscious be for global peace while supporting this thinking. I support my nation and those in it, just like I support other humans, but I will not support the drone strikes, the land mines, the obscenely huge war budget, the signing of the NDAA, the invasion and occupation of other countries under false pretenses, and the boosting of despotic regimes that has been carried out under this flag with my tax dollars. It makes me ashamed.
Needless to say, some have called me unpatriotic. I’d like to differentiate between patriotism and nationalism. Nationalism doesn’t question anything; it pledges blind allegiance, on the assumption that the government will do what is right. Patriotism wants what is actually best for the people. It wants justice, and fair laws, and equal rights. Nationalism cares about being number one. Patriotism means wanting to represent your country with pride by being the kind of person your country can be proud of. Therefore, I consider myself deeply patriotic. I value ALL human lives, not just American lives… kind of like Jesus would do.
If you are anything like me this way, and are being blasted as unpatriotic, take comfort in the fact that you are in prestigious company: Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, Mark Twain, many of the Founding Fathers, Howard Zinn, Albert Schweitzer, Ralph Waldo Emerson… well, you get the idea, and I’m sure you can think of many of your own. In other words, people who didn’t settle for the status quo. It’s called thinking for yourself, and that’s a good thing.
I decided a while back I really wanted to write a book about war and privilege. It occurred to me that with my busy schedule, that would be a Herculean project at best. I don’t have the time to do the research to complete it in any reasonable time period. I suddenly realized that a blog would promote peace in a meaningful way, and in doable chunks. Best of all, it can morph and change and stay caught up with current events, unlike a book. I was hooked!
As soon as I decided to write a blog, ideas started to fly into my head, except for what to call it. A couple of days later, I was standing on the corner at my Friday night vigil when the phrase “Peace Out Loud” came into my head. It was perfect! After all, for peace to be effective, it needs to be spoken about, practiced mindfully, and lived out loud.
My goal with this blog is for every post to be in some way connected to peace. It may be personal peace, it may be world peace, or anything in between. Some of it may be very political, but it’s impossible to talk about peace without talking about such realities. Peace isn’t some lofty ideal to me, it’s a practical matter, which requires practical discussion about both the spiritual and the worldly.
At the end of the day, I always come back to myself and examine how I have behaved. Some days I get an “A,” and some days an “F.” We’re all a work in progress. Like a novice gardener, I’m starting with a small plot and dreaming big. Why not? I may be dreaming big and starting small, but I’m starting, and I’m learning, and that’s what counts. I’ll never be Gandhi, but it doesn’t matter. We only get a few decades on this planet to do what needs to be done, and my intention is to grow and learn while I’m here, and leave it nicer than when I came.
I am humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to share my thoughts and ideas. A big thank you to everyone who reads my blog, and I always welcome your feedback, thoughts, ideas, and dreams. Thank you for coming to visit, and I wish you peace!
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