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 government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Time for a Choice
To my conservative friends
I want to put out an appeal to my friends who are conservative. I know there are some among you who have felt worried about the state of things, who have heard conflicting things about Trump and don't know what to believe.
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.
Making America Great "Again"
Lately, I have seen a lot of talk about liberals and how
we are ruining America, etc. That’s
probably a whole other post, what being a liberal means to me, but for right
now, let’s talk about making America great.
White House Response
Recently, I wrote a letter to President Obama apologizing for the embarrassing way he was treated when he visited families of the Umpqua Community College shooting here in Oregon. Today I received this thoughtful response, and I thought I would share it.
Dear Mr. President
This is a letter I am sending to President Barack Obama.
Dear Mr. President,
I know I speak for not only myself, but for many other Oregonians, when I offer a deep, heartfelt apology for the way you were treated when you visited our state. As as native-born Oregonian, I'm embarrassed and ashamed by one of the most unpatriotic things I have ever witnessed.
Dear Mr. President,
I know I speak for not only myself, but for many other Oregonians, when I offer a deep, heartfelt apology for the way you were treated when you visited our state. As as native-born Oregonian, I'm embarrassed and ashamed by one of the most unpatriotic things I have ever witnessed.
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.
And to the Republic
Yes, I'm going to talk about politics and religion. I'm very disturbed (and have a very hard time keeping my mouth shut) when I see people who describe themselves as Christians ranting about how everyone should be required to recite the pledge of allegiance.
First of all, reciting a pledge is not going to decrease terrorism, or make someone with terrorist leanings change his/her mind. Not reciting it is not going to turn anyone against America, or make them any less of a citizen. And forcing someone to recite something in the hopes they will espouse that belief is simply indoctrination. The idea to me of a crowd of children being taught, through recitation, blind obedience to their government does not comfort me in any way. It chills me to the bone. Most people don't give much thought to the fact that they are pledging allegiance to a particular government. They just think (because they've been told) that it's the "patriotic thing to do." Few people question it, but everyone should.
Either it's just words that don't mean anything, or a nostalgic tradition, in which case it's pointless, OR it's a serious commitment of lifelong allegiance. One's disingenuous and one's dangerous.
It amuses me when the "uneducated" call me "un-American" because I don't recite the pledge. Since "un" means "not," that literally translates to "not American," as in, "Anyone who disagrees with me is not American." Well, last time I checked, I am a legal citizen, born and raised here, and I won't make a fool of myself by acting like a sheep in the name of religion. I do, however, enjoy this seemingly un-American activity I like to call "thinking for myself."
I'm assuming, since Christ was from the Middle East, that He was "un-American" too, in the same way that I am "un-Chinese" or "un-Israeli," to the best of my knowledge. People who use the phrase "un-American" are probably trying to say "anti-American," which is a whole different matter. Their assumption is that anyone who does not engage in the truly obnoxious nationalism they espouse can't possibly care about America. These are generally very fearful people, who were taught things a certain way, and are scared to death to question it. Especially if they were taught it by their church. I'm hoping to dispel a few fears, maybe raise a few eyebrows, and state my case.
Merriam-Webster defines "Christianity" as "the religion that is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ." I can't possibly imagine Christ pledging allegiance to any government or any flag. Since Christianity is based on the teachings of Christ, it might be a nifty idea if people actually paid attention to what He had to say. Take it or leave it, call me un-American, I don't care.
Over and over, Christ blasts the rulemakers and writers of law, and flouts society's expectations. Not only do I believe that He would have completely disapproved of the pledge of allegiance, but as protective as He was of children, I imagine He would have been outraged that people would, in His name, subject children to reciting something that was generated as a government pledge. He exhorted his followers to not divide their loyalties, choosing God even over their own family members. I'm pretty sure He would have expected them to choose God over their own government.
I've read a little more of the Bible than many people assume. And the words of Christ show me a man who would be deeply disappointed, even outraged, at the dogma being thrown about as His will, in the name of mind control. Show me a Bible verse where Jesus exhorts us to pledge allegiance to any government or any flag. You won't find one.
Far too many people are not aware that the stipulation, "Under God," was not part of the original pledge. It was added in 1952, as a result of widespread fear-mongering. It was during this same time that "In God We Trust" was added to currency. It was during the Communist witch hunts. People inflicted great cruelty on one another and ruined lives and careers, over rumors and gossip. It was a shameful time. It hasn't seemed to make a big difference in human behavior to add this to our currency or pledge, has it. It hasn't resulted in a drop in crime, or an increase in human kindness. So what was the point? I don't think Jesus would approve of this mingling of church and state. He Himself says, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21) How did our society become so deluded?
I feel so strongly about this because some people will do pretty much anything if they can be convinced that God is somehow behind it. And let's face it, some people don't take much convincing. I see the bigger picture, and it's not pretty. The whole "God and country" thing leaves me cold. That is not mutually inclusive, and it insinuates that our country has carte blanche to do anything it wants because it's already endorsed by God. Now THAT'S scary.
Many people have been misled that America is some sort of holy, benevolent giant. They seem to believe that pledging allegiance to our government makes them more Godly. I call it "obedient." As Voltaire said, "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." I refuse to turn a blind eye to the atrocities that have been committed by our country, and so many others, all in the name of God. And I certainly will not pledge allegiance to any government or nation. I'm not ruled by, or addicted to fear, and won't be bullied by any Pharisees. I humbly submit that our highest common good cannot be accomplished through recited words, but through compassion, truth, and integrity.
First of all, reciting a pledge is not going to decrease terrorism, or make someone with terrorist leanings change his/her mind. Not reciting it is not going to turn anyone against America, or make them any less of a citizen. And forcing someone to recite something in the hopes they will espouse that belief is simply indoctrination. The idea to me of a crowd of children being taught, through recitation, blind obedience to their government does not comfort me in any way. It chills me to the bone. Most people don't give much thought to the fact that they are pledging allegiance to a particular government. They just think (because they've been told) that it's the "patriotic thing to do." Few people question it, but everyone should.
Either it's just words that don't mean anything, or a nostalgic tradition, in which case it's pointless, OR it's a serious commitment of lifelong allegiance. One's disingenuous and one's dangerous.
It amuses me when the "uneducated" call me "un-American" because I don't recite the pledge. Since "un" means "not," that literally translates to "not American," as in, "Anyone who disagrees with me is not American." Well, last time I checked, I am a legal citizen, born and raised here, and I won't make a fool of myself by acting like a sheep in the name of religion. I do, however, enjoy this seemingly un-American activity I like to call "thinking for myself."
I'm assuming, since Christ was from the Middle East, that He was "un-American" too, in the same way that I am "un-Chinese" or "un-Israeli," to the best of my knowledge. People who use the phrase "un-American" are probably trying to say "anti-American," which is a whole different matter. Their assumption is that anyone who does not engage in the truly obnoxious nationalism they espouse can't possibly care about America. These are generally very fearful people, who were taught things a certain way, and are scared to death to question it. Especially if they were taught it by their church. I'm hoping to dispel a few fears, maybe raise a few eyebrows, and state my case.
Merriam-Webster defines "Christianity" as "the religion that is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ." I can't possibly imagine Christ pledging allegiance to any government or any flag. Since Christianity is based on the teachings of Christ, it might be a nifty idea if people actually paid attention to what He had to say. Take it or leave it, call me un-American, I don't care.
Over and over, Christ blasts the rulemakers and writers of law, and flouts society's expectations. Not only do I believe that He would have completely disapproved of the pledge of allegiance, but as protective as He was of children, I imagine He would have been outraged that people would, in His name, subject children to reciting something that was generated as a government pledge. He exhorted his followers to not divide their loyalties, choosing God even over their own family members. I'm pretty sure He would have expected them to choose God over their own government.
I've read a little more of the Bible than many people assume. And the words of Christ show me a man who would be deeply disappointed, even outraged, at the dogma being thrown about as His will, in the name of mind control. Show me a Bible verse where Jesus exhorts us to pledge allegiance to any government or any flag. You won't find one.
Far too many people are not aware that the stipulation, "Under God," was not part of the original pledge. It was added in 1952, as a result of widespread fear-mongering. It was during this same time that "In God We Trust" was added to currency. It was during the Communist witch hunts. People inflicted great cruelty on one another and ruined lives and careers, over rumors and gossip. It was a shameful time. It hasn't seemed to make a big difference in human behavior to add this to our currency or pledge, has it. It hasn't resulted in a drop in crime, or an increase in human kindness. So what was the point? I don't think Jesus would approve of this mingling of church and state. He Himself says, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21) How did our society become so deluded?
I feel so strongly about this because some people will do pretty much anything if they can be convinced that God is somehow behind it. And let's face it, some people don't take much convincing. I see the bigger picture, and it's not pretty. The whole "God and country" thing leaves me cold. That is not mutually inclusive, and it insinuates that our country has carte blanche to do anything it wants because it's already endorsed by God. Now THAT'S scary.
Many people have been misled that America is some sort of holy, benevolent giant. They seem to believe that pledging allegiance to our government makes them more Godly. I call it "obedient." As Voltaire said, "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." I refuse to turn a blind eye to the atrocities that have been committed by our country, and so many others, all in the name of God. And I certainly will not pledge allegiance to any government or nation. I'm not ruled by, or addicted to fear, and won't be bullied by any Pharisees. I humbly submit that our highest common good cannot be accomplished through recited words, but through compassion, truth, and integrity.
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.
Response from Senator Merkley
For anyone interested, here is the response I received today from Sen. Jeff Merkley in regard to my email about Syria:
Dear Romy,
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Dear Romy,
Thank you for your earlier email to me
on the violence in Syria and the possibility of U.S. military
intervention. I appreciate having heard from you and I want to share
with you my thoughts as the situation continues to develop.
As I wrote in my previous message to you
and have said in my public comments, I have had serious reservations
about the proposed military action in response to Syria's chemical
weapons attack on its citizens.
I have spent hours meeting with the President, Vice President, and
officials from the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence
services, and those discussions have not resolved my concerns about the
wisdom of the proposed plans. If the Senate votes on
the resolution (S.J.Res.21) authorizing that proposed plan, I will
oppose it.
I share the President's belief that the use of chemical weapons by
Syria is horrific. But it demands a strong international diplomatic
response incorporating an array of political and economic actions. The
goal should be to deter any additional use by
Syria or any other nation. The international community should hold
Syria to its promise to transfer its chemical weapons stockpile to
international control. While achieving this goal will be challenging, I
applaud the progress the administration has made towards
its goal in the last few days.
Thank you, again, for sharing your thoughts with me. I hope that
you will continue to reach out to me about the issues that are most
important to you.
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Write your legislators!!
I recently wrote to Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley with my concerns about possible U.S. military action in Syria. He wrote me a well-reasoned response, while still leaving room to consider military action. To me, this is not acceptable. As his tax-paying constituent, who has seen an overwhelming lack of support for U.S. military action, I think he needed to hear a stronger message. Therefore, here is my reply to his email:
Good evening, Senator Merkley,
Thank you for my response to my concerns about Syria. It sounds like you have been very diligent in exploring a very complex situation. My views on this are less complex. I was against military action in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and everywhere else, and am now against military action in Syria. I am not some Johnny-come-lately who is anti-war because "it was Obama's idea." To be fair though, this is not a partisan issue; I literally have not heard a single one of my friends on either side of the aisle defend the idea of attacking Syria. The concept of "limited strikes" leaves me with the same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as the image seared into my brain of G.W. Bush in his ill-fitting flight suit, proclaiming "Mission Accomplished." I'm not buying it for one minute.
Our military was founded to protect our country. It was the clear intent of the founding fathers to wisely mind our own business. Since then, the war profiteers have convinced decision makers otherwise, much to the horror of the people in the countries we occupy. I have yet to hear exactly what attack Syria has launched on us that we need to defend.
I currently have a young friend, an Iraqi refugee, who has traveled to Syria to support the people. The people of Syria DO NOT want us there. Since they are the proported victims of the attack (and there is contention about who exactly used the chemical weapons in the first place), shouldn't the victims have a say as to whether or not they will be further victimized? The people of Syria are being used as human shields; any attack on our part will merely further the corrupt agenda of the current regime.
Why is it that force is our first option instead of our last? What have we gained by this? I can tell you, sir, what we have lost... we have lost our standing and reputation internationally. We have lost generations of young men and women to combat, suicide, chronic disabilities and illness, exposure to deadly chemicals, PTSD, broken families, and ruined lives. Sadly, the children are watching, and our society's children are being raised on war, and learning that force is the way to solve problems... gee, I wonder why we have so much violence! We have destroyed our economy, while people are jobless and homeless in the streets. In Tillamook, our local Salvation Army Food Bank is shutting down, another victim of the war economy reality. Last Saturday, I spoke to a friend of mine, a middle aged woman raising grandchildren, who was in tears, because she doesn't know how she is going to survive without the food bank. We don't have the dollars to feed Oregonians, but we have them to send missiles to strike innocent people?! As your constituent, while I respect your research and willingness to see all sides, I am also waiting for you to condemn any military action in Syria, or anywhere.
We have sprayed chemical weapons such as white phosphorus, in violation of international law, near civilian populations such as Fallujah, causing some of the most horrific birth defects imaginable, not to mention the soaring illness rates in those areas. We use a drone program with an 80% accuracy rate. Would 80% be accurate enough for you if it were in your neighborhood? We have bombed villages, killed countless innocent people, destroyed schools, hospitals, entire neighborhoods, in our bloodthirst for the "terrorists." Then as the children's bodies are buried, we call it "collateral damage." Can you imagine, for one moment, trying to raise children in one of the places we invade? The horror is unthinkable.
Enough is enough!!!! Please speak out against this newest threat by the U.S. It is becoming increasingly obvious to the entire world who the real terrorists are. The Syrian people don't need our kind of "intervention." Better yet, let's provide the war dollars to the agencies who are actually reaching out and providing food and medical care. The profiteers will be mad, but they are obscenely wealthy already. It's not our job, and never was, to police the entire world and play God in the process. I am in full agreement with you that the international community needs to join together to address human rights abuses in Syria; I just think for once we need to be creative and find a non-military way to do so.
I am against all war, I am against this war, and, to quote a bumper sticker, I am already against the next war. Please join me in opposing more death and destruction.
Thank you for your time, again, and your willingness to hear all sides of the issue. That is why I voted for you.
Sincerely,
Romy Carver
Good evening, Senator Merkley,
Thank you for my response to my concerns about Syria. It sounds like you have been very diligent in exploring a very complex situation. My views on this are less complex. I was against military action in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and everywhere else, and am now against military action in Syria. I am not some Johnny-come-lately who is anti-war because "it was Obama's idea." To be fair though, this is not a partisan issue; I literally have not heard a single one of my friends on either side of the aisle defend the idea of attacking Syria. The concept of "limited strikes" leaves me with the same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as the image seared into my brain of G.W. Bush in his ill-fitting flight suit, proclaiming "Mission Accomplished." I'm not buying it for one minute.
Our military was founded to protect our country. It was the clear intent of the founding fathers to wisely mind our own business. Since then, the war profiteers have convinced decision makers otherwise, much to the horror of the people in the countries we occupy. I have yet to hear exactly what attack Syria has launched on us that we need to defend.
I currently have a young friend, an Iraqi refugee, who has traveled to Syria to support the people. The people of Syria DO NOT want us there. Since they are the proported victims of the attack (and there is contention about who exactly used the chemical weapons in the first place), shouldn't the victims have a say as to whether or not they will be further victimized? The people of Syria are being used as human shields; any attack on our part will merely further the corrupt agenda of the current regime.
Why is it that force is our first option instead of our last? What have we gained by this? I can tell you, sir, what we have lost... we have lost our standing and reputation internationally. We have lost generations of young men and women to combat, suicide, chronic disabilities and illness, exposure to deadly chemicals, PTSD, broken families, and ruined lives. Sadly, the children are watching, and our society's children are being raised on war, and learning that force is the way to solve problems... gee, I wonder why we have so much violence! We have destroyed our economy, while people are jobless and homeless in the streets. In Tillamook, our local Salvation Army Food Bank is shutting down, another victim of the war economy reality. Last Saturday, I spoke to a friend of mine, a middle aged woman raising grandchildren, who was in tears, because she doesn't know how she is going to survive without the food bank. We don't have the dollars to feed Oregonians, but we have them to send missiles to strike innocent people?! As your constituent, while I respect your research and willingness to see all sides, I am also waiting for you to condemn any military action in Syria, or anywhere.
We have sprayed chemical weapons such as white phosphorus, in violation of international law, near civilian populations such as Fallujah, causing some of the most horrific birth defects imaginable, not to mention the soaring illness rates in those areas. We use a drone program with an 80% accuracy rate. Would 80% be accurate enough for you if it were in your neighborhood? We have bombed villages, killed countless innocent people, destroyed schools, hospitals, entire neighborhoods, in our bloodthirst for the "terrorists." Then as the children's bodies are buried, we call it "collateral damage." Can you imagine, for one moment, trying to raise children in one of the places we invade? The horror is unthinkable.
Enough is enough!!!! Please speak out against this newest threat by the U.S. It is becoming increasingly obvious to the entire world who the real terrorists are. The Syrian people don't need our kind of "intervention." Better yet, let's provide the war dollars to the agencies who are actually reaching out and providing food and medical care. The profiteers will be mad, but they are obscenely wealthy already. It's not our job, and never was, to police the entire world and play God in the process. I am in full agreement with you that the international community needs to join together to address human rights abuses in Syria; I just think for once we need to be creative and find a non-military way to do so.
I am against all war, I am against this war, and, to quote a bumper sticker, I am already against the next war. Please join me in opposing more death and destruction.
Thank you for your time, again, and your willingness to hear all sides of the issue. That is why I voted for you.
Sincerely,
Romy Carver
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.
The Empire Strikes Back (Against the Defenseless)
I remember as a kid being asked, “If you could push a button for a million dollars, but someone in China would die, would you do it?” I had to really think about that. There is no way I would consider actually “killing” someone, but pushing a button, and never having to see that person’s face, witness his pain, or know his story as a fellow human being might be different. When my friends and I pondered that question, I thought about that person having a family, and a life. What if someone could push a button and do that to me? So if they didn’t have the right to do that to me, how could I do it, even to a stranger? Some of my friends had different opinions, saying, “Who cares? You’d never know the person. Maybe they were dying anyway… besides, it’s a million dollars!”
I didn’t have the words to articulate what I know now: that every living, breathing human deserves to live. That pushing a button to kill someone on the other side of the world is still killing. And that brings me to drones.
Our warmonger-owned media would love for us to adopt the thinking that some anonymous human on the other side of the world doesn’t matter. But that is operating from the false assumption that we are not interconnected, and that killing is okay if you don’t have to watch the person die. A tidy, sanitized death that we don’t have to witness... except we don’t get the million dollars; the warmongers do.
They would like us to believe that the people being killed are “terrorists,” because somehow the fact that they have been thus labelled justifies their murder. But what makes a terrorist? For the sake of the drone program, any male over 18 years of age in the strike zone is a terrorist. So if our government deems you deserving of death via remote control, and your 18-year-old son is home at the time, he is now considered a terrorist too. Comes in pretty handy when they are counting “civilian” deaths. Conveniently, this 18 year old is no longer counted as a civilian. It has nothing to do with terrorist activity, or even knowledge of terrorist activity; it’s all about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Drones have only an 80% accuracy rate. If that doesn’t sound so bad, think about how comfortable you would be if the drone was pointed at your next door neighbor. You are no longer a person if the drone hits your home and kills your family; you are now “collateral damage.” Every instance of collateral damage means a funeral, means orphans, means people burying their babies, and the trauma of a community dealing with a murder. In this case, the murderer is not being held accountable. And for those people who allude to the sanctity of life while protesting abortion, please know that fetuses die in our unethical wars too.
We have a great deal of invisible privilege living here in the U.S., because we don’t have to live in a war zone. Nobody deserves to wonder if they are going to be killed in a car bombing that day, to be constantly vigilant, to wonder if soldiers are going to kick down their door and drag away their father, or brother, or son to be “interrogated,” yet that is the reality in the countries we are invading and occupying. This is what we create. Yet somehow, we call them the terrorists. The same people who say they don't trust the government don't seem to question the government when it deems a random person across the world as a terrorist. That is the luxury of living in America.
More people have been upset about the drone program targeting American citizens, but I am upset about the drone program targeting anybody! Who are we to play God? If you want to murder someone, at least have the guts to do it to his face, not shoot a missile from the other side of the planet and take out his family and friends. What kind of cowardice have we produced, and who are these inventors of death, who make their living finding increasingly cold-hearted ways to take the lives of others, while removing themselves conveniently from the situation?
Brandon Bryant, a former drone pilot, now suffers from PTSD. He quit the drone program, after witnessing the death of a child as the result of a drone he fired. And that was just a vague camera image in infrared. He did not have to hear the screams, or see the fear and pain in the child’s face, or witness the grief of the families of the dead. Nevertheless, the knowledge of his own role in this moral outrage has ruined his life. As aggressors, we also pay the price of this senseless killing, and it is a blight on our social conscience. As Howard Zinn would say, “There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.” And make no mistake, these are innocent people, even the ones labelled as terrorists. Isn’t it supposed to be “innocent until proven guilty?” Have they been brought to trial, have they had a chance to defend themselves, or is this the New American Way… judge, jury, and executioner?
The Obama administration admitted yesterday that four U.S. Citizens had been killed by drones, one of whom was specifically targeted. While not excusing the one who was targeted, were the other three an accident? Why are we doing this? Today, the President promises to CURTAIL the drone program. A new classified policy guidance signed by Pres. Obama will sharply curtail the instances when unmanned aircraft can be used to attack in places that are not overt war zones: countries like Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. That is not enough. Every human being on this planet deserves to not be murdered, and a drone murder is still murder. This must be discontinued. This is not a video game; it’s human life. Would it bring you comfort if you were cradling the body of your dead child to be told we had “curtailed” drone attacks?
If you agree with me that this is irresponsible and inhumane, please click on the links below, which will take you to petitions. Feel free to add your own links if you are aware of other petitions. As a conscientious American, I cannot defend the drone program in any form.
To ask for further scaling back of drone operations, via Codepink:
To ask for the suspension of the Customs and Border Protection domestic drone surveillance program:
A change.org petition asking for the suspension of drone strikes on suspected terrorists:
https://www.change.org/petitions/no-more-drone-strikes
Here is the link to information about the book, "Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control" by Medea Benjamin:
http://www.codepinkalert.org//article.php?id=6064
Here is the link to information about the book, "Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control" by Medea Benjamin:
http://www.codepinkalert.org//article.php?id=6064
Choosing a Tribe
It all started with Howard Zinn. A few years ago, I stumbled across a book entitled, “A Power Governments Cannot Suppress,” by a man named Howard Zinn. The title sounded enticing, so I did something out of character and bought it without having opened it.
The book sat idle for a few weeks as I tried to find time to read it. I discovered it was a selection of essays, making it easier to read in bits and pieces. I started reading a chapter each night at bedtime and was quickly hooked.
Zinn wrote with passion, and articulated concepts I had often felt swirling wordlessly around inside me; his words were a call to action. I felt like I saw his soul, and admired his steely resolve of integrity, combined with genuine warmth and compassion. I found myself dog-earing pages, and underlining and starring section after section of his words. I had found a hero.
My “do-gooder” nature over the years has earned me some good-natured ribbing and the nickname of “Mrs. Justice” from my kids, but Howard Zinn understood. His words validated my need for “do-gooding,” but also struck a deeper chord, because Zinn was a historian extraordinaire. He gave a voice to those historically voiceless, and I realized that they are us, and all of us depend on all of us to do something. Anything and everything makes a difference. As Zinn illustrated in story after story, common people like you and me were the ones who changed the world, not leaders and politicians. Not only do we have the right to be do-gooders; we have a responsibility. I should probably mention here that I really hated history class, and skipped school at every opportunity to avoid it; now history had come alive.
About four days into my nightly Zinn-reading routine, I had a powerful and vivid dream. I was part of an ancient and powerful nomadic tribe, living in a plains area. Another smaller, peaceful tribe lived nearby, and I had become friends with a little boy from that tribe, about eight years old (I’m not sure of my age or gender in this dream; I guess it wasn’t relevant). For some time, my tribe had been tormenting this other tribe, and I watched in unspeakable horror as adults from my own tribe beat this boy brutally, then drowned him in a stream, laughing raucously. I knew in that moment that I was leaving my tribe, to live with the smaller, weaker tribe. I also knew the decision would result in my death, but I was at peace with that; it was better than being one of the killers, and I would die standing with MY people.
I woke in tears. I didn’t see the outcome of the dream and didn’t need to. I had chosen my tribe.
After that night, I began standing peace vigil, and reading and learning all I could about creating peace… writings by politicians, faith leaders, former soldiers, people living in war zones, and ordinary folks like Peace Pilgrim. I try to be mindful every day about standing on the side of peace, and not letting down my tribe.
I’ll leave it to you to think about who my tribe is, but if you stand for peace, I will stand with you. I know that Howard Zinn would too.
"The trouble is that once you see it, you can't unsee it. And once you've seen it, keeping quiet, saying nothing, becomes as political an act as speaking out. There's no innocence. Either way, you're accountable." Arundhati Roy
The book sat idle for a few weeks as I tried to find time to read it. I discovered it was a selection of essays, making it easier to read in bits and pieces. I started reading a chapter each night at bedtime and was quickly hooked.
Zinn wrote with passion, and articulated concepts I had often felt swirling wordlessly around inside me; his words were a call to action. I felt like I saw his soul, and admired his steely resolve of integrity, combined with genuine warmth and compassion. I found myself dog-earing pages, and underlining and starring section after section of his words. I had found a hero.
My “do-gooder” nature over the years has earned me some good-natured ribbing and the nickname of “Mrs. Justice” from my kids, but Howard Zinn understood. His words validated my need for “do-gooding,” but also struck a deeper chord, because Zinn was a historian extraordinaire. He gave a voice to those historically voiceless, and I realized that they are us, and all of us depend on all of us to do something. Anything and everything makes a difference. As Zinn illustrated in story after story, common people like you and me were the ones who changed the world, not leaders and politicians. Not only do we have the right to be do-gooders; we have a responsibility. I should probably mention here that I really hated history class, and skipped school at every opportunity to avoid it; now history had come alive.
About four days into my nightly Zinn-reading routine, I had a powerful and vivid dream. I was part of an ancient and powerful nomadic tribe, living in a plains area. Another smaller, peaceful tribe lived nearby, and I had become friends with a little boy from that tribe, about eight years old (I’m not sure of my age or gender in this dream; I guess it wasn’t relevant). For some time, my tribe had been tormenting this other tribe, and I watched in unspeakable horror as adults from my own tribe beat this boy brutally, then drowned him in a stream, laughing raucously. I knew in that moment that I was leaving my tribe, to live with the smaller, weaker tribe. I also knew the decision would result in my death, but I was at peace with that; it was better than being one of the killers, and I would die standing with MY people.
I woke in tears. I didn’t see the outcome of the dream and didn’t need to. I had chosen my tribe.
After that night, I began standing peace vigil, and reading and learning all I could about creating peace… writings by politicians, faith leaders, former soldiers, people living in war zones, and ordinary folks like Peace Pilgrim. I try to be mindful every day about standing on the side of peace, and not letting down my tribe.
I’ll leave it to you to think about who my tribe is, but if you stand for peace, I will stand with you. I know that Howard Zinn would too.
"The trouble is that once you see it, you can't unsee it. And once you've seen it, keeping quiet, saying nothing, becomes as political an act as speaking out. There's no innocence. Either way, you're accountable." Arundhati Roy
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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