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Peace is the New War
People across the political spectrum are war-weary by now and ready for that positive new option. Certainly we need to contest warfare and militarism, but how many different rhetorical ways are there at this point to condemn such practices? Aside from the list of benefactors above, does anyone still need to be convinced that war is wasteful and devastating on innumerable levels? The knowledge is solidly there; now all we need is the political will. This short list may be of service in connecting the dots from thought to action:
1) The Peace Dividend: There's much consternation about the so-called "bailout," and rightly so, but consider that the war machine sucks up nearly this much annually. Hundreds of billions of dollars each year are spent on obsolete equipment, unaccountable no-bid contracts, and implements of destruction. Imagine those resources being conscripted instead for utilization in health care, education, green energy, the arts, food security, urban renewal, and more. It's sometimes said that war is good for the economy, but as we've seen recently those numbers simply do not add up. Investing in peace, by contrast, promises to pay dividends for generations to come.
2) Moral Equivalency: Over a century ago, William James began a landmark essay with these prescient words:
"The war against war is going to be no holiday excursion or camping party. The military feelings are too deeply grounded to abdicate their place among our ideals until better substitutes are offered than the glory and shame that come to nations as well as to individuals from the ups and downs of politics and the vicissitudes of trade."
What James suggested was that we need something akin to war in its drama, challenge, and sense of purpose in order to fashion a substitute, or a "moral equivalent." It's unreasonable to expect people to abandon a familiar narrative, even one that's unpopular or destructive, without offering something in its place. James imagined a "public service" or "public works" mandate, and we can speculate about what else might fit this bill -- there's certainly no lack of an enterprising spirit in the modern marketplace of ideas.
3) All Power to the Imagination: The ways of war have been variously referred to as "a bad cultural invention" and "a failure of the imagination." War is not a path to peace and never has been -- after all, we're still fighting wars after centuries of continuously doing so -- and if war could somehow bring an end to war it would've done it by now. A.J. Muste once said that "there is no path to peace -- peace is the way," and the inverse is also true that war is a means only to its own end. Sometimes this is called "blowback;" Malcolm X referred to it as "chickens coming home to roost," Isaac Newton described an "equal and opposite reaction," the Bible counsels that "violence begets violence," and Hindus reflect on the processes of karma. Choose your guru but the message is the same: war cannot and never did bring peace, whereas peace brings more of itself. Imagine that.
4) Sticks and Stones: Albert Einstein once observed that "peace cannot be kept by force," and when asked what kind of weapons World War III would be fought with he responded that he didn't know, "but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." In this sense, war is retrogressive and reactionary; it contributes to entropy and a downward spiral of cultural evolution. Proponents will sometimes talk about technological "spin-offs" from the military as being beneficial to society -- but what one hand giveth, armaments can taketh away. There's more than enough impetus to push the frontiers of science and philosophy without war being part of the equation, and it would surely be an interesting sight to behold the innovations conceived outside the mentality of militarism.
5) The Green Revolution: I've heard that "green is the new black," and all signs point toward a "greening" trend in both consciousness and consumption. While some doubt whether late capitalism can ever be sufficiently "greened" to forestall climate change and other global calamities, many embrace the notion that a more widely held environmental ethic can be an important component of moving the current paradigm toward something more just and sustainable. A peace economy is intimately connected to a peace ecology, in the sense that the ways in which we manage our relationship to the earth and its resources reflect how we manage our interactions and exchanges with each other. People are getting this, and a sustainable worldview is emerging. War ruins not only human lives but the environment itself, and folks aren't buying it anymore.
6) Kids Are Smart: War is, like, so old school, and young people are a lot savvier about these things than we often appreciate. Despite being inculcated into a martial culture through media, education, and technology, the sensibility of the up-and-coming generations is more pacific than one might suspect. Many are more interested in exploring what they can make rather than what they can destroy. They've grown up in a post-9/11 world of financial instability and resource conflicts, and aren't anxious to extend and replicate these scenarios. As a teacher and father of two young boys, I try to see the world through the eyes of these next generations, and the dominant sense often appears to be a mixture of fear and hope. War stokes the fear and peace holds the hope, so I'm opting for the latter -- for the kids' sake and ours.
7) The Logic of Survival: Life wants to be lived and the survival instinct is innate. President Kennedy once urged that we "must put an end to war, or war will put an end to" us. Whatever your spiritual views, creation is a positive attribute and the future matters. Leaving behind a world on the path to peace, including both the tools (hardware) and ideas (software) to promote and sustain it, ought to be among our overarching missions during our brief time here. They say that "history is written by the winners," but the future is an open book that we're all entitled to take part in writing.
We can't afford to wait for the military-industrial complex to magically abdicate power. We also can't rely solely on top-down leaders to bring the change we seek, lest we wake up to a rubric that suggests "Obama is the new Bush" or "Afghanistan is the new Iraq." There's an old bumper sticker you've probably seen: "If the people lead, the leaders will follow." This is the essence of democracy, and it's our best hope for peace as well.
- Posted in
48 Comments so far
Show AllWe need Department of Peace. War used to be something that happened every couple hundred pages in our history books. War today is an everyday part of our lives. We have come to accept war as natural and unavoidable. A Department of Peace, guided by full-circle veterans like Bobby Muller or John Myers, could quickly bring this country to the understanding that war is a dead end street and should be avoided at all cost, and that peace for us is peace for all of us, the whole world.
Hoa binh
Great article. It's amazing how the fascist warmongers even on this site call people who are trying to heal America by pushing for peaceful resolutions and stop the weapons shipping to rogue nations such as Israel and Egypt as "hate America" people. If I really hated America, I would still be an asshole to say that the Vietnam and now Iraq wars were somehow "won" even as both wars turned occupations turned out to be total failures. Let's take the Internet and use it to quell down the religious fundies, militants, and financial goons before the rightwing assholes steal even that from us. And let's keep fighting for taking back radio and television. One of my coworker's nephews who works in Washington was angered when the racist Don Imus took over the morning radio on a smooth jazz station. When traffic congestion is so disasterous, the last thing anyone should be listening to are rightwing nazis on the radio to make matters worse. By the way, I'm getting Amy Goodman's shows on the radio out here in El Paso. Check them out.
Sioux Rose
JWVEREZ: Excellent post! And you're so right about the type of POLLUTION traveling over the radio air waves and what it does to minds held hostage to it--in traffic.
Every penny not spent on war/Mars is available to buoy up the collective Venus deficit too long underway. Just as the author relates, young people want to create. We are here to emulate Creator by being creative beings, rather than being taught to react with hate (ready fodder to fuel war) on the basis of teachings of separation that lead to destructive ends. It really IS that simple. As for a compelling mission? Well, since so many have gone on various crusades in history, why not the mighty ideal of rebuilding our world. For those that need to identify with the premise of fighting the good fight, then let that fight be for a sustainable future for ALL mankind. Green technology is a significant element of that goal.
Nice post.
Though I'd point out that in this "And you're so right about the type of POLLUTION traveling over the radio air waves and what it does to minds held hostage to it--in traffic." you are incorrect.
No one is held hostage...they or you and I listen to what we want. We can turn it off or turn the dial. No one is forced to listen to Limbaugh or Goodman. Nor should they be.
Hi Thomas,
You should come over to Mississippi and check out the way the rednecks show their hatred of peace. If you're suspected of being a peacenik such as bumper stickers, drivers will hiss and sneer like crazy. It was a hell's battle getting Obama to cross the 40s mark just last year. You should also see the way schools and colleges in my state are setup. Anyone with a peace sign is arrested whereas if they have what supposedly qualifies as "patriotic", then no charges are pressed. And to top it off, peace is often misdefined as leaving them alone after they've been beaten and mugged. As for radio, well if people aren't being given a choice and they don't want to put up with bumper to bumper traffic, why rig the game and give them no choice? I find Don Imus digusting and I'd hate to listen to him while driving. How many left or moderate talk shows can you get versus the conservative ones in your area?
"How many left or moderate talk shows can you get versus the conservative ones in your area?"
I feel fortunate to live just outside Ann Arbor where neo-conservatives are a distinct minority and the radio selection is actually pretty good though I mainly end up listening to podcasts, and they 38,000 songs on my computer. :)
I hear you!
My point to SR was that you can choose to listen to the radio or not. And I'd say we need to get more liberal shows on the air to give a better choice. I don't know why our folks won't bankroll them.
Peace signs in any flavor are as patriotic as you can get. The old "peace sign" was worn on some of my mens uniforms at various times. I'd hate for them to be told they weren't patriotic for wearing it out on patrol.
I hate the term Redneck so let me use the term "lowlife" Speaking of which you can't find a finer example than Don Imus.
We get plenty but we aren't far from Dallas, aside from which if I want to listen to something I use my computer. And you can hear anything you like.
Keep up the good work in Mississippi!!
yes it is funny how the meaning of words change.
Redneck now has a right wing connotation but the term originally came from the early fight for workers and union rights in the South when the workers fought back with guns and were called Rednecks because they wore red around there necks for identification from the bosses army and national guard.
Coal miners were fighters for sure.
Jim Glover
I had it down as poor whites were laborers and in the South their necks were always sunburned. Redneck hence being an insult that you were of the poor working class whites. Thats the only explanation I ever heard.
I hadn't heard the story about the red worn by union workers before. Thanks.
Sioux Rose
Hi Thomas, it was a euphemism. But the point is, there is not much diversity on the radio dial. Sports, shock jocks, country music, hard rock, the OCCASIONAL jazz or classical program, and how often are progressive voices heard? In cool cities that have enough support for these items, the privileged do get to hear alternative views. Where I live it's rock, country, or Christian. So the concept of being held hostage is fairly real. I opt for silence or my own selection of CDS.
Hi Sioux Rose
"Hi Thomas, it was a euphemism"
I know....I just couldn't resist!
I undestand what you are saying, we get to Arkansas to visit relatives and parts are just as you describe. Without even Jazz or Classical...my favorite. Dallas has a city owned station WRR that plays nothing but. And PBS is clear as a bell. I'm lucky I know.
Frankly I don't understand why our folks don't bankroll more liberal shows. Its not like we don't have the money. And I'd say there is enough talent to man a hundred thousand shows. Its quite a puzzle.
Sometimes I believe we'd all be better off if there was more silence.
But you know how it is with Pisces, we are always swimming in opposite directions and under Neptunes direction we sometimes know it.
Sioux Rose
THOMAS: You know the saying that organizing the left is like getting cats to line up, but the right has its several issues and has created an enormously well-crafted media machine, added to think tanks, that keep IT ON MESSAGE 24/7 and there is very little to compete on the left. Yes, we have the Internet, amen to that; and independent films, and sites like CD, but as for mass media, a very scant presence. And by the way, I'm pleased to know you like jazz. My favorite. To me jazz is to music what physics is to science.
Sioux Rose
"To me jazz is to music what physics is to science."
A wonderful analogy, poetic in point of fact.
I'm happy to tell you that even my right wing christian conservative, Bush is wonderful friends, tell me that the right is a trainwreck right now.
As far as their media machine, anything they can do, we can do better, if we could stop the in-fighting as you say.
"You know the saying that organizing the left is like getting cats to line up"
Oh so true! But we are going to have to figure out some way to come up with better arguments/policies/ideas or we are going to miss out on the one opportunity we have had in 50 years and it won't come again soon.
I was able to get some more info on the station in Washington DC area. It used to be a Smooth Jazz station but the morning hours are now stuck with Don Imus. A friend of mine visited DC once and he says that the traffic is just plain horrible every day. I can imagine that it will only get worse on inauguration day.
Randall Amster's short list omits another dot that needs to be tossed into the mix and connected to the other dots. Justice.
In my peace studies graduate classes during the early 70's, we were taught that war could be viewed and analyzed as a fight, a game, a crusade, a cataclysm, and/or a sin. By far the toughest nut to crack is the middle one of these five paradigm models.
Sometimes good, moral and righteous people do feel compelled to take up arms and kill threatening enemies in the name and the cause of justice. That's what it took to do away with divine right monarchy, and to abolish the institution of skin color slavery in America. Although in the grand arc of history it is very rare - certainly the exception rather than the rule - it is true nonetheless that sometimes warfare, with all its attendant horrors, does achieve a lasting good.
So we should add justice - perhaps couching it as human rights - to the short list. Peace is more than just the abscence of violence, a cessation of hostilities. For peace to ever last, there must be continuing, discernable progress towards attaining justice.
Bill from Saginaw
Beware the powerful who readily exploit "Human Rights" to excuse their war.
Thanks, Bill from Saginaw, for reminding us that justice is an important element in the pursuit of peace.
I am a strong advocate for peace, and yet when I talk about peaceful resolutions to conflict, my friends say, "Aw, you're such a great person, but you know that's not really possible." They are very condescending towards my view.
However, I truly believe that if we are to stop the wars of exploitation and the massive violence which is endemic to our world right now, we have to start believing that a different approach to conflict is possible.
When would I take up arms? I have a hard time defining that point. What makes my life inherently more valuable to the human race than the life of the person trying to kill me? Of course my life is more important to me, but if I measured all of my actions according to only what is important to me, I would never contribute to the overall good. If we don't believe in the overall good, in as good a life as possible for as many humans and other beings as possible, then war, indeed, is inevitable.
I don't think peace is a fairytale or a weak-minded belief. It is a strong and difficult belief and a difficult way to live. Resolving conflicts is much more difficult than shooting someone. Sharing resources equitably is more difficult than stealing and hoarding them. We should do this hard work, because it is the only way for us to survive -- that I believe, also.
I agree with the sentiment of the article, but here is the rub how do we make all countries disarm simultaneously? For peace throughout the world won't work until that condition is met. Lets say hypothetically for example all countries disarm except Israel. Then Israel's hawkish leaders believe a "greater israel" is possible and attack all the Palestinian territory, Jordan, Syrian and Lebanon and no one is able to defend themselves against Israel's aggression if they are disarmed.
Sorry but I fall into the "not possible" camp because I believe the poor and downtrodden DO have a right to defend themselves against imperialist aggression primarily promulgated by the U.S., Israel, and Britain. I thus applaud Chavez's citizen militia and the armed Zapitistas who resisted Mexico's government so they could set autonomous zones for indigenous people.
If you think the war profiteers and overly aggressive testosterone burdened type A mainly males who plan war are going to wake up with the peace insight one morning you are kidding yourself. And as long as such people exist I firmly believe the downtrodden like Palestinians, Iraqis under the American boot heel, indigenous people, Basques in Spain, American poor people (and yes I mean ALL of America Serena), Africans still under military dictatorships, and other oppressed minorities have the right to resist their oppressors by force of arms.
What is the alternative for the weak, lay down and die and let oppressors walk all over them?
And yes I do wish those wanting to see ALL countries disarmed luck but frankly I think it isn't going to happen primarily due to the bell shaped curve of of testosterone distribution in the human species, unfortunately they type A testosterone poisoned sociopaths rise to the top because their aggression also breeds ambition. :( x 10
Peace has always been war out here in the Magnolia. Sure, there are helpful and friendly folks to help but the minute they hear about war, they explode if they come across someone who's for peace. My state isn't as racist as it used to be but there are too many pro-war hacks who keep trying to preach about Vietnam and Iraq somehow being "good" for America. In fact, last year a student was given an F on his term paper when she wrote about the US's failure in its involvement. Luckily, the court overturned the F grade and the student passed albeit a year later. If you put a pro-peace bumper sticker on your car, you'll get sneered at, honked at, or even side-swiped at on the road whereas if you have a Confederate flag or a pro-war sticker, nothing happens. The same kind of double standards are applied when you're pulled over or even arrested in school. For decades, peace has been misdefined as leaving someone alone once you mug them in my state !
You used to hear "War is good for the economy" a lot.
Since war is the biggest contributor to pollution and economic inflation, and the deficits get so large now that deficit spending is reaching the limits, I don't hear the "war is good for the economy" much anymore.
in fact You never hear about a "War dividend".
World War Two is about the only war you hear about a "war dividend" but it was the big exception because it was the catalyst for massive deficit spending after the world went off the gold standard and the largest borrowing in history began during and after the war. They had to get off the gold standard because there is a limited amount of gold and they needed unlimited cash to borrow to fix the damage of the war. Now 60 years later today nobody seems to know where the money or the gold is these days.
The USA could produce and manufacture back then (gone now) better than the rest of the world, so when the world went on the US Dollar standard Fiat money, it was the beginning of a long bubble with new money going into rebuilding Europe and all the new markets created by winning the War. But all bubbles end and the USA Dollar Bubble is over now. It was a long bubble, 60 years, but with the massive exponential rising Debt the USA owes the rest of the world, that virtual ponzi scheme of monetary policy is over too.
We need a Peace Department and a new monetary system based on building good works, lower consumption and more saving instead of borrowing our way out of Debt.
It seems like these days if you have to borrow to maintain it is torture.
The important thing I learned in grade school in Cleveland was when a very smart teacher told us that "Yes war can be good for the economy, if the war is won", and I would now add if the winner loans massive money to the losers for rebuilding at very low interest.
I agree with the article and yes, Justice is gonna be vital to greatly reducing war in the world.
The title "Peace is the new War" I think is using the same frame of mind that gets us into all wars like the "War to end all wars" War on this that and that mentality. We have to fight the good fight for Peace and justice because no president is gonna hand it to us as a gift.
But the good fight is not a War and that is why we will win.
We are the people and we have the power!
Just as the writer cites so many spiritual traditions, there are cultures very different from the western technologised religion - and religion it is!!
This is the hidden apparent paradox of the church-state separation. Religion is a state of mind/spirit not always under a steeple and the US gov't case its the dollar bill. Humbled economic theorists are the false profits.
All of the peoples who have been branded as "less than human" by delusional narcissism - or at best the ontologically challenged - have a perspective on life that is extremely important to know.
The final frontier is right under our noses. The human mind and spirit is inextricably linked to invisible -ignored microbial life as well as the stars. The dance between hope and fear, the transformation of greed/fear to AWE will come about. Hopefully by choice rather than forcing Momma Nature to choose the time for the shimmy.
Our lives are not necessarily the point. It is the lives of future generations. It is only fairly recent arising with anglo hegemony that the projection of that hegemony squeezes dissent and alternative views. What we will see tomorrow is decided by what we do today (verified by the reproductive capacity of war)
"If the people lead, the leaders will follow." This is the essence of democracy, and it's our best hope for peace as well."
Let the people decide:
http://ni4d.us/
You sir, are correct.
Great article EXCEPT its title. We have to get rid of the violent language as it is part of the culture of war. As a person who believes in peace, justice and nonviolence, I do NOT want a WAR on War nor do I wish to WAR/FIGHT for peace. I will strive for peace, work for peace, struggle for peace, sing for peace, donate for peace, anything POSITIVE, etc., but not FIGHT for peace. We need more strong words and images to make this point. And while we are at it, let's ditch the war imagery as in War on Poverty, etc. or "fighting for the union".
Peace hugs,
Kate Anne
A lot of people are with you there, Kate. I know I am. Noticed this past Christmas that most of the cards I got didn't have the usual santas or churches, but just a big PEACE on the front. Of course that was my message too.
Guess we can begin by cleaning up our own way of communicating, huh.
We are very close on that yet "Fight" has many connotations besides war and I appreciate those too... like fight racism or fight for our rights.... fight the fire etc. fight off a cold or disease
A non-violent struggle can be a fight and sometimes it takes a fight to win a struggle.... things get heated.. it is natural.
I see your point and we are close but I will keep the word and concept of the "Good Fight". Maybe it is my male hormones or whatever because sometimes we gotta fight back. Sometimes we have to defend ourselves from attack. Sometimes we gotta fight evil.
War is almost never called for. Maybe If the US helped the fight against Fascism in Spain we could have avoided the 2nd World War.
We need a new balance in the world and we are not perfect.
But you make a good point too.
Kate Anne:I agree about getting violence out of language. I remember there was alk about it in the 1970s and not getting kids war toys. I sometimes slip and use words like fight. I notice some guys use it to feel macho. (I'm a woman.) There's too much violence in our society, not just war.
I agree the fault is in the sex.... How neat that i just got an email from Yoko Ono about gettin a dept of Peace for real,
Lets Do it Ladies! Please
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/appoint_secretary_of_peace_in_department_of_peace_and_non-violence
Peace is easier these days because:
1. Anyone in another country could be reading this message. With the internet we can (in theory) learn to compare notes and learn what makes others tick. If that isn't enough, we can always pick up the internet-powered phone and dial someone in another country cheaply. Videos travel fast too.
2. More of the world is speaking English. English is becoming the common language of Africa. We each can understand our erstwhile enemies. Moreover, the rest of the world is becoming smarter and more literate. Does your Indian tech support person speak with a cultivated southern accent or with a New Yawk accent?
3. With transnational migration, we can talk to Iraqis, former residents of Gaza, Israelis, Guatemalans, ethnic Chinese, almost anyone, at the grocery store's checkout line.
4. Maybe the science of making and strengthening peace is advancing, just as every other science is advancing. It may be rubbing off on the military. For the first time in history, American soldiers are armed with teddy bears, soccer balls and dolls. We've come a long way from the "candy bombers" of the Berlin airlift. Our crack troops are now trained to have tea with Iraqi and Afghani families, and they speak the local languages now. Remember that the military is traditionally bringing up the tail end of our peacemaking science. If a Marine can figure it out, there's hope for anyone. Now, if we can only get the government to stop being so half-hearted at making real progress...
PaulK
These are excellent points. Especially #2 that is very important.
And you were batting a thousand till you said "If a Marine can figure it out, there's hope for anyone"
I's teling ya kid, wes nott al that stupd in tha Corp. We can evn find tha dor sometimes. (lol)
Yah, the souls doing the material battling for us become the ultimate scape goats for our sins.
ezeflyer - I wish your words were true, but unfortunately, and all too often, they are hopeful yet false. 70% of the people of this country want us out of Iraq - what have our leaders done? 10 million people around the world protested against this war - what was the effect? The only hope we have is to change the paradigm of politics. Those of us who believe in peace, in sustainability, in an ethic of love for our environment, in the nobility and viability of every species on this planet - and every race and culture - must be willing to give our lives (figuratively and literally) for this struggle. I was listening to Hillary Clinton today openly state that her basis for decision-making with be a philosophical triumvirate between diplomatic - military - and commercial strength. How close to you have to come to actually saying: The Congressional - Military - Industrial complex? She also stated, as if all on this world agree - that American 'interests' are in concert with the interests of all others who inhabit this planet! This is the sickness. This is the mindset that will lead to war, and eventually, to the extinction of the species.
And people wonder why Hilary Clinton disgusts me. SIGH!
It's people like Hilary Clinton in fact who make me a pro 2nd amendment hard leftist, I for one do NOT intend to just roll over and die when the Sec. of State Clinton ordered armies rampage to steal the last of the oil and water on planet, I intend to fight back. Fuck the corporate bankster class war mongers completely!
odoco sez: "(Senator Clinton stated) that American 'interests' are in concert with the [interests] of all others who inhabit [this] planet!"
***
Pretty sure she was slightly misquoted. Should be: "America's interest is in the [resources] of all others who inhabit [our] planet."
hootowl - thank you for your balance - and I agree on the impossibility of ridding the world of violence. But what we can do is begin to teach that there are alternatives to imperialistic capitalism. We can stress that public schools do more than indoctrinate our children into the corporate, military, super-patriotic and ultra competitive mindset that now exists in far too many places. I sense the privatization of schools (promulgated by Bush & Neoliberals) isn't as much about profit as it is about ideology - ever think about that? Privatization of the military has been about profits - but don't forget the Religious Right's hand in Blackwater (research Eric Prince's family background). We all have to begin supporting policies and people outside of the Beltway. We have to grow more communal. We have to bridge old divides among races and cultures (and micro-cultures) and come together as a people disengaged from the economic system as much as possible - but fully engaged in the political system. This will not correct itself in our lifetimes (I am middle-aged), but as so many have said before, this isn't about the 'Boomers,' but about our children and grandchildren.
I am totally down with all that, I am just cautioning people to not be too airy fairy and deceive themselves that the DICK Cheney's and Livninis and other imperialistic scum are going to wake up one morning and SUDDENLY become nice people, they aren't it just isn't going to happen.
But yeah IMO some the most effective actions we can take are supporting our local cooperative non-hierarchical institutions like food co-ops CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) and other ways of living other than the corporate "greed is good" "competition is good" nasty USAn lifestyle.
Hi Hootowl, thanks for your reply.
My point is that "airy fairy" is a very perjorative term about advocating for peace. I certainly don't think the oppressed should just roll over and allow themselves to be slaughtered, and I also don't think the powerful oppressors are going to wake up and become nice, but I do think that imagining different ways of approaching conflict, including resistance to oppression, is necessary AND possible.
Does that mean that no one will die, or be injured, or that we won't have to organize armed resistance? No, it does not. But our GOAL is to keep trying to find ways to break the cycle of violence, keep trying to imagine different ways to throw off oppression, including supporting local sustainability and community-centric movements.
Let's make peace desirable, eh? That's what I want -- not to be called an idiot for desiring something I think all humans desire, except for the aggressive sociopaths, as you described.
The government is still controled by violent,greedy,and ignorant people (witness the Senate rubber stamping the Palestinian Holocaust). We have made progress on specific issues but the attitude is still," kill them all and let god sort them out" ( said by US military in reference to Native Americans) now one may substitute Palestinians. The article's premises are obvious but there still is no way to alter the main thrust of the corporate state which is death. The only hope is a complete collapse of this cruel machine ( I suggest we pray for it to happen).As the above comment says we must join together on the micro level and create the love we need and rejoice in the government being crushed by its karmic burden --------- Thanks --------- Peace -------------------------------------
The "kill 'em all, god will sort them out" reference may have been used in the genocidal wars against the first nations of this continent...
But it originated from Pope Pius (?) during the crusades, when the crusaders voiced their concerns with not being able to differentiate the Christian serfs from the pagan heathens...
A New American Century
Say is this the brand new Century?
Say is this the brand new Century of America?
Did we turf the twin storied pomp and bling
the gilded mirror of might and vested right
the ancient kingdoms of despair?
Are we the new world order like a harbor
for the huddled masses breathing freedom
where no robber barons jar our open door?
Tell me are we the America, the hope
that we dreamed we could be?
or do we simply own the world
where terror rules by our own hand
the new world order of the promised land
Say do we own the world?
Does the sea washed woman with the torch in hand
cry for new promise in the promised land?
Say are we the might for good,
or the reverse of Robin Hood?
binging on our empty gallant words
with an empty anthem drinking song
in the land of the free and home of the brave
Peace — A period of cheating between two periods of fighting.
—Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary
All Power to the Imagination
We live in a society in which the imagination is not merely regarded as a useless nuisance but THE ENEMY. An enemy greater than terrorists or communists or gay people or atheists or advocates of single payer health insurance. We must live for the next seven days with George Wanker Bush, the embodiment of this attitude that the imagination is something to be despised and feared and that those with imaginations are pantywaists, milktoasts and members of The Kum-Ba-Yah Squad who need to be stuffed inside a French car and pushed over a cliff. And when Bush goes back to Texas and gets his dick caught in a mousetrap because he was stinking drunk and fantasizing about sticking a shiv in Osama bin Laden, then we can celebrate the comeback of the imagination.
ursula franklin lays out a nice alternative to violence in her book Pacifism as a map. Brilliant!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3qXjG4mzSQ
"Life wants to be lived"
"I've heard that "green is the new black," and all signs point toward a "greening" trend in both consciousness and consumption."
"A peace economy is intimately connected to a peace ecology, in the sense that the ways in which we manage our relationship to the earth and its resources reflect how we manage our interactions and exchanges with each other. People are getting this, and a sustainable worldview is emerging."
- Randall Amster, J.D., Ph.D.,
Beautifully written, Dr. Amster.
To quote John Lennon, "War is over!"
This is a new era.
Yeah I think it's really great that so many are ready for peace now that we have RADICALIZED several generations of young hungry furious muslims. Lets all go to palestine, and iraq and pass out chocolate kisses and explain that killing their families was all a mistake.
You wimpy cowards, the only people in this country willing to really stand up and be pepper sprayed and tasered by the cops were ANARCHIST PUNKS.
The rest of you went for latte's after the demonstration. You guys don't deserve a constitution.
"If the people lead, the leaders will follow."
WE DON'T NEED LEADERS. They are more trouble than they are worth.
Plus this quote makes no sense, if the "people lead then their representatives will follow" is how it should read.
We don't have leaders any more, we are leaders. That time when we were followers is long gone.
and "if the people don't lead their representatives will fallow" is the other part of that quote.