Saturday, May 29, 2010
Re-writing history
A young man stopped by on Friday night. He had served in Iraq. He said that he didn't object to what we peace people were doing, but thought that the Iraqi people needed our help. Whew, that's a serious re-write of history. While this young man may have gone to Iraq to help Iraqis, that was not the purpose of our government. Bush claimed that the Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and that Saddam Hussein was aligned with al Qaeda. Our stated purpose then was to protect our country from these two threats, though we later learned that both were non-existent threats. The young man had overlaid our stated purpose with a new one.
A Supreme Way to Spend Your Saturday Night
Last night was a wonderful evening. Downtown was buzzing, and many saw the colorful signs that we hung along Central Methodist's fence. Vic K, Detroit's own BIG sign czar, dropped off a slew of artistic signs that were maybe the largest I've ever seen. Those walking across Woodward to attend the game got an eyeful: FASTING AGAINST WAR: HUNGRY FOR PEACE . . . MAKE A PITCH FOR PEACE . . . NO ONE WINS THE WAR GAME. We also revived signs from our Gandhi/St. Francis vigil last October timed to dovetail with the anniversary of the Afghanistan War.
At one point, Eric, a man who is living on the streets, asked for a sign and a batch of flyers that he could distribute throughout the city. Later, a couple of U of D students from our JustPeace group and their friends also stopped by on their way to the Tech Fest. Among our group were folks from Pax Christi, Day House, Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network, CODE:Pink, as well as other groups and organizations. Geraldine and Ken from Amnesty joined us later and invited us to sign note cards bring sent to prisoners in Guantanamo.
The news reported that yesterday was the day on which the 1, 000 American was killed in Afghanistan. As fellow faster, Chuck, said: "This is about the eighth time that this has been announced." This number is obviously low, not including suicides, for example. And how to count the number of Afghans killed? Does anyone have a clue how many human lives have been lost to this war - the longest in U.S. history - and the Iraq war? Surely this number will only increase as the Obama administration increases its use of unmanned drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other places around the globe.
Haven't we had enough of empire? Isn't it time to invest our resources in what King called "programs of social uplift" rather than military excursions across the planet? Let's name war profiteering for what it is and drop the illusion that these wars are being waged in order to provide security. Real security is a byproduct of justice - an elementary notion that our "greatest"minds ignore.
The National Priorities Center estimates that on Monday morning at about the same time that parades will be celebrating militarism and the myth of exceptionalism, the cost of the wars will cross the 1 trillion mark. Would that we had the eyes to see this tragic landmark as a wake-up call - an invitation to chart another course. A course that, to borrow the old cliche, would place people above profits. A course that would feed the poor rather than our bloated Pentagon.
This Memorial Day weekend, our fast and vigil is a humble expression of our sorrow and grief over the loss of so much life and so many missed opportunities for the kind of world in "which it is easier for people to be good." We grieve all victims of war, occupation, terror, and violence around the world and here at home.
We realize that as taxpayers we are not exempt from bearing responsibility for the violence being done in our names. We also realize that our anemic response to this violence allows it to continue. I am often haunted by the observation made by Dan Berrigan that we do not want peace badly enough . . . are not willing to suffer enough . . . not willing to die . . . for an end to the killing. This same idea was echoed by Rachel Corrie who issued an urgent plea that we all drop everything right now and work to end the madness that she was witnessing in Gaza.
As Pax Christi, we look to the Nonviolent Jesus who taught us how to die rather than how to kill. The one who told Peter to "put down the sword" - the one who calls peacemakers "blessed." While standing in front of a baseball stadium in downtown Detroit is not much, it is a humble offering of a few hours. A simple stand for peace that may - or may not - move a few hearts to consider the human cost of war.
Tonight we will be standing vigil not only at the ball game but on front of the Fox, across the street, where our STOP WAR IN THE NAME OF LOVE SIGNS will greet those attending the Diana Ross concert. Please join us!
At one point, Eric, a man who is living on the streets, asked for a sign and a batch of flyers that he could distribute throughout the city. Later, a couple of U of D students from our JustPeace group and their friends also stopped by on their way to the Tech Fest. Among our group were folks from Pax Christi, Day House, Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network, CODE:Pink, as well as other groups and organizations. Geraldine and Ken from Amnesty joined us later and invited us to sign note cards bring sent to prisoners in Guantanamo.
The news reported that yesterday was the day on which the 1, 000 American was killed in Afghanistan. As fellow faster, Chuck, said: "This is about the eighth time that this has been announced." This number is obviously low, not including suicides, for example. And how to count the number of Afghans killed? Does anyone have a clue how many human lives have been lost to this war - the longest in U.S. history - and the Iraq war? Surely this number will only increase as the Obama administration increases its use of unmanned drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other places around the globe.
Haven't we had enough of empire? Isn't it time to invest our resources in what King called "programs of social uplift" rather than military excursions across the planet? Let's name war profiteering for what it is and drop the illusion that these wars are being waged in order to provide security. Real security is a byproduct of justice - an elementary notion that our "greatest"minds ignore.
The National Priorities Center estimates that on Monday morning at about the same time that parades will be celebrating militarism and the myth of exceptionalism, the cost of the wars will cross the 1 trillion mark. Would that we had the eyes to see this tragic landmark as a wake-up call - an invitation to chart another course. A course that, to borrow the old cliche, would place people above profits. A course that would feed the poor rather than our bloated Pentagon.
This Memorial Day weekend, our fast and vigil is a humble expression of our sorrow and grief over the loss of so much life and so many missed opportunities for the kind of world in "which it is easier for people to be good." We grieve all victims of war, occupation, terror, and violence around the world and here at home.
We realize that as taxpayers we are not exempt from bearing responsibility for the violence being done in our names. We also realize that our anemic response to this violence allows it to continue. I am often haunted by the observation made by Dan Berrigan that we do not want peace badly enough . . . are not willing to suffer enough . . . not willing to die . . . for an end to the killing. This same idea was echoed by Rachel Corrie who issued an urgent plea that we all drop everything right now and work to end the madness that she was witnessing in Gaza.
As Pax Christi, we look to the Nonviolent Jesus who taught us how to die rather than how to kill. The one who told Peter to "put down the sword" - the one who calls peacemakers "blessed." While standing in front of a baseball stadium in downtown Detroit is not much, it is a humble offering of a few hours. A simple stand for peace that may - or may not - move a few hearts to consider the human cost of war.
Tonight we will be standing vigil not only at the ball game but on front of the Fox, across the street, where our STOP WAR IN THE NAME OF LOVE SIGNS will greet those attending the Diana Ross concert. Please join us!
Day One
Greetings, fellow fasters, concerned citizens, and the blogosphere! As we head into hour 18 of our fast for peace, I hear a strange ringing in my ears. Perhaps it is the leftover echoes of yesterday's bristling cacophony of horns, bike bells, and shouts heard on Woodward, across the street from the Fox and Fillmore Theaters, at Central United Methodist Church. Maybe my ears foretell of a celebratory sound, signaling a just and lasting peace between our government and the governments of our brethren around the world. It could also be that I sat up too quickly.
We certainly met some vibrant people yesterday. I'd like to extend a special welcome to Lisha (sp?) and Micah, who were kind enough to join us early on. Please comment with your blog link or pictures, and thanks again for lending your spirit to our group.
Calling all radically anti- war individuals in Metro Detroit! Our efforts on Woodward SHALL CONTINUE! We (Pax Christi Michigan, fasters, and supporters) will be out again from 5pm to 8pm this evening, and from 10am to 6pm on Monday, with a press conference at Noon. Meet us outside of Central United Methodist Church, and we'll be happy to explain ourselves.
That's all for now. Peace in your mind, peace in the world, my sisters and brothers.
Emily - Michigan Coalition for Human Rights
We certainly met some vibrant people yesterday. I'd like to extend a special welcome to Lisha (sp?) and Micah, who were kind enough to join us early on. Please comment with your blog link or pictures, and thanks again for lending your spirit to our group.
Calling all radically anti- war individuals in Metro Detroit! Our efforts on Woodward SHALL CONTINUE! We (Pax Christi Michigan, fasters, and supporters) will be out again from 5pm to 8pm this evening, and from 10am to 6pm on Monday, with a press conference at Noon. Meet us outside of Central United Methodist Church, and we'll be happy to explain ourselves.
That's all for now. Peace in your mind, peace in the world, my sisters and brothers.
Emily - Michigan Coalition for Human Rights
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