This video posted on YouTube by LillGandhi. Link here to Alice Walker’s official website.
In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air,
anything can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp,
praise song for walking forward in that light.” Poet Elizabeth Alexander at the Obama Inaugural Ball.
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. The question for us now is, How best to continue this struggle? Frederick Douglass
In a world that is growing better each day in ways some of us are unaware of or unable to admit, there is still violence, human rights abuses, starvation, fear and anger, xenophobia, ignorance, and divisive religious dogmatism. Each of us and the cultures in which we are ensconced are in process . . . Growth is possible and even probable. The questions is: How best to foster growth? How best to foster relative peace. ”How best to continue the struggle?” Where and in what ways should we invest ourselves in this world in which our children will grow old and our grandchildren will grow up? I am, in my own way, searching for the answer to these questions.
There is one thing of which I am sure. Peace. like charity, begins at home: peace with ourselves and peace within the microcosm of family and community. If we can’t manage it there first, I don’t think we will manage it across this great blue globe of ours. I’m not sure who it was who said that the opposite of love is not hate, it’s fear. (That may be from The Course In Miracles.) That rings true for me. To develop enough of a sense of self that one is not threatened by the appearance, customs, religions and views of others is radical sanity. Admittedly, this is a goal that will never be totally achieved in a global way, but it is a worthy goal to work toward. Each step forward will come with some improvements. Individually,peace is certainly possible. Others have shown the way. It is likely that peace, like love, is a decision.
In terms of broader efforts that may range outside our own back yards, I’ve collected many resources to investigate and am sharing them here. None represents a recommendation, though I am particularly fond of Poets Against War. These are just suggestions for your own research and consideration, if you are so inclined.
(Thanks for Dolores C. for the lead on Grandmothers for Peace.)
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
The AFSC (Quaker) funds and implements service and development programs, peace efforsts, and social justice.
With 202 million members in 150 countries, Amnesty International labors worldwide for human rights.
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
This link provides a list of Catholics organizations devoted to social justice.
“People who want to influence a shift in the focus of world society and governments from militarism to life-affirming endeavors are code-pink” CodePink started as an attempt to stop the invasion of Iraq by the Bush administration and has expanded to including ending “the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities.”
Dads Against Martyr and Military Methods
“Dads Against Martyr and Military Methods (DAMMM) is an international, inter-faith, interdisciplinary men’s organization dedicated to artful, yet vigorous, non-violent, yet blunt opposition to, and dismantling of the military and martyr mind-sets that govern individuals and their public and private, religious and secular institutions throughout the world.”
Grandmothers for Peace International
“Our work has expanded to include the dangers of nuclear power plants; radioactive waste; sub-critical and computerized nuclear testing (now that underground testing has been banned); the nuclearization and weaponization of space; global militarism that continues to drain desperately needed resources from programs that enhance life; and other peace and justice issues that effect the human family. In spite of some progress, nuclear weapons continue to threaten the fate of our planet. The abolition of nuclear weapons remains a top priority.
Those of us with the time and the energy have become activists — marching; protesting; visiting our elected officials; giving speeches to motivate others to action; publishing international newsletters and other materials; and even committing acts of civil disobedience when all else fails. “Stay at home” members help keep our work alive by writing & calling elected officials, circulating petitions, keeping us in their prayers, guiding their grandchildren in the ways of non-violence, and helping to raise funds for our Peace & Justice Scholarship Awards, plus other specific humanitarian efforts we adopt.”
A Canadian-based group with affiliates. ”We support the principles of human rights and self determination. We oppose all violence against civilians, whether perpetrated by the state or by other civilians. We oppose all racism and ethnic hatred, whether directed against Jews, Arabs or any other group.”
Muslims for Peace, Justice and Progress
“An American Muslim leadership to spearhead an international peace and constructive agenda.”
An international literary and human rights organization.
“PEN is the voice of cultures truthfully addressing one another rather
than governments or armies in confrontation. The object is not to
win something, but to illuminate something.” Arthur Miller
“Poets Against War continues the tradition of socially engaged poetry by creating venues for poetry as a voice against war, tyranny and oppression.”
This links to a page that provides resources for veterans and their families who which to involve themselves and peace and justice activities.
