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Peace and Aid
A few years ago, just before the start of the first Gulf War, our church participated in the nation-wide Crop Walk, walking around Lake Merritt.
This annual event raises money for organizations that supply sustaining help to international communities, that is, livestock and/or grain rather than handouts. Individuals gather sponsors who support their walk with donations. The walks echo the distances that many people around the world must trudge to get water, work in the fields, etc.
So, we’re singing and bopping along, carrying Crop Walk banners. Many teenagers get into this & a majority of our group were highschoolers. Their better eyesight revealed ANOTHER group marching toward us along the lake path near Harrison Street. They were chanting and pulling a cart.
On the cart was a huge peace symbol and a “Just Say NO to War” sign. The elders group were pulling the cart and carried handmade anti-war signs as well. They were singing protest songs.
As the groups neared, we all spontaneously broke into “Give Peace A Chance” and harmonized on “We Shall Overcome”. A mini-rally ensued when we met, with water bottle sharing. The neighborhood peace group did their circuit every weekend, after planting themselves on the Grand Ave. corner every Friday.
The break in both our jaunts was refreshing in more ways than one. A reminder that whatever we’re trying to do to make the world a better place - we are not alone.
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Comments on "Peace and Aid"
Comment from Fantasist
Sunday, May 7th, 2006
Sunday, May 7th, 2006
Leema,
Unfortunately, an armed bully will trump a peace sign every time.
Gulf War I was justified and did not deserve such protests by our citizens.
Gulf War II is not. The sad note is that our president and government have signed a contract in blood. We are now obligated to finsih the job.
As Colin Power is reputed to have said, “You break it, you both it”.
Even Gandhi hesitated when he described his non-violent success protesting the British presence in India which led to international pressure (read United jState) for India’s and Pakistan’s independence.
The question was posed when he was discussing his anti-war stance, decrying the use of colonial troops against the Japanese invasion of India from Burma.
“How effective would your non-violent strategies have been against the Japanese, when they had already demonstrated that they had absolutely no compunction whatever against killing anyone who opposed them. ”
This was in reference to the Japanese invasion of China and their savage pacification of Nanking.
Gandhi responded that he would still have counselled non-violent protest against anyone who opposed India’s independence.
“Even if they simply killed such protesters out of hand?”
“Even so,” he replied.
the truth is, that as with Hitler and other less well know if even more vicious individuals, non-violent protests do not work unless there is a moral framework within which to mount such protests.
World opinion, and history, recognizes that non-violent protests only work when they are opposing reasoned individuals who recognize lawful conduct regardless of provocation.
Fantasist
