Now More Than Ever: Create Peace
The following was posted on Kucinich's website on September 1, 2005:
Opinion by Turo Dexter, kucinich.us Webmaster.
Our resolve is being tested. With a crippling natural disaster affecting millions, soaring gas prices, continuing casualties in Iraq and a White House whose agenda is hard to fathom, it takes a strong soul to stay focused on generosity and peace and not begin to embrace selfish, fearful or hateful thoughts in response. Now more than ever, we must be the change we seek.
It's not always easy to see through the fog of calamity, but peace is continuing to break out and I believe we must embrace it and carry it forward actively. Some examples:
Cindy Sheehan's peaceful stand in Texas, mostly respectful of differing viewpoints about the war, caused President Bush to respond publicly on a number of occasions.
Most importantly, Cindy and the people who stood with her built a bridge for people of conscience to walk across into a new peace movement, one that is more understanding and accepting of the diverse places people are coming from as they begin to see that our continued occupation of Iraq is wrong.
Counter-protesters crossed the line and joined in a candlelight vigil with peace activists last weekend in Crawford.
The mainstream media is beginning to report more public criticism of Administration policy.
More conservative Senators and Members of Congress are starting to see the radical actions and failed policies of the Bush Administration as wrong and are speaking out in favor of more compassionate approaches.
Dr. Martin Luther King., Jr. said: "One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means." (1967, A Christmas Sermon. More quotes)
I now renew this pledge, and I invite you to join me.
I will not waver in my resolve to speak out against injustice and untruth, but I will make an equal commitment to reveal, demonstrate and speak for justice and truth.
I will take responsibility for communicating the truth in a way that people can hear and understand.
I will not personally attack those with whom I disagree, for much of the time they merely have not yet learned the truth.
I will introduce positive alternatives that bring people together, facilitate healing and create peace.
When I am moved to speak against something, if I can, I will look for ways also to speak for - and create - something more powerful and good, a light that through its own brightness will help to dispel the darkness.
May all who struggle in these difficult times prevail. As we reach out to others in need, may we also find the strength to give ourselves what we need. Let us clear the way. Peace starts in each of us.
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