Six Facts About Non-violence.....

Adapted from Peace to All Beings, by Judy Carman (Lantern Books, 2003).

From his deep studies of Gandhi and his own experience, Martin Luther King Jr. developed a list of six facts to help people understand non-violent resistance and join with him in his vision.

King's words are as insightful and thought provoking today as they were when he wrote them:

1. Non-violent resistance is not for cowards. It is not a quiet, passive acceptance of evil. One is passive and non-violent physically, but very active spiritually, always seeking ways to persuade the opponent of advantages to the way of love, cooperation, and peace.

2. The goal is not to defeat or humiliate the opponent but rather to win him or her over to understanding new ways to create cooperation and community.

3. The non-violent resister attacks the forces of evil, not the people who are engaged in injustice. As King said in Montgomery, "We are out to defeat injustice and not white persons who may be unjust."

4. The non-violent resister accepts suffering without retaliating; accepts violence, but never commits it. Gandhi said, "Rivers of blood may have to flow before we gain our freedom, but it must be our blood." Gandhi and King both understood that suffering by activists had the mysterious power of converting opponents who would otherwise refuse to listen.

5. In non-violent resistance, one learns to avoid physical violence toward others and also learns to love the opponents with "agape" or unconditional love–which is love given not for what one will receive in return, but for the sake of love alone. It is God flowing through the human heart. Agape is ahimsa. "Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate," said King.

6. Non-violent resistance is based on the belief that the universe is just. There is God or a creative force that is moving us toward universal love and wholeness continually. Therefore, all our work for justice will bear fruit - the fruit of love, peace, and justice for all beings everywhere."

A New Year In The Holy Land.....

Will nothing ever change?

Please read this beautiful poem written by Daniel Patrick Welch in 2007. Ask yourself, how can we stand idly by and watch the destruction of the Palestinian people by the army of Isreal?


O Bethlehem - A Christmas Carol for the 21st Century

by Daniel Patrick Welch

O Bethlehem O Bethlehem
The stars look down on thee
As Nazareth reaps grief and death
From mountain, plain and sea
O Bethlehem a world bedecked
In season's peace and joy
Will still sit by as children die
And walls your heart destroy

O Bethlehem O Bethlehem
The prophets surely frown
A land in pain, a land in chains
As Abraham looks down
O Bethlehem your children sleep
In fear of tanks and guns
Do Moses, Christ, Mohammed weep
As we betray their sons?

O Bethlehem we seek that day
When Christmas bells ring true
When liberty and dignity
Belong at last to you
Can Bethlehem forgive a world
So callous and profane
And bring to pass a world at last
Where peace and justice reign?

© 2007 Daniel Patrick Welch. Reprint permission granted with credit and link to http://danielpwelch.com

A Christmas Poem From a Friend.....

Bah! Humbug

By Mark Legge

Ebenezer Schrooge.

The Avaricious Archtype

Subconscious Prophet to countless souls Devoid of Charity.

Overwhelmed with their pregnant pangs of self indulgency.

Can I ask? What does Christmas mean to you?

Is it not a time for reflection?

Not only of those images that touch and stir the soul,

but contemplation of that which resides within.

Is it not a time to give something of ourselves to those less fortunate?

A time for the spreading of Goodwill, Peace and Harmony.

This Christmas,

as you teeter on the threshold of further festive forage

will you falter?

Will you take a solitary moment to suppress those soaring surges of glee and

spare a thought.

Spare a thought for the sick, the frail and the ailing,

will you lend yourself to each of these that shall not survive this day.

Spare a thought for the cowering defenseless child

who's feeble outstreached quivering hands will fail to stem the savage blows.

Spare a thought for the feral child, forsaken by fate, eking an existence midst the putrefying

piles of human decay.

Will you spare a thought? Will you?

Will you gaze into the imploring eyes of those swolen infants,

too weak to suckle the soothing substance that has long since run dry.

For their desperation dwindles

as does crave for merest grain.

Spare a thought for the lonely, the isolated, the brokenhearted,

for they yearn the faintest semblance of all those yesterdays.

The subdued

the subjected

the ravaged

ridiculed.

The maimed

the molested

the tortured

tormented

the self inflicting

the plagued

or for those who've simply lost their way

or just can not take any more.

This Christmas

Will you give something of yourself to those that are in need?

Or will yours be

"Bah! Humbug"

Mark Legge is a poet from Lichfield, England. More of Mark's poems can be found on http://www.gotpoetry.com/. (under his poet name "leggolas")

Merry Christmas to all, and may we have Peace on Earth. Mary Ann

I V A W's Matthis Chiroux, Iraq war resister....

In a press conference held in the Cannon House Office Building in May, 2008, Matthis read a statement that said, in part:

“As an Army journalist whose job it was to collect and filter service members’ stories, I heard many stomach-churning testimonies of the horrors and crimes taking place in Iraq. For fear of retaliation from the military, I failed to report these crimes, but never again will I allow fear to silence me. “Never again will I fail to stand. … This occupation is unconstitutional and illegal, and I hereby lawfully refuse to participate, as I will surely be a party to war crimes. …”

According to Department of Defense policy, the Army can recall soldiers for up to four years after their active-duty service. If Matthis refuses to report to duty in June, Nathan Banks, spokesman for the Pentagon, said Matthis could be listed as absent without official leave (AWOL) and could possibly face arrest.

His father, Rob Chiroux, said he is worried about his son’s future if he doesn’t return to the Army. He realizes his son could stand to lose everything he has gained in his military career: college funding, veteran health benefits — even his honorable discharge status. Rob Chiroux was quick to add, however, that no matter what his son decides on June 15 — to serve again or to fight reactivation into the Army — he stands firmly behind his son’s decision. “I support my son 100 percent,” Rob Chiroux said. “I would support him if he chose to go back to Iraq, and I’d worry about him every day.”

Following his announcement, Matthis Chiroux said he felt at peace. “I don’t fear any prosecution,” Matthis Chiroux said. “There may be repercussions, and I’m ready to face them.”

Matthis enlisted in the Army days after graduating from high school. During his five-year enlistment, Matthis served as a journalist in the Army, with tours in Germany, Japan, Afghanistan and the Philippines. While serving in Afghanistan and Palawan, Philippines, Matthis experienced hostile environments fighting against Islamic insurgents.

After receiving the Army’s orders to deploy to Iraq, Matthis was depressed, confining himself inside his New York apartment, he said. He reflected on his values and his views of the Iraq War. “There was just no way I could carry a weapon, go to Iraq and not be part of the problem,” Matthis said by telephone Thursday, referring to the Iraq War, which, he said, he has opposed from the start.

Rob Chiroux, a Navy veteran and self-described conservative who voted for George W. Bush twice, said he is having second thoughts about the Iraq War. “He feels strongly that this is wrong, and I feel strongly that this is wrong,” Rob Chiroux said, regarding the Army’s orders to have his son return to active duty.

Taking a stand against issues was something Rob Chiroux and his son often talked about when Matthis was growing up, especially when the topic turned to politics. Rob Chiroux would sometimes tell his son, “If you want to change the system, you’re going to have to take a stand.”
____ ____ ____

I met Matthis Chiroux in Minneapolis during the VFP/IVAW convention. He is a thoughtful, intelligent and courageous young man who deserves our support. Matthis has worked tirelessly for the principles we in IVAW stand for: US troops out of Iraq, reparations for the Iraqi people, medical care for returning troops, including mental health care for PTSD, so desperately needed by over 300,000 service members. Please keep Matthis in your hearts and prayers. Mary Ann

Free Robin Long, US Political Prisoner.....

My fellow member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Robin Long, is in prison…he was treated differently than any other war resister who has been prosecuted for not deploying to Iraq. Many patriotic people stood up for Robin and testified at his trial, they made their case that the Iraq war is illegal under our constitution and that Robin had every right as a conscientious objector to say no to his orders. But the judge in his court martial took the opportunity of his trial to try and send a very harsh message to other soldiers. Robin received a fifteen month prison sentence and a bad conduct discharge.

Disparity? Yes, others were either not prosecuted at all or received six month or less prison time for exactly the same charged offense. Robin has been treated unfairly by the military judicial system. I truly believe Robin is a United States Political Prisoner. I wrote this piece for Robin. I hope everyone will sign the petition, lets send Robin back home to his family…. the sooner the better.


Political Prisoner

It always breaks my heart to hear his name
Robin Long, an example he was made
to frighten conscientious objectors
into keeping quiet and staying in the game.

Robin was always up front about his status
he refused his orders to wage war in Iraq
he told the truth to his superiors
then Robin and his family moved to Canada.

The Canadian government didn’t see the fact
that Robin objected to war itself as relevant
the Canadian people supported Robin
their government in its wisdom threw him out.

So Robin was arrested at the Peace Arch gate
tried and then convicted by an Army court
in Colorado they threw the book at him
fifteen months in prison for opposition to hate.

US political prisoner Robin Long is my hero
this solitary man, in prison for saying no
to a war of greed for oil and souls
we can all make this right, help Robin go home.

“Free Robin Long, US Political Prisoner”
Please sign the petition: “Free Robin Long”

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-robin-long

Thanks for your support of IVAW member Robin Long.

Peace, Mary Ann

Published in “Members Speak” at www.ivaw.org 11/10/08
Published on http://www.gotpoetry.com/ 11/12/08

OK, We have a President Elect......

Breathe, assemble thoughts, begin writing again....... I had no idea of the emotions and the energy draining fear that would consume me on election night. Thank God for Lisa, Kirsten and the others who sustained me and kept me somewhat focused throughout the evening. Avoided a meltdown, I did. Happiness, relief, pride; our system worked this time. I hope Tomas was able to be in that Chicago crowd... please keep getting better, Tomas. I was thinking of you as PA and OH went blue.

Now, back to reality. The Iraq war will not stop itself. Powerful men still hold the strings, even control our new new administration. A bucket of cold water hit me when the first appointment was of an Isreali Lobby middle-east war hawk... Rahm Emanual. Ok, I understand, debts need to be paid, no one gets elected in this country without incurring debts. "Feet to the fire", Barack. We will hold you to your promises to us. The lives of our military personnel depend on keeping our promises to them. No free lunch, I am not a party hack - I see the darkness and the light and I do not forget my obligations.

Writing.... I just about ran out of poems to post on Gotpoetry! I did not realize all my energies were being absorbed by worry and writing long emails to my good friends in Australia and England. Perhaps I should just post the emails. Naw, I'd better get to work. Meanwhile, I did write one topical piece I just posted on GP. I do believe I'll post it here, too.

Come Together


I want to know why we can’t all come together.
Just as Americans, why don’t we just get over
the red versus blue, now that the election’s done.
Get on with it; we have problems to overcome.
And one more thing I’d like to see….

No more mention of the “Black President” thing.
Sure, it was interesting…..but it’s all over now.
I’m not going to want to listen to that forever.
Just get over it and move on.
He’s Our President….. please let him do his job.

People are wondering about us around the world,
we looked like we’re still fighting the civil war.
I don’t blame them, I saw those TV maps before.
What would you think if you lived in Timbuktu?
Yeah, that’s what I thought; and I’m just like you.

I want to know why we can’t all come together.
The Beatles wrote the song a long time ago, brother.


Today is Friday. I must get my sign ready for the vigil in Aberdeen in heavy rain. Boy, that sign has been though a lot and still looks pretty good. Elma, WA on the 11th, Veteran's Day... the parade..... with Veterans for Peace, Fred, Mary and maybe Janice. Maybe my IVAW brothers will come too.

Thanks to everyone who sustained me and put up with my rollercoaster moods these past months. Whew, breathe.

Catching up...............

So I've been around the country a mile or two since I last posted here. Intentionally, I left up the post regarding my friend Tomas Young, as I traveled to Minneapolis for the Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War conventions. By all rights, he should have been there, too. It was a wonderful experience, meeting so many amazing patriots dedicated to the basic task: get our troops out of Iraq, they do not belong there risking life and limb for oil.

I was able to visit Tomas in Chicago at the Rehab Institute, to talk with him and show support. His spirit, courage and sense of humor are intact, his progress amazing. He will be back out there with us in the fight, no denying that. Tomas Young is the most courageous and focused individual I have ever known. My thanks to Tomas, his mom Cathy and Erik Lobo for welcoming me.

Back home, back to working the corner of Wishkah and "F" in Aberdeen every Friday afternoon with the lovely ladies of "Grays Harbor Grannies".... a total pleasure! We notice so much increased support from the passers by as the realities of the failed Bush Administration hit close to home. Almost election time, time for a change for sure. Trickle Down has never worked, apparently good things only trickle up in conservative economics.

Election day looms...... a very big deal! Our future is at stake. Will America set a new course, return to the values we expect? Or will the lies and inequities espoused by the conservatives continue to whittle away at our democracy? It's up to us to make sure this election isn't stolen by the powerful few who twist and turn the truth to their advantage. Stand up, America, poke 'um in the eye, elect the man who speaks the truth......Barack Obama, our next President.

On a local note, we in Ocean Shores are again faced with defending the beautiful Weatherwax rain foret property from greedy developers. I leave you with these thoughts:

Weatherwax

Beautiful and serene
So wonderful and green
Like heaven in the spring
Piece of nature always new
Rainforest here for all to view
Place of refuge for wildlife too
It must be saved for me and you
Not be developed just for the few
Please see the beauty for yourself
I know you will agree it’s selfish
For some to want to break it up
Cart off our forest in a truck
Scare all the birds and such
There’s land a plenty here
For developer’s so dear
So, save our treasure
Weatherwax is here
To live forever.


Another local battle against greed, trying to save an
ancient rain forest within the City of Ocean Shores, WA.
My poem was published in the North Coast News on 8-20-08

Peace, brothers and sisters, Mary Ann