Dynamic Nonviolence

Ode to Black Women and Bus Boys & Poets

2009-02-01T21:30:00.007-05:00

I was browsing through the Bus Boys and Poets website and came across a music video described as an "ode to black women." This is what music should be used for.

And I am excited to check out Bus Boys and Poets on 14th and V Street after viewing their website because they have a fair number of vegan items on the menu, they're fair trade, they focus on the local, and it just sounds like a place that acknowledges the incredible power of food as a social element:

Busboys and Poets is a restaurant, bookstore, fair trade market and gathering place where people can discuss issues of social justice and peace. Each Busboys and Poets location should enhance the community -- allowing us to bring together a diverse clientele reflective of the surrounding neighborhoods. Busboys and Poets creates an environment where shared conversations over food and drink allow the progressive, artistic and literary communities to dialogue, educate and interact.

Thank you, Tim DeChristopher!

2008-12-23T11:19:00.002-05:00

Leave it to a University of Utah student to come up with an incredibly creative way to stymie the Bush Administration's efforts to open up land around national parks to oil and gas drilling. Tim DeChristopher successfully bid on 22,500 acres of land around Arches and Canyonlands parks and now owes $1.7 million on all of his leases.

What this does is invalidate the auction! It will delay what hopefully isn't inevitable, but the court case will be heard January 19, a day before the inauguration. Rachel Maddow (who incorrectly calls this civil disobedience - it's active nonviolent intervention) has a nice video on the subject. Enjoy.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Joy! In "Where the Hell is Matt?"

2008-12-16T09:13:00.003-05:00

It's Time Magazine's #viral video, and when you watch it, you can't help but feel joy. Sponsored by Stride Gum, its genesis has an interesting story . . .
Matt Harding is a 32-year-old videogame designer who quit his job in 2003 to travel around Asia. Along the way, he recorded and posted a short video of himself doing an elbow-intensive jig in Hanoi. That clip got passed from one person to the next and eventually got the attention of Stride Gum, which decided to sponsor two more of his trips. In his latest video, Harding visits
42 countries over 14 months and invites the locals to join in the fun. That includes everyone from some Huli Wigmen in Papua New Guinea to a group of school kids in the Solomon Islands. The sheer silliness and joy of Harding's adventures will keep you smiling long after you've watched them — and give you a serious case of wanderlust.

No offense, but it beats "Hamster on a Piano" in terms of promoting peace and cross-cultural understanding. Thank you, Matt. Thank you, Stride Gum.

Nonviolent interrogation?

2008-12-09T06:22:00.004-05:00

Watch this interview of Matthew Alexander from The Daily Show. What do you think?

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Matthew Alexander

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Interview with Art Spitzer of the ACLU

2008-12-05T16:28:00.004-05:00

Introduction: When I first contacted Art Spitzer for an interview, he was more than willing to help, but he was decidedly confused. How could I possibly consider him, an aggressive litigator, to be a peacemaker? As I explained to Mr. Spitzer, I chose him for two reasons: 1) the type of work he does, fighting to make the world a more just place by defending the civil liberties of the oppressed, and 2) the way in which he does his work, taking what could otherwise result in a violent or dangerous struggle and moving it into the non-violent (if not altogether peaceful) arena of law. After I explained a little about myself, my interests, and my definition of a peacemaker, Mr. Spitzer was kind enough to share some information about his life and his work with me.

(Q &A):
What brought you to the ACLU?
Individual freedoms and liberty are very important to me in my own life. I’m an independent and nonconformist kind of person, and I think part of the appeal is defending the rights of people like me to live our lives the way we please.
I learned about and got involved with freedom of speech issues in high school and college (while I was in college the Vietnam War was going on, and I was involved in protests). I found it personally meaningful and interesting. I joined the ACLU while I was in college, but I’d always been interested in politics and that kind of thing since I was a teenager (I used to knock on doors for candidates I supported).
I gravitated to law school because I don’t have much talent for anything else – I can’t sing or catch a ball. I found that I thought like the law professors and to some extent the political science professors. We could understand each other. I wasn’t active in the ACLU while I was actually in law school taking classes, but after law school I came to DC and the ACLU. I did some pro bono work as volunteer for the ACLU at first, I think a total of 3 cases, and I liked that kind of work. I found it more personally interesting than litigating over the correct price of barrel of oil. I was lucky with the timing too, it was the right time to leave my job, and the ACLU happened to have an opening (the ACLU was a lot smaller in 1980 than it is today). I’ve never had second thoughts about it.

Have there been any individuals who particularly influenced your work?
I’ve learned from other lawyers I’ve worked with. When I came here in 1980, I was immediately the senior person on the staff as the legal director, and we didn’t have an executive director at the time. And the ACLU was in bad situation financially in 1980. No one was here to tell me what to do or to show me what had been done. I wouldn’t say I had any one mentor. But before the ACLU, I spent three and a half years working at a law firm, and that’s where I learned how to be a good lawyer. I worked with 20 others on different cases, and I learned different things from different ones.

What’s the most rewarding part of the work you do?
I’m spending my time doing stuff I believe in. It’s a plus that most days, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Of course, some days I know I have a brief due tomorrow and I’d better damn well close the door and get to work. But almost every day something unexpected happens. That’s part of the appeal of working within the general framework of civil liberties.

What’s the most challenging part of your work?
The hardest part of my job is trying to do everything. I still haven’t learned how to say “no” enough, and I’m always racing to get everything done. I don’t get to sleep.

Are there any particular civil liberties issues that you are passionate about?
Being in a very small office, I work on pretty much everything. But I think the stuff I care about most tends to be free speech and freedom of expression stuff. I tend to spend more time and feel more strongly about the liberty stuff (the ACLU focuses on liberty and equality) as opposed to others who focus more on equality issues.

How do you deal with losing a case that you care about?
I don’t really find that to be a big problem. In general, as a person, I don’t have very high highs or very low lows. My emotional life is fairly even-keeled, which is true of my personal life too. I’m disappointed if we lose, and I’m happy if we win, but I’m not going to jump off a building or start celebrating in a court room.

Is there any one case or one achievement that you feel most proud of?
That’s hard to say. The case I did that maybe had the most effect on people’s lives was a case I did way back in the 80’s where the question was, does the government have the same obligation to provide an indigent with the other help (besides a lawyer) that he might need in a case (a psychiatrist to testify for an insanity defense, for example). Most states by then had figured out to do that, but there were about a dozen states that didn’t. I represented a person in a death penalty case in Oklahoma where the state refused to provide a psychiatrist. The Supreme Court agreed with us, so he got a new trial. He was eventually sentenced to life in prison instead of death. All states then had to begin providing experts when necessary, and I don’t know how many times that has mattered over the years, but it presumably has affected a number of individuals.

What advice do you wish you’d had when you started working for the ACLU?
I’d say learn good study habits. That’s something I should have learned in junior high. And be careful how much work you take – learn how to say no.

Are there any mistakes you’ve made that you wish you could change?
I think the biggest criticism I’d make of myself is that I and the whole office take too many relatively unimportant cases and projects rather than focusing our efforts on a smaller number of more significant cases. Everyone agrees with the idea in the abstract, to go for impact cases, but then the question is, how do you decide which cases are the most important? Our answer has been to try to do everything.

Have you faced any particular challenges working for the ACLU as an organization?
The financial challenges of the organization in 1980 luckily weren’t my responsibility. Fundraising is a relatively small part of my job, and the ACLU has been stable more or less since the time I got here. There have been years where I’ve gone without a salary increase, but I’ve never had my salary cut and I haven’t been laid off.
There are internal fights about policies and personalities like you’ll find anywhere, and I don’t think I’m a particular expert at how to deal with that. For me, people have thought I was pretty good at being a lawyer and have concluded that outweighs any problems they might have with me (I can be a prickly individual).
Back in the 80’s, there were really no good ways for people in the different offices to talk (no-email then). There weren’t any frequent, regular staff meetings for staff around the country. Now, we have active listserves within the ACLU, with one for litigators. There’s a constant flow of communication, asking for opinions, advice etc. This has been a big change for the better in making the ACLU an effective organization, and for making it have a better sense of community. We have conferences once a year now. It feels to me more like a coherent organization than it was 25 years ago when it was much more local offices working in relative isolation.

What are your plans for the future?
I’m 58, and I’ll be 59 next month. I’m not planning to retire at any particular time. I might want to cut back on my hours - that would be healthy, maybe I’d actually get to sleep - but I plan to stay here until I don’t want to work anymore. Something else I might enjoy would be teaching – and maybe in the future I could if anyone still wanted me.

Conclusion: I came away from the interview with Mr. Spitzer, as expected, impressed by his work for the ACLU. I certainly admire what he has accomplished and appreciated the insight into a career path I might pursue. What stuck with me most, though, were personal aspects that Mr. Spitzer shared with me. I found myself shocked by my very lack of surprise at his recounting of short nights and long, work-filled days, along with his longing for balance in his life. I realized that I have almost come to expect that peacemakers and activists lead shockingly busy lives that significantly infringe on their personal and family lives. And while I admire Mr. Spitzer’s commitment (how do you turn down that deserving case when your workload is already overflowing?), I also find myself promising to remember the importance of just saying no. What good is a burned out peacemaker really going to do, after all? I think that as much as we all want to help take care of the world, we need to remember to take care of ourselves too.

*picture from http://www.aclu-nca.org for a dinner honoring Spitzer's 25 years with the ACLU

Personal Interview with Marie Manella

2008-12-05T16:26:00.001-05:00

Final Closure

2008-12-05T15:40:00.002-05:00

Take Aways from the Class

There are real and accessible ways to contribute to NV change, and there is a history of success to support you in making the world a better place
Power of combining and managing the power of pragmatism and principle in creating a NV campaign
I need to remember to be contemplative AND active
It's important to be idealistic, but also use strategic thinking
Civilization has achieved so much by 2008 hat was thought impossible - it's exciting to think about what can be achieved in the future
I now truly believe that there may be technology, but the age of violence and war has passed and it's time for us to take responsibility to be nonviolent
Peace and NV have a legitimate place in the world, and are only as limited as we choose htem to be
Live according to what you believe in, match your ideals with your deeds and you will be at peace
NV campaign - and all the organization and thoughyt that hads to go into it to be successful
I can now see my own potential to contribute to NV

Thoughts for Each Other

perspectives and creativity are enlightening and encouraging - sometimes its lonely - it's comforting to think that there are people who care as much as you do
Enjoyed diverse perspectives, and I hope everyone continues their interests in peace studies
I enjoyed hearing everything - the one thing - eacjh one was passiomnate about
I can't wait to see hoew everyone changes the world
Thank you for sharing unique ideas and perspectives each week
Thank you for your originality and belief in peace
Excited to see what our future will hold
When faced with agony, be NV towards yourself. You will overcome your fear. Be creative with the problems you are faced
I enjoyed intellectual conversaytion and debates and hope we can continue outside of class
Eye opening to be in the sa,me room with people devoted to NV

Nonviolence works for dealing with terrorists!

2008-12-05T11:26:00.001-05:00

From our colleague from France, Leslie . . .

To make a captured terrorist become a traitor to his cause and his friends, and make him help you fight his association efficiently, show him that you can be his best ally. Act nonviolently towards him.

Nonviolence is not sitting in front of the detainee and wait until he speaks without doing anything. It is persuading and convincing him that he can make a very profitable deal with you. It is building trust instead of increasing hatred. Violence cannot achieve that: it is completely counterproductive. It creates a spiral of violence, and more and more terrorism.
How to make a terrorist cry, and talk.

Future interrogator facing an AlQaeda operative, look at what Jack Cloonan has to tell you…
Let your high-value detainee show his weakness. In this case, he has a loving sister. Protect her, and you will become his confessor.

You must convert the enemy: be humble, respectful, and offer your help. One must show to the detainee there are good reasons for him to cooperate with you.
1. Show you are not the monster the terrorist thinks you are.
Prove that you are not as awful as he imagines, since contrarily to what he expects you respect his human dignity. This mere strategy of proving your humanity as an interrogator has shown its potential with prisoners in Afghanistan who accepted to rally the Americans after realizing they were not as horrible as people depicted them (Mackey 2004; 426).
2. Find where his real weakness is, and exploit it in order to gain gratitude.
Terrorists are trained to resist torture, both physically and psychologically. They are not ready to exchange information against lesser suffering. The interrogator has to find what really matters to the detainees. You can guess that terrorists do not give their lives much value, otherwise they would not be terrorists. Once you have found what their Achilles’ heel is, exploit it positively, so that, instead of being hating, the detainee will be grateful to you.
Also, as a future interrogator, always remember that these people have an incredible ego. Most of them simply love talking about themselves because of their pride! Nurturing such a feeling can only be beneficial…

But what if the terrorist has crucial information about a nuclear attack on New York????

‘24’ lovers, here is a revelation for you: in a ticking-bomb situation (which by the way in real life does not exist) torture is the best way not to make a terrorist speak. And in any normal situation, which means 100% of the time, one could not find a better way than torture to make a torture say bullshit. So, who thinks that very pragmatically, pulling out an AlQaeda terrorist’s nails while frightening him to kill his wife and son under his eyes is the only way to have him reveal important information about his organization, his leaders, and even future attacks, is wrong.

TORTURE CREATE TERRORISTS: AS AN INTERROGATOR, YOU BECOME ONE, AND AS AN AMERICAN YOU ENRAGE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AND CONVINCE THEM YOU ARE EVIL.

NONVIOLENCE IS THE KEY TO DEAL EVEN WITH THE MOST VIOLENT PEOPLE.

NONVIOLENCE CAN TURN THE WOLF INTO LAMB.

SPREAD THE MESSAGE.

Back On My Feet

2008-12-05T05:07:00.006-05:00

This Thanksgiving break I enjoyed watching the CNN Heroes awards. These awards celerate unheralded heroes who have achieved exceptional things in their service to others. I was moved by a lot of the different campaigns, and was struck by one in particular- Back On My Feet.

Started by a young woman named Anne Mahlum, BOMF a non-profit organization that promotes self sufficiency for the homeless in Philadelphia by engaging them in running. A seemingly random idea, right?

Before I watched this program, if I had come across the non profit I probably would have wondered how running could possibly help the homeless. But the more I learnt about one woman's campaign to help the homeless move their lives forward, I more amazed I became at how beautifully simple her strategy was, and how very effective it has proved to be. BOMF teaches critical work and life skills by using running as a vehicle to show individuals that they are capable of achieving anything.

Mahlum has said that the campaign arose when she just decided one day to actually stop at the homeless shelter that she ran past every morning, and ask if anyone would like to run with her. Her personal campaign wasn't necessarily strategically planned. But it has developed into an incredibly well oiled organisation- just look at their website! The program doesn't provide food nor shelter, but does something that is perhaps even more valuable- building confidence and making some of society's marginalized feel a part of a community.

This campaign shows peacenicks how important it is to think outside of the box when we seek to create lasting change in the world. Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the most effective.

Make Art Not War... Satire Works Too.

2008-12-05T02:01:00.002-05:00

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Nailed 'Em - Radical Knitting

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

Yes this is a humorous jab at the American government and its border control, but I felt that this clip offered up much more than just satire as a tool to promote nonviolence. Though I personally would not think to crochet for peace, I was surprisingly moved by this woman and her work. I find her quirky, some of the pieces are hideous, and the idea is a little goofy. However, when I saw the crochet covering for the tank with the flower at the tip of a tank's gun I was reminded of protestors putting flowers in the gun barrels in a 1967 Vietnam War protest, and I found it very powerful.

This woman also crochet coverings for Suvs, guns, and chainsaws. She literally turns instruments of direct or indirect violence into pieces of art which at very least get your attention. What if we took all these instruments of war and made them laughable or adorable? What if we could directly transform tools of hate into projects of creativity and love. Now its hard to imagine Ahmadinejad calling for a halt to nuclear research and the start of an RPG decorating contest or even or own country actively pursuing a change our glorified perception of war...but what if they did?

This clip also points out the irony in who the American government suspects to be terrorists. But it was the very notion of this woman physically making us take another look at violence and war that was so creative and beautiful to me... regardless of your feelings on her crochet work. Lastly, while some fight for peace, some rights, and some hammer on missile silos, what if we could actually find a path to peace with nothing but public displays of crochet and human creativity?

Interview with Theo Sitther of the Mennonite Central Committee

2008-12-04T21:17:00.005-05:00

Theo Sitther is the Legislative Associate for International Affairs at the Mennonite Central Committee. Mennonite Central Committee is a relief, development, and peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches, providing disaster relief around the world alongside their long-term international development programs. He works in monitoring legislation, specifically US foreign policy, in areas of peace making, militarism, economics and trade agreements. He has been a Mennonite since he was thirteen when his family moved to the US from Southern India, and after graduating from Hesston College and Eastern University worked as a lobbyist for the Center on Conscience & War.

When we were assigned an interview with someone who practices non violence in their daily life, I thought it would be interesting to seek out someone from a Mennonite organization. I’ve always thought that the Mennonite notion of a ‘peace church’ was quite beautiful, and have a lot of respect for the way that Mennonites commit their lives to nonviolence, nonviolent resistance and reconciliation, and pacifism. In this interview, I sought to better understand what Theo Sitther’s job entailed on a day to day basis, and ask him his personal views from a Mennonite perspective on the world’s present situation and the future that lies ahead.

Q. What are some of your major projects?

A. One of the main things I work on is Columbia. We specifically work with Mennonite churches there working with conflict transformation and peace building efforts. My role is looking at US policy towards Columbia and the amount of military aid the US gives Columbia and the kind of effect it’s having on the country. But I also work on other issues such as Haiti, primarily looking at food security issues there, but also issues related to Afghanistan, North Korea and Burma as well.

Q. What is a typical day for you?

A. My job is twofold. My work in DC involves policy work, meeting with members of congress, being a part of working groups here and responding to legislation. The other half involves corresponding with our constituency and letting them know what’s happening in Washington related to the work we’re doing.

A typical day would be responding to questions. Actually, right before I came to meet with you here I was in an interfaith working group meeting discussing what the new congress might be doing and how we might respond to different issues that may come up, how we can work with the new president, and how we can best respond to a lame duck Congress.

Q.What does being a Mennonite mean to you?

A. Being a Mennonite for me means fully living out my Christian faith in my daily life, which includes being a peacemaker, working for peace- building directly in a conflict area, working for changes in a policy or working for economic justice and holistic justice for communities to bring about a more peaceful and just world. Essentially it just means doing all that I can to be a positive force for good in the world.

Q. What is the personal motivation for the work that you do?

A. One major motivation is the sense of doing good and thus being able to make a difference in the world. Especially in the face of this financial crisis, US foreign policy is affecting everyone all over the world. We see the negative effects of what the US is doing everyday worldwide. But also, I’m a Christian, and my faith very much motivates me. Being able to respond to God’s calling as a person of faith and doing this work is what a being a Christian is all about for me.

Q. What do you think are the main problems that America faces today?

A. One of the major problems I think we’re facing is America’s excessive militarism- this country spends billions of dollars on its military spending and the amount is monumental compared to other countries. There’s a big gap between this and how much America spends on social programs. One of our biggest critiques is that we spend a lot of money on military defense. Yet you walk out of Union Station and homeless people surround the nation’s capital. We have real problems at home that need to be addressed, because a lot of our own citizens are struggling to get by every day. I do think that the US has the ability to respond to different needs around the world, but I think we need to do it in a more human kind of way. We need to start promoting life rather than death in our policy abroad.

Q. How do you think the concept of non violence fits into American foreign policy?

A. As a person of faith it would be easy for me to argue that there should be no wars, and that we shouldn’t fund our military the way we do now. But violence is currently an inevitable part of our world, and so American foreign policy needs to account for that. But I think I would say that we need to balance that amount of effort that we put into war making with the amount we put into peacemaking. Right now there’s a significant imbalance and this needs to change if America is actually going to promote non violence in any major way abroad. I think that the balance definitely needs to be heavier on the side of peacemaking rather than war mongering.

Q. Do you think there is a relationship between American popular culture and violence?

A. Absolutely. The amount of violence we see in the media definitely de sensitizes our collective conscience. Our brains our numbed by things like video games, for example, and we’re simply no longer affected by images and notions of real violence.

Q. What do you think the average person can do every day to contribute to a more peaceful and non violent world?

A. The first step is to educate yourself about what’s happening in the world. I came into this work because I would read up on different world issues, from war to starvation, economic instability and natural disasters and wanted to do something proactively in my daily life to bring about positive change. People don't know what’s happening beyond the confines of the United States and that’s one major cause of the apathy we see in this country when it comes to world affairs. So educating yourself is probably the first major step.

Q. Once you’ve accumulated information, you have to do something with it. Different people can contribute to the world and the cause of peace in different ways. One way, as US citizens living in a democracy where you can engage with your elected officials, is to actually go out and speak to your members of congress and/or government to make your voices heard. Citizens should do this not just in election year but throughout the year. It’s our duty.

Reflections

I am sometimes wary of organized religion and their peace making and charitable efforts, and thus while I have always respected the Mennonite doctrine of being a positive force for good in the world, I was unsure of how this aim would manifest itself. After talking to Theo Sitther, I have gained a better understanding of what the Committee does, and was extremely impressed by their global efforts to rectify the injustices of the world in all of their forms- poverty, hunger, violence and warfare to name a few.

With religion as the cause of so much violence today, God’s message to us all is often misconstrued and lost. For me, Theo Sitther’s understanding, and indeed the Mennonite understanding overall, of what God wants from all of us resonates strongly with my own personal beliefs- that it is our most fundamental duty of our time on this earth to work in whatever way we can to bring about ‘a more peaceful and just world’ as Sitther remarks. For the Mennonite Central Committee and my interviewee, this is primarily through advocating for policy changes to create lasting change in under developed communities throughout the world. Despite the fact that I never thought I’d want to be involved with a religious organization such as this, I actually could see myself wanting to be a part of the MCC and the incredible work they do.

A Bowl of Rice

2008-12-04T15:05:00.005-05:00

This art installation actually started back in July, but I just ran across an article about it and thought it was a really interesting concept. I think it's especially relevant after our discussion of Free Rice the other week.

Zai Kuning, an artist and musician from Singapore, created an art installation in Sculpture Square, an arts space in Middle Road, Singapore. This installation, titled A Bowl of Rice, was a response to the rising price of rice. Though Kuning could not himself afford to buy a lot of rice and donate it, he used his art funding grant to buy 500 kg of rice, and donated it 2-3 days after the installation's completion. The installation consisted of an elaborate labyrinth design created by precisely placed grains of rice. Inspired by Kuning's artwork and charity, many people donated rice. Donations were given to Catholic Welfare Service, Singapore (CWS); Darul Ihsan Orphanage; Singapore Kampung Senang Charity & Education Foundation; Marine Parade Family Service Centre; and Food Not Bombs.

*Picture from Onisstudio taken by Vivian Lee & Lin Shiyun.

The Hilarious "Proposition 8 - The Musical"

2008-12-04T00:19:00.003-05:00

I just saw this video and I wanted to share it - it's a really funny way (complete with lots of famous faces) to look at a serious issue. I really enjoyed it and it made a few good points, even if they were being sung at the time. No matter your take on gay marriage, it's worth a look!

Interview with Colonel Daniel M. Smith

2008-12-03T17:54:00.002-05:00

Colonel Daniel M. Smith graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1966. He served as a platoon leader in Germany and an intelligence advisor in Vietnam. Following his service he returned to the United States to attend graduate school at Cornell University and teach English and Philosophy at West Point. Colonel Smith continued his work in intelligence and public affairs before retiring from the Army in 1992 after 26 years of service. From 1993 to 2002, Colonel Smith worked for the non-partisan Center for Defense Information in Washington, D.C., rising through the ranks to become Associate Director in 1995 and Chief of Research in 1999. A highly decorated Army veteran (he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart, among other distinctions), Colonel Smith has become a proponent for peace. He has worked as the Senior Fellow on Military Affairs at the Friends Committee on National Legislation since September 2002.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Colonel Smith to learn about his journey from a member of the armed forces to a proponent for peace. According to Colonel Smith, it is not so much what he did in the service as what did not happen after the Cold War that impacted his current work as a proponent for peace. Colonel Smith explained, “I had expected that the large military establishment that we had throughout World War II would be cut back because there was no enemy—no particular country whose foreign policy was specifically directed at destroying the U.S. as we know it.” However, there was no decrease in the size of the military after the Cold War. At this point, Colonel Smith was “converted” to a proponent for peace. He simply could not support such a large military in United States society. In this way, Colonel Smith considers himself a “back-door converter.”

When questioned on his current views of the military and his thoughts on what the role of the U.S. Armed Services should be, Colonel Smith based his argument in military history. He recalled that right after the American Revolution, the Navy was cut back drastically. The Army was given the mission of protecting the remaining stores of power. This led to the establishment of West Point. At this point in our history, however, the entire federal army consisted of 70 officers and men. This was in accordance with the Founding Fathers’ feeling of distrust in a standing army, and their favor of a free navigation of the seas. The United States soon encountered a problem with pirate ships due to their lack of naval protection. Under Washington’s New Federal Constitution, the United States began to build up its navy.

Colonel Smith continued that our outstanding army is currently composed of ten divisions, including one combat brigade that is under North Command. North Command’s chief mission is to support other departments of the federal government in case of another terrorist attack or natural disaster. Colonel Smith remarked that we have never had a North Command before, and that since Reconstruction after the Civil War, there has not been an active duty combat unit specifically designated to be able to maintain long order (12 months or more). This responsibility has always been left to governors, who were responsible for managing their state’s national guard. Colonel Smith is weary of the North Command situation.

Colonel Smith could see eliminating three army divisions (each division is made up of 3 brigades). Colonel Smith believes that the U.S. should expand the Navy, because it is capable not only of fighting if necessary, but also of delivering supplies and humanitarian aid and evacuating people from war zones. He also believes that we should retain a strong Air Force. Overall, however, he believes that there are currently too many people in the services. Colonel Smith concluded, “We need to look after national interests; not only our interests, but how we, with our allies and friends, can look after everyone’s interests.”

When asked about the foreign policy platforms of presidential candidates Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama, Colonel Smith candidly stated, “I don’t see much difference. I don’t see either candidate putting forth a foreign policy or national security program as opposed to military security program.” According to Colonel Smith, we are going to be in Iraq, Afghanistan, and maybe Pakistan, and we are already in Iran, just not in formations. With respect to qualities he looks for in a presidential candidate, Colonel Smith stated, “I’m always looking for someone who can cut back and see beyond the American horizon.” He observed that this is, for some reason, very hard to do when it comes to politics. He noted that since World War II, the United States has been in the habit of thinking that it is the only country that should be allowed to run a military and use the military for its national advantage, rather than multilaterally or internationally.

Colonel Smith, though he considers himself a proponent of peace, when asked what influences shaped his identity as a nonviolent activist responded, “Nonviolence is not the right term. I don’t believe in violence per se, but I do believe that you need a military.” He recognizes the many connotations of the word violence, and notes that he is not against using nonviolent forceful means, a form of benign violence, to bring about a necessary change. He noted that this is a very hard balance, and seems to be impossible for many senators in Washington, DC. When asked what experiences or persons influenced his current outlook on war and peace, Colonel Smith highlighted an experience he had at a Jesuit university he attended before attending West Point. A political science professor at this Jesuit university always emphasized the need to accept personal responsibility and think for yourself. He often looks back on this experience and wonders if that message took in his case, causing him to question the military of which he was once a part.

Interviewing Colonel Smith gave me insight not only into nonviolent work internationally and in Washington, D.C., but also into the history and current state of our military. It is not often that such a decorated military officer retires and begins work to minimize military violence; therefore the opportunity to talk with Colonel Smith was very unique. My conversation with Colonel Smith impacted how I think about nonviolence in practice. I now realize that nonviolence is not entirely black and white, but rather shades of gray. One can support the existence of a military (for national security, humanitarian assistance, etc.) and yet, in most cases, oppose the exercise of armed forces. With this new understanding of nonviolence, I can continue in my own journey as a proponent for peace, armed with a better conception of war and peace in our world.

Georgetown's Prison Outreach Program

2008-12-03T15:53:00.005-05:00

For the past two semesters I have tutored with Georgetown’s Prison Outreach program, an organization within the Center For Social Justice. If selected from the relatively competitive application process, Georgetown students tutor inmates weekly at both Arlington Prison and the Alexandria Detention Facility. The goal is to work with inmates one on one to help them achieve either their GED or pass their ESL examination. With these qualifications, after being released from prison, individuals will be better equipped to successfully reintegrate into society and support themselves and their families.

While some classes are conducted in the detention facility, with only one teacher and a vast range of abilities and learning levels, few inmates get individual attention and it is difficult to cater to everyone’s educational needs. Therefore I feel that the one on one work that we do is invaluable in that it is the only time that inmates get individual attention. Many of the inmates are extremely gifted, but often have simply not had the opportunity to fulfill their potential in a poor school system and/or an impoverished upbringing. Many are immigrants, and have never learnt English properly, which is a major hindrance to their ability to succeed in America. Without a basic grasp of the English language or a high school diploma, I can understand why many of these individuals have made choices that may not have been the most beneficial for them at the time. Working with the program has given me a greater insight into what I see as a fundamentally vicious cycle of crime for many of America's under privileged youth and immigrants in particular.

Ultimately, my hope is that prison does not have to be the end of the incarcerated’s opportunities in life to better themselves and develop their life goals. Shouldn't prison give the condemned the opportunity to change their behaviors, enhance their skill sets and thus their lives? Working with the incarcerated has been endlessly rewarding, and I hope to continue to be involved with different types of outreach to prisons in the coming years.

Convention on Cluster Munitions

2008-12-02T21:23:00.006-05:00

I recently read that the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions agreed in May to forbid the use or production of cluster munitions. As many know, cluster bombs have been used in warfare for decades and have caused immense harm and suffering. Now, on December 3, the Convention on Cluster Munitions will be signed in Oslo, Norway. This is an incredibly exciting event as it puts human welfare and decency over the production of violent weapons. The UN, Red Cross, and multiple other organizations have been involved in this treaty, which will be the first international treaty to prohibit a whole category of arms.

This is a great step for non-violence and many hope to continue this disarmament effort and include other types of weaponry in the ban. Hopefully, in years to come, the push for disarmament will gain even more strength and follow the example of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Thailand Protesters Take Over Airport

2008-12-01T14:51:00.003-05:00

The day before Thanksgiving, Thailand protesters took over Thailand's International Airport. By overrunning strategic areas of the airport, such as the control tower, the protesters halted airline traffic and its 16 billion dollar tourism industry. Consequently, Thailand has suffered a significant economic blow on top of the economic distress it, and the world, has already experienced this year. The protest was led by the People's Alliance for Democracy and their yellow shirts. A PAD leader announced to the press that he refuses to end the protests until Prime Minister Somachi Wongsawat has resigned, damaging Thailand's economy and reputation each day the protest continues.

Developmental Studies at Mount Vernon Place UMC

2008-11-27T22:58:00.002-05:00

Inspired by Katie, I would also like to briefly share my experience with Georgetown’s Community Based Learning Program. I am participating in the program through Professor Sam Marullo’s sociology class, “The Contemporary City.” This semester, I have spent a large amount of time working with Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church (MVPUMC). The Church is located at 900 Massachusetts Avenue NW. Its Greco-Roman architecture is very recognizable, especially to those entering Washington via New York Avenue. Recently, MVPUMC has undergone extremely extensive renovations. This renovation would not have been possible if the Church had not sold valuable property adjacent to its current location. A private developer is using the land which the congregation sold to build “trophy office space.” Although this may seem contradictory to the Church’s mission, MVPUMC has already bought back approximately two floors in the new building.

Working with a classmate, I have created a report analyzing the congregation’s faith-based development initiatives. My professor is involved with an organization called Faithworks, Inc. Composed of numerous community leaders, Faithworks assists churches in developing their assets with a mind toward the values of their congregation and community. This may include creating affordable housing, educational opportunities, or other resources strongly benefitting the needs of the immediate community. In the past several months, I have met with numerous leaders at MVPUMC. I have spoken extensively with the MVP’s current pastor, Donna Claycomb Sokol. She has been extremely helpful in revealing to me the reasons for her congregation’s development. We have also spoken with several other members of the congregation involved in the decision-making process and future planning.

This CBL project has been invaluable because it has given me an inside perspective on the grounded reality in which non-profit organizations must operate. These organizations are often very value-oriented, but it is ridiculous for them to function strictly on these principles. As I have seen, there must be a strong degree of pragmatism. For broader sociological reasons, the congregation of MVPUMC dwindled incredibly throughout the second half of the twentieth century. However, they recently been riding a strong wave of resurgence. Development in the region (such as Gallery Place and U Street Revival), pushed up property values allowing them to sell their adjacent property for a large amount of money. As a result, the Church has been able to continue its mission of uniting people in Faith and building a stronger community.

It has been quite rewarding seeing the ways in which social concepts can be applied directly to the surrounding community. I would strongly encourage others to participate in similar programs.

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks

2008-11-24T13:54:00.006-05:00

There is still hope!

Michelle Rhee in the Media

2008-11-24T01:11:00.004-05:00

There have been several interesting articles published about Michelle Rhee in the past few days. Last Sunday, the Washington Post published an article by Bill Turque detailing Rhee and Mayor Adrien Fenty’s plan for creating an alternative school system. Rhee and Fenty hope to restore, “the District's power to create nonunionized charter schools.” Rhee has dubbed the creation of this alternative charter system, “Plan B”. The Washington Teacher’s Union strongly opposes this measure. However, Rhee hopes that by using this system she can more easily fire and replace teachers who are not performing to her standards. In answering questions about this Rhee and Fenty deflected all questions to Mafara Hobson. Press access was so limited that the Washington Post was forced to use the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a statement drafted by Rhee regarding this plan.

This bizarre relationship between Rhee and The Washington Post is in itself newsworthy and documented by the Washington City Paper in its latest issue, dated November 19, 2008. Mike DeBonis analyzes the ways in which national reporters have been granted exceptional access to Rhee. Yet, local sources, especially the Post’s Bill Turque, have struggled tremendously to gain access to Rhee.

Regardless, Rhee unveiled a very promising, “Action Plan” this past week. Her 79-page plan included a number of promising, progressive ideas. Reading The Washington Post’s article and studying the plan, it is hard not to be inspired by Rhee’s ideas. Her strategies are detailed, yet broad in scope, from reducing school violence to improving community involvement. I was also struck by the ways in which Rhee’s plan seems to conform to Christopher Kruegler and Peter Ackerman’s “12 Principles to a Nonviolent Campaign.” Most aspects of her report seem to represent a plan destined for solid success.

I am astounded by the contradiction reflected in these articles. Rhee’s plans for reform are extremely impressive! She indicates in the City Paper article that she receives a large amount of fan mail from outside Washington. But, amongst local resident and media, she does not enjoy such a polished image. This amazes me. If she has such incredibly good ideas and intentions, why is she not more transparent? In the minds of her critics, Rhee’s secrecy easily transforms her office into a bastion of social engineering. I sincerely hope that she places more faith in the metropolitan community so as to build cohesive support for her powerful ideas, ensuring that they do not die in the hands of petty arguments.

No on Prop 2

2008-11-23T23:04:00.031-05:00

This is a belated post, but the issue is of no less importance. If you search on YouTube for "No on Prop 2," you won't find much about California's recent ballot measure. The opposite is true of "Yes on Prop 2." Although 60% of the vote is not phenomenal, it seems as though the passage of Prop 2 was inevitable. Nevertheless, many vegans oppose this kind of measure, which calls for the ban of caged animal farming. This may seem perplexing, but the reason is a strategic one.

Popular understanding of veganism is based around its practical application in the form of a diet and abstinence from using animal products, leaving the principles behind the practice open to inference. However, Leslie Cross, one of the founders of the vegan movement, wrote in 1951 that veganism is first and foremost a principle from which the practice logically flows. The principle, what some are now calling abolitionism, is "that man should live without exploiting animals." In other words, veganism is not about protecting animals from suffering, which is the stated goal of PETA; rather, it is about liberating animals from the system of exploitation that is the root of much unnecessary suffering.

Hence, the Election Day post by Dani of "The Vegan Ideal" blog discussing the significance of "alternative means of exploitation." Dani eloquently writes:

As Mohandas Gandhi said, we must be the change we want to see in the world, not the darkness we wish to leave behind. Exploitation, even "reformed," is the darkness we want to leave behind. Whether or not its advocates are conscious of it, supporting alternative methods of exploitation obstructs, marginalizes, and negates veganism (the change we want) here and now.

In sum, Prop 2 is, according to Dani, a reform of exploitation. From a more plainly strategic perspective, Leslie Cross writes that veganism is

not so much an effort to make the present relationship bearable, as an uncompromising recognition that because it is in the main one of master and slave, it has to be abolished before something better and finer can be built.

In other words, we are not capable of building something truly better or finer until the enslaving system is abolished. Indeed, Prop 2 is not truly better or finer. Many vegans who would otherwise support reform oppose or don't care about the proposition due to a lack of any evident improvement in conditions between caged animals and free-range animals in the U.S. Although I do not agree with reformism myself and do not encourage a reactionary approach, I leave you a shocking video from Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary which will have to suffice for the lack of vegan media on 'No on Prop 2':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Gbq3lkKwY

Monks Brawl in Church of the Holy Sepulcher

2008-11-22T01:36:00.001-05:00

Monks Brawl in Church of the Holy Sepulcher

2008-11-22T01:30:00.002-05:00

Pre-Thanksgiving Reflections

2008-11-21T14:48:00.004-05:00

Groups need to clearly define their role and obtain their objectives
We tend to give peace and justice organizations a pass without thinking critically about them
Religious organizations can be very useful in nonviolent campaigns
I can't believe we have only more more class
In today's world, you have to have a legit-looking website for credibility
I'm amazed by FreeRice and hope it gets more publicity
Importance of using violent events to mobilize a larger nonviolent campaign
It is always possible to find examples of nonviolence in today's news
Many organizations are well-intended but lack structures and firm grasp of new technology
Do justice and peace always triumph in the end?

Community Based Learning with Oxfam

2008-11-21T13:58:00.004-05:00

When I started my community learning experience about three months ago, I expected it to be educational. I thought that I would learn about a prominent non-profit group and the important international issues they work on and profile. From this experience, I predicted I would become more socially aware. I also believed that I would learn what it is like to work in the nonprofit field, focusing on social justice. I hoped this would give me more of an indication of what my ideal vocation is. I fully expected to learn these things, however I have learned so much more. In my community learning experience, I am learning about Oxfam America, international concerns, and nonprofit work quickly and in a dynamic way with other important lessons.
The community in which I work is the Georgetown campus community. Carrying out an Oxfam awareness campaign on campus has given me a new and unique look at the student body and the campus system. I have seen that many students are very involved, committed, and dedicated to activities or issues of their own. There are so many organizations on Georgetown’s campus and it seems as if the typical Georgetown student is involved in several of them. This sometimes make it difficult to obtain interest in my campaign on global hunger and poverty. As a result, I feel I need to learn more about the intersection of different issues and groups on campus, especially in regards to international issues. Also, to further my campaign and obtain allies, varied perspectives, and wider interest, I need to become familiar with those students outside of my own academic programs and extracurricular activities who are interested or disposed to be interested in international development issues.
In addition to learning about community interaction, I am seeing that there are significant links between my practical community action and my academic work. My Justice and Peace Studies class, Nonviolence in Theory and Practice, and my work as a Change Leader for Oxfam America are sustaining and supporting each other. In class, I learn the theory behind strategic nonviolence. I learn the importance of setting a good foundation for all the initiatives I undertake, and of being able to evaluate every action I do. Also, through studying the biographies of pacifists and case studies of nonviolent campaigns, I learn from the wisdom, mistakes, and successes of others. From the Salt March to the experience of Cindy Sheehan, I can apply the experiences of prominent pacifists to my own campaign. The class also gives me a sense of the history and rich tradition that accompanies nonviolent work, which facilitates my own passion and purpose. Additionally, I believe my training with Oxfam and my limited “field experience” has allowed me to contribute better to my class during brainstorming sessions and discussions. I can give examples of obstacles and challenges that typically accompany nonviolent campaigns, because I have recently experienced them. Further, I can pass along the tactics and strategies Oxfam taught me to supplement the wealth of information covered in the coarse.
Further, my previous perception of barriers between class work and community work changed because I am being educated by so many different sources at the same moment. In class, Professor Blume and my fellow students help me understand the academic theories behind nonviolence and many high profile examples. In my work for Oxfam at Georgetown, I am learning from the professional advice of Oxfam representatives and the practical experience Georgetown is providing me. The collaboration of my class and the community is allowing me to see how academics can readily be applied to my daily pursuits and ultimate aspirations.
I have a significant responsibility as a learner in both the classroom and the community. In the classroom, I must conscientiously study nonviolent discipline and strategic execution. I have to look at case studies and biographies and understand different societies and circumstances. Simultaneously, in the community I must always be aware of the campus climate and different opportunities that present themselves that could be relevant to my campaign. Also, I must keep myself constantly informed about the actions and issues of Oxfam so that I may be well educated in representing them in my campaign. Finally and most importantly, I must take the theory that I learn in Nonviolence in Theory and Practice and constantly use it to evaluate my own actions for Oxfam. In this way, I will ensure my community learning experience will continue to be successful and educational.

GU Pride Counter-Protests the Westboro Baptist Church

2008-11-20T17:56:00.003-05:00

I just found the article online that The Hoya posted on the Counter Protest I partook in last week that I was telling you guys about. See the link below.

Forty of us stood for two hours in the freezing cold to counter protest the hatred spewed by the Westboro Baptist Church. Some of our signs read 'God loves America', 'God Bless Our Troops' and 'Hate is not a Christian value', and my favourite- 'I love you- God'. It was great being a part of such positivity amongst such open hatred. They were noticed for their shock value, but we were much better received by motorists and passers by. I think our prescense detracted from their message, which was our main aim. It reminded me that even a small group of college kids can make a difference, however small, in the greater cause of promoting peace and tolerance, and thus non violence.

I'm second from the right making a peace sign :)

Eddie Ellis Jr- People Can Change

2008-11-20T17:26:00.006-05:00

Last week Georgetown's Prison Outreach program hosted Eddie Ellis Jr in White Gravenor, an ex manslaughter convict from Washington DC. Sam, Max and I were among the forty or so people who turned out to hear him talk. When Eddie was 16, he shot a person in self defense at a party. The other man involved in the incident died, and Eddie was sentenced to 22 years in prison. He ended up serving 15 years, and was released a little over two years ago.

Eddie's initial story is not a unique one- he is an example of a youth in the Washington DC area who turned to violence at a young age, as a way of expressing himself. Eddie's father died when he was two, and he grew up in a single parent home with a mother who was trying to support her family. Wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, Eddie found himself extremely angry and frustrated with 'the system' that he felt was against him, part of a larger government that didn't care about people like him who were struggling in the nation's capital. He then started to become involved in compromising situations, and when a guy at a party pulled a gun on him, Eddie shot him, because as he saw it, it was either him or Eddie. While I make no excuses for Eddie and the crime he committed (he certainly makes none for himself) I would argue that unfavourable economic and social circumstances in his life make what he did easier to understand. Whether or not you agree, and whatever you think of his case, one thing is for sure- Eddie is a changed man.

After 15 years on lock down, Eddie is trying to be a force for good in the world by helping other incarcerated men and women. He speaks in high schools and colleges, and prisons throughout the area, and is currently working on creating a nonprofit that will help ex-offenders ease back into society. Eddie's message is an inspirational one to many of the incarcerated; they too can turn their lives around. In this way Eddie is devoting his life to contributing to the non violent cause by leading by example and contributing to the cause of non violence by helping others. He has recently published a book entitled 'Window of Opportunity', which serves as a resource guidebook to educate prisoners on the opportunities that await them in the outside world. Eddie hopes to do his part to help keep the incarcerated out of prison once they are released, showing them the 'right path' so that they can successfully contribute to society.

Colman McCarthy, who Sam did his biography on, actually wrote an article on Eddie for the National Catholic Reporter. Colman not only discusses Eddie's personal story, but also delves into issues of rehabilitation for prisoners in 'prison happy' America, an issue I'm particulary interested in.

You can find the article online here.

In addition, you guys should definitely check out Eddie's personal website.

Eddie's talk and Colman McCarthy's article raised a couple questions for me that I find myself thinking about a lot, especially after I visit prison every week with the Prison Outreach program.
Once the government imprisons people for violent crimes, how do we ensure that they don't continue down the same violent path? What mechanisms can be implemented to help offenders correct their ways and change their lives?

These are just a couple thoughts. I'd love to hear what you guys think about this issue.

- Katherine

Anti-Abortion Activists: Shifting from Bans to Reductions

2008-11-18T13:33:00.005-05:00

Any successful nonviolent campaign needs to be able to adjust to its successes, set-backs, and changes in the environment. Here's a Washington Post story on how collaborative efforts could actually advance their cause further than being in opposition. By advocating for improved pre-natal and new mother services, women may be encouraged to bring their pregnancies to term, rather than choosing abortion.

Photos by internets_dairy.

EFFECTIVE ACTIVISM: New Course of Interest at AU

2008-11-18T12:25:00.005-05:00

Time for spring registration and our JUPS has some great courses listed. Something that you might also want to consider would be a course at American University on STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION FOR ACTIVISTS, taught by Joseph Eldridge and Robert Tomasko. You could take it as a Consortium course.

Joseph Eldridge's Strategic Communication for Activists course explores the pivotal role strategic communication plays in effective activism. The class focuses on the connecting grassroots action, community organizing, and communication theory, to real-world examples. Insights from behavioral science research are coupled with case studies and in-class discussions with a wide range of notable guest activists to analyze what works, what doesn't, and why.

This evening course is scheduled for Thursdays from 8:10 to 10:40 PM for the Spring semester.

Photo by Grant Neufeld

July 4, 2009: A Possible Future?

2008-11-17T11:11:00.002-05:00

Such a lovely vision! Check it out here!

Nov 14

2008-11-14T15:35:00.001-05:00

The power of humor can convey a poignant message of nonviolence
Although some projects may not be effective, they still provide a release and form of expression
It is important to consider consistency of message in a nonviolent campaign
Organization and the delegation of tasks is key to a campaign's success
You don't have to convert people, but open their minds
I was glad to see the college students call out the WTO faux-rep for being offensive
I appreciate people like the YES MEN for mixing things up a little bit
Be diplomatic with the people you're consulting with so your opinion will be heard

Reliable Sources

2008-11-13T18:10:00.004-05:00

In order to better analyze nonviolent campaigns or to simply learn about nonviolence in the world, we rely heavily, and in most cases only, on the media. However, the media is not as reliable as we would like to hope. With 24 hour news stations always competing for the line "You heard it here first", they do not always check their sources. Consequently, rumors are spread internationally.

This article, in the New York Times, reports on the anonymous McCain policy advisor who leaked information to the press concerning the Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. A man named Martin Eisenstadt came out and claimed he was the leaker, backed by his numerous blogs throughout the year claiming insider information. He had been quoted in the news and linked to several blogs prior to this concession. The kicker: this Martin Eisenstadt does not exist.

Keith Olbermann on Prop 8

2008-11-11T06:15:00.001-05:00

Post-Election Reflections

2008-11-07T15:41:00.001-05:00

Verbal communication can be very effective in disarming your opponent
A clear concise objective, although initially difficult, makes everything easier
Importance of clearly identifying an objective for a nonviolent campaign
Focus on details while remembering the big picture
Think outside the box to promote awareness
We don't know what hunger is

Reactions to the Election

2008-11-05T16:33:00.005-05:00

This is a little late since the election was yesterday, but I thought it was a pretty powerful video and definitely worth sharing. Maybe something to keep in mind if (heaven forbid) Sarah Palin appears on the 2012 GOP ticket.

A Message for Sarah Palin

Looking ahead, President-Elect Barack Obama faces significant challenges once he assumes the presidency. In addition to two wars and a downward spiraling economy, Obama must address the human rights violations that have occurred under the Bush administration in the name of combating terrorism and protecting national security. Amnesty International has called for the new president to create "a plan and date to close Guantánamo; issue an executive to ban torture and other ill-treatment, as defined under international law; and ensure that an independent commission to investigate abuses committed by the US government in its "war on terror" is set up," all within the first 100 days of his presidency. Amnesty International has also released a checklist detailing the "human rights challenge" they are posing to Obama during his first 100 days in office.

Every Vote Counts!

2008-11-05T12:45:00.003-05:00

As a part of 'Get Out the Vote'(for Obama) campaign, the following video is available to customize and send to friends. I know it's a day late, but it's still worth a gander..

P.S. Obama Won! WOOP WOOP!

Vote

2008-11-04T11:49:00.000-05:00

Halloween Reflections

2008-10-31T14:44:00.002-05:00

Amazed at various new media programs and how they can be used for nonviolence
Violence can be effective in suppressing protests of important people
Twitter! is cool
Google is so much more than a blind search
The value of micro-blogging
It is important for campaigns to have some awareness of how they are perceived
Time your campaign carefully so as not to compete
We need to focus more on the solution and not just the problem

Reflections 10/24

2008-10-24T14:36:00.002-05:00

Obama campaign has been strategically smart, but the ultimate test is Election Day
Reaching out to faith based initiatives for gras roots purposes is very helpful
Best way to ensure success of campaign is to make supporters feel a part of it
It's a good idea for Obama to reach people in the Red states
Obama has made people feel part of a movement rather than working for a campaign
Interesting to see role of citizens in election
I was unaware of using citizens' arrest as form of nonviolent protest
The more concrete and specific nonviolent actions are, the better people can understand and join in
Obama has successfully surrounded himself with a team of experts

Reflections from 10/17

2008-10-17T14:32:00.002-05:00

Change from the top down but without community support, results could be short-lived
Sustainability is one of he greatest challenges in a nonviolent campaign
Importance of personal touches in nonviolent campaigns/fund-raising, like the Soulforce postcard thank you
I was impressed by the police officer in the Soulforce video, and how his civility helped their campaign
Political ads don't have to be divisive to be effective; they can be moving
Sometimes ignoring the jabs of your opponent is the most effective way to mute the impact of the opponents violent weapons
Nonviolent campaigns are currently being overshadowed by the presidential election, and others are loosing funding because of the economic situation
12 principles can be achieved by different political systems
The approach of Equality Riders took by turning the other cheek was very powerful
Do not improvide, but prepare and adapt

One Sherrif Takes a Nonviolent Stand

2008-10-15T07:12:00.002-05:00

CNN's Campbell Brown's wrote:

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has announced that for the foreseeable future he is not going to evict anyone else from a home banks have foreclosed on.
How come? He's fed up.

The Chicago Sun Times reported that renters were being evicted because there landlords were in default on their mortgages. The owners had been notified, but they had not, in turn, notified the renters. He took a very tough, principled stand and faces repercussions himself.

Here's a video from CNN:

And an eloquent shout out from Rachel Maddow:

Ads on X-Box?

2008-10-14T13:28:00.004-05:00

Would you think of putting up ads in X-Box games to promote your cause? Would it reach your demographic? Barack Obama thought it was a good idea. Check out Ben Smith's blog entry in Politico on the subject and for more images.

Update on the Great Schlep!

2008-10-14T09:17:00.003-05:00

We posted the Sarah Silverman video earlier, and here's a CBS story covering the actual schlep. Reportedly, thousands signed up on line and dozens actually went! Daily Kos pulled several videos together in this diary entry. There's also an especially beautiful one from Israel on voting for Barack Obama following the CBS story. Now, how would you evaluate the success of the schlep?

Reflections 10/10/08

2008-10-10T14:40:00.002-05:00

The diversity of activists was essential to the succes of the Civil Rights movement
From Rev. Green - everyone has an ego, but the important thing is to move past them to make progress
Key to successful campaign: focus on message
It takes more energy to hate than to be hated
Bayard Rustin is the man!
Remarkable to me that Rev Green is a man so full of optimism and positivity
Great leaders of our time shouldn't be the only one's respected
I'm overwhelmed by how far we've come since the Civil Rights movement, but have so far to go, even in the nation's capital
Be your own voice and you will rally people
How can we channel our emotional energy into something constructive?
I wonder what the world would be like today if we hadn't lost so many brilliant people
Rev. Green's tremendous respect for his parents and others aroumnd him in spite of differences

Muting the Impact of Opponent's Weapons

2008-10-07T09:48:00.003-05:00

There's a great piece by Ari Melber in The Huffington Post about the Obama campaign's response to the media on McCain's negative attack ads. He puts the onus back on them, saying,

Notwithstanding the facts, we fully expect an increasingly frustrated and desperate McCain campaign to continue to lie in attacking Senator Obama," reads the memo to the reporters. However, the question remains - will McCain and his allies be challenged by the press on their allies or will they be allowed to propagate them with impunity?

Think about the political jujitsu here. How does this mute the impact of the opponent's violent weapons? The campaign has other approaches. The overall message is that when there's nothing more to offer, campaigns go negative. The Obama camp even has a video quoting John McCain on this. They also have their "Fight the Smears" and "Know the Facts" efforts off their web site.

Peacemaker Interview: Nancy Delaney

2008-10-04T20:00:00.000-05:00

Katie Suter
Modern Peacemaker Interview

Nancy Delaney

Nancy works for Oxfam America as the Outreach Manager. She works extensively on the CHANGE Leadership Program; recruiting college students, training them in nonprofit strategy and international issues, and helping them initiate awareness campaigns on their campuses. Nancy lives in Boston with her husband and has two adult sons.

• Background:

o Who/What were your greatest influences? She traveled a lot as a child because her father was in foreign service. She lived in El Salvador for 3 years. She had amazing experiences that brought her face-to-face with inequality at a young age. Because she was so young they made a very deep impression on her and it was hard for her to wrap her head around it. In her everyday life she lived in a secure home but she would see people in desperate straights during her walk to school. This always stayed with her- she asked, ‘Why do I have this life and they do not have it?’ Nancy wrestled with that over the years, but never found the answer. This is what she believes is inspiring about the program she works on, the CHANGE initiative. As a young woman, she was not doing anything like the actions the students from CHANGE are doing. However, the idea of justice stayed with throughout her life. When the opportunity presented itself to explore the nonprofit sector, she took it. She started as a volunteer for Oxfam and then became an employee. Once she began to understand the routes, causes, possible solutions to international problems it was impossible for her to turn back. “I was completely hooked,” she said. Essentially, she believes the beginning of her journey was at age 6 in El Salvador, where she experienced personal contact with inequality.
o Where did you go to college? What did you study? She went to college at Holy Cross in Wooster, Massachusetts, where she gained the influence of Jesuit college. She believes the experience of learning in a Jesuit environment was important for her. She studied Spanish and had an “unofficial minor” in Latin American Studies. She was interested in understanding the information about a culture one can gather from both literature and history. Nancy was very focused on government and policies, but also with the people’s writing. These studies, combined with the Jesuit ideal of ‘men and women for others’ supported her path toward social justice work. During school, Nancy did volunteer work as part of the campus group, SPUD, which gave time and resources to the local community.
o What work did you do before Oxfam? She “wandered around” at first. Nancy took a couple of years after graduation because she believed it was important to have some life experience before she considered graduate school. She tried different jobs in the “informal sector”-and then began to look for a “real job” in the for-profit sector. She worked for an international transportation company. Nancy believes this was good experience in business and management and that her years in the for-profit sector were good preparation for her work at Oxfam. After her sons were born, she wanted to try something completely different- nonprofit work. She sought out Oxfam for their reputation. Nancy believes there are many different paths to social justice work and related that every person at Oxfam has a different way that they came to be there.

• Peace as an influence

o Is it important to you that your actions are nonviolent? Nancy does not think about conflict and violence as a way to make change for the issues she is working for. She acknowledges that many people accept poverty as simply part of the fabric for life, but she believes that this is not predestined or inevitable. Nancy thinks that the kind of well-researched, well-conceived strategic ways of addressing the issues of the systemic causes, as they have at Oxfam, are the only way to go about it. She cannot even imagine the other position. She realizes there are examples of when violence has moved populations and created change. However, she believes that to do the work Oxfam does, it is necessary to address the issues and have a really sound analysis. She believes that this, along with the organization itself, is how one makes really sustainable change. She emphasized analysis over methods of violence.

• Staying with it

o What is the best part of your job? Nancy related that there are a lot of people who do social justice work that is not direct service (meaning they do not go into the community). She has the part of social justice work that she believes is so special: The people she works with, she gets to see [in the Change Leadership program]. While many colleagues must sustain themselves on the belief that they’re making change, she gets the benefit of meeting students, see the kind of change they enact, and feeding off of all their actions and energy.
o How do you balance it with family? She said that it is difficult but always worth it to balance. Additionally, she said the Non-profit sector is good at helping people balance. The older her sons became, the more important she believed it was to do social justice work with Oxfam. She saw that she could bring her experiences and what she was learning home to her family. Her two sons have worked at Oxfam as interns and one worked on the farm bill for the organization. This was an unforeseen benefit of working for Oxfam. The rewards also manifested themselves in “funny ways”. She would speak in their classrooms and then their universities about her work. Also, her sons grew up understanding injustice existed in the world. The older they grew, the more her commitment deepened. She saw the impact her experiences had on them and how they viewed the world as a result. This made her think about her own role.
o How do you handle the slow-progress? Nancy makes sure that her personal efforts are positive and move her causes forward. She ensures that she can access impact and evaluate effectiveness of what she does. She related this to why she advocates for the continued renewal of the Change Leadership program. She believes it is a good use of resource, with tremendous multiplying affects. “It is a step forward,” she said. She said it is important to ask questions about her actions- that she does an action not for the sake of doing it, but for the impact. Further, she believes that awareness is the first step to engagement. She said it is important to not be overwhelmed by the problems, but to keep moving forward. Personally, she carves out pieces of the problem where she thinks she can be effective and pushes further where she can. She related she is part of Oxfam’s larger strategy to make change. She said that everyone has bits and pieces of the initiative. She said to ask, “Why are people living in poverty?” Then, she said to analyze: to look at structures, then what is needed to change them. She greatly enjoys working with college students to address change.

GREAT USE OF NEW MEDIA! Live billboard with texted questions!

2008-10-04T19:17:00.002-05:00

Free TV : Ustream
What a great idea! Rent a mobile electronic billboard and post questions to the candidates via text submissions! As reported in the Personal Democracy Forum . . .

The California Democratic Party has a giant electronic billboard up somewhere near a Los Angeles-area rally that Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin is doing today that is displaying live text-message questions people are sending in. On top of that, the whole thing is streaming live back onto the web using UStream.tv.

Check the California Democratic Party website for details!

Thought as of 10/3

2008-10-03T14:42:00.002-05:00

Get well, friends with norovirus!

Body language and perception of attitude can be almost more important than language
Importance of good organization in nonviolent campaigns
To effect large scale change, we sometimes have to compromise our own well-being and safety
Scratch the surface of the myth, and you will find that the most important thing is the organization and the people in the shadows
Nonviolence is a discipline. It only seems distant to those who are not trained in it.
Thinking . . .

DON'T VOTE video - to get you to vote!

2008-10-01T16:58:00.002-05:00

Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. Warning: Some bad language.

Payment to Protest: Pro-War Group Offering Cash For Frats To Demonstrate At VP Debate

2008-10-01T14:32:00.004-05:00

According to the Huffington Post, Vets for Freedom was working a St. Louis fraternity to encourage them to turn out at the VP debate. Paying protesters actually isn't that new. There was a resource in Germany where people advertised themselves as potential protesters. And you have to admit, the ROI could be attractive. Mercenaries have been around for thousands of years. Why not nonviolent ones?

The Early Years of the Dalai Lama

2008-09-30T18:49:00.005-05:00

Lhamo Thondup was born on July 6, 1935 in the small farming village of Takster in the Qinghai province. At the age of three, the young boy was recognized as the tulku, the reincarnated essence, of the thirteenth Dalai Lama. Upon this recognition, Lhamo Thondup, the fifth eldest of sixteen children born to farmer parents, was renamed Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso. These six names described the qualities that the re-born Dalai Lama was to possess: Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, and Ocean of Wisdom.

The Buddhist tradition of samsara holds that the cyclical passage from life to death and back to life again can only be escaped through Awakening. As such, Tibetans today strongly believe that the current Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of the spirit that has embodied previous Dalai Lamas. This belief was no different in the case of the fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

After he was identified as the tulku of the Precious Victorious One, Tenzin Gyatso spent his childhood and adolescence under the tutelage of Buddhist monks, living in the Potala Palace and Norbulingka Palace (the summer residence of the Dalai Lama), located in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. Despite mounting tensions between Tibet and the Chinese government, Tenzin Gyatso was kept relatively shielded from Tibet’s political affairs, left instead to study the five major disciplines of a Buddhist education: Sanskrit, Tibetan culture and art, medicine, logic, and philosophy. However, no amount of knowledge of ancient languages or philosophical ideals could have prepared the young spiritual leader for the ramifications of the impending end to centuries of Tibetan isolation.

The escalating hostility between China and Tibet culminated in the expulsion of all Chinese citizens from Tibet in July 1949. Due to the impending conflict with the People’s Republic of China, on November 17, 1950, at the age of 15, Tenzin Gyatso was granted full governing powers as Dalai Lama, three years earlier than Tibetan governmental tradition specifies. The newly enthroned Dalai Lama’s subsequent attempts to peacefully resolve the China-Tibet conflict, including the ratification of the China-designed Seventeen Point Agreement for Peaceful Liberation of Tibet, were met with nothing but further aggression. In 1959, following a major uprising among the Tibetan population, suspicions arose that the Chinese government had plans to assassinate Tenzin Gyatso. At the urging of a trusted oracle, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet on March 17, 1959, entering into an on-going exile in India, where he has led the Tibetan government-in-exile and headed a peaceful movement for a free Tibet.

Tenzin Gyatso’s nonviolent perspective is founded on the principles of Buddha and is also greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. After visiting the Rajghat, the site of Gandhi’s cremation, the Dalai Lama said,

I wondered what precious advice I might have received if he were still alive. I felt deeply that he would have devoted his wholehearted energy and personal charisma in a non- violent campaign for the freedom of the Tibetan people. With deepening fervor, I regretted not being able to meet him in this world.[…] I renewed my decision to follow his example, no matter what the obstacles. And more than ever, I resolved to never associate myself with acts of violence.

This commitment to the principles of nonviolence is briefly examined in Claude B. Levenson’s Tenzin Gyatso: The Early Life of the Dalai Lama.

Levenson’s biography of this Tibetan spiritual and political leader expertly details the events and circumstances surrounding Tenzin Gyatso’s formative years. Chronicling the occurrences from Gyatso’s birth until his exile at age twenty-four, Levenson simultaneously provides a comprehensive memoir of the Precious Victorious One’s life and elucidates the traditions of Buddhism and the lineage of the mystical Dalai Lama. The author’s extensive knowledge of Buddhism and Tibetan history, as evidenced by her numerous other works on the subject, is a major strength of this biography. Additionally, the personal conversations recounted in this biography between Levenson and the Dalai Lama provide insight into and humanize this almost god-like figure.

Although strong in its factual components, Tenzin Gyatso: The Early Life of the Dalai Lama lacks analytical depth. Levenson briefly mentions the influences of Buddhism on the Dalai Lama’s pacifist nature; however, as the biography concludes with Gyatso entering into exile, the reader is not afforded the opportunity to learn about the peaceful progressive movement led by the Dalai Lama, or the nonviolent methods used as part of this movement. Levenson’s biography serves more to illuminate the enigmatic process by which Lhamo Thondup came to be Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso rather than to examine the Dalai Lama’s work as one of the twentieth century’s most renowned nonviolent leaders.

Upon reading Tenzin Gyatso: The Early Life of the Dalai Lama I felt unsatisfied. This, however, is a credit to, not a detriment of, Levenson’s biography of the fourteenth incarnation of the Dalai Lama. I was so captivated by the humility and intelligence of the Dalai Lama, as portrayed in Levenson’s memoir of Tenzin Gyatso, that I was not content to learn simply about the first twenty-four year of his life. I instead felt compelled to further explore the life of Tenzin Gyatso and his efforts in the struggle for a free Tibet. Claude B. Levenson’s Tenzin Gyatso: The Early Life of the Dalai Lama serves as an excellent starting point in a journey to understand the life of this great spiritual and political leader.

Israeli Pacifist: The Life Of Joseph Abileah

2008-09-26T15:51:00.003-05:00

For decades the Palestine-Israel conflict has caused innumerable casualties and atrocities on both sides. Amid this violent dispute, numerous proponents of peace have advocated nonviolent alternatives to the bloody skirmishes between the Palestinians and Israelis. Joseph Abileah is one of these advocates for peace and has spent the majority of his life working to end this conflict through nonviolence. In Israeli Pacifist: the Life of Joseph Abileah, Anthony G. Bing carefully outlines the life and works of this persistent peace-maker.

Bing stresses that Abileah was an ordinary man. Joseph Abileah was born to a Jewish couple in Austria, where he lived most of his childhood. Since an early age, Abileah loved music and he later became a skilled violinist. His adoration of musical harmonies drove him to strive for the same kind of harmony in real life. As a small boy, Abileah moved to Haifa, a town in Palestine where Arabs and Jews lived together in peace. These childhood experiences showed Joseph that peace between these two disparate groups was possible and realistically achievable. As a young man, Abileah reveled in sight-seeing and found a new connection with the land. This connection helped him to see the common brotherhood between the Jews and the Arabs, “The fundamental brotherhood of Arab and Jew appeared to him as an almost mystical union, and his experiences with the land on both sides of the Jordan River convinced the young Abileah that the land should be as undivided as the kinship” (19). This belief in the brotherhood of Arabs and Jews strongly influenced Abileah in his future work as a peace-maker.

By an early age, Joseph formed his worldview based solely on his own experiences. He was convinced that fear was intertwined with hatred and once fear was eliminated, hatred could be forgotten. Furthermore, he firmly believed that a Jewish state should not be established on the basis of violence. With this worldview, Joseph embarked on his quest for reconciling the Jews and the Arabs through nonviolent alternatives.

Joseph devoted himself to work camps, where Jews, Arabs, and foreign volunteers worked together to rebuild villages and help bridge the gap between Palestine and Israel. He also made frequent excursions into Palestine to supply homeless Palestinians with essential materials. Soon Joseph began to involve himself in organizations with like-minded people and ideals. These organizations included the War Resisters International (WRI), where he was elected to the International Council of the WRI, the League for Human and Civil Rights (LHCR) and the American Friends Service Committee, to name a few. One of Joseph’s major contributions was his memorandum to the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP). This memo advocated rejection of the partition plan, the union of Palestine and Transjordan under the ruling of King Abdullah, total disarmament, and multiple other proposals dealing with education, health, and economics. This plan was considered by UNSCOP and Abileah was invited to make an oral presentation to the committee. Although this invitation was withdrawn some months later, Joseph remained true to his memo and advocated these proposals throughout his lifetime, especially the union of Palestine and Transjordan. Another major happening in Abileah’s life was when he was asked by the Israeli League for Human and Civil Rights to represent the organization at the UN’s special hearing on suspected Israeli infringements on human rights in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank and Gaza. Although Abileah was a little reluctant, he testified in two hearings in front of the UN Committee. At these hearings Joseph, like always, spoke of his own experiences and interviews with Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. Joseph was later noted as being especially helpful. Finally, Abileah is particularly proud of his formation of the Society for Middle East Confederation. The establishment of this society had been a dream for Joseph and he successfully accomplished it. The Society for Middle East Confederation is centered around “solving the Middle East conflict by cooperation of Arabs and Jews on the economic and political level. These range from a BENELUX pattern (economic cooperation) to a full confederation of states, providing equal status and representation to each of the member-components” (156). The accomplishments of Joseph Abileah are numerous and his persistent optimism and belief in nonviolent methods is unwavering. Bing portrays Abileah as a true peace-maker and a strong individual who deserves the admiration of Palestinians and Israelis alike.

This book is incredibly well-written and Bing does an extraordinary job at outlining the life and labors of Joseph Abileah. The beginning of each chapter conveniently includes the dates in which the events of that chapter occurred and multiple pictures and primary sources are helpful in understanding the writings and events in Abileah’s life. Furthermore, Bing is careful to explain the historical events surrounding Joseph’s life. By providing a historical context and background to Abileah’s works, Bing shows the hostile environment in which Joseph was advocating peace and nonviolence. The only qualms I had with this book was that there were not enough quotes or opinions from Joseph’s close friends and family. Although there are a few, I felt that it would have been helpful to see his friends’ and family’s perspective on his works and personality. Overall, this book was a very interesting and easy read for anyone interested in the nonviolent life, or even those who wish to learn about a great man that should be admired the world-over.

This book truly made me want to learn more about the lives of other pacifists and nonviolence advocates. This bibliography has shown me the meanings of true courage and steadfast perseverance. I was struck by Joseph’s unwavering faith in the goodness of the human heart and I am interested in reading more about supposedly normal individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to humankind. For me, this book was a launch pad for my journey into learning more about, and hopefully embracing, nonviolence.

9/26/08 Reflections

2008-09-26T14:38:00.002-05:00

To be successful in diplomacy and action, we must be aware of our opponents' thoughts and culture
As tea did in America, salt freed India
Making a statement that you don't necessarily believe can force a conversation
You can't do it alone - must build support
Inspiring image of Gandhi's followers walking towards salt works, aware they would receive physical abuse
Still amazes me how one man can mobilize a country in a nonviolent way
I enjoyed Gandhi's overwhelming emphasis on truth, and the ways he would forcast his activities
Nonviolence, like the invention of electricity, has the potential to permeate the world
Try just to think about 30 minutes a day

Colman McCarthy: Inspiring Non-Violent Activism

2008-09-26T10:57:00.002-05:00

Colman McCarthy’s I’d Rather Teach Peace opens with his description of the first course he ever taught. Mr. McCarthy explains how an invitation to speak at a children’s high school in Washington, DC in the spring of 1982 transformed his life, bringing challenges, but also opening the limitless possibilities to teaching peace. Upon deciding to enter the classroom, McCarthy had already accrued fourteen years as a syndicate columnist with the Washington Post. A Roman Catholic, McCarthy spent five years in a Trappist Monastery previous to his role as a journalist. This solid contemplative foundation is evident in the genuine, thought-provoking ideas Colman presents in his autobiography, I’d Rather Teach Peace.
To the politically moderate reader, a book as honest as Mr. McCarthy’s might be either shocking or disregarded as ideological banter or both. At its core, McCarthy’s book takes great strides in challenging the reader to think outside of a conformist and obedient society. These jabs are very intelligently constructed avoiding insult or condescension. In one succinct sentence of his preface, Colman states his objective in teaching, “Alternatives to violence exist and, if individuals and nations can organize themselves properly, nonviolent force is always stronger, more enduring, and assuredly more moral than violent force” (McCarthy xiii). Throughout his book, McCarthy expands on this idea, emphasizing the power of peace.
Taking place across a semester, McCarthy journals about his experiences in several different schools, ranging from Oak Hill Youth Center in Laurel, Maryland to Georgetown Law School. While a sizeable portion of the book follows from McCarthy’s thoughts and ideologies, the meat of the narrative is derived from McCarthy’s students and their reactions to his teachings. This is a particularly strong aspect of I’d Rather Teach Peace for the way in which it allows McCarthy to respond to doubters while also physically illustrating the potential for his theories on peace and its study. These responses enable McCarthy to fluidly analyze many aspects of non-violence theory, while incorporating his witty humor and vast experiential knowledge. This format, combined with McCarthy’s natural style, makes for an incredibly fascinating and engaging read.
Despite the strengths of McCarthy’s book, I have difficulty naming it as one of the best pieces of literature I’ve ever read. Pondering this in disappointment, it seems that one of the books strengths, its accessibility, may also double as its greatest weakness. Mr. McCarthy speaks directly and honestly. These qualities give the book a unique flavor that make its read feel as though you are sitting next to the author as he shares the narrative aloud. The ideas presented are heavy, yet tangible and real. Mr. McCarthy steers clear of literary devices typical to the humanities, symbolism, metaphor, and other thematic elements. As a result, I have difficulty taking Mr. McCarthy’s book for anything more than surface value. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it remains a very powerful read. But regardless, this style seems to take away from the imaginative and interpretive qualities found in some of literature classics, from Shakespeare to Twain.
Nonetheless, Mr. McCarthy’s book most certainly leaves the reader wanting more. While it may not provoke second and third readings in search of deeper analyses, it remains a very discussable book. What McCarthy’s book lacks in interpretive substance, it more than makes up for with the inspiration it leaves the reader. After a strong initial impact, the book does not conclude without creating a legacy for itself within the reader.
It is difficult to objectively analyze this legacy because it is likely different for every reader. However, there are several points that seem to build the foundation for the book as an eternal guardian in the conscience of the reader. McCarthy presents many of these ideas in his chapter titled “Ideas to Practice, Not to Mull”, long before the Epilogue. One of McCarthy’s most poignant passages is his response to a student’s speculation about the use of non-violent strategies against Hitler.
"Sound bites don’t do it. I feel like a math teacher who chalks the blackboard with calculus equations and then a student – who has never taken a math course before and has been told all his life that 2+2=423 – rises to say that nothing on the board makes sense. But make it clear with a quickie answer. Right now."

McCarthy, 82

This is impossible of course. Yet, this scenario seems to drive the objective of McCarthy’s book.
He works throughout his memoir to nullify the notion that, “2+2=423,” and slowly prove to the reader that it, in fact, equals four. Not in a demeaning or patronizing way, but in the methodical way any teacher would help a student who didn’t understand a concept from class. The legacy of the book lies in McCarthy’s revelations and the tools he gives the reader for further questioning and understanding. So sure, McCarthy’s book isn’t Tolstoy, Gandhi, or Merton. But, it’s a start. And change must start somewhere.

International Day of Peace: Temporary Ceasefire in Afghanistan

2008-09-25T19:34:00.006-05:00

What chance does peace have against the realities of war and violence in today's world? Sunday, September 21st marked the annual anniversary of the International Day of Peace as declared by the U.N. And while for most people in the U.S., the Day of Peace might not have had any dramatic effects on everyday life - there were some demonstrations (like Pinwheels for Peace), and the usual lectures and local events - in Afghanistan the Day of Peace had a profound impact nation-wide.

The U.S., NATO, the Afghan Government and the Taliban all agreed to put down their weapons for a day in observance of the Day of Peace. For 24 hours, there was to be no violence, shootings, raids, or attacks of any kind in a country that has been engaged in a nearly constant, bloody struggle.

The day was widely celebrated with sports, a polio vaccination campaign (taking the opportunity of a ceasefire to vaccinate 1.8 million children in an area prone to violence), and marches. One street was renamed "Peace Avenue," and Afghan orphans marched with Afghanistan's first Olympic medalist through town.

The day, while largely successful according to Afghan police and US military, still saw one attack by Taliban militants who killed two guards. However, in a year where over 4,500 people have already died (that's about 17 a day), the Day of Peace clearly made a substantial difference - take that Rush Limbaugh. Afghanistan's observance of the Day of Peace, at least for me, is a powerful indicator of the practical power of nonviolence. If all the actors in one of the most war-torn countries in the world can agree to renounce the use of force for 24 hours, why can't others? Why not 48 hours, or 72? A week of peace? A month?

Relating back to our initial discussion on the possibility of a nonviolent society or a nonviolent world, I think the events of the Day of Peace in Afghanistan serve as a fantastic example of the real, tangible possibility of nonviolence. The country not only refrained from violence, but also its people used the opportunity to embrace positive peace with demonstrations and medical aid. Can you imagine the things that could be accomplished if the entire world could agree to 24 hours of peace?

*photos from the Associated Press - see second hyperlink

Bayard Rustin Book Review

2008-09-22T14:26:00.002-05:00

In Bayard Rustin and the Civil Rights Movement, author Daniel Levine does an admirable job of describing a key figure in

history whose name is too often forgotten. The book is Levine’s response to the public’s lack of familiarity with Rustin beyond the occasional recognition of his importance as “some civil rights guy.” The text is equal parts sympathetic biography and informative history book, but it does an admirable job of introducing the uninitiated to one of the most influential men in the fight for civil rights.

In 1912, Rustin was born in Pennsylvania where his grandmother and grandfather raised him. The concepts of compassion and social justice were familiar to Rustin from day one, as his grandparents assisted African-American families migrating from the South. More directly, Rustin’s grandmother’s activities – NAACP member, creator of an integrated gardening club, and co-founder of a black children’s nursery, nurse’s association, and community center – clearly influenced his development as an activist. Moreover, it is important to recognize that as a child, many of Rustin’s neighborhood friends were white, and included several Jewish children. This may explain some of Rustin’s actions later in life, and particularly his strong support for the state of Israel.

Looking back on Rustin’s early life, the first instance where he engaged in nonviolent direct action (NVDA) to resist segregation was as a student athlete in an integrated high school. Rustin and one of his friends refused to compete in a race unless they were permitted to stay in the same hotel as their white teammates, which they were subsequently allowed to do. High school was also the time when Rustin began to consider the possibility that he was gay, although he asserts that he did not fully realize this until his college years. As a star student, athlete and musician, it seemed natural for Rustin to continue his studies at a City University in New York, but his overwhelming dedication to activism prevented him from committing to his studies and earning a traditional degree. Ironically, numerous universities later recognized Rustin for his activism by awarding him honorary degrees.

In 1936, Rustin joined the Society of Friends and became a peace activist the following summer, traveling around the country and speaking out against war. Shortly after, he also joined the Young Communist League (YCL) of City College, primarily a peace organization at the time. When the YCL told Rustin to abandon his work to end discrimination in the military, however, he left the group and became a harsh critic of communism. In search of new organizations to which he could dedicate his time, Rustin then found the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) lead by A. J. Muste who introduced him to NVDA, and the March on Washington (MOW) movement led by A. Phillip Randolph, who introduced Rustin to Gandhi’s work. Rustin’s exposure to Randolph’s leadership, as well as his experience as the youth director of MOW were both valuable in their ability to teach him the organizational and communication skills that he would utilize repeatedly as an activist for the remainder of his life, primarily working alongside Muste and Randolph. This period also marked the beginning of Rustin’s involvement with the two goals which he would spend years working on, dividing his time alternately pursuing international peace and an end to racism in the U.S.

Rustin’s self-assigned role as social activist was not an easy one, and he was subjected to physical violence and arrest on numerous occasions throughout his life. Imprisoned as a rebellious Conscientious Objector (CO) during WWII, for example, Rustin fought segregation in the prison by spending time on the top floor with white CO’s, which earned him a beating to which he refused to respond. Similarly, long before the Freedom Riders, Rustin was beaten by policemen and dragged from a bus for peacefully refusing to sanction an unjust law by moving to the back of a bus. Doubtlessly, Rustin’s work was made even more difficult because of his sexual orientation. After his arrest in California on a “morals charge,” Rustin’s identity as a homosexual was public knowledge and was used by his opponents, along with his brief support for communism, to discredit his work and to force him to hide behind leaders like Randolph as he continued to fight for civil rights. This, more than anything, may explain why Rustin is not as well known as other civil rights activists. Moreover, once Rustin faced the censure of fellow Quakers and Christians for being gay, religion began to fade in importance for Rustin.

Although his life was not without suffering, Rustin certainly had his share of successes. He organized the Journey of Reconciliation in 1947 to fight segregation on inter-state bus travel. He traveled to India to learn about NVDA first-hand. He assisted the independence movement in what is today Ghana, organized the Youth March for Integrated Schools, repeatedly advised Martin Luther King, organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott, co-organized the March on Washington in 1963, organized the New York School Boycott, worked with SNCC, CORE, and SCLC, and struggled with organized labor to open unions to minorities. A thorough list of all of Rustin’s accomplishments, some great and others small, would take pages to list.

However, it is important to note that while his goals remained relatively constant, the tools that Rustin used to achieve them evolved over time. Communism, Quakerism, and international pacifism diminished in importance to Rustin as he aged and began to embrace democratic politics as the best means to reaching the end of equality. Further, he emphasized the need to work with the federal government in assisting the poor – black and white – if racism and violence were to ever to be overcome. For these positions, and for his rejection of Black Nationalism and separatism, Rustin found himself becoming increasingly ignored as no longer relevant to the “black agenda” as time passed. During his final years, Rustin’s contributions to the causes of refugees, free and fair elections, and, to a certain extent, gay rights, were all but ignored by a nation that considered him “a grand old man” whose relevance did not extend beyond the mid-1960’s. Rustin died in 1987 from cardiac arrest; he was seventy-five.

In presenting his account of Rustin’s life, Levine succeeds more often than he fails. The book is clearly well researched, presents a fascinating behind-the-scenes view of the civil rights movement, and incorporates brief glimpses of humor and personality into a discussion of Rustin that help portray him as human. Additionally, the reader cannot help but come away from the book with knowledge about other key civil rights activist beyond Rustin; much of the book is spent discussing figures like Randolph, Muste, King, and others. By mentioning uncomplimentary details like Rustin’s affected accent, his occasional arrogance, and his break with pacifism to support military aid to Israel, the author also gains credibility. Levine should be commended too for his inclusion of Rustin’s homosexuality – a topic that other authors have sought to ignore at the expense of providing a true and accurate depiction of Rustin’s life.

However, Levine’s work is not without flaws and his writing can at times be repetitive. His treatment of Rustin’s gay identity frequently seems self-conscious and awkward, referring to “Rustin’s indiscreet, almost defiant, homosexual activity” while first incarcerated, and including the strange note that “there was no homosexual incident” while Rustin worked on a chain gang, hypothesizing that he “was too exhausted for much besides work.” Levine would also have benefited by including his definition of pacifism in the book, as his assertions that Rustin was or was not a pacifist during certain parts of his life have little meaning otherwise. Certainly, more information about Rustin’s personal life would have added to the biography too, painting Rustin as a full human being as well as an accomplished activist.

After finishing Levine’s work, I was surprised by how attached I felt to Rustin despite the primarily historical tone of the biography. Somewhere along the way, I found myself rooting for Rustin, and saddened by his eventual removal from the “black agenda” and the national stage. Certainly, I would like to learn more about Rustin, perhaps by listening to his speeches or reading more personal accounts of his life. Ultimately, the biography opened my eyes to the realities of the civil rights movement in the U.S.: the compromises that had to be made, the conflicts and dissent among activists, the successes and the failures on nonviolent action, and the overwhelming amount of planning and strategy that went into every event, demonstration, and movement that Rustin planned. And while I walk away from the book knowing significantly more about Rustin and the civil rights struggle, I am more aware than ever about how much there is to learn.

Lone Alaska Protester with Powerful Presence

2008-09-22T06:10:00.005-05:00

Here's a great idea. You're one person, you really want people to know that not everyone in Alaska loves the governor, but what's a way to get the message out? Here's the story of one man maximizing his exposure: holding his sign down at the cruise ship dock. He summarizes:

All in all, I'd say about 70% of the folks who saw me were in favor of my little protest (out of probably 200-250 people). My picture was taken about 50 times, and I was featured in a couple videos. I was passed by the local police once and cruised by U.S. Customs once (both probably unrelated). My ass was threatened with a "kicking". My back was patted and my hand was shaken. I was even given a thumbs-down by a 70-year old woman who looked at me, pursed her lips and gave me "the raspberry". I was called a liar, and also called "my hero". So here I am at home pouring over the news and thinking... I should go out there again.

There'd been an earlier rally of 1500, protesting in front of a local library in downtown Anchorage. What do you think of this complementary action?

Thoughts from today 9/19

2008-09-19T12:06:00.003-05:00

Were 6 million people powerless under the law of a few menor was their power merely unexplored.
"I know the war is lost, but i am still going to win my war." -Eichman
I was impressed by the numerous methods for non-violent resistance generated by Gene Sharp.
Erode the base of a tyrant's power and everything else crumbles.
Non-violence must have grassroots, it must have its inception in the people to be successful.
Don't forget about the power of wives.
How can we have more instances of conversion and not disillusion.
in front of violence your only arm is intelligence.

GU Young Voters Forum Crowd

2008-09-18T21:20:00.009-05:00

The crowd included various students, staff, and proponents of peace.

GU Young Voters Forum

2008-09-18T21:20:00.006-05:00

Simply put, the GU 2008 Young Voters Forum was an interesting display of democracy and an excellent example of nonviolent action. The Georgetown Young Republicans and Democrats sat on opposite sides of the room (on the right and left, respectively). Republican Congressman Wilson from New Mexico, who represented John McCain's point of view, spoke with eloquence and honesty. She expressed the importance of bipartisan action and strong leadership. Democratic Congressman Davis from Alabama represented Barack Obama with strength and fervor. He emphasized system change and progressive thinking. It was a spirited debate and fittingly demonstrated the diverging views in the upcoming election.

Further, it showed the relatively peaceful nature of our election system. While the two representatives had the obvious ideological clashes, they both maintained a respectful debate. And significantly, they came in the spirit of bipartisanship. Wilson remarked that Davis was one of her closes friends in Congress. Lauren, a Georgetown sophomore and close friend of mine summarized it correctly when she said, "The point that we have this kind of discussion in this country is what makes us inherently nonviolent- we don't need to use violence as an outlet".

1500 vs 93 in Alaska: Women Against Palin's Policies

2008-09-14T11:40:00.002-05:00

Here's a nice little video of a rally that caught my eye while scanning Daily Kos. The dirty tricks used to try to derail the rally didn't stop folks from making their voices heard. This was a brighter spot in a day where I haven't see the pundits pick up on the scathing NY Times story on Palin's cronyism and vendettas.

Reflections from 9/12

2008-09-12T14:22:00.002-05:00

Do you or do you not directly or indirectly want to kill or assault?
We contribute to violence and nonviolence everyday in ways that we often overlook.
How many lives have I indirectly killed or assaulted?
Be more conscious of how I contribute to violence in my every day actions
Although many view different religions as a source of conflict, there are nonviolent tendencies in every religion that are frequently overlooked
Though brief, I really enjoyed researching the nonviolent traditions of Islam, especially Jihad
It is disturbing to think how different my life would be if I refused to contribute to violence
Camus - we must raise our voices, we must make a choice to delegitimize violence
Can torture be legitimized by the goal of saving lives?
All nonviolence stems from finding our true nature

Survival of the Selfless

2008-09-12T11:11:00.001-05:00

Darwin's argument actually goes towards cooperation for survival, not competition, from NewScientist.

Who has the power? Joker Interrogation scene

2008-09-12T10:37:00.005-05:00

It's odd to use a clip from the latest Batman movie to make a point about the power of nonviolence, particularly when it's being used by the villain! But take a look . . .

It certainly isn't an example of principled nonviolence, but you get a sense of who has control and power using what. At least the ferries scene fares better for human nature!

Are the nonviolent struggles of Buddhists in Tibet and Burma promoting peace in other areas of the world?

2008-09-12T02:56:00.017-05:00

From the Slate article, the question arises:
Are the nonviolent struggles of Buddhists in Tibet and Burma promoting peace in other areas of the world? These struggles obviously have not gone unnoticed on the international scene or here in D.C. where vigils and protests have been held over the past year. Now the Dalai Lama has become probably the most famous world religious leader in his campaign for support of Tibet and, along with the struggles of his people, sparked a popular interest in Buddhism. Many Buddhists criticize the Dalai Lama for becoming a media spectacle and an object of consumerism, but maybe this really is an efficient strategy for disseminating the story of nonviolence that is Tibet. Consumerism is not really the Dalai Lama's fault anyway, and picking up Buddhism from the internet or a bookstore is really not as superficial as it may sound to many practicing Buddhists. I speak from personal experience when I say that buying a popular book about Buddhism and reading about Buddhism online can transform inner violence: no doubt, I would not be writing this message otherwise.

It is important to remember that, as I indicated, Tibet and Burma are not just tragedies of violent oppression, but also examples of nonviolence in action. We must thank those who uphold nonviolence as an end in and of itself and not merely a strategy to be discarded when it fails to conquer the oppressors, for, like Jesus when he forgave the Romans on the cross, they are role-models for humankind. This so-called nonviolence should not come only in the form of negation, but as an affirmation.

Contributing to the popular influence of the events are media that increasingly portray this aspect of affirmation alongside that of the negative: CNN's show "Buddha's Wa rri or s" gave air to a monk who had been clubbed on the head by police. "How do you respond to that?" asked the interviewer. "Respond with love," he answered.

And now it is our turn to respond to this message with a love of our own in support: here is the cycle of love and compassion upheld by principled nonviolence. Can we devise any more strategies to improve the efficiency of delivering this message?

One thing from today . . .

2008-09-05T14:37:00.002-05:00

Once we let go of our fears, we become more powerful than weapons
Ordinary civilians have the power to stop violence
Image of Chilean protesters - I hope I'll feel as passionately as they did about their cause
Incredible amounts of emotion that ebb and flow and overwhelminly unite people in struggles of nonviolence
From the film, funerals are where violence is born
How can we make powerlessness a weapon?
Give our own lives rather than taking lives is the greatest strength of nonviolence
It requires a lot of perseverance to achieve one's goals through nonviolence
Nonviolence has to be about more than just regime change to jhave a lasting effect on peoples' lives
People become violent to be heard in a world where they feel dispised

Compare the Protests

2008-09-05T10:26:00.004-05:00

John McCain accepted the Republican nomination last night. There were two sets of protest. Compare and contrast, and comment on the effectiveness of both in achieving their goals, (oh, yes, what were their goals?) and in building sympathy for their cause . . . or the candidate.

Fighting the resource "curse" nonviolently

2008-08-31T15:28:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned in class on Friday, I was fortunate enough to participate in a training program with Oxfam America this past summer. Oxfam is an international nonprofit that works to combat issues of poverty and injustice.

One of the most interesting issues I came across was the extractive industries problem. In many developing, and poor countries, wealthy corporations are coming into communities and striping them of their natural resources. These companies pay- but the money goes to the government, not to the communities affected. The governments grow enormously wealthy, but the people remain in poverty, not receiving the economic benefits. And, not only do these people remain poor- but they become worse off than when the corporations entered, often experiencing water pollution.

See, for example, in Equatorial New Guinea (Map above, right). The country has enormous oil resources. While the government receives compensation, the people still live without adequate health, education, and nutrition resources. There has been limited progress addressing this injustice. However, the United States is debating a bill, H.R. 6066 that would increase transparency for industry-government interactions.

Oxfam challenged people to fight this injustice nonviolently. They especially emphasized letter-writing and advised people to contact their own representative. Oxfam officials held that, by using our own political clout and specifically listing legislation we supported, we could peacefully stimulate change.

See this oxfam article for greater detail.

Honoring Past and Hoping for the Future

2008-08-29T09:33:00.004-05:00

Truly a day to reflect and engage, the 45th anniversary of King's "I Have a Dream" speech" is a time to celebrate our first African-American presidential nominee of a major party, and feel a tad bit of shame at how long it is taking in this country for real equality and freedom.

Below are two examples of how oratory can inspire and move to action millions of people for years to come. We know the legacy of the first, and hope for more from the second. Click on both for videos.

The Art of War

2008-08-21T18:09:00.005-05:00

Welcome back! Our blog will wake up from it's summer slumber and welcome a new group of Georgetown students, in our class "Nonviolence in Theory and Practice!"

Let's start with a great cartoon from Politico's Wuerker's Works from 8/15. Political cartoons are not only a great way to make a point, but they can relieve stress, too!

Look forward to more entries in the coming weeks, related to nonviolent actions, musings, struggles, and successes.

Reconciliation in Rwanda and "Peace Baskets"

2008-05-16T13:59:00.005-05:00

Nonviolence can overturn dictators, but the hardest challenge is always what happens next. CNN recently had a story of forgiveness and moving forward between Hutu and Tutsis. The headline, "Woman opens heart to man who slaughtered her family" doesn't impart a sense of how reconciliation was accomplished, but the article reviews the horrific history through text and video. It is the third video of President Paul Kagame which summarizes how Rwanda moved beyond the 1994 genocide.

For these families, the gacaca process of public confession and asking for forgiveness, coupled with a basket business bringing people together, is helping to heal. The "peace baskets" are sold by Macy's.

Ladies in White: What to do Next?

2008-05-16T13:28:00.007-05:00

Listen to a recent NPR piece about the Ladies in White, who for five years have been protesting their dissident husbands' detention. The Ladies gather to pray, then silently march carrying gladiola's, and have done so weekly for five years. In 2005, they were awarded the Sakhavrov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The question is now whether or not the Ladies should escalate and how. What is the most effective way to move a dictator in this cultural context?

Photo by Mihai Romanciuc

The power of people: Thanks New Media

2008-04-25T15:02:00.002-05:00

I could not share the video, so here is a link
I chose to share this jumbled video that portrays police repelling protestors because it demonstrates the power of people to spread news (and images) of their causes worldwide. The protestors are reacting to the rising cost of fuel in the face of the declining Icelandic krona. High fuel prices coupled with a poor economy equals truck drivers blockading off access to major roads with their trucks. I think this is a pretty effective protest because it makes a big statement without costing too much to those that wish to make it or causing damage. Its effectiveness is reflected in the fact that the Icelandic police have responded with an unprecedented show of force. However, in a country where half of the price of filling up at the pump is composed of government taxes a protest of this magnitude seems justified and necessary. The problem with the government’s response is that the public is not used to police handling protesters in this fashion. The man that recorded the video, Halldor Sigurgson, said, “This is the first time in a long time we have seen in Iceland violence against protestors…we are not used to violence against groups of people at all.”
This is why the video component is so important- it allows for coverage to be spread quickly and effectively worldwide building support for protestors. One no longer has to be on a news crew or working for a news agency to shape the news. I found this video on cnn.com through their iReporter feature where literally anyone can be a reporter. This is something I feel nonviolent protestors need to be cognizant of and use to their advantage as these Icelandic protestors did.

Iraqi Factions at the Dinner Table - Wash your Hands!

2008-04-25T11:28:00.007-05:00

When was the last time that you turned on the news and an aspect of the "war on terror" was not on it, with its graphic footage of army fatigues, blasts, and missing limbs. On the outside , it may seem that this is just the US and Iraq going at it, but one closer look exposes the inner conflict of Iraq - that is, between the Shi'ites and the Sunnis. The Shi'ites, the long-persecuted majority under Hussein, and the Sunnis are fighting a double battle...between themselves as well as the red, white, and blue.
According to Reuters from Helsinki, Finland will be hosting a conference this week for all of the Iraqi factions. This seminar is headed by the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), organized by the Former President Marti Ahtisaari, as well as two other American institutions. It will be modeled after last year's similar seminar in September during which, with 30 participants from mostly the warring Shi'ite and Sunni groups, a set of suggestions and political goals were created for future talks that could halt the violence in the Iraq.
While we have yet to see evident progress from last September's conference, this is exactly what is needed to solve this problem. While I have heard the argument that these groups are far beyond discussion, it is the most effective and plausible direction to go for peace. Not only will discussions such as these create the sense of trust and respect that needs to be fostered before any other goal, but it will present the opportunity for both factions to speak in a safe space and formulate a collective strategy on fixing the poverty and hate in their country. This may, consequently, lead to the end of this mad "war."
Can hate, vengeance, and feuding be so intense that diplomatic talks among citizens are out of the question? The situation in Iraq is similar to Sudan, where, according to scholars, the first thing needed is for the local groups to speak to and TRUST one another. The Shi'ites and Sunnis are, in essence, still sisters and brothers, both living in the same country, believing in the same God, and eating the same Iraqi deliciousness.
Let me present an image - all of the Iraqi people, singing together revolution-style, at the officials who have fashioned this feud. Maybe that's what is needed. Music and singing. A sense of brother/sisterhood. It has, no doubt, been forgotten. As in the 12 Principles, one must formulate organizational strength. The best organization for this situation is that of all the Iraqi people together.

Rock for Barack: Deadheads for Obama

2008-04-25T10:57:00.002-05:00

On Monday, February 4th, surviving members of the Grateful Dead, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Friends came together to play a benefit show for Barack Obama's campaign and get out the vote for the Super Tuesday primaries.
http://dead.net/node/11363/Barack Obama appeared before the band took stage. (check out the vid)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=V6MzDl-wdW8
This is my first time being old enough to vote in a presidential election. I was feeling really excited about it for awhile, but then I felt apathetic. Now I am feeling excited again. I think Barack Obama is one of the few politicians I have ever liked. I just want to like him. Even though Concepcion Picciotto, the president's neighbor, told me that he was just like all the rest, I still want to like him. I even had a dream about Barack Obama in which I went to hear him speak and then afterwards he came over to hang out with me and some friends at my dorm room. I decided I wanted to support him after that. Now that I know that the Dead are for Obama, I support him for sure. Is that a bad reason to support a candidate? Actually, I really support Obama because he seems like the most peaceful candidate in the race. Admittedly, I could make a much better effort to be better informed, though.
Although the Grateful Dead family has given their support to different, liberal social issues over the years, they have never openly supported any politicians except Robert Kennedy. I think it is safe to generally characterize the Dead and Dead community on the whole as politically uninvolved. That is not to say that Dead members or Deadheads are apathetic. In fact, most Deadheads probably care a lot about issues like the environment, nuclear disarmament (the tune Morning Dew is about nuclear holocaust), peace, and legalization/decriminalization of marijuana.
Morning Dew:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=u9OYDSUTlsw
The tune "Throwing Stones" is about politics. Check out the lyrics here. http://dead.net/song/throwing-stones

Still, the Dead family has hardly ever publicly voiced any outright political support. Furthermore, Deadheads are quite diverse. Many people stereotype Deadheads and think tie-dye, patchouli, long hair or dreadlocks, potsmoking, acid-eating hippies, but they are wrong. Some Deadheads wear suits, some are rich, some are poor, some are junkies, some are clean and sober like me, some are liberal, some are conservative like Ann Coulter
http://www.theamericanmind.com/images/anncoulter-dead.jpg
http://www.nysun.com/article/18288
Some Deadheads are doctors and lawyers. There was even a Deadhead who was a Theodore Roosevelt Scholar.
http://www.americanheritage.com/people/articles/web/20060405-theodore-roosevelt-jerry-garcia-grateful-dead-beat-poets-jack-kerouac-john-gable-commonplace-books-drugs-badlands.shtml

From what I've read and come to understand about Jerry Garcia, he had the mentality of make up your own mind. Do what you choose as long as you are not stepping on the toes of another. He was about music for the sake of music (or in order to reach some higher place) not anything else ie politics. I wonder what he would think about Deadheads for Obama. Would he agree with Phil, Bobby, and Mickey for publicly supporting Obama?

Is Barack Obama waking the Dead? After all, the living members have not performed together since 2004. This question reminds me of the Stephen Colbert video we watched in class: who will get the vote of the white male? What I want to know is who will get the Deadhead vote?

Because, let's face it, Facebook is our Life... Why can't it be everyone's life?

2008-04-25T00:07:00.004-05:00

It's articles like these that should make us to seriously think about the liberties we take for granted in the United States. BBC is reporting that an Israeli soldier has been jailed for 19 days for posting a photo on Facebook. Although the military will not disclose the nature of the photos, they have warned other members of the military to be careful what they post on social networking sites. On the one hand, it is understandable that if a photo was overly offensive or disclosed secret information, that he should be reprimanded in some way. But jailing the soldier? It makes me think that they are trying to use this soldier as an example for other Israelis who have a Facebook or similar pages.

The Israeli Air Force has claimed that pictures posted by soldiers on social websites helped the enemy numerous times in the past year. I'm not saying I do not understand why the Israeli military is extremely upset, but what limits should they put on their soldiers. Photos and other information goes through extensive screening and only certain personel is allowed to post photos at all.

I guess I also want to point out the differences in responsibilities we as students have versus people in (any) military. We just embarrass ourselves when we post foolish pictures, but members of the military can compromise themselves as well as others. Where should the military draw the line? Surely, we do not want American soldiers posting pictures that would compromise their lives or the lives of others. But shouldn't they have the freedom to post what they wish? Is that not the point of free speech as it has evolved with the expansion of the internet and social sites? Is this idea of restriction of posting a question of censorship, safety, civil liberties or a combination of all? Just some food for thought, since I know each one of us spend plenty of time on the time drain that is Facebook.

One last question I would like to pose: How responsible are we to use discretion when posting photos, blogs, and other items on the internet? Or are the parameters constantly changing with the changing face of the internet?

Gold body suits, Hamburgers Made from Poo, and an Announcement to Think About!

2008-04-24T23:16:00.005-05:00

So, maybe I'm biased (actually, I'm very biased), but the documentary we partially viewed, The Yesmen, provides a great insight into how blind the corporate world is to the injustices they inflict on other people. After viewing the rest of the movie, I received a better understanding of what the Yesmen do and just how and how far they push the proverbial envelope. The Yesmen are an excellent example of how people can use creative ways to challenge social and institutional injustices.

The portion we viewed in class included the Yesmen attending a conference where they presented the "manager leisure suit" in which managers can be anywhere in the world and can still control their sweatshops. Obviously, the idea comes across as completely ridiculous in the film. I think that this is in large part because the Yesmen tell us to a large extent the hoax they are going to play on the unsuspecting conference attendees. I wonder if we had no idea what was going to happen and we just saw the clip where the Yesmen give their speech, how would we react? Would we find it completely ridiculous, understand the absurdity of the concept they propose, or just mindlessly accept what they are preeching (basically, that we can make sweatshops even more inhumane)? My guess is somewhere in the middle. I personally do not believe I would understand all the implications of the statement they tried to make. However, I do think I would have picked up on the absurdity of the proposal. If you didn't know what the Yesmen's aim was, how do you think you would react?

The other main portion of the film was concerned with preparing for a conference in Australia where they would propose a recycable hamburger. That's right, taking recycling to a new and completely disgusting level. In their proposal the "WTO" explains how a system would extract meat from "human waste products" to make a new hamburger. These new recycled burgers would be sent to a country financial less prosperous than the United States. Okay, completely absurd. And the Yesmen go further to say that this system would continue so that a burger could be eaten up to 10 times.

Unfortunately, the Yesmen's hopes were shot when the conference they were supposed to present was cancelled due to decreased interest. While disappointed in the cancellation of the conference, they found another venue - a college campus - to hold their presentation. They started out by giving McDonald's hamburgers to all in attendence. After launching into their presentation, it was clear that most (if not all) of the members of the audience were apalled by the proposal of recycled hamburgers. The students rose many concerns - from ethical, to health issues, to disgust at this capitalist-fueled idea. People walked out of the auditorium, engaged the Yesmen in heated discussion, and even resorted to foul language to express their outrage. The Yesmen were extremely pleased with how the speach went. They hoped that the students would catch on quickly and dispute the concept. It's hopeful for our generation then, that we can more easily spot the absurdities in organizations like the WTO than some of our elders who seem immune to the wrong-doings of these organizations and corporations.

The film ends with a makeshift conference in Australia, after all. Telling the organizers of the conference that they would already be in Australia, the Yesmen pressured the organizers to create a new conference. However, instead of the burger proposal, the Yesmen decide to represent the WTO in a different light. They apologize to the attendees for the change in the program and then reveal the WTO’s newest plans. These plans include dismantling the WTO so that they can review the way their actions negatively affect many regions of the world. Obviously, this announcement comes as surprise to all of the attendees. After the conference, the announcement was also sent to 25,000 journalists around the world.

In perhaps the most drastic action of the Yesmen that I have heard of, they completely challenge the very essence of the WTO. Even though soon after the announcement, it was clear that the WTO would not be dismantling, the announcements surely stirred much thought about the nature of the WTO. I believe that it was quite the wake-up call to even the most heartless of corporate and international “bigwigs.” Many questions rose for me after watching this segment in the movie. Why does the WTO take some of the drastic actions it does towards underdeveloped countries? How do the members of the WTO come to terms with the ethical questions they face? And most of all, I wish to learn more about the WTO and how it operates in the face of ethical questions.

The fact that such a humorous concept for social action can evoke some very serious questions, shows that it is an effective means for rising social issues. Just another example of how social action comes in almost every form possible!

visit http://www.gatt.org/ to see the Yesmen's parody site of the WTO

visit the Yesmen's site at http://www.theyesmen.org/

Is Zimbabwe the next Rwanda?

2008-04-24T23:02:00.006-05:00

Tensions have been rising in the African nation while opposition to the longtime president Mugabe has become stronger. Last month elections were held between President Mugabe and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai. While the election commission will not come out with the results, causing and uproar in its own right, BBC is reporting that “a top US envoy” says Tsvangirai was the clear winner of the election. Mugabe does not accept the outcome and believes that no clear winner was produced from the election and a run-off is likely.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7365578.stm

Mugabe is receiving an enormous amount of international pressure to step down from office or at the very least sit for negotiations. The US and South Africa are at the forefront of the international pressure on Mugabe. To me the fact that these particular countries support the MDC is no surprise. The US, obviously a strong proponent of spreading democracy, and South Africa, repeatedly involved in attempting to broker peace in other African nations, both have interests in Zimbabwe, either political or moral.

Governments are not the only institutions that are concerned with the rising tensions in Zimbabwe. The Anglican church is also speaking out against violence happening in the country and about the dispute over the election and said according to BBC, "If nothing is done to help the people of Zimbabwe from their predicament, we shall soon be witnessing genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other hotspots in Africa and elsewhere.” Their basis for worrying about violence is the reportedly 10 ten deaths, 3,000 displaced people and 500 injured people as a result of the elections. Human rights groups are already involved and say that displaced people are reporting they were tortured for voting the “wrong way.”

Stakes are even higher right now, because there is a ship from a Chinese company has been instructed by the Zimbabwe government to bring ammunition and other deadly weapons into the country. However, pressure from the international community and other countries in Africa may force the ship to turn back. Zimbabwe, a landlocked country, will need to bring the arms through another country on the coast, but many countries, including South Africa, are refusing to let the ship’s cargo pass through their countries.

After looking at the circumstances surrounding the problems in Zimbabwe, I can understand why some Anglican Church leaders may feel as if a major break out of violence would occur. However, I think that the potential “genocide” they are worried about seems a bit over-dramatic (of course in times like these, over-dramatic is usually necessary). I think that the Church leaders are using strong language to draw international attention.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7360979.stm

I do not think, though, that genocide will result from the violence that has erupted. I believe this for many reasons. Firstly, the violence is not as wide-spread as it was in countries like Rwanda or Sierra Leon. Also, most importantly, I think that the early involvement of the international community will put any major violence to a halt. It seems that the world does not want another situation like the one in Sudan to erupt in Africa. More and more attention is being centered on the troubles in Africa, not just on Sudan, but Kenya and now Zimbabwe.

So, I do not think, as the Anglican leaders have said, that genocide will erupt – I am hopeful that the international community will put an end to the issues in Zimbabwe before they escalate to catastrophic levels.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bt8Sg76xKVk - An interview with Tsvangirai!

Fair Pay Restoration Act Allows Senators To Be Strategic Advocates for Justice

2008-04-24T19:21:00.007-05:00

Since there has been a lot of buzz around campus about the notion of sexism and examining what actually constitutes sexism, I thought this specific issue should be discussed here. In a Women’s Studies class I took last semester I learned about the Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company case, a case concerning a female employee of Goodyear who filed claims on the basis of sexual discrimination in the workplace. Lilly Ledbetter, a 19 year employee of Goodyear, filed a claim that she was consistently brushed over for raises, receiving lower rankings and a lower salary than her other employees due to her gender. So, Ledbetter sued Goodyear for gender discrimination claiming that the company was in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In court, Ledbetter was awarded more than $3.5 million, later reduced to $360,000 by a District judge. Goodyear then appealed the court’s decision, citing that Title VII has a 180 day limitation to file claims on the basis of discrimination. Going all the way to the Supreme Court, a 5-4 vote ruled that Ledbetter's claim was time-barred under the Title VII 180 day limitation.

You can find a more in-depth description of the case from the Washington Post Article, “Over Ginsburg's Dissent, Court Limits Bias Suits.”

Justice Ginsburg, along with numerous others, were appalled by the court’s reading of the Title VII filing limitations, claiming the decision of Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company worked to undermine women’s rights. Much dissent over the decision was based on the notion that the statute failed to address the reality of worker discrimination when the discrimination occurs in increments, making it impossible to see pay disparities within a 180-day period of first receiving a pay check. In Ms. Ledbetter’s case, her lack of knowledge regarding what others were paid, made it impossible for her to realize she was being discriminated against within a 180 day period of her first pay check.

But, whether or not you agree or disagree with the Supreme Court’s findings, I thought it was interesting to look at the reactions and responses of women’s rights activists in Washington, DC… in this case, Senators. Upset by the decision in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire, Senators such as Edward Kennedy decided to sponsor a bill called the Fair Pay Restoration Act, also known as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The bill, which if passed would reverse the decision of Ledbetter v. Goodyear, was strategically introduced to the Senate a day after Equal Pay Day. The media attention due to the controversy of the court ruling combined with the significance of having a bill extending worker’s rights proposed to be passed on Equal Pay Day was a perfect example of the creative ability to promote your cause through non-violent means. Senator Kennedy also made sure his Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee released a report only a week earlier, which demonstrated the great economic risk that women face in the workforce due to statistics indicating that in the past year, women’s real wages decreased by 3 percent compared to the .5 % decrease for men’s wages.

Although the Senate failed to cut off debate on the bill and bring it to the floor for a vote, the strategic timing also stirred the attention of both democratic presidential candidates, convincing both Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama to take a short recess from their campaigns in order to vote for the bill.

Non-Violent Protest in Gaza

2008-04-24T13:24:00.003-05:00

Recently, as has happened many times before, Hamas has shot rockets into Israel. Israel, in response has prohibited export and import to and from Gaza, and also electricity and water have been shut off. In order to enforce these sanctions, land inside of Gaza has been cut up by a large 25 ft. wall. Hamas (although many nations don't like to admit it) is the democratically elected authority in the Palestinian territory, and they lucky for both sides have chosen a more just and non-violent way of combating the cutting up of Gaza.

- Why are Palestinians opposed to the sprouting "security zones"?:

Although it is not well known, there is seemingly an underlying agenda for the IDF to seal off portions of Gaza's land other than national security. A law dating back to the time of Ottoman rule states that if a land is not occupied by its owner for a certain period of time, and somebody squats on that land for a certain period of time, then that land is then owned by the squatters due to neglect by the original owner. Although this law may have had good purpose or intention at the time of its creation, it is clearly unjust in the context it is used. Hypothetically, (but not really) if Israel splits a farm with a 25 ft concrete wall declaring the area a "security zone", this makes the reality concrete, (zingy pun) that the Palestinian farmer will not be able to see or tend to his land. Even if he manages to get around the wall or if there is not a wall but only a temporary barrier, history indicates that he or she is often discouraged by various means from revisiting their old properties. After the certain amount of time deemed by the law has passed, the cut off land is then officially confiscated by Israel due to "neglect" by the owners, and Israeli settlers are then free to buy the newly captured land.

-Details on the confiscation Law

-Link - Palestinian shepherds resist expansion with non-violence

Violent Response to Planned Non-Violent Resistance:

Hamas has planed to gather mass numbers of Gaza inhabitants to protest the creation of the wall. The plan was to simply march to the fence and protest with non-violent means (signs, chanting, etc.) This plan however was uncovered by the Israeli Defense force and the planned response seemed a bit radical. - Link to the story from Israeli Newspaper

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- Some clips from the article:

Israel is already enforcing sterile buffer zones near the fence, especially in areas near Israeli settlements. Which is to say the IDF shoots anyone who attempts to approach the fence in those areas... the IDF has also carved up the area inside the Gaza Strip.

The army intends to prevent the marchers from advancing on the fence when they are still inside the Strip, using various means for crowd dispersal according to a ring system: The closer the marchers get to the fence, the harsher the response. The army plans to fire at open areas near the demonstrators with artillery that the Artillery Corps has been moving to the area over the past couple of days. If the marchers continue and cross into the next ring, they will face tear gas. If they persist, snipers could be ordered to aim for the marchers' legs as they approach the fence.

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I wonder how accurate those artillery shells are trying to hit the "open areas" near a massive number of demonstrators. How about if those snipers are having a bad day and aim a little higher than the legs? - Clearly these means of crowd dispersal are a very extreme response to a non-violent protest. I was sad to see that such warnings of extreme response had an adverse effect on the originally big plans for this protest. Originally there was a plan to form a 25 mile long human chain of 50,000 demonstrators to march on the fence. The actual numbers were reported to be only around 5,000 which was also a result of bad weather on the day that it was planned (Feb. 26th). I was also disappointed that I had never even heard about this until I was looking for something to write my blog on. This story should be big news especially because it is a NON-VIOLENT protest lead by the infamously violent terrorist group, Hamas. I can't remember the last time I heard about non-violent protest done by Palestinians in the news, but stories on Hamas firing rockets can't be missed. We hear about so many atrocities committed by both sides in the daily news, yet here is an one example of an effort at non-violence, and it is hardly covered, especially by American media. I wonder how many similar events have gone unnoticed. We have learned how media is an incredibly effective weapon in non-violent campaigning, and the protesters in this case have been denied this incredibly effective weapon. Because of the lack of attention that this event received, I am sad to say that I can't consider this protest to have been successful. Maybe if the protesters had marched to the fence, and the IDF had made good on their threats then they would have received attention from the media. It's sad and ironic to think that such incredible violence and sacrifice is needed to have peace.

Video: See What They're Protesting Against-

A Lack of Water in Dhaka

2008-04-24T08:47:00.004-05:00

Living in one of the most developed nations in the world, we take for granted that certain luxuries are always at our fingertips. We never want for water, electricity, heat, etcetera. Maybe we need to remember more often that the same is not true in many other parts of the world. Just recently in

Bangladesh

, hundreds of Dhaka citizens took to the streets to protest a water shortage, defying a ban on protests.

Eighty-six percent of drinking water in Dhaka is provided by groundwater – a supply that has diminished by three meters per year for the past few years. The shortage of water is caused by a lack of power to pump the water. A city official said, “How can we pump enough water while there is no electricity to run the pumps?”

Currently, the demand for water greatly outweighs the supply, “The Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority is supplying 1.50 billion liters of water a day against a demand of 2.25 billion liters.” And that is just the city, in the rest of the country only forty percent of the population has access to electricity. Country provinces have staged protests in the past because of a lack of electricity to assist in irrigation and farming.

The question I am struggling to answer, however, is how effective a protest is against something that cannot be controlled. The citizens have not been wronged by their city officials; rather they are victim to a degree of bad luck. The falling water table rates and a lack of rainwater should be the real targets of protestors’ wrath.

But other than protest and show their discontent, citizens are limited in what they are able to do to right their situation. Forced to stand in long lines with empty water jugs for a commodity that is usually readily available, Bangladeshis are bound to feel frustrated and impatient. And with these feelings of discontent, what are Dhaka citizens supposed to do other than organize and show their frustration? Unfortunately, the city has banned protests as a form of expression. Thus not only are Bangladeshis without water, they are without their right to assembly and free speech – something we so frequently forget we have in the United States.

Therefore my conclusion is that citizens of Dhaka should have the right to protest, but that protesting in this situation may not be the most effective means of achieving their goals. City officials have enlisted the army to handle distribution of the limited amount of water until they can find a solution. Perhaps the answer is for officials to find alternate sources of water. At least now, thanks to the protestors, officials know that any efforts on their part to provide water will be well-received.

Bridging the Cinematic and Cultural Divide

2008-04-23T21:19:00.007-05:00

Since the partition of India relations between India and Pakistan have been tense – to say the least. Both countries claim ownership over Kashmir, a portion of land connected to both. The two countries have participated in peace talks for decades now and although they are continuing, the issue remains at an essential standstill. India and Pakistan are separated geographically, politically, and culturally – until recently when a Pakistani-made film was released in India.

A few weeks ago, the critically acclaimed Pakistani film, Khuda Ke Liye, was screened in India. It was the first Pakistani film seen in India in over four decades. It had received such enormous praise from the Goa International Film festival that an Indian film producer decided to launch the film in Delhi. Word spread slowly about the film, but soon crowds of people started flooding theaters in multiple Indian cities due to the rave reviews and hype it received.

The film, whose title means "In the Name of God," is about two brothers who embark upon very different paths; one becomes a religious extremist and the other becomes a victim of racial profiling in the US. Khuda Ke Liye tackles the conflict between Muslim fundamentalist and liberal thinking. This is especially interesting because popular thought in India holds that Pakistanis are old-school conservatives; this movie helps break that stereotype by proving that every culture has layers of complexities – even Pakistan. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit said “cross-border movies can help sweeten the bitterness in ways that politics has not been able to do till now.”

The lack of communication between the India and Pakistan has bred misunderstanding and ignorance in both countries about the other. One article claimed that Indian movie-goers were surprised that Pakistanis had nice houses. Cultural exchanges in the form of movies and pop culture can help to educate each population about the other. After all, misunderstanding can lead to unwanted and unnecessary hostility. If each culture begins to understand the other it may help create a forum for discussion. Up until now political diplomacy has not achieved its goals of a peaceful resolution, so perhaps that is not the only method of achieving them.

I believe that the decision to release a Pakistani movie in India was a momentous one. It adheres to nonviolence principles because it seeks to mend an embedded conflict through the means of education and cultural immersions rather than through military escapades. I believe that this seemingly minor event marks the beginning of a new chapter in Indian-Pakistani relations. Two more Pakistani movies are slated to be released in India and Bollywood actors and actresses say they would love to collaborate with producers, directors, and actors in Pakistan.

What showing this movie did was shatter the concept that these two cultures are distinct, separate, and unable to relate. Khuda Ke Liye represents progress and hope for future amiable Indian-Pakistani relations. As they say in the movies, hopefully "this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

The Torch Goes Down Under

2008-04-23T19:43:00.007-05:00

Once again, the Olympic torch has brought protest and controversy with it as it travels around the world. Most recently, the torch made its stop in Canberra, Australia. Not surprisingly, there was a good deal of disruption as many Aussies made it known that they do not support China's human rights policies. As describe by CNN, protesters attempted to display a large laser-lit sign on the Harbour Bridge of Sydney. The glowing sign, which was removed by police before daybreak, read "Don't Torch Tibet". Other signs around the Sydney area were unveiled as well. The following video shows two individuals covering a Coca-Cola billboard with a look-a-like banner reading "compassion".

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The banner, which was lowered by a few protestors who had gained access to the elevated billboard location also urged China to talk to the Dalai Lama. Those pictured hanging the sign have been detained by Australian authorities, and are expected to be charged (although if they are punished in the same manner as those responsible for the laser display, they should not face much more than a small fine).

Although they did commit illegal acts, I believe that the individuals responsible for the "Don't Torch Tibet" and "Compassion" signs were successful in their efforts. They did not harm anybody, and succeeded in expressing themselves in highly public locations. To add to their success, they managed to use their arrest as a chance to "mute the weapons of the enemy". In this case, the opposition was attempting to remove their signs from public view so as to not allow their ideas to spread. In reality, however, the arrests of these pro-Tibetan activists have already brought a great deal of media coverage. Within 24 hours of their acts, videoclips on Youtube and news stations have been broadcasting the messages of the protestors to millions across the world. The much publicized hanging of the anti-Chinese banners has brought a continued amount of attention to the pressing issue of Tibetan suppression by the hosts of this Summer's Olympics, and should be considered a success from a non-violent perspective.

P.S. - on an interesting side note, there was a verbal battle between Chinese and Australian officials during the press conference which announced the arrival of the torch. It looks like the Australian Olympic officials are capable of expressing themselves just as well as some of the citizens.

Annoyed by all the media attention?

2008-04-23T00:26:00.003-05:00

Although the Colbert clip we watched made the election seem like it was all about the white male, CNN is pushing another agent of change this election day, single women. I am flattered that CNN choose to pinpoint single women from Pennsylvania as the group to impact the election (I am a single woman from Pennsylvania), I know that as voters, me and my fellow single Pennsylvanian females are just the next white males, Evangelicals, suburban Jews, Catholics, “lunch-bucket” Democrats, or youths, and our votes have no more swinging ability than the rest of these groups. Even though I know that my vote counts for no more than anyone else’s, except of course older, male, upper class, Hispanic Muslims a group that was left out of the barrage of media reports on the next swing voters, reading that article on why my vote mattered made me feel as special as I did when we watched the Barack Obama “Yes We Can” Video.
The logic works much the same way: although I was insulted that whoever made the video thought that black and white shots of Scarlet Johansson repeating “Yes, we can” without telling me “Yes, we can” what… would make me vote for a political candidate, I still felt drawn to Obama, his seemingly optimistic attitude, and fresh outlook on the Presidency. In the same vein, reading about why my vote mattered most or would be sought after more insulted me because I know it doesn’t matter most nor will it be sought after more, and the article was manufactured because its an interesting headline, and news agencies are running out of hot button issues to talk about. But, I felt special, more important, and more importantly more inclined to vote. This is why I do not mind the onslaught of news reports about every aspect of the election, because by keeping the election constantly in the public eye more citizens are reminded of the election, its meaning, and why they should vote. I hope this translates to more votes overall.
The same logic goes for why I was more than flattered that the article touted single women as the group candidates need to appeal to in order to win. Although John Edwards stated that his main priority as a white male is a jet ski, the article notices several issues that face single women in today’s world: they are paid less than their male peers, they are more likely to be without health coverage, they lack the dual income of their married peers, 20% of them are single moms. Although I do not have to deal with these issues currently, I will be out of college and trying to support myself while the next President is in Office and by touting single women as the important group, it perhaps makes candidates more inclined to develop programs that cater to my future needs.
The best and easiest way to nonviolently create change is to vote and I appreciate the role that the media is playing in this process even if I am tired of seeing pictures of Hilary or Barack when I go to cnn.com.

Sexy at Sixty?

2008-04-22T20:57:00.002-05:00

April 10th marked the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state of Israel. On campus, the Georgetown Israeli Alliance held a "birthday party" of sorts on Copley Lawn to celebrate Jewish history and culture in a festive manner. I partook in the activities, helping myself to free falafel, hookah and music. I really enjoyed myself!

The next day an article came out in the Hoya that described a protest that occurred at the same time as the birthday party I was enjoying. About 30 demonstrators, the article reads, protested nonviolently in Red Square beside the festivities. A representative, Harald Fuller-Bennett (GRD ’09), stated that the reason for protest was the slogan that ran on the flyers advertising for the event on the lawn that read: "Israel: Sexy at Sixty." The organizers of the protest made a small, 8.5 by 11 inch postcard that they put beside GIA's flyers around campus a few days before the event. The card read: “Whatever you think about Israel, whatever you think about Palestine, is this sexy?” There were two pictures, one of a wounded Israeli soldier and one of a dead Palestinian child. Fuller-Bennett is cited as saying that he found GIA's slogan "offensive." The protest, which included participants sitting in Red Square wearing black shirts, tape across their mouths and some neck-scarves, remained completely nonviolent and non-confrontational. Fuller-Bennett cites the protest as a success, saying that people saw them in Red Square and that their message was clear - that there is a need to remember the countless people displaced by this conflict in the Middle East. The GIA are cited as saying they appreciated that those who were offended approached them, and a few days after people came forward, the "Sexy" slogan was removed.

I think that this was a really effective protest. We just discussed the Israel-Palestine issue in my Conflict Studies class and thought a lot about what exactly we could do, as American students, to engage ourselves in this seemingly never-ending and extremely violent conflict. We came to a sort of conclusion that a certain level of awareness of all sides of the issue is paramount. As American citizens, with Israel being a high-profile ally of the United States, we tend to only see a biased view of the conflict. But the very acknowledgment of pain and suffering on both sides of the issue and a sympathetic, delicate and open-minded approach to debates, discussions or celebrations having to do with the situation is incredibly important. I think that the Students for Justice in Palestine group did a great job of nonviolently, but powerfully reinforcing the importance of this sympathy and empathy for all those who are suffering from the violence. This does not mean, of course, that the GIA couldn't have a party - it was just a delicacy issue, I think, treating the situation with the seriousness and consideration it deserves.

One criticism I would have, maybe, would be the fact that I didn't know the protest was going on. I am almost ashamed to admit that it didn't even cross my mind to think about any sort of Palestinian opposition to the celebrations. But I still think that the non-confrontational and nonviolent approach, so as to not cause animosity or uproar, was a really powerful way to show that a symbolic nonviolent approach to a much larger, very violent situation can have an important effect of inspiring dialogue and reminding people of the darker side of an ever-present issue we may have learned to look beyond.

Two Pieces . . . just because I like them

2008-04-18T09:26:00.003-05:00

Normally, I want my students to have complete control of the blog during the semester, but there are two gems that I just need to honor.

First, when you have three multimillionaire senators running for office, and any of them pointing fingers about who is elitist . . . well, our dear friend, Stephen Colbert, really made the point here.

Then, the candidate I really miss, made a delightful appearance on The Colbert Report last night. Most pundits agree that white men will decide the election. And Senator John Edwards is a white man whoose vote has REALLY be courted!

With both major Democratic candidates appearing on The Colbert Report, and with a SUPER super delegate also making an appearance, maybe Stephen Colbert is one of the most influential people of the year.

Striking teachers: the Pros and Cons of Nonviolence

2008-04-17T00:49:00.004-05:00

When I analyze a nonviolent campaign, it is important for me to try to remain as unbiased as is humanly possible. This is the case because I have a natural predilection and preference for nonviolent means of affecting change. I must admit, sometimes this tunnel-vision impedes my ability to see all sides of an issue or campaign.

I had to work very hard to remain unbiased when I discovered an article in the New York Times covering a strike that is being staged by "350 teachers at Roman Catholic schools from New York City and its northern suburbs." The teachers will begin their strike on Thursday when the Pope arrives in New York. The teachers, however, are not protesting the Pope's arrival. Rather, the 350 teachers and the Lay Faculty Association to which they belong are striking for better wages and quality health care plans. According to Henry Kielkucki of the Lay Faculty Foundation, the movement is supposed to show people that the "Catholic diocese is not preaching what the pope is preaching.”

The Lay Faculty Foundation is a labor union which has observed that Catholic diocese teachers are making "$25,000 less than their public school counterparts." According to Mr. Kielkucki of the LFA, the pensions are insufficient and health care premiums are too steep. The union feels that it needs to make its voice heard. Therefore, the teachers are waiting until the Pope shows up before they express their discontent with the situation. The archdiocese have been trying to compromise, but the LFA has been persistent, refusing to make any concessions. It appears as if picket signs will remain until something concrete has been established.

For me, it would be easy for me to be completely content with the demonstration; teachers are ridiculously under-appreciated.

Nevertheless, I would not be thoroughly examining this nonviolent campaign if I looked simply at these facts, because the other fact of the matter is relatively saddening. Thousands of kids will not be able to interact with their favorite teachers. Thousands of kids will miss many days of instruction when the teachers begin striking. The Lay Faculty Association has been rigid with negotiations. In other words, the singularity of purpose of the striking teachers has adversely affected the lives of many individuals in the New York area.

Ultimately, one involved in a nonviolent campaign must seek justice first. Then, he/she must seek to preserve life at all costs through compromise. Granted, these teachers are not killing their students for higher wages. However, they are damaging their educational growth. And as a teacher, that should always be one's first priority.

How can teachers seek to improve their plights while at the same continuing to instruct their children?

A Counterproductive Protest?

2008-04-15T16:05:00.002-05:00

I was on my way to another day at Capitol Hill. On any given day, I can expect to see a few protesters on the street, telling anyone who will listen about the need to stop the War in Iraq or revoke Roe vs. Wade. But on April 10, I came across a protest that really caught my attention.

I mean, it is hard to miss a line of 100 dump trucks circling the U.S. Capitol honking their horns as obnoxiously as possible. The trucks held up traffic and exposed hundreds of tourists to excessive noise pollution. The truckers were protesting the raising costs of diesel fuel. They are upset because they are given a fixed amount from their respective companies to spend on gas, so when the prices keep rising, they have to make up for it out of their pockets.

I might just be bitter because the protest made it difficult to cross Constitution Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, and my ears are still ringing from all that honking. But I do not think this was the most effective example of nonviolent protest. I hate to think about all the gas the truck drivers wasted by circling the U.S. Capitol a number of times. I think it went against their argument that they were really concerned about the price of gas.

I think a better form of protest for their cause would have been to organize all the truckers to stop driving for a day, like they did in Syracuse. This would show that they were serious about their cause, and it would make more sense in terms of proving that conserving gas is important to them.

Will Some Athletes be Forced to Sit if they Stand Up for Tibet?

2008-04-10T18:56:00.004-05:00

Athletes who support Tibetan freedom with flags, patches or any other form of expression risk being expelled from the Olympic Games in Beijing. Any such expression will be labeled as propaganda and athletes will face sanctions from the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, a Belgian, announced.

Athletes supporting Darfur could risk being stripped of a medal or disqualified as well.

This situation is really frustrating, and a clear attempt by the Chinese Government and the Olympics to try and quiet down protesters. Are the Olympics really more important than Tibetans and Darfurians? I really don't think so.

This applies to our class because it will be interesting to see how those willing to protest violate these rules, how they react to the opponents' strategy for consolidating control. This is obviously a messy situation. I really hope that something positive will come out of it rather than China just feeling like the world is against them, even if that is true. The Olympics seem to be concerned that the event is being politicized, but I think that is the only thing they could have expected. China is a controversial country. I imagine if the games were being help in America there could rightfully be similar protests around the world.

Some people are anticipating similar protests to what Tommie Smith and John Carlos did in 1968, demonstrating against racial discrimination in America. They gave the Black Power salute and were expelled from the games. But no one will forget that image and I think this is an opportunity to look beyond the games and take a stand for human rights. I wish I was good at some Olympic sport so I could protest!

Five Years in Iraq

2008-03-27T23:19:00.011-05:00

Last Wednesday, March 19^th, marked the fifth anniversary of the U.S invasion in Iraq. As on previous anniversaries, protestors from all over the country gathered to express their aversion to the war. It seems to me, though, that the nature of these protests has evolved: smaller crowds, more arrests, and certainly more aggressive tactics.

One compelling example came from Syracuse, NY. Protesters created a mock Baghdad street scene with people dressed in camouflage lying “dead” on the ground while others crouched, weeping over the bodies. Twenty people who were participating in this event were arrested for blocking traffic. Right here in DC several more were arrested for jumping barricades put up around the IRS building and sitting in front of the entrance.

Why were there so many acts of civil disobedience this year? Perhaps because protestors feel the need to shake people up! In an article written by the Associated Press for MSNBC, Laurie Wolberton of Louisville, KY (whose son just returned from his first tour in Iraq) believes that American economic problems are causing citizens to forget about the war:

"We're not paying attention anymore," she said. "My son has buried his friends. He's given eulogies, he's had to go through things no one should have to go through, and over here they've forgotten. They just go shopping instead."

Is it true that we’ve become disinterested? If so, what does that mean for a non-violent resistance movement? For people who are passionately against US military involvement in Iraq, the fact that people aren’t listening just means that they have to speak louder. As protesters look for more creative ways to get people’s attention, I wonder if these acts of civil disobedience will become even more prominent in their strategy; and perhaps even escalate into violence.

Stephen's More Serious Side

2008-03-16T12:21:00.004-05:00

On January 22, Stephen Colbert welcomed Ambassador Andrew Young as a guest on "The Colbert Report." The civil rights activist and former mayor of Atlanta explained how he worked with Stephen's father to negotiate a strike at a hospital in Charleston during the Civil Rights Movement. While the comedian joked about how he could use this example to negotiate the Writers' strike, the two touched upon some important principles of nonviolence. Ambassador Young attributes his success with negotiation with the practice of "working it out so that everybody wins and nobody gets credit." He even brought up Gandhi's tactic of giving your opponent a face-saving way out.

One of the most interesting parts of the interview was when Stephen asked Young "How is going on strike the right thing to do?" Young replied simply that it is not and that it is only an option when you cannot talk. I thought this was a very interesting point to bring up. We have discussed strikes as a technique in nonviolent campaigns, but I never really considered before how they can have really serious consequences such as the case when hospital workers go on strike. What happens to all the sick people who need to be taken care of but the hospital cannot accommodate them? The fact that people's lives were at stake added to the pressure for Stephen's father and Andrew Young to work out an agreement between the hospital and the black workers on strike.

I found this episode of "The Colbert Report" to be particularly moving because it was clear that the host had a lot of respect for what his father was able to accomplish with the hospital strike. I also enjoyed how he was able to evaluate this historical demonstration of a nonviolent campaign and then compare it (although jokingly) to the Writers' strike that was going on at the time. Colbert joked that he would not be able to assist with ending the strike because he likes taking credit for things. Young ended the interview with a great punchline when he expressed that he really hoped that the Writers' strike ended soon because Colbert's show desperately needed its writers back.

A New Look for New Era Workers

2008-02-29T00:44:00.004-05:00

I mentioned in class a few weeks ago that and the Teamsters were working on an agreement to better the working conditions, wages, and benefits for the New Era workers in Alabama. Well, I have great news- it's official, a "tentative" three-year contract has been made! It promises better wages, efficient health care, and a diversity policy which was encouraged by the NAACP. New Era has also promised to allow its workers to begin unionizing by continuing their efforts as members of the Teamsters Local 991, and New Era has agreed to let its employees collaborate with the Communications Workers of America. Let's hope that the workers can continue to make great strides for justice in the work place!

"We are pleased to have reached what we feel is a mutually beneficial agreement for both New Era and our workers...This contract solidifies what I hope will be a long-standing and positive relationship between New Era, the Teamsters Union and the NAACP who are all committed to producing a great American product that is part of our national pastime." -Christopher Koch, CEO of New Era.

See Article

The Detroit Lions & Nonviolence

2008-02-15T10:37:00.005-05:00

As a relentlessly faithful Detroit Lions fan, this article that I happened to see a link for on ESPN.com caught my eye: Ex-fullback embraces nonviolence. Here's the gist of it: Cory Schlesinger had been a great fullback for the Lions until they didn't re-sign him last season, so now that he's retired, he has started a program within HAVEN (Help Against Violent Encounters Now), an organization in Metro Detroit that focuses particularly on combatting domestic abuse and sexual assault. His program, MVP (Mentors in Violence Prevention), reaches out primarily to young athletes, and is designed "to educate and bring about awareness of issues of gender violence, harassment, dating violence and bullying," as well as "empowering them to confront an abusive peer" without violence.

This is an especially interesting choice for Schlesinger, who was known for his especially forceful blocking style (head-first, breaking over a dozen facemasks in an average season!) But this is the reason I really enjoyed the article. It seems like in society, male athletes especially have to prove their masculinity and be overly aggressive and violent, not just in sports but in their day-to-day interactions as well. So to have someone like Cory Schlesinger telling these young athletes in their formative years that being violent isn't necessary off the field sends a very strong message. Harrassment and dating violence usually stems from males trying to exert control and dominance, attitudes which can stem from being on a competitive sports team, where aggression and dominance are necessary to win games. However, Schlesinger shows these kids that success on the field and respect off the field can go hand-in-hand.

This article was a really great illustration of the fact that you don't have to be a world-renowned activist like Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King to teach the principles of nonviolence. Using your own unique experiences, you can advocate for nonviolence in the communities you can relate to most, and where you can have the biggest impact. While Schlesinger does not have the discipline of Gandhi or the oratorical skills of King, he can directly affect kids' lives though his love of football.

GO LIONS!! Superbowl 2009 here we come!

The Real Politics of Hope

2008-01-29T23:39:00.000-05:00

This week, in between hours of class, homework, extracurriculars, and interviews for more extracurriculars, I made time to attend two highly anticipated lectures at Georgetown University. They left me simultaneously unsettled and inspired, fundamentally questioning what direction the United States should take next in the fight for justice and peace.
On Monday night, myself, and about 100 other devout liberals packed a small auditorium on campus to see Congressman Charles Rangel give a pre-counter attack to George Bush's impending State of the Union address. As Congressman Rangel spoke, although I personally enjoyed his vehemently anti-Bush jokes and positions, I couldn't help thinking that the divisive language Rangel was using channeled Bush more than it criticized him. In sticking to an extremely partisan agenda and vilifying Bush and the Republicans, Rangel seemed to simply be widening the rift that has divided blue and red America in the past eight years.
In contrast, on Tuesday night, I joined several hundred students and community members in Gaston Hall to see Jim Wallis, editor of Soujourner's Magazine, a Christian publication that calls for social justice, and a self-proclaimed "progressive evangelical." Yes. I did a double take as well. However, as I listened to Wallis speak, I realized that he might have the right idea after all. Wallis, lecturing about his new book, The Great Awakening. Wallis claimed that, "Politics is broken," and that the only thing that can fix it is a social movement in which 'the moral center' keeps tabs on Republicans and Democrats. He said that God is not a Republican or a Democrat, boldly proclaiming that "religious right has been replaced by Jesus." He called listeners to go beyond right and left to go "deeper." In the book, he argues that a new generation of young people are applying their faith to calls for social change. The time for extremism, Wallis argues, is over. It is time for bipartisan, inter-religious, focused, cooperative work for the common good. Fundamentally, it is time to open a dialogue of hope which will give way to action and change.
So, who is right? The partisan Democrat who advocates anything but Bush, or the seemingly strange evangelical who is looking to inject real hope into politics. Although Wallis' focus on religion left me (a big fan of separation of church and state) a bit uncomfortable, I am willing to investigate his method to fixing our deeply troubled, divided nation.

Remembering MLK

2008-01-22T07:27:00.000-05:00

Thankfully, this Monday holiday seems not to be going the way of the parade or shopping holiday. In remembrance of Martin Luther King's legacy, the "Day of Service" is becoming a bit more ingrained. In Washington, DC, there were a variety of projects and film screenings. Philadelphia had a site to promote service on this day and throughout the year in MLK's honor, as well as resources. The national site for MLK Day was a central site for activities for the day and expanding service to a full 40 days.

The Washington Post has a nice collection of articles, video, blogs on MLK, as well as a photo gallery for the day's celebrations. Of course, the best site is that of the King Center, itself. So many people sought it out yesterday, that it crashed and has yet to recover today.

That took balls!

2008-01-18T11:43:00.000-05:00

Nonviolent change is all around us from political campaigns to the writer's strike to DC parents meeting to protest school closings. But the most colorful action recently took place in Italy.

A half a million balls! The trouble is, we aren't sure what the protest was about! Was it a protest against trash in Naples? CBC referred to "general malaise." One site admits that it isn't sure what the purpose was. In the video commentary (available here), the conceiver refers to injustice in Burma.

Very colorful, but was it to the point? Read more about Graziano Cecchini.

We're back!

2008-01-18T11:42:00.000-05:00

The spring semester brings us a new class of "Nonviolence in Theory and Practice!" Look forward to new posts from over twenty fine Georgetown undergraduates reflecting on the possibilities of active nonviolence!

Listening is an Act of Love

2007-12-06T19:57:00.000-05:00

While recently visiting the Library of Congress, I stumbled upon the StoryCorps project, one that hopes to honor the lives of Americans through recording their stories. It began in October of 2003 with one recording booth placed in the Grand Central Terminal. Here, anyone could bring someone they knew to ask them questions and have their conversations recorded. Through these intimate interviews, a new form of American history has been written, and it has grown into a nationwide program. After the success of their first booth, Story Corps added two mobile recording studies in 2005 that travel across the country. To date, these trailers have visited 46 states and over 70 cities. Now, there are recording booths in Milwaukee, Nashville, and another one in New York City.

Because of the program's success, special recording initiatives have begun to tell the stories of those affected by September 11th, those affected by memory loss, and African-Americans . The stories collected about September 11th will be archived at the memorial being currently constructed in NYC.

The organization has grown leaps and bounds, and if you are unable to visit one of their trailers or sites, there are other ways to be involved. You can hear the stories on NPR's "Morning Edition" every Friday. If you miss the airing, you can subscribe to the iTunes podcast. Or, if you'd rather read the stories than listen to them, you can purchase the new novel Listening is an Act of Love, a compilation of the recordings. While here in DC, you can visit the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress like I did to see their display. Stories and videos are also available on YouTube. If none of these alternatives satisfy you, you can gather up some of your friends and family members and request a booth be delivered to you. (Keep in mind that there is a charge for this service.)

As a Peabody Award winner, StoryCorps is nationally recognized for its excellent services and is offering Americans everywhere to share their stories. If there is someone you love and you would like to know more about them, this may be the perfect way to do so. And, being part of the new making of history isn't bad either. :)

Cities for Life and The Death Penalty in the News

2007-12-06T17:33:00.000-05:00

On Friday, November 30th, the Community of Sant'Egidio, a worldwide Catholic movement (I lead the prayer group here at Georgetown) organized the fifth annual World Day of Cities for Life--Cities Against the Death Penalty. 700 cities across the world participate as a sign of their moral alliance against capital punishment. In many of these cities, symbolic monuments are illuminated as a sign of the city's commitment to bringing and end to the death penalty across the world. The Washington Community of Sant'Egidio gathered Friday night at St. Stephen Martyr Church in Foggy Bottom to participate in solidarity with the rest of the world in a "prayer for life in death row."

In other important news about the death penalty, the state of New Jersey is growing closer to becoming the first state to legislatively abolish capital punishment since it was reinstated by the Supreme Court thirty years ago. After a legislative committee heard testimony yesterday, eight Democrats in the state Senate Budget Committee gave majority approval to a measure to end the death penalty. The repeal will go before the entire Senate soon. Both Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts back this repeal, so it is expected that it will become law. Although it was before a budget panel, the debate focused heavily on questions of morality and deterrence. Many religious leaders and civil-rights activists spoke out in favor of the repeal.

What with the current staying of executions until the Supreme Court rules in the Baze v. Rees case, it is definitely a time of optimistic hope for opponents of capital punishment.

How do you think opponents of the death penalty can best act to bring an end to capital punishment? Do you identify more with principled nonviolent actions (à la the Community of Sant'Egidio) or do you think more pragmatic, legalistic methods are better? Or perhaps they work hand in hand.

Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Pretoria

2007-12-06T15:14:00.001-05:00

On December 5th in Pretoria, South Africa, hundreds of citizens marched with shirts with the slogan across the chest "50/50 No Compromise / No Going Back" in order to promote equal gender representation in government. The activists marched from Sammy Marks Square to the Union Buildings in an attempt for the government to sign a memorandum promising a stronger effort for gender equality in the government. The march went over quite positively with government officials, as the memorandum was received by Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad and signed by local government deputy minister Nomatyala Hangana. These government officials, among several others, even joined in on the march along with several organizations including Gender Links and the Women's League of the African National Congress.

As to the campaign's goal of creating a completely equal gender ratio in government positions, Minister Pahad remarked, "There is no reason why there shouldn’t be a 50/50 balance in government." Not only women participated in the march, as many men and youth also took part, supporting the cause and enjoying the entertainment provided by singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka at the Union Buildings. The march was not, however, only directed at gender equality in government but also at violence against women and children in Africa, about which minister Hangana stressed education as a solution: "To curb the levels of violence against women and children we’d like to see children be taught against women abuse."

Overall, the march seemed to be a success as a part of the 16-day campaign.

The event is covered by an article in The Times.