Peacemaker's Day

[Sharon W]

After our conversation on Wednesday, this story caught my eye. Others are thinking about honoring peacemakers, too.

A National Peacemaker's Day
By ALLAN J. LICHTMAN

It isn't enough to talk about peace, one must believe it.
And it isn't enough to believe in it, one must work for it.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

It is right and proper that our nation sets aside days to honor the men and women who have fought in the service of our country. They fully merit our collective thanks and admiration for their bravery and sacrifice.

But our nation fails to honor the peacemakers. Americans can serve their country not only by fighting its wars, but also by struggling to avoid war and promote peace. No president or general orders the peacemakers into action. They expect no glory for their deeds. Yet it is well past time that we set aside a day to honor the peacemakers. As Americans, we rarely equate honor, loyalty, and courage with actions on behalf of peace. Too often, we make the tragic mistake of equating advocacy for peace with disloyalty or subversion, when for the peacemakers it is their patriotic duty.

...

full article: www.counterpunch.org/lichtman11122009.html

[Jeanne]

But our nation fails to honor the peacemakers. Americans can serve their country not only by fighting its wars, but also by struggling to avoid war and promote peace. No president or general orders the peacemakers into action. They expect no glory for their deeds. Yet it is well past time that we set aside a day to honor the peacemakers. As Americans, we rarely equate honor, loyalty, and courage with actions on behalf of peace. Too often, we make the tragic mistake of equating advocacy for peace with disloyalty or subversion, when for the peacemakers it is their patriotic duty.

Thanks, Sharon, for the link. I agree.

I think MLK Day is the closest thing we have. And Obama's encouragement for us to volunteer on that day is a nice touch. But the day allows for a small interpretation, as if we are quaintly celebrating a guy who made some tidy changes in the past that are resolved. When in reality, his vision was huge and worldwide, encompassing race, unions, war, and nonviolence. To put it another way, MLK Day in my mind is a day for peace, but it isn't presented or received that way by the majority.

So, yes, let's have a day set aside to celebrate peace. Hmm, it could be Christmas, but we use that for consumption. I look forward to celebrating a day established to honor peace in our Peace Space some time soon.

[Brian]

That Lichtman piece was phenomenal. So many of the peacemakers he cites were inspired by Dr. King.

Nov 13, 2009 20:50:31 GMT -8 Jeanne said:

I think MLK Day is the closest thing we have. And Obama's encouragement for us to volunteer on that day is a nice touch. But the day allows for a small interpretation, as if we are quaintly celebrating a guy who made some tidy changes in the past that are resolved. When in reality, his vision was huge and worldwide, encompassing race, unions, war, and nonviolence. To put it another way, MLK Day in my mind is a day for peace, but it isn't presented or received that way by the majority.

I remembered the backlash after Reagan was forced to adopt the holiday when he was handed a bill with veto-proof majorities -- all 50 states did not observe it until 2000 -- but I'd largely forgotten the spirit that conceived it, the unions that fought for it and the corporate sponsorship that sealed the deal. And the six million signatures that Coretta Scott King delivered to Washington, the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S. history. Until I ran into this article from The Nation in January 2006:

www.thenation.com/doc/20060130/jones

We can reclaim a holiday that took 14 years to be made law, three to be established, another 14 to be fully observed and then less than ten to almost lack meaning for most people. Perhaps by starting with King's principles of nonviolence -- the results they have achieved through history and their application to our future.

[Roberta]

An example of why we have to continue peace-making:


www.truthout.org/1117091


Perhaps around MLK Day would be a good time to show Rethink Afghanistan?

[anni]

Nov 17, 2009 17:40:52 GMT -8 Roberta said:

Perhaps around MLK Day would be a good time to show Rethink Afghanistan?

Brilliant, Roberta! What a great idea.

[Jeanne]

Nov 17, 2009 17:40:52 GMT -8 Roberta said:

An example of why we have to continue peace-making:


www.truthout.org/1117091


Perhaps around MLK Day would be a good time to show Rethink Afghanistan?

Excellent idea. I think MLK would be happy to carry us on his coat tails.

The article was very frightening. Yes, we must continue.