John Dear S.J.: "End all These Evil Wars!"

Fr. John Dear, SJ, inspired my involvement with the interfaith Fellowship of Reconciliation. His words at this June 13, 2010 event in Lafayette Park in Washington DC sponsored by the Network of Spiritual Progressives (NSP) should be given wide play and we should hold President Obama accountable for spending more on nuclear arms than any president since Ronald Reagan (counter to his words about a nuclear free future). Listen and act, please and thank you.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Peace -- Million Doors, a Festival, and Rest-In

This weekend I got to meet and re-meet some of my neighbors as I knocked on doors for the multi-group sponsored non-partisan Million Doors for Peace campaign. While anyone can sign the petition (do so at the website), it is aimed at getting more people a little more invested in the waging of peace. The petition scheduled to be given to senators and representatives on Thursday is a request for a date-certain to leave Iraq within a year. We're wasting 3 trillion dollars for an unnecessary war (While thanks to Fox, about half of America still believes Iraq had something to to with 9-11, it didn't, so why are we there?), killed or maimed 35,000 American troops and well over a hundred thousand, perhaps two hundred thousand, Iraqis have died as a result of the war and occupation. And we've lost our standing in the world, thanks to this illegal war and occupation. Oh, peace, please, now, or soon....

Meanwhile, Johnny Sonneborn and I joined Sarah Schindler and her husband in trekking to Shadowcliff in Nyack for national Fellowship of Reconciliation's Fourth Annual Peace Festival last weekend. There were booths, music, food, and awards -- but my favorite was Peace Troubadour Celia St. King whose new CD Your Word Is Magic I just had to purchase and whose shirt I wore while taking part in the Million Doors for Peace campaign: Inspiring songs and great peace logo -- modified musically. (Pictures will be posted on Flickr.com soon!)

As for Peace, Rest-In....we've got Wall Street doing strange stuff. It is pretty dire, or not-so-pretty dire. As for corporate bailouts -- they must not be allowed to come without strings. Please read Senator Bernie Sanders' press release and David Sirota's article in In These Times. 

Grannies' Teach-In: Close Gitmo, others

My weekend was full of peace and political action: a newsletter, our vigil and the Granny Peace Brigade teach-in (along with dog-sitting Munchkin and Barney Bear).

Sam Oast was on duty at our little Union Square peace vigil. He handed out a bunch of the flyers for the Grannies' event. I had my DontAttackIran.org sign [which has a new petition to sign - on my to-do list -- put it on yours] and we got plenty of attention and affirmation (Who says 52% of Americans want to attack Iran??).

Dr. Sam Oast
On Sunday, I tabled with Fellowship of Reconciliation's Fellowship magazine editor, Ethan Vesely-Flad at the Granny Peace Brigade event which stressed closing Guantanamo and all U.S. military bases on foreign soil. Vinnie Burrows moderated and Lynne Kates from the Center for Constitutional Rights gave an eye-opener (for some I am sure) on Guantanimo. She said there are now 786 prisoners there who endure 23 hours of daily isolation -- that in itself is cruel and inhumane! Talk about torture OTHER than water boarding! Elsa Rassbach from American Voices Abroad spoke about how the illegal Iraq war (and possible illegal Iran war) violate(s) the German constitution, "Only peace may come from German soil." She also said though the majority of Germans are pacifists they fear the growth of militarization. There were some other good speakers and the Raging Grannies sang.

Afterwards, Ethan and I spoke with people. There was good energy and the event was not only very informative but also well-attended: a good sign that American people want to know the facts. That said, the event let me to a post a QuickTAKE. And now doggy-duty calls me. Hope your weekend was productive and peaceful.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

How to be a Better Peacemaker

> Pay attention to events on local, national and global levels.

> Educate yourself on issues you are unfamiliar with -- and act!

> Think globally: how does something you do here affect people/places in other parts of the world?

> National ego disarmament: the U.S. is neither the cultural nor the moral superior to other countries.

> Make career choices that foster peace. Help young people with their choices.

> Give emotional and/or financial support to those who give up jobs or careers for reasons of conscience.

> Reach out to neighbors, strangers, people in need. Build community wherever possible.

> Stand on the side of the poor, disabled and victims of society.

> Work to make changes to government policy -- both domestic and foreign.

> Pray or meditate with love for those in power.

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With thanks to the Forum of Concerned Religious Leaders -- and to Sam Oast who inspired its reprinting for our work with the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Other suggested websites: WarResisters.org, CommonDreams.org, TruthOut.org, FreePress.net and OpEdNew.com.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

PS (KA must check out how these Mac symbols read on other PCs: ☮, , and ●. It is still not a very Mac friendly web.)