Jan 11 2009
Protesting Israel Aggression and Vote for Peace
This was a little-covered protest in Washington, a protest asking President Obama to change U.S. policies towards Gaza and the Israel Palestine conflict.
President Obama needs to realize that people see him as the man who will end unnecessary wars and overt aggression, as we are seeing in the Gaza strip, and we expect him to do that. Peace marches against Israeli violence and American violence are valuable for a lot of reasons. They are a perfect example of Citizen Power! Today, Sunday, there was a small peace protest for Palestinians, outside a Solidarity with Israel event in Minneapolis. I wish I could have been there with them. We are sick of war and that includes this slaughter of Palestinians going on in the Gaza Strip right now.
There is widespread support for Israel’s anti-peace acts of aggression, as seen in my local media, including TV stations. Yes, I know they don’t know their back ends from their brains, but they are still sitting in those anchor chairs telling everyone that my state supports Israel no matter what dumb idiotic thing they do. They did this tonight on their “news” broadcast. They showed a “solidarity” event “packed to standing-room only” and of course the solidarity was with Israel and their “right” to “defend themselves”. Nevermind that this “defend itself” excuse is BS.
I found it interesting that Al Franken and Norm Coleman, still in a fight for one measly senate seat, attended this event, and gave their unwavering support to Israel. Why? Well, they are both men who happen to be Jewish who love AIPAC and Israel above their own country. KSTP didn’t play much of their remarks, although interestingly, they played a little bit of a very brief Coleman interview. KARE11 TV, the local NBC affiliate, played Norm Coleman speaking at the event. I was amused and horrified to hear him say that “The entire Midwest states stand with Israel” (or something very close to that.) The entire Midwest, huh, Norm? It’s very interesting that not only is not a senator anymore, but now he speaks for the ENTIRE MIDWEST. And no, Norm, I do not stand with Israel in what they are doing. Not at all. I haven’t stood with Israel on anything since they slaughtered 1,000 people in Lebanon for no reason a couple of years ago. Remember that?
Norm and Al support Israel even if it’s bad for America, and it is. It’s obvious to most people that supporting Israel no matter what horribly violent thing they do is bad for us because it increases hate to America in the Middle East and increases terrorism. But there is still this knee-jerk reaction to support Israel when they do bad things. And right now, Israel is doing very, very bad things. I don’t know how anyone with a conscience can stand “in solidarity with them” or why anyone should. Why should we? As you know, unless you live under a rock, they are slaughtering Palestinians. This is labeled “keeping Israel safe”. It’s wrong, it’s immoral, much of what they are doing is war crimes, and I’m totally 100% against these war actions by Israel. You can etch that in marble if you want. Despite what the braindead media thinks, not every America is pro-Palestinian-slaughter. I’m not and most people I know do NOT SUPPORT ISRAEL in their latest war. I didn’t support their attacks on Lebanon either, just for the record. I also don’t support the war in Afghanistan.
What do I support? Peace, dialogue, diplomacy. It’s the only way. To those who are protesting — THANKS for representing the people who stand with you in your strong and angry opposition to the military aggressions against Gaza citizens! And to President Obama, YES we expect you to be the peace president.
Read on for what you can do to join a growing online movement.
There is an online community called Change.org that is pushing for a Department of Peace. I don’t know if its feasible or the best way to bring about peace in the world. Others have argued that a Pro-Peace Lobby would be more effective. But it’s good to join a community of people who are for peace and want something done about it in the next administration. They are not willing to wait!
You can sign up and vote on various things you want to see in the next administration at Change.org. The group for a department of peace is here. Here is the text of the statement you can vote for:
Appoint Secretary of Peace in Department of Peace and Non-Violence
“Our planet, our media, our social interactions, our homes all suffer from the epidemic of inter-personal violence and warfare that plagues America. With the establishment of a Department of Peace and Non-Violence, with a respected Secretary of Peace in the President’s Cabinet, and a program to reduce violence in cities, nations, and even in our homes, we will all benefit from the growth of a culture of peace.
While this is a new layer of the Federal Government, it is a positive force for change, for handling the rage and violence that has cost our country billions in emergency rooms, police protection, broken homes and marriages. This is not an attempt to circumvent or replace the Department of Defense nor to co-opt the Department of State. This is a new entity, in the President’s Cabinet, a Department dedicated to training peace-keepers, educating our children, and suggesting non-violent alternatives to hostility, and war.
We are asking for a motive and a method to counteract violence, with positive potentials for resolution of conflict, by individuals trained to work with local, state and national approaches, building a United States that no longer glorifies warfare and deadly force, but brings to the table a sincere desire for peace, and a methodology to achieve it.”
– written by - Stephen Zendt
And yesterday, Yoko Ono (yes, the real one) stopped by and voted for and commented on this idea. And one of her relatives did too, you will just have to stop in and see who it was. They are trying to get enough votes to get this idea in the Top 10 so it will actually be presented to President Obama as our top 10 best ideas. Visit the website and vote for it!
Also, an important message there for peace from a commenter from the Peace Alliance:
“JOIN AND SUPPORT THE PEACE ALLIANCE –
VISIT MYSPACE or FACEBOOK (type in Department of Peace)
About the National Movement:
There is a nationwide pro-peace movement, that has recently been spearheaded by the Peace Alliance. In all 50 States there are Department of Peace groups, asking for support to help prevent violence in our own country and treat it as a national priority. This can be done in part by passing a Federal law about it. Bill HR-808 is a violence-prevention bill currently sitting in Congress with 70 co-sponsors. We want every American citizen to know about it, get involved and ask your Congressman or Congresswomen to support the bill by signing it.
We’re not an Anti-War group and we aren’t protesting anything. We are about Change. We’ve chosen to invest our energy into something positive, we can help create, that has practical solutions.
This is your chance to ‘Stand up for Peace’in our own communities and our own country. Help by joining www.ThePeaceAlliance.org and taking one action to help pass this Federal ‘Peace Bill’. True change comes from a combined effort of citizens wanting it and then a government system or officials supporting it. All it takes is one person, taking an action and the rest becomes history.
The Bill:
The bill calls for the creation of a ‘U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence’ within the President’s Cabinet. Doing this would provide the political strength and resources needed to create a national shift in our culture towards a pro peace-building community. As a cabinet-level position, which means it would operate on the same levels as the Department of Homeland Security or Department of Agriculture, the Department of Peace and Nonviolence would research and develop the latest in violence prevention strategies. It would also advise the President on how to non-violently address domestic and international conflict before it results in large scale violence. Establishing a Federal Department dedicated solely towards peace building, conflict resolution and violence reduction policies and programs, provides the political strength needed to shift our focus from reacting to the aftermath of violence, to understanding and eliminating the root causes of violence.
The Goals:
* Teach violence prevention in schools, grades K through 12th; as well as develop new educational programs that promote conflict resolution among school children.
* Focus on reducing the levels of domestic violence, gang violence, child abuse and drug and alcohol related violence by developing policies and providing funds for anti-violence educational programs.
* Effectively treat gang violence and work to rehabilitate the prison population.
* Focus on peace-making efforts among conflicting cultures within America and other countries.
* Support our military with alternative, approaches to peace-building and cultural understanding.
* Provide assistance to law officers and city, county, state governments by supporting, existing, community building programs within their own cities and local communities.
* Create a U.S. Peace Studies Academy, on the same level as the U.S. Military Academy.
* Dedicate January 1st as a National Peace Day
* and much more…
Over 300 US colleges and universities now give advanced degrees in Peacebuilding Studies including conflict resolution and non-violent communication). With the passage of this bill, grants and funding could be increased so schools could provide much needed classes in nonviolence education and programs like student/peer mediation. The benefits of giving schoolchildren the tools they need to express themselves and communciate their feelings while still in elementary, junior high and high school settings,goes without saying. Not only are these types of classes a life saving, life altering aide for students, teachers and schools but also for our local communities. Violence affects everyone.
This bill was reintroduced to Congress in February 2007 and already has 70 Representatives signed on as Co-Sponsors
Get Active in your Community!
You’ll be connected with other volunteers in your State, notified about important updates and calls to action. There are active groups in every State comprised of a local network of volunteer community organizers. They work with congressional offices, interact with local media, and perform outreach and education in their areas. It’s fun and fulfilling work to help foster positive, proactive change toward the creation of a less violent and more peaceful world. There is no more powerful role to play in moving the work of The Peace Alliance and the Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace forward than to commit to becoming a Volunteer or Team Leader in your own cities.
If you’re interested in joining visit ThePeaceAlliance.org
