Some thoughts on winning the war: A gentle Revolution

[FSM Berkeley]

How is this war won?

Well. By living justly. Ghandi had an idea that was right for his time, and for every time, because the weapons were far more effective than bullets. When a man sees another man killing his loved ones with a gun and responds with the same, the result is without a doubt an escalation of this activity.

But when he sees a man with a gun smash another to the ground and that man gets up and does not retaliate, those who wittness the act are moved by a different power. When enough people see this happen the spectacle will become so sickening that it will not continue.

I wittnessed this in the 50's and 60's in the U.S.of A. On the nightly news night after night civil rights advocates were beaten and jailed and murdered. The nation became sick of it and it ended for the most part.

The war, and it was a war to restore the stolen dignity of humanhood to those who had it taken from them, was won by the changing of peoples minds. Not by bullets or police dogs or fire hoses or lynchings; those were the tools of the enemy. The war was won by affirming what is right and good in the life and by being willing to put that life on the line for others.

There is something, I believe, that happens in the minds and hearts of people when they see what they know to be an injustice. There is a change that occurs, it may occur bit by bit and over time and then all at once appear full blown in the mind and then express itself. It may happen all at once, but acts of love will succeed in wearing a rock smooth whereas all explosives will do is to blow it up into pieces.

The traditional way of relating to violence is well known we can turn on the news and see it.

I propose another way. A way that has proven successful and a way that has honor. This then is a spiritual war.

Okay am I nuts? Am I a starry eyed idealist in my old age? Well I think I understand human nature and even though this death culture has hardened it's heart I believe that there is still the center of humanity in most of us ( I do not believe this about the current crop of neo-cons) that can be reached and motivated by seeing what good men and women can do without firing a shot when they engage in conflict with an enemy.

Peace.

Dave
_________________
“STAR-SPANGLED” NAILS
You’ve got
Some “Star-Spangled”
Nails
In your coffin, kid.
That’s what
They’ve done for you,
Son.
Richard Brautigan

http://www.divinentd.com/brautigan/pilltext.html