Watch this YouTube video from a TED talk in Krakow. Srdja Popovic from Serbia identifies the elements of a successful “people power” revolution. Srdja was a student activist when his country overthrew the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. Srdja’s commitment to non-violence coupled with humor and appropriate tactics provides insight into the continuing uprisings known as “Arab Spring.” This is worth 11 minutes of your time if you’re interested in peace and justice.
The late Gerald Ford, former president of the United States, was honored this week with a statue in “Statuary Hall” in the United States House of Representatives. Ford served most of his political career as a congressman from Michigan. There was some controversy about putting Ford’s statue in the Hall, because each state is only allowed two statues and Michigan already had its two. Zachary Chandler, abolitionist and former secretary of the interior, would have to be moved back to Michigan if Ford’s statue was installed.
But, years before Gerald Ford had befriended the only African-American on his 1934 Michigan football team. Willis Ward’s grandson, now a Michigan state senator, made a compelling case for Ford’s inclusion based on Ford’s support of and friendship with his grandfather. The story he told was one of friendship and courage.
In 1934, when Michigan was about to play Georgia Tech, the Georgia Tech team notified them that if Willis Ward played, they would not. Ford was offended at this, and wrote his father that he was going to take a stand and sit out the game if Michigan benched his friend.
However, Willis Ward went to a young Gerald Ford, who was the captain of Michigan’s team, and persuaded him to play. That year, Michigan lost all but one of its games. The only game they won was when they played Georgia Tech.
Gerald Ford went on to serve his country in the United States Congress. He was chosen by President Richard Nixon as his replacement for the disgraced vice-president Spiro Agnew. When Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal, Ford became president. In office, Ford continued his support for civil rights legislation. Ford would later lose his own election for the presidency to Governor Jimmy Carter.
Gerald Ford’s character was evident as a Michigan football player. And it is that character that led him to pardon Richard Nixon when Ford assumed the presidency. His compassion and concern for both the nation and for Nixon resulted in the end of “our long national nightmare,” as Ford phrased it. Gerald Ford, a peace friend who is now honored by our nation because he stood up to fear and hatred.
Check out the latest video from a very cool project, Playing For Change. This is a group using music to make friends and peace around the globe. Here’s their latest video of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song:
“All people can be peace workers. Whenever you bring harmony into any unpeaceful situation, you contribute to the total peace picture. Insofar as you have peace in your own life, you reflect it into your surroundings and into the world.” -Peace Pilgrim
Peace Pilgrim, the woman who walked across America for peace for 28 years, was born Mildred Lisette Norman on July 18, 1908.
When she was 44, Mildred Norman adopted her new identity as Peace Pilgrim and set off across America on foot. Vowing to “remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food,” Peace Pilgrim logged over 25,000 miles on foot between 1953 and 1964, when she quit counting the miles she traveled. She walked on for 17 more years before her journey came to an end. Ironically, the woman known for walking was killed in an automobile accident as she was being driven to a speaking engagement on July 7, 1981, at the age of almost 73.
What led a normal woman of modest means to set out on a journey of peace without the backing of an organization, or a plan for her travels? In her twenties, Mildred was pursuing the American dream with a good job and an active social life. A failed marriage, and dissatisfaction with the treadmill of work and materialism led her to become like the Christian mystics of Celtic Ireland — a wanderer for God.
Walking one day in New England, Mildred had a vision of herself: ”I saw myself in a navy blue outfit with the words Peace Pilgrim on the front, walking across America.” After divesting herself of all possessions except the clothes on her back, a folding toothbrush, a pen and a comb, Peace Pilgrim began her journey for peace on January 1, 1953. She started walking from Pasadena, California on her first of seven journeys across America and didn’t stop until her tragic death.
Peace Pilgrim spoke in churches, colleges, and to community organizations. She carried no money, and ate only when she was offered food. She remarked that she usually missed no more than “four or five meals” in a row, but one time had fasted for 45-days. Peace Pilgrim, like other mendicants, had no place to sleep either. She slept beside the roadway, in open fields, in bus stations or truck stops, and when invited, in the homes of her hosts. Despite her constant exposure to the elements, Peace Pilgrim contended that since beginning her walk she had not had a cold or an illness.
When Peace Pilgrim began her pilgrimmage across America for peace, the United States was fighting the Korean War. She continued walking through the Cold War years, the Viet Nam conflict, and into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. She spoke of finding inner peace as she walked for world peace, and remarked at the goodness of people who befriended her.
Peace Pilgrim befriended everyone she met also. ”We can all spend our lives going about doing good. Every time you meet a person, think of some encouraging thing to say – a kind word, a helpful suggestion, an expression of admiration. Every time you come into a situation, think of some good thing to bring – a thoughtful gift, a considerate attitude, a helping hand,” she advised her followers and admirers.
When Peace Pilgrim died, she was cremated and her ashes buried in her family plot at her hometown of Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Because of her belief that truth should not be sold, The Friends of Peace Pilgrim, have distributed free-of-charge over 400,000 copies of the book about her life, Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and Work in Her Own Words. Her booklet, Steps Toward Inner Peace, has been translated into 20 languages and The Friends of Peace Pilgrim have given away over 1.5 million copies of it as well.
Peace Pilgrim’s legacy lives on today. On September 14, 2010, 12-year old Zach Bonner completed a walk across America for his charity, The Little Red Wagon Foundation. Zach took his inspiration and the idea for his walk from Peace Pilgrim’s journeys. Peace Pilgrim continues to be an internationally-recognized advocate for peace. In 2000, a statue by Costa Rican sculptor Fernando Calvo was erected at the United Nations University for Peace in Colon, Costa Rica. Peace Pilgrim exemplified the idea of making peace by making friends, and her life continues to inspire others almost 30-years after her death. - Pax Amici
This documentary about Peace Pilgrim features comments from the Dalai Lama, spiritual leaders, and celebrities, as well as footage of Peace Pilgrim herself.
Andrew Jones, aka TallSkinnyKiwi, has some “Random thoughts and links on living with Muslims” today. You need to read the entire piece because this is what making peace by making friends looks like. Here’s an excerpt:
Once Mohammed invited me to eat with him and his friends. His brother told me that if I accepted, I would be like his brother. I accepted, and Mohammed created a big feast on the floor. He gave me food to eat from his hand. It was intimate in a non-gay way and we became very good friends – like brothers in fact. I understood why the Pharisees were so upset at Jesus eating with people – its a very intimate bonding ritual in Eastern cultures.
Jones is a itinerant Christian minister who is on a worldwide trip with his family, connecting with Christian groups throughout Africa and Europe. In his article, Jones links to the Washington Post story on Jim Wallis, director of Sojourners. Wallis tells the backstory on why Terry Jones backed down from burning Korans at his Florida church.
But as interesting as that story is, the really interesting story is about Heartsong Church in Cordova, TN which welcomed a new Islamic mosque to their community. As a matter of fact, the mosque is right next door to the church. To welcome their new neighbors, Heartsong erected a sign which read:
“Heartsong Church Welcomes Memphis Islamic Center to the Neighborhood.”
Word of that welcome reached Pakistan and other parts of the Muslim world via CNN. How did Muslims respond? Here’s a quote from Jim Wallis’ article:
A few days ago, Stone [the church's pastor] told me, he got a call from a group of Muslims in a small town in Kashmir, Pakistan. They said they had been watching CNN when the segment on Heartsong Church aired. Afterward, one of the community’s leaders said to those who were gathered: “God just spoke to us through this man.” Another said: “How can we kill these people?” A third man went straight to the local Christian church and proceeded to clean it, inside and out.
That’s making peace by making friends. We have in our grasp the ability to change the world by simply doing what Jesus, and other great religious teachers, taught — love God and love people. Make peace by making friends. Simple, profound, and inspiring when we read stories like Heartsong Church’s story. Let’s be peace, let’s make friends. -Pax Amici
In a blog post today, Marc Gopin suggests a strategy for winning the peace in Afghanistan by making friends . That may be a slight oversimplification of his plan of action, but not by much. Gopin answers the question of what is to be done in Afghanistan by saying,
The clear answer is deep engagement with the people of Afghanistan, engagement that wins the war through winning the people from the insurgents, and even winning over many of the insurgents.
Gopin has a 6-point outline for engagement with the Afghani people in the following ways:
Vastly expand CERP funds. These are the funds US commanders have at their disposal to rebuild mosques, public buildings, and infrastructure. Gopin suggests expanding the amount and discretion commanders have in allocating those funds to produce the greatest positive result.
Train American Personnel in Engagement With Afghani Traditional Society. One might think this is a no-brainer, but apparently not. Additional training and sensitivity to Afghan culture and customs is a necessity for productive engagement.
Utilize the Provincial Reconstruction Teams. Apparently there are local teams in place to help reintegrate former Taliban fighters, and lead the way in reconstructing Afghan provinces.
Reintegration. Reintegration brings former Taliban fighters who are mostly mercenaries back into a productive role in Afghan society. Apparently the US is the party dragging its collective feet on expanding this program, according to Gopin.
Protection of Religious Leaders Asserting Independence From the Taliban. This is self-explanatory.
Tangible Social Justice. Gopin comments: “ll these efforts must be rooted in the profound importance of justice in Islamic civilization. With justice on your side you cannot lose the population.”
Each aspect of Gopin’s plan is a type of peace-making by making friends. Friends understand one another, protect one another, are open to resolving disagreements, and give each other respect. Making peace by making friends has international application.
“Marc Gopin is the James H. Laue Professor of Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, and the Director of the Center on Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) at George Mason University’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR).
Gopin has lectured on conflict resolution in Switzerland, Ireland, India, Italy, and Israel, as well as at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, and numerous other academic institutions. Gopin has trained thousands of people worldwide in peacemaking strategies for complex conflicts in which religion and culture play a role. He conducts research on values dilemmas as they apply to international problems of globalization, clash of cultures, development, social justice and conflict.” — from MarcGopin.com
The idea of befriending others in tangible ways is a recognized strategy for peacebuilding. Let’s hope we increase our efforts in that direction soon. -Pax Amici
The UN International Peace Day is today, September 21, 2010. You can watch PeaceDayTV to see today’s international activities celebrating the cause of peace around the world. Google “international day of peace” for more articles, videos, and events around the globe. Be peace today. -Pax Amici
