Peace is the way to peace

"Force, violence, pressure or compulsion with a view to
conformity, are both uncivilized and undemocratic." 

     - Mahatma Gandhi

As our city streets are filling once again with idealism, with young and old, who want to revisit the nation's economic system and are looking to some of the old thought from the 19th century to bring relief to the plight of our current economic climate, we need to be careful not to fall into the old pattern of revolution, riots, violence, bloodshed. 

It is one thing to come together under the banner of a beautiful vision for our country that edits - and I mean edits rather than completely rewrites - our current system, but it is quite another to follow in the footsteps of our Arab friends who are embroiled in unimaginable bloodshed. 

We need to remember the beautiful lessons Mahatma Gandhi taught us.  Peace is the way to peace.  And, any kind of oppression - whether it's corporate, political, economic that cheats the innocent of their fair share through the cunning and predatory behavior of the loveless and selfish is violence against those people.  So, the entire "occupy" conversation is about peace and nonviolence in a less obvious,  indirect way.  It is again an opportunity to step out on the world stage, into world history, and effect change drawing on love and nonviolence as the means.

If, we, the people, are to continue to lead the world as a free society, advocating for peace, liberty, free expression and free enterprise, we have to hold that noble vision with as much dignity and maturity as possible.  We have to remain peaceful at all times, regardless of whatever comes our way.

One of the best ways for people to come together, to move as one body, one mind, is through music.  In the '60s when Americans poured out into the streets calling for an end to the Vietnam War, it was music that spoke to the masses and for the most part, the masses remained peaceful.  The war ended and everyone went their own way. 

Now, we're back in the streets again, calling for further changes, for a modified economic status quo, one that may call for a revamping, a remedial restorative role by government in the outrageous bank policies, which have gone on unchecked and continueto be backed by corporate interests.  In my simple opinion, the system may be beyond repair. BUT, the opportunity for people to come together - to sing one song - is beautiful. 

It's the vision that's so powerful and if we can hold that vision, together, in peace, believing in faith, loving and inviting God into the masses, the change may not be what we can envision today, but it may be what is best, what  brings together diverse threads of our common humanity to heal our country, and send healing ripples throughout the world.

"A coward is incapable of exhibiting love. 

It is entirely the perogative of the brave." 

- Mahatma Gandhi

Where are the Bob Dylans, and the Peter, Paul and Mary's of today?  You are out there.  Put your songs on the streets again.  As we sing together, we knit our hearts and minds together, and thereby become stronger and more invincible.  This occupy movement must not be seen as another "dirty hippie" event.  (I'm sure you've heard its detractors) Rather, it's a powerful need that must be handled with expertise and great wisdom and vision. We need to be united, we need to be peaceful and we need to be wise - and not just for ourselves, but for the whole world because the whole world is watching.

While the traditional meaning of "anarchy" is NOT what we want, it is possible that an understanding of "anarchy," as per Norm Chomsky may be worth considering. Following is an article in which he discusses his vision of a helpful form of anarchy (bloodless, of course).


http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/19760725.htm
The Relevance of Anarcho-syndicalism
Noam Chomsky interviewed by Peter Jay
The Jay Interview, July 25, 1976

"... there are obvious tendencies in industrial capitalism towards concentration of power in narrow economic empires and in what is increasingly becoming a totalitarian state. These are tendencies that have been going on for a long time, and I don't see anything stopping them really. I think those tendencies will continue. They're part of the stagnation and decline of capitalist institutions." - Norm Chomsky (from 2nd last paragraph of this article.)