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By Jason White, Guest Blogger
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Marianne Williamson , Dot Maver, Aaron Voldman, Lynn McMullen and a host
of community and campus activists took the stage today, inspiring us
with their synthesis of spirituality, political activism, youth and
adult energy, outreach, and community building. Frequent
eruptions of applause and cheers washed over an exuberant crowd of 700
people from 45 states. Standing ovations honored the courage,
heroism, and enormous success and progress of Department of Peace
campaign. This is a celebration and a triumph. But this is
also a refocusing on and recommitment to the work ahead.
The conference kicked off this morning with a talk by the inspirational
leader of this movement to marry spirituality and politics, Marianne
Williamson. She brilliantly illustrated how the underpinnings of our movement are our
deep moral respect for life itself and our compassion for people who
are suffering in despair. If we wish to reduce the scourge of violence
in the world, then our first best bet is to help those who are
desperate before they lash out.
After Marianne spoke, Lynn McMullen introduced activists from across
the country. They spoke about and celebrated their local
accomplishments. Activists spoke about getting city council
resolutions in Atlanta, Chicago, and in Fairmont, MN , where the
resolution was rescinded after sparking national press attention and
discussion. Activists spoke about Mother's Day Peace of the Pie
actions, Father's Day postcard campaigns, peace walks, commemorations
of the 100th anniversary of Gandhi's nonviolent movement , and the rise
of the Student Peace Alliance.
Marianne took the stage again and talked about "messaging". We learned
about focusing our messaging and keeping it consistent and on-topic.
The Q&A with the audience addressed many specific questions that
people are getting when taking our message into the community and to
members of congress.
This is an incredible moment in history. As the new congress begins,
elected by a "sober electorate", as the traditional tools of addressing
conflict prove painfully less effective and more costly than ever, we
are a people looking for the missing component. We are looking for
what can complement the military, law enforcement and criminal
justice. We seek the olive branch clutched in the left talons of the
Eagle.
The campaign for a Department of Peace is entering a new maturity. Our
nonpartisan message is sharp and widely appealing. Our supporters are
diverse, spanning ethnic, gender, ideological, and socioeconomic
divides. In our midst is a palpable feeling of possibility and hope.
We see smiles of openness, joy and newness, spirits uplifted. We see a
sum that is so much greater than the parts. We know that for each
person here there are perhaps a dozen supporters and hard-working
Department of Peace activists who could not be here. The Department of
Peace campaign has turned the corner. The culture of peace is here; we
are now a movement.
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