By Robert M. Weir
Congressional District Team Leader, MI-6
July 25, 2008
Desmond Tutu spoke to a near capacity audience at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium this evening. In the event sponsored by the Fetzer Institute, the South African archbishop answered questions from Fetzer President and CEO Tom Beech and four students of PeaceJam on the issues of community, poverty, religious discrimination, war and violence, hope, the persons he most admires, and the role of young people in the world.
Archbishop Tutu's comments included these:
- "No situation is totally hopeless."
- "Poverty can become history. We can live in a world without war."
- "Ultimately, hope triumphs over evil."
- "A small fraction of the U.S.' obscene defense budget could be used to (and he listed several of the world's plights, including poverty).
- " In response to student questions, he said that he never had any self doubt about the changes he was trying to make in the world.
He praised the Dalai Lama, Aung Sun Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela. And encouraged young people to "Be the things we have to do. It's your passion that communicates the important issues."
These comments echoed an opening remark by Tom Beech: "We have the potential to change the tide of our times to peace and nonviolence … to create a way for all of us to live together."
More than 20 members of the Department of Peace and Nonviolence campaign attended the event. Six of us roamed outside the auditorium prior to hearing the archbishop speak and distributed over 500 Department of Peace information cards. Most people took these willingly. Some said they were already in or were aware of the campaign. Some asked questions and promised to visit our web sites to learn more. Some stood and read the information card, then commented their agreement with our objectives.
One woman said, "Oh, I read about this in the paper," which was a reference to a DoP letter to the editor that appeared in Tuesday's Kalamazoo Gazette.
These responses show that we are making a difference, creating an impact, helping to build the culture of peace in which a Department of Peace and Nonviolence will be established, funded and made operable.
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