Good
afternoon friends. Thanks for being out here. In this perilous time
it is critical that we make our concerns known.
We can't help
but to call out the urgency of addressing costly wars, new arms
races, the absence of nuclear arms control, loss of democracy, all
this playing into extreme nationalism of fascism.
All these
concern us and we must speak out against what's wrong.
But we
need first and foremost to address what we do want.
We want
and need PEACE.
We want and need universal healthcare;
affordable housing, and adequate nutrition for all.
We want
and need clean air, clean water, a clean, sustainable energy future
and a stable climate and more.
We want and need freedom and
justice. This includes social and economic justice as well as
environmental justice.
This need is incompatible with fascist
autocrats, with cults of personality, or with the continuous need for
making enemies and making wars.
When we gather to move forward
this agenda it's OK to protest, but what's most needed is to
demonstrate what we want and need.
Let me clarify. Protest is
a negative term. We protest what we oppose—war for example—but,
when we demonstrate it includes taking a stand for what we
support—peace for example.
If we hope to build a movement
that's broad-based and attracts large numbers of people, we need to
share a positive vision of the sort of livable future we hope to
create.
For example, my sign, which I was holding earlier,
says “Peace with Iran.” That's what I'm demonstrating my support
for. That's not all, of course, but it's a clear example of what's
needed, an agenda that all can rally behind; one that can make our
lives better; one that can bring forth a livable future for ALL.
One
more thing: LOVE!
As we do this work, we cannot let hate
simmer. We've got to move beyond hate, fear and enemies.
We've
got to care and share.
We've got to share our understanding
of what Gandhi taught: the importance of being the change we wish to
see.
And, lest we forget, the motto on my hat makes it
clear:
“Love Your Neighbor.”
And, guess what, we're
all neighbors!
Part of what's most needed today is building a
strong, vibrant, broad-based peace movement; one that can attract the
participation of a diverse mix of people of all ages who share a
desire to create the sort of peace-loving society we've been
sharing.
I invite you to join in daily peace vigils as well as
weekly demonstrations and larger mobilizations. The work of creating
a future we can be proud to pass on to our progeny requires sustained
engagement, day-in and day-out, for the long haul. Please join us in
co-creating a peaceful, just and sustainable future for all.
