An amazing day: 20 January 2009

Proud.  Inspired.  Moved to tears.  Euphoric.

Just a little bit of what I was feeling, watching President-elect Obama take the oath of office, and then listening as he spoke to the nation, to the world, and to me.

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.  We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus--and non-believers.  We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.  To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West--know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.  To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent--know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand to you if you are willing to unclench your fist.

"To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.  And to nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect.  For the world has changed, and we must change with it."

La'Onf: Peace-building in Iraq

Please, spread the message: 

There is not only violence in Iraq, there is something more.  People are building peace and seeking real change.  Today, La'Onf exists within the polarized and dangerous political environment of Iraq where, if you speak about resistance, you are accused of supporting terrorists and advocating violence; but if you speak of nonviolence, you are accused of supporting the occupation.  La'Onf seeks to create a third way, with its message that nonviolence is a tool to resist occupation, terrorism and corruption.

---Ismaeel Dawood, founding member of La'Onf

I have been wondering about peace-building efforts that must be happening within Iraq.  I am sure that there are many Iraqis, working at great personal risk, who are trying to stop the violence and restore some semblance of normalcy to their lives.  Many of their stories will never reach us in the West.

One organization that is getting some attention is La'Onf.  (I found them through the Peaceful Tomorrows website.)  Their Arabic name roughly translates to 'no violence'.  It is a coalition of Iraqi civilian organizations working to end the sectarian and political violence between Iraqis in order to create a stable, peaceful and prosperous country, free from US occupation.  

In October 2008, La'Onf held its third annual Week of Nonviolence, and locally organized activities took place in all 18 provinces.  The focus was on making the provincial elections taking place at the time, safe and truly democratic.  Posters illustrated with the white dove of peace carrying a ballot box were hung in many places, including military checkpoints.

La'Onf also has a program in which children can exchange their toy guns for soccer balls.  There are instances when children are killed by soldiers who mistake the toy guns for the real thing.

Helen Suzman, a 'cricket in the thorn tree'

I love this photo.  It is of Nelson Mandela and Helen Suzman and was taken in 1990.  Helen Suzman died yesterday at age 91.

I had never heard of Suzman before yesterday, which is slightly embarrassing as my family lived in South Africa from 1963 to 1965.  Granted, I was a bit too young to be following the South African political news of those years, but I haven't given it much attention recently either.

Suzman was a wealthy, privileged, white South African woman who was disgusted by the system of apartheid and worked tirelessly to end it.  She became a member of Parliament in the 1950's and later founded the Progressive Party.  She was acerbic and controversial, especially when she opposed economic sanctions against South Africa in the 1980's.  "I don't see how wrecking the economy of the country will ensure a more stable and just society," she told a New York audience in 1986.  She wisely understood that sanctions would only serve to hurt the already poor blacks much more than than the privileged white minority.  And, as it was, thousands of blacks lost their jobs in a country which had no social support system.  That fueled waves of crime and violence which continued to be South Africa's major problem, Suzman noted in a 1996 lecture at Stanford University.

She once urged a former Prime Minister of South Africa to visit the black townships, but to go "heavily disguised as a human being."  

"I stand for simple justice, equal opportunity and human rights, the indispensable elements in a democratic society -- and well worth fighting for."

Restless Night

I spent some time last night perusing the New York Times' on-line edition before heading to bed.  And, as I often do, I cruised quickly to the 'Op-Ed' corner to see who had what to say.  There was Nicholas Kristof, one of my favorites.  His contribution yesterday: 'The Evil Behind the Smiles'.

Quick summation: those smiling, giggling girls in the (global) sex trade are often brutally tortured.  Kristof provides excruciating details.

I spent a restless night trying not to have bad dreams.  But I knew that my interrupted sleep was a luxury compared to how some of those Cambodian girls were trying to survive the night.

Kristof's piece was not all gruesome news, however.  He introduces two women who are survivors of this brutality, and who are now working to rescue others.

I can easily be overwhelmed by the news of the day.  War, torture, rape, famine, disease, poverty, abuse, neglect.  The immense suffering that humans, animals, the environment, the entire planet must endure.  Much of this violent and brutal behavior is consciously created by humans in order to cause deliberate pain and suffering for other humans.  I absolutely do not understand this.

Welcome to The Good Earth.  It aims to be an assorted collection of stories and wise words of people who are working and living (or who did work and live) with compassion for this world and those who inhabit it.

I write this in order to uncover and contemplate the beauty and love that I am sure resides in the human condition.  I share it just in case someone else may find it helpful.