Richard plans to speak at the Peace Rally in downtown Coshocton, 2003-02-15, 12 noon. Here is a draft text for that speech.
We can change the world through our capacity to suffer. This is the lesson of non-violent resistance to war and injustice. There is no better example that the main theme of the New Testament. Jesus was willing to carry his cross up calvary and die. He suffered the final measure to stay true to his faith. He had told his disciples to put away the sword and turn the other cheek. He had blessed the peacemakers, and shown love to tax collectors and Samaritans.
The message of the New Testament is easy to see. Love fosters more love. The powers of retaliation, of hate, and of violence plunge the human soul into a downward cycle of counter-retaliation, more hate, and further violence. To accept the New Testament, you must reject all war. In its place, you move the world closer to heaven. You must object to capital punishment. In its place, you remove the fear that begets more violence. You must focus on the log in your own eyes. When you remove it, you will love your enemy.
It is easy to see. Easy to say. It is hard to do.
Today's world has technology more advanced that the Roman cross. The openness of information makes that technology available around the world. Now more than ever, non-violence is not merely the best way, not merely the high road. Non-violence is the only road that leads to survival for the human race.
Can nonviolence work against a murderous despot? It already has. When the Nazis ordered Jews in Denmark to wear yellow stars, their Christian neighbors saw it was an oppression that would lead to genocide. They did not let fear control them. They wore yellow stars themselves. The accepted and joined in the suffering of their Jewish neighbors. No holocaust struck Denmark.
In Chile, women beating their pans drummed Pinochet out of his brutal dictatorship. In the Philippines, peaceful rallies forced Marcos to resign and established democracy. In America, nonviolent civil disobedience ended apartheid, and ended the war in Vietnam. In every continent, during every decade, nonviolence has worked to end the cycles of violence and oppression.
The tools are available to us today. The First Amendment gives us the right of free speech and peaceful assembly. Each one of us carries a Divine Light that glows with the power of love. It is time for us to exercise our political muscle. Use these rights so they become stronger. Write letters to your politicians and your newspapers, talk to your neighbors, walk to your churches and submit yourself to suffer for the cause of a peaceful world.
I welcome comments. Email: rrenner@igc.org
Flyer for Rally for Peace in Coshocton on 2003-02-15
Wooster Friends Meeting homepage
Religious Society of Friends links
FCNL Legislative Action Memo
American Friends Service Committee, NE Ohio
Central Committee on Conscientious Objectors
Next national peace rally? Click here for International ANSWER
The AFSC page on Iraq.
Mennonite Centeral Committee
Lutheran Peace Fellowship contains thoughtful responses to issues of peace
and violence
Email John Stratton for information about peace work in Ashland, Ohio
Christian Peacemaker Teams
Million Mom March
Universal Health Care Action Network
Universal Health Care
Action Network of Ohio
United for Peace and Justice
Richard Renner
505 N. Wooster Ave., P.O. Box 8
Dover, OH 44622-0008
(330) 364-9900
FAX: (330) 364-9901
Home: (330) 364-1285
Email: rrenner@igc.org