Kevin Acers, Spirima City, March 23, 200

Frank Borman was an astronaut who commanded one of the Apollo missions in the 1960s. He once said, "When you're on the moon, looking back at the earth, all these differences and nationalistic traits …blend and you…get a concept that… this is really one world and why the hell can't we learn to live together like decent people?"

  I think we can relate to those sentiments today--both the inspiring vision of a whole and decent world, and the exasperation we feel as our species, once again, turns on itself.

  Today the violence we had hoped would not come is thundering across Iraq. Once again, we gather here in the name of peace, no longer in a spirit of prevention but in dissent. But to advocate for peace is not merely to become dissidents of war.

  I am sure many of you are familiar with the serenity prayer--seeking the serenity to accept what we cannot control, the courage to change what we can, and the wisdom to recognize the difference. As peace advocates in a time of war, this is how we must engage if we are to be relevant and effective.

Our ability to impact the war is nonexistent. One area where we can have an impact is in our culture, the cultural changes that come with war. Cranked up nationalism is a predictable consequence of war, often bringing with it increased racial and religious bigotry, xenophobia, the labeling and demonizing of opponents, and a buying into the concept that might makes right. These things play themselves out not only in the geopolitical arena, but in our neighborhoods, on our playgrounds, at work, in the pages of our newspapers, and around our dinner tables. This cultural manifestation of war's ugliness is an area where we can have a positive impact.

Mohandis Gandhi challenged us to "become the changes we want to see in the world." This is what we must do to be effective peacemakers. If we want the world to be infused with compassion, let us be conspicuous examples of compassion, respect, and non-violence. Let us also be conspicuous practitioners of intelligent and fair-minded democracy.

Let us be respectful and compassionate, but assertive in denouncing acts of prejudice or hate, and diligent in recognizing painfully ironic propaganda. 

Let us be the change we want to see in the world, and articulate the vision we are working towards. In the face of this war, let us advocate for human rights and civil liberties, for the protection of civilians, for the importance of treating combatants and prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention, for the protection of refugees, and eventually for impartial investigation into any suspected violations of international law on all sides of the conflict.

And let us be steadfast advocates for the United Nations. It is an imperfect institution, but it has made, and will continue to make, an important and positive impact on history.

As each of us can. Consider these words of Albert Camus. He wrote,  "Great ideas, it has been said, come into the world as gently as doves. Perhaps then, if we listen attentively, we shall hear amid the uproar of empires and nations, a faint flutter of wings, a gentle stirring of life and hope. Some will say that this hope lies in a nation; others in a person. I believe rather that it is awakened, revived, nourished by millions of solitary individuals whose deeds and works every day negate…the crudest implications of history. As a result, there shines forth… the…truth that each and every person, on the foundation of his or her own sufferings and joys, builds for all."

I encourage you to visit regularly the websites of organizations like MoveOn.org, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the ACLU, to see what specific actions they are recommending--take part in those actions that make sense to you and support your convictions. Consistently, persistently, stay involved, and you will, indeed, help to negate the crudest implications of history even as it unfolds.

Dwight Eisenhower once made a prophesy that we are beginning to fulfill. He said, "I …believe that people…are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that the people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it."

Let's continue to work, individually and collectively, to that end.

In America we have many resources, not only military resources, but powerful intellectual resources--liberating, creative, and compassionate ideals we can use for problem solving and relationship-building.

It is not enough for us to want peace. It is not enough, even, to demand peace.

To wage peace, we must use our resources intelligently, take Gandhi's words to heart and become the changes we want to see in the world. With these powerful tools together we can create a bright light of hope for remarkable, positive change, a light that will illuminate the dynamic genius of peace, a restored vision of health and integrity for the planet, more resilient than any military conflict. Through intelligent, purposeful actions, let us create this light of hope. Let us stand in the light and embody the principles of peace.

Oklahoma City Spiritual Walk for Peace, March 23, 2003