We must not lose our lesson: Redoubling our commitment to nonviolence in the face of war
Dear friends,
I find that words are not coming to me easily this morning. Happily, our Board member Anna has said it well. For myself, I was born the year after Hitler invaded the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) and I really did think that after Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc. maybe war was winding down; maybe the emperor’s shabby “new clothes” were becoming more obvious.
I was heartbroken when I read this morning that twelve soldiers had already died, and it must be more and will be many more. I didn’t even read down to find out whose soldiers they were. It matters not. What matters is how can we do our best in this moment of time.
What does Metta have to offer?
Not, of course, a quick fix; but for sure some encouragement: Here’s the link to a special screening of our film, The Third Harmony, and, as with all of us, we are redoubling our efforts to learn and share the power of nonviolence.
In our Escalation Curve (or see page 108 of Search) we are now at an advanced stage of conflict. We must not succumb to the facile reaction that because we can’t think of a way to use nonviolence in this situation, we have to resort to violence, or worse, conclude that nonviolence can’t be used anywhere and lose our faith. Every moment has its lesson, and ours right now is to redouble our enthusiasm and commitment. Take a look at the five steps to a nonviolent culture at the center of our Roadmap.
Of course, let’s use whatever leverage we might possess to urge whatever policymakers we can reach not to abandon diplomacy (along with the sanctions) and to pledge themselves to support every possible institution that can bring peace to our world. As Anna says, “our words have power.” Particularly when they’re backed by our own commitments.
