John and Yoko

"Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of the colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change. Each time a person stands up for an idea, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, (s)he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." -- Robert F. Kennedy

Peace video from Afghanistan

From Our Journey to Smile:
Please watch how Afghans in Kabul desire peace so much theyd scribble it on the walls.‎

I was in Kabul recently and as I was passing by the high, barbed-wire walls surrounding the Ministry of ‎Finance, I noticed the deep wishes of Afghans graffiti-ed on the grey walls, declaring : ‎

Peace is happiness

Peace for security

Peace is mutual respect

Peace is friendship

Peace is our hope

Peace is our desire.‎

I couldnt capture all the graffiti in time, but need we demand more Afghan graffiti to prove their desperate ‎desire for peace, while the world gets un-imaginatively stuck in the tiring idea that bombs and bullets can meet ‎the needs of their hearts?‎
‎ ‎
Transcript of Video

For those who would remember Afghanistan

Dont just remember its ruins

Remember the writing on its walls saying, Peace for security‎

And most of all, remember her people

Afghans who want to make human contact with others

Radio : I want to speak more to my daughter but telephone expenses are high‎

Afghan wall wish: Peace is good fortune

Afghans declare on the walls : Peace is happiness

And most of all, remember her people‎

Afghans who wish it so much theyll write it on the walls : Peace is our desire

Cliff Cornell released from the brig

On January 16, 2010, Cliff Cornell was released from the brig at Camp Lejuene. He had fled to Canada to avoid going to Iraq, since he felt killing people in Iraq was illegal. Canadian authorities deported him, and he was tried and sentenced to a year in the brig. He served eight months, and early in the morning one cold January day, he was released. A blog post by Chuck Fager says they went to eat breakfast, and then saw the movie Avatar. Here is a link to Chuck's blog and some pictures of Cliff and the party they held for him.

And here is a you tube of Cliff answering some questions.




And here is a you tube from his supporters in Gabriola Island, Canada and the War Resisters League.




It is people like Cliff and the War Resisters League and Courage to Resist and other peace groups that will lead our world to a better place.

Senator Sanders takes on deficit blame game

A video of the snow storm in January 2010

Letter sent to Ash Citizen Times 012610

This is what they call an "insta-letter" and those are letters that are less than 50 words. They did not publish this letter:

There is a group of Afghan children who are holding a Peace Camp in Afghanistan. They are advocating for non-violent solutions. They recently sent this message: "We thank those who pray that we'll have peace, but prayers won’t suffice if one by one, war takes us away from life."

Today's letter to elected officials

I think it is ridiculous to increase our military budget to the highest level seen since WW2. We are not under a threat by an invading army, nor do we have a single foreign government declaring war on the USA. What we have is a group of criminals who want to terrorize us, and we are responding by terrorizing poor people around the planet with our bombs and our military. This in turn means more poor people around the planet is inspired to join the group of criminals who want to terrorize us.

We are making more terrorists faster than we can kill them. We have destroyed Iraq, and are on the way to destroying Afghanistan and Pakistan. We are also arming everyone and nearly every country around the world.

We cannot afford this, and in light of the problems we have at home, it is vastly stupid to continue on this path.

We are making ourselves weaker and more likely to have attacks from rogue elements who want to terrorize us.

I have heard that Obama wants to increase military spending and reduce domestic spending. This is a proposal that will lead to weakening the USA and making the people here suffer even more.

I am apposed to this plan.