Please do me a favor today and protest.

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   Ericdierkerposted 10 years ago

   I need your help today. I need to stop wars. I need to stop senseless killing and mayhem and children suffering.
   Write something here. Say something crazy. But do something to help end hate and violence sponsored by government. It is institutionally wrong and lame.
   
   Do not misconstrue what I say. I am not a pacifist. I am more closely akin to a radical Christian but I left violence behind for the most part at around 40 years old. And we must fight violence and so I am a bit oxymoronic.
   
   But we can fight without being violent. We can fight with our hearts and our minds and speech. We must support all those that serve in violent situations but we must support them first in our hearts and minds and then physically.
   
   Can you give someone a boost today and scream out loud against war?
   
   
   

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      Disappearingheadposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Might I suggest not voting republican could prevent a few wars.

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         Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yes you may and should suggest we do not vote for democrats or republicans but for leaders to peace.

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      Credence2posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Neither am I a 'pacifist' recognizing there are times when violence must be employed to staunch a greater evil. It is the mindset of militarism that is the danger. Looking for bogeyman, being a bully and looking for an opportunity to flex your prowess before others. Self defense is legitimate for man or country, but where do we go beyond those boundaries using the excuse of 'self defense'? If anyone from the outside looked at the US defense budget and outlays they would say that we were bent on global domination. Is there such a thing as aggression disguised as self-defense?
      As we enter into a new year, perhaps we need to ask the question if it is up to me do I conduct myself in a peaceable manner? On a smaller scale, if I lived in a home bristling with weapons why would I launch an attack against a relatively defenseless neighbor across town?
      
      if we all redefined our concept of what constitutes 'self defense' we would have a lot less violence.
      
      "All we are saying, is give peace a chance"  - John Lennon

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      GA Andersonposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The Curmudgeon has had too much too drink tonight and should just let this pass....
      
      but, Happy New Year to all and...
      
      
      
      
      Get real. Life is not a wish and kumbaya is for dreamers.
      
      GA

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         Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         And I like that. let us finish that last drink together and cuss this bull darned world and wake up tomorrow with coffee and fix it!!!

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      HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Eric, as long as people have free will, we will have wars, rape, theft and other crimes against persons. It's our job to make our own little corner of the world happy for us, but it's not our job to try and force our views on others. To try and do so usually creates more dissent and leads to more wars.
      
      Everyone has their own idea of what the world should be like, but, in reality, it is exactly the way it is supposed to be. Like a child with growing pains, the world sometimes seems out of kilter. But with wars comes a desire for peace, and from hunger, comes the desire to develop better ways to grow produce. Want and need are the catalysts for change.
      
      But, you can't force someone to change. You can lock them up - or you can go to war against them, but if you focus on what makes you happy - - you'll be a happier camper.
      
      It's the old looking at the glass as half-full or half-empty thing.

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         Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Howard, I think that sometimes saying: "But, you can't force someone to change." - " but it's not our job to try and force our views on others." Is becoming a kind of new age cop out cliche'.
         But as you point out that word "force" is critical. Protesting is not at all necessarily violent,,, Mandela, King, Ghandi for starters.
         Just some thoughts.

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            HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Okay, I think perhaps we're just looking at the same thing from different perspectives. When you said needed to stop wars, I took it to mean insisting that others think as you do. My basic premise is that there are two ways to enact change - by helping - or by hindering, but I've found that only the former lasts, at least in my experience. You're right - protesting does not need to be violent, MLK and Gandhi showed us that. Mandela was a bit of a different story.
            
            I see your point. For me, however, I choose to look for only the good in people, because when I do - it seems to bring out more good. When I "kicked against the pricks" it was typically a waste of time.
            
            I wish you well in your endeavor.

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               Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               So -- just as a hypothetical -- what do you do when you see physical abuse? Do you compliment the angry drunk man on his right jab?
               I do not think you would approve of how we got out of Vietnam.

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                  HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  I do not condone it but neither do I take it upon myself to be a vigilante. Drunk men rarely throw jabs - more like sloppy hook punches, but that's beside the point. I don't go looking for trouble and I don't pretend to know what's best for others. If you feel the need to go out and roar against war and crime - go. Do what makes you feel good and vital.
                  
                  I'm just telling you that I can feel just as good and vital without taking part in saving humanity from itself.

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                     Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     Very clear comment. And I reckon I am about in your boat about 50% of the time. Nice to meet you and hear your views.

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      rhamsonposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You have very commendable aspirations in your post. No doubt many will respond with some political preference to answer your call. Unfortunately the political leaders in our country work for another ends in their public service. Whether it is to just get re-elected or to get rich, the impetus they engage in turns away from governing and service but more towards financial gain. Is the financial gain to continue in public service or is it for more greedy purposes? Who is to say? The fact remains that more and more we find our elected leaders attention is not on what is best for our country but what is best for their own situation. If you wish for the end of killing and conflict in the world you will have to get leaders who are dedicated to the same wish and not their own aspirations for wealth and power.

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         Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you for that great comment. I wonder if protesters in general have direct impact on leaders. Probably very seldom. But they can influence millions of voters. Vietnam era protesters and film reality of a war every night changed that situation.

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   Jodahposted 10 years ago

   I was going to suggest only vote for leaders who stand on a platform for peace. In this country decisions are made on the consensus of the major players in a political party so it is difficult for one person to make a change. however I feel that unless we elect leaders of peace like Mahatma Gandhi or the Dalai Llama for example, we won't get anywhere. If they have the words 'intervention, conflict resolution, war' anywhere on their agenda then forget it.
   It has to be a worldwide trend though, one country can't make a peaceful world. We the people need to be the ones that bring peace about...everyone needs to have that as their number one agenda for a better world. As long as the main focus of countries is on the strength of their economies ahead of the good and well-being of the people, and reducing the gap between rich and poor, we won't get anywhere. 'Greed' runs the world, and 'greed' needs to be stopped.

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      We read Jodah and get better and try harder. And I just gave $200 bucks for mobile showers for my people who live without a shower.
      Let us love and give and protest!!
      Here is a fun one for us this day:
      <iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pLLMzr3PFgk?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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