.
8/30/13 Update: Ian was hoping that former President Carter’s speech would be a ray of truth in a celebration full of carefully scripted platitudes. Carter did mention the the over-incarceration of African-American males in the US and the need for DC statehood. He did not mention the injustices of the current administration, including the constant drumbeat of war and extra-judicial drone killings.
The March on Washington 2013 is an exciting event, which will feature many worthy issues. And, the march celebrates such a great hero of peace and nonviolence.
The Wilders, though, have had some trouble getting enthused about the march. The march will feature many lukewarm, sold-out, Democratic officials, who are more of the problem than the solution. In addition, the message of “anti-war” has been kept in the shadows by the organizing frenzy and the media.
Because of the good issues being featured, we kind of stayed quiet with our critique during the lead-up. But, hey, the big event is nearly over. As radical, nonviolent activists, we need to vent a bit…
For instance…What is Eric Holder talking about equality? Evidently, Holder wants equal opportunity to spy on and torture everyone in America. He wants to be allowed to torture men AND women. He wants to be able to spy on white people AND Native Americans. He wants to enlist straight people AND gay people to fight America’s unjustified, imperialist wars. I don’t know how my colleagues in the peace and justice community can watch that man speak and not turn their back on him.
And, another thing…Where is the message for peace?
Does the NAACP understand that the drumbeat for war is what keeps America unfair and impoverished? How come on the NAACP website, it does not list “peace” or “anti-war” as a featured issue? Ditto to many of the other organizations doing publicity and press releases for this march.
The media helps cover over the omission by talking about vague calls for “peace and justice”. So, if you search for articles on the march related to peace, it is difficult to find anything of substance said about true peace, with nonviolence, and an absence of war.
Still, some peace/anti-war groups will be there, to support the social justice community. There is a short article about the UFPJ (United for Peace And Justice) events at eNews Park Forest: here.
To counteract our above crankiness, the Wilders will be on the lookout for any peace/anti-war stories that come from today’s march, and the anniversary celebration of the “I Have A Dream” speech. (Ian is interested in seeing what Jimmy Carter says.) And, until we find more anti-war stuff from 2013, we will be meditating on Martin Luther King Jr.’s strong voice of true peace.
Here is a post Ian wrote about MLK’s “Declaration of Independence from the War in Vietnam” speech.
Filed under: activism, Anti-War, News, nonviolence, Peace, politics, progressive politics, social & economic justice, US Politics, war Tagged: | #MLK50, #MOW, #MOW50, anti-war groups at March on Washington, March on Washington, March on Washington 2013, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Martin Luther King, peace groups at March on Washington, peace message at March on Washington
I’ve just read your rant and at the end is the speech which truly represents MLK in my mind. It’s the one lots of folks do NOT like to remember for some reason. I am refraining from involvement with any such activities in my area because of this big refusal to address the WAR issue. It’s like people are agreeing to be censored, frightened, intimidated,and coerced into submission by their silence. It’s BAD form to be honest these days. Truth is a crime.
Now I’m going to go read what Ian thought about that GREAT anti-war speech by MLK–the one that probably sealed his fate. Because, you know, such is not allowed in the land of the “F *&^” and home of the slaves.”
namaste
Thank you so much for your comments, 47whitebuffalo.