The
volume
1, No.
The
HELLO
NEWSLETTER
This
marks the first 2005 edition of the White Lake Peace Team Newsletter. As we grow together, we hope to define a
workable format for this communication tool that allows for quick and simple
sharing of information. Aiming to
publish on a bi-monthly basis, we encourage contributions from all of our
readers. If you have news articles,
personal stories, upcoming events you’d like to share, poetry, artwork, letters
to the editor, photographs, book and film reviews--almost anything related to
peace and justice issues, please submit
them to the editors by email at: terrieham@hotmail.com, or by calling
231-766-9267 or Jean at 231-893-3418.
Deadline for submissions to the next newsletter, to be distributed
around March 1st, will be February 25th.
DECEMBER
PEACE TEAM MEETING NOTES--DEC. 14TH
THE
TEAM GOT RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS THIS NIGHT BY ENTHUSIASTICALLY PRIORITIZING
ACTIONS THAT HAD BEEN BRAINSTORMED AND LISTED AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING. BY ORDERING AND GROUPING SOME ACTIONS,
WORKING AROUND SOME ALREADY CALENDARED EVENTS, AND ELIMINATING A FEW OTHERS,
THE TEAM IS NOW FOCUSING ON SEVERAL PROJECTS WHERE WE FEEL WE CAN BE MOST
EFFECTIVE WITH OUR TIME AND ENERGY.
PLEASE CHECK THE CALENDAR (PAGE 2) FOR ALERTS ON UPCOMING EVENTS. THINGS THAT MAY NOT APPEAR ON THE CALENDAR,
BUT THAT YOU MAY WANT TO HELP WITH ARE: LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR WRITING EFFORTS,
SIMPLER LIVING PROJECTS, COUNTER-MILITARY RECRUITMENT, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT FOR
THE TEAM, PLANNING FOR A SPEAKER’S FORUM AND A MARCH-APRIL 2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
RALLY AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ.
NOVEMBER’S FILM SHOWING “ROMERO” TOLD THE
STORY OF CATHOLIC BISHOP ROMERO’S ACTIVISM FOR JUSTICE IN
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
MAY 2005
BE A YEAR OF PEACE AND HAPPINESS FOR US AND ALL OF THE
EARTH!
((((((Picture
here in print version, of team at Mother’s Day Montague Weathervane
Demonstration)))))
“Solidarity with the Women of
2004
WAS A BUSY AND PRODUCTIVE YEAR FOR THE WHITE LAKE PEACE TEAM, FULL OF
CHALLENGES, HARD WORK, SOME CELEBRATION, REAL CONCERNS ABOUT BRINGING PEACE TO
THE WORLD, SATISFACTIONS AND REAL-WORLD DISAPPOINTMENTS. MANY OF US TOOK TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST
AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST WAR AND ITS ATROCITIES.
MOST OF US TOOK A STAND BY SUPPORTING POLITICAL CANDIDATES THAT WOULD
WORK FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE; SOME RAN FOR OFFICE THEMSELVES OTHERS HELPED BRING
PEOPLE TOGETHER AROUND NON-VIOLENT SOLUTIONS TO SOCIAL ISSUES. WE READ AND WITNESSED TOGETHER. WE OUTREACHED AND “IN-REACHED“. ALL OF US HELPED EDUCATE PEOPLE, AND TRIED
HARD TO REDUCE THE FEARS THAT SEEM SO PERVASIVE AND DEVASTATING TO OUR
SOCIETY.
WHILE MOST OF US NEEDED SOME TIME TO SPEND
WITH FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, IN ORDER TO REGROUP,
“RECHARGE” AND RENEW OUR COMMITMENTS, IT IS TIME NOW TO PICK UP OUR TOOLS FOR
PEACE AGAIN AND JOIN TOGETHER IN CARRYING OUT THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT STILL
NEEDS TO BE DONE RIGHT HERE IN THE WHITE LAKE AREA. MAY WE TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THE HOLIDAYS,
OUR LOVED ONES, AND THE ABUNDANCE THAT SPRINGS FROM ALL OF
THE PLANET TO WORK FOR AND CELEBRATE PEACE....
A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION?
FIND
FIND
--DAN KAHN
FOR YOUR
INFORMATION
COLLECTIVELY, PEACE TEAM MEMBERS DO A
HTTP://WWW.THEFILMCONNECTION.ORG
HTTP://WWW.ALTERNET.ORG
HTTP://WWW.JUSTICEANDPEACECOALITION.ORG
HTTP://WWW.VETERANSFORPEACE.ORG
HTTP://WWW.IVAW.NET (NEW) IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST
THE WAR
IF YOU HAVE OTHER GOOD SOURCES THAT SHOULD
BE ADDED TO THIS LIST, PLEASE SEND THEM TO THE NEWSLETTER FOR INCLUSION IN OUR
NEXT EDITION.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LETTERS:
DEAR TRUTHOUT,
MY NAME IS JAMES A. WATSON, AND I AM A COMBAT VETERAN OF VIETNAM. I
SERVED WITH THE FIRST CAV, SONG BE, PHOUC VINH AND BIEN HOA. MY TIME OF SERVICE
WAS 70-71. SIRS AND MADAMS, I AM A 100% DISABLED FROM PTSD AND HAVE NO WAY IN
WHICH TO EXPRESS MY DISSATISFACTION WITH GEORGE BUSH AND COMPANY ABOUT THE WAY
THEY ARE TRYING TO HIJACK MY SERVICE AND PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH. WHAT IS TRUE
FOR SOME VETERANS IS NOT TRUE FOR OTHERS; FURTHERMORE, THE REASON I FOUGHT FOR
MY COUNTRY WAS TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT FOR PEOPLE (INCLUDING JOHN KERRY) TO SPEAK
OUT AGAINST ATROCITIES WHERE EVER THEY OCCUR.
THE ATROCITIES AND LIES ARE BACK IT SEEMS AND BACK WITH BIG DONORS WHO
DIDN'T FIGHT BUT WERE ABLE TO ACCUMULATE ENOUGH MONEY TO SAY AND DO WHAT THEY
WANT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. I THOUGHT I FOUGHT FOR THIS TO NOT HAPPEN. A FEW
WELL-HEELED HEELS ARE DIVIDING AND CONQUERING THE VETERAN'S SUPPOSED
INDOMITABLE CHARACTER. LISTEN, I HAD NO IDEA AT THE CHICANERY
INVOLVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR WHEN I WENT TO FIGHT AMERICA'S
ENEMIES.
BUT, LIKE JOHN KERRY AND MANY OTHERS, I DISCOVERED THE INANITY OF THE WAR WHEN
I ARRIVED IN-COUNTRY SO MANY MILES FROM HOME. FROM MY
UNDERSTANDING, THIS SAME STORY IS HAPPENING JUST AS IT DID 35 YEARS AGO. THE
LIES TO PERPETUATE OUR CAPITALISTIC IMPERIALISM ARE STILL AS THICK AND SLICK AS
DURING VIETNAM. ALL THAT IS FOR HISTORY TO WORK OUT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO DO IS LET PEOPLE KNOW THESE FEW VETERANS THE NEWS
MEDIA ARE KEYED IN ON IS NOT THE WAY ALL VETERANS PERCEIVE THEIR EXPERIENCES
FROM A WAR THAT SPLIT OUR COUNTRY APART. I HAVE A FEELING THERE ARE MANY MORE
LIKE ME BUT HAVE NO MEANS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES ABOUT IT.
I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY THAT GEORGE BUSH HAS DIVIDED OUR
COUNTRY AGAIN. SPOUTING ALL THE DEMAGOGUERY OF THE HAWKS OF THE SIXTIES AND
WITH THE SLICKNESS OF A POLISHED POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
MONEY CAN BUY, GEORGE BUSH HAS TURNED VETERAN AGAINST VETERAN. I DON'T
HAVE THE MONEY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT I DON'T FEEL THE SAME AS THE "SWIFT
BOAT OR VETERAN'S FOR TRUTH" PEOPLE. PLEASE, LET THE WORLD KNOW THIS
POLITICALLY DIVISIVE DISEASE KNOWN AS THE "BUSH ADMINISTRATION" IS
NOT THE WHOLE STORY. I THANK YOU PEOPLE AT "TRUTHOUT" FOR DOING A
GOOD JOB TRYING TO EXPOSE THE INANITY OF THIS PERIOD IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
SINCERELY,
JIM WATSON
I NEVER INTEND
TO ADJUST MYSELF TO THE MADNESS OF MILITARISM.
-- ML KING JR.
PEACE EVENTS CALENDAR
JANUARY 11--REGULAR
WL PEACETEAM MEETING--UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, MONTAGUE, 7 PM
JANUARY 20--THE
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION--MEET IN WASHINGTON DC TO “TURN OUR BACKS” ON THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION. JOIN WITH CODE PINK WOMEN FOR PEACE, DC AGAINST THE WAR
NETWORK, UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS
JANUARY 21--SPEAK-OUT
NIGHT, 7:00PM,
LEAF AND BEAN, COLUMBIA AND 19TH ST., HOLLAND
JANUARY 22--“VERA
DRAKE“ SCREENING AT THE WEALTHY THEATRE, G.R.,--A ROE V. WADE ANNIVERSARY
EVENT, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, FOUNTAIN ST.
CHURCH CHOICE, AND NOW, 7 PM, $10 AT THE DOOR.
JANUARY 24--DEMOCRACY
THROUGH EDUCATION FILM SERIES--NOTE: MOVED TO OEHRLI ELEMENTARY MEDIA
CENTER--7:00 PM PLEASE COME EARLY TO HELP SET UP! THIS MONTH’S FEATURE:
EVERY FRIDAY 5:30-6:00
PM WOMEN IN BLACK VIGIL--MONTAGUE WEATHERVANE
VIGIL
FOR PEACE--MICHIGAN STATE CAPITOL BLDG. EVERY FRIDAY AT NOON SINCE THE FALL OF
2001
2ND SATURDAY OF
EACH MONTH--
EVERY WEDNESDAY--
WHEN
THERE IS LIGHT IN THE SOUL
THERE
IS BEAUTY IN THE PERSON
WHEN
THERE IS BEAUTY IN THE PERSON
THERE
IS HARMONY IN THE HOME
WHEN
THERE IS HARMONY IN THE HOME
THERE
IS HONOR IN THE NATION
WHEN
THERE IS HONOR IN THE NATION
THERE
IS PEACE IN THE WORLD.
--OLD CHINESE PROVERB
COMMONDREAMS.ORG
REASONS NOT TO MOVE TO
BY SARAH ANDERSON
"HTTP://WWW.COMMONDREAMS.ORG/VIEWS
READY TO SAY SCREW THIS COUNTRY AND BUY A ONE-WAY TICKET NORTH? HERE IS REASON
#1 TO STAY IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST:
THE REST
OF THE WORLD.
AFTER THE FEBRUARY 2003 ANTIWAR PROTESTS, THE NEW YORK TIMES
DESCRIBED THE GLOBAL PEACE MOVEMENT AS THE WORLD'S SECOND SUPERPOWER. THEIR
ACTIONS DIDN'T PREVENT THE WAR, BUT PROTESTORS IN NINE COUNTRIES HAVE SUCCEEDED
IN PRESSURING THEIR GOVERNMENTS TO PULL THEIR TROOPS FROM
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
LIVE
SIMPLY SO THAT OTHERS MAY SIMPLY LIVE
THE
·
DO NOT GIVE OBLIGATORY GIFTS SUCH AS TO
MOTHERS. BROTHERS, AUNTS, ETC.
·
DO NOT GIVE RECIPROCAL GIFTS (HE/SHE HAS
ALWAYS GIVEN ME A GIFT, SO I MUST RECIPROCATE....)
·
AVOID SENDING HOLIDAY CARDS OR “CANNED”
LETTERS, PHOTOS, ETC. TO PEOPLE YOU SEE ALL THE TIME ANYWAY.
·
DISCUSS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS THE ORIGIN
AND SIGNIFICANCE OF GIFT GIVING AT HOLIDAYS AND IN GENERAL. IF YOU GIVE GIFTS,
GIVE THINGS THAT CAN BE SHARED ON THE SPOT SUCH AS FOOD AND DRINK. CONSIDER
GIFTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR OWN TRADITIONS; SOMETHING FOR A NEWBORN
THAT YOU DON’T KNOW YET, A DREIDLE FOR A CHILD, SPECIAL TRADITIONAL RECIPES, OR
A HAND-CRAFTED ITEM TO SOMEONE IN NEED IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
·
AVOID DRIVING ALL OVER TO FIND A
PARTICULAR GIFT OR NEW/POPULAR TOY OR OTHER SOON-FORGOTTEN PRODUCT. (REMEMBER
THE CABBAGE PATCH CRAZE? OR “I DROVE 50 MILES TO GET THAT ROBO-COP THING FOR
JOHNNY”???) BURNING IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF FOSSIL FUEL HAS BECOME A MAJOR PART OF
OUR SEASONAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION (IS THIS CELEBRATION AT ALL?)
·
AVOID GOING TO CAR-DEPENDENT MALLS AT ALL
DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR; CONSIDER THIS CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE DURING OTHER
TIMES OF THE YEAR AS WELL--DISCUSS WITH OTHERS WHY ANY SHOPPING YOU DO IS NOT
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF YOUR HOME OR WORK.
·
AVOID DECORATING YOUR HOME WITH LIGHTS OR
DEVICES THAT REQUIRE EXTRA ENERGY. USE
SEASONAL GREENS AND NATURAL ITEMS THAT YOU GROW YOURSELF!
·
NOTE THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS TIME OF
YEAR CELEBRATED UNIVERSALLY IS ASTRONOMICAL, CALENDRICAL AND
METEOROLOGICAL. CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL
CHANGES IN YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT AND HOW THEY EFFECT
YOU. MAKE MARKERS; TALK ABOUT THIS WITH
OTHERS.
·
CELEBRATE WITH DINNERS, CAROLING,
BONFIRES, STORYTELLING, SURPRISE VISITS, ROLE-PLAYS, FOLK-DANCING, COMMUNITY
ART PROJECTS, ETC.
·
BE OPEN TO ACCEPT KINDNESSES AS GIFTS!
FROM FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE
T-SHIRT, 2001:
(WWW.
FRIDAYNIGHTLIVE.ORG)
MOTIVATE
DON'T HESITATE
INITIATE
TRY TO RELATE
DON'T ISOLATE
OR SEPARATE
OR DISCRIMINATE
CHANGE YOUR FATE
INSTIGATE
ORIGINATE
STIMULATE
ELEVATE
ARTICULATE
INNOVATE
DON'T IMITATE LEARN NOT TO HATE
---------------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
DIALOGUE:
ON
THE PASSING OF SUSAN SONTAG, AMERICAN
PATRIOT AND HERO
OFTEN
DISCUSSION IN PEACE GROUPS HAS FOCUSED ON HOW CAN WE TALK WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO
STILL BELIEVE THAT THE DISASTER THAT THE IRAQ WAR HAS BECOME IS STILL NECESSARY
AND JUSTIFIED, NOW THAT NO WMD’S HAVE BEEN FOUND, SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS BEEN
REMOVED AND NO TIES BETWEEN IRAQ, AL QUEDA AND 9/11 HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. WE HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY
SO MANY OTHERS ARE UNABLE TO SEE OUR LOGIC WHEN WE DENOUNCE THE ILLEGAL AND
IMMORAL NATURE OF THIS “SHOCKING AND AWE-FUL” WAR AGAINST
HUMANITY.
THE
“REASONING” NOW FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS OF COURSE, THAT WE ARE SOMEHOW
DEFENDING OUR OWN FREEDOMS AND HELPING TO ESTABLISH A DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ--AS IF
THE IRAQI PEOPLE WHOSE CIVILIZATION HAS EXISTED FOR SOME 2700 YEARS (ABOUT 2000
YEARS LONGER THAN OUR OWN FLEDGLING DEMOCRACY) COULDN’T FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT
THEMSELVES. AND OF COURSE WE CANNOT END THIS WAR ON TERROR UNTIL EACH AND EVERY
LAST “TERRORIST” IS GONE.
BEFORE
THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, ACCORDING TO JOHNATHAN SCHELL, WRITING IN THE NATION (
AS THE
LATE WRITER AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST SUSAN SONTAG SAW IT, WE AS A NATION HAVE
BEEN VICTIMS OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO, OF A POLITICAL “DUMBING DOWN” WHICH
RESULTS IN A DEMORALIZING OF OUR CULTURE AND A DISCREDITING OF IDEALISM. IN MARCH OF 2004, SHE SPOKE BEFORE A NEW
SCHOOL AUDIENCE WHERE, AS USUAL, SHE ENCOURAGED WRITERS, AND ALL OF US, TO
STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHT TO CRITICIZE OUR GOVERNMENT THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF
OUR CULTURE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AS
PATRIOTIC PARTICIPANTS IN OUR GOVERNANCE THAT WE NOT DISSERT OUR IDEALISM IN
THESE CONFLICTED TIMES; THAT WE STAND PROUDLY WITHIN IT, PAYING HOMAGE AT
LEAST, IF YOU CAN THINK OF NO OTHER REASON, TO OUR MENTORS LIKE SONTAG, WE MUST
NOT CAVE TO IGNORANCE OR THOSE WHO STAND AGAINST US. WE MUST CONTINUE TO STAND FOR OUR PROGRESSIVE
AND PEACEFUL IDEALS. DIFFICULT? PROBABLY, BUT WHAT POSITIVE THINGS HAVE EVER
BEEN WON WITHOUT
A STRUGGLE? TAKE HEART--WE ARE NOT ALONE
IN THE WORLD! TOGETHER, WE CONTINUE TO
SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, NO MATTER WHOSE COMFORT ZONE WE MUST STRETCH. ~TERRIE HAMPEL
___________________________________________________________________________
Look
for our next issue of the Newsletter in early March
________________________________________________________________________________________________
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