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Peace and Nonviolence

Dear Friends of Peace,

Every year, from January 30 to April 4 (the anniversaries of the deaths of Mahatma Gandhi and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.), we celebrate the Season for Nonviolence. This is a time for raising up nonviolence in our consciousness and in our actions.

When we think of Gandhi and King we think of the great social change movements they led and how they changed the world. For both men this was a path deeply rooted in moral and spiritual values as well as political efficacy. For them, nonviolence was, at core, about love.

Love is the heart of peace. Along with Community, Witness, and Cooperation, it is one of the four pillars of a just and sustainable peaceable society. The open heart is one that is able to heal the wounds in our relationships with apology and forgiveness. The heart of peace can listen with full compassionate presence even to our so-called enemies, to understand how they make sense to themselves. Love allows us to reach across the invisible lines that divide our world into ‘us’ and ‘them’ to see the ‘other’ as ourselves. When we know that we are one, we understand that to harm another is to harm ourselves, and so nonviolence becomes our natural path.

We encourage you to use these 64 days of the Season for Nonviolence to grow love in your life. It is a time to honor the legacies of King and Gandhi by educating yourselves and your loved ones about them and the other great peace leaders of our times, and by applying the principles of nonviolence in your own life. We have put together a wealth of resources to support you in this journey. Let us truly celebrate nonviolence as a way of life, and see how we too can change the world.

Making peace must start within ourselves and in our homes. Each of us, members of the community of St. Anselm, commit ourselves as best we can to become nonviolent and peaceable people.

To Respect Self and Others
To respect myself, to affirm others and to avoid uncaring criticism, hateful words, physical atacks and self-destructive behavior.


To Communicate Better
To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to express my anger, and to work at solving problems peacefully.


To Listen
To listen carefully to one another, especially those who disagree with me, and to consider others' feelings and needs raher than insist on having my own way.


To Forgive
To apologize and make amends when I have hurt another, to forgive others, and to keep grom holding grudges.


To Respect Nature
To treat the environment and all living things, including our pets, with respect and care.


To Play Creatively
To select entertainment and toys that support our family's values and to avoid entertainment that makes violence look exciting, funny or acceptable.


To be Courageous
To challenge violence in all its forms whenever I encounter it, whether at home, at school, at work, or in the community, and to stand with others who are treated unfairly.


"Eliminating violence, one person at a time, starting with ourselves."

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WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF VIOLENCE?

The young people who participated in the Violence Forum were asked in their small groups to cite the causes of violence. What follows is some of their responses.

Lack of Respect   Frustation   Ignorance
Discrimination   Jealousy   Hatred
Vengeance   Fear   Power
Insecurity   Lack of communication   Drugs and Alcohol
Gangs   Pressure   Stress
Lust Greed   Dysfunctional Family Life  

Violent shows, commercials, cartoons and movies give us too many examples of violence and too few examples of nonviolent conflict resolution. The MEDIA also contributes to the desensitizing of our society and makes it one where violence is too readily accepted.

When peoples' BASIC NEEDS are not being met, they live out of an attitude of fear, ignorance and poverty. All of these attitudes are underlying causes of violence.

Many young people participate in violent activities out of BOREDOM or "just for the fan of it." Peer pressure, drugs/alcohol and a lack of positive adult role models are also reasons young people cite as causes of violence.

DISRESPECT for people, for property and for ourselves is a contributor to violence. When people are intolerant of others because of race or sex, violence occurs.

GREED or the lack of MONEY polarizes people. When people put things before people or have unrealistic expectations, violence is possible.

No knowledge of nonviolent conflict resolution contributes to a society where people believe violence and conflict are synonymous.REVENGE is taught instead of reconciliation.

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You Must Be the Change You Wish to See in the World - Gandhi

Jan Cebula, A FAVAN leader in Kansas City, is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa, and coordinator of their Center for Active Nonviolence.

The Pledge of Nonviolence is a dynamic tool for enabling us to live more peaceably in our daily lives When we use the Pledge, however, do we consider only the personal and interpersonal aspects? Can we use the Pledge as a lens for exploring the structural and systemic dimensions of our lives? Gandhi's approach to being the change you wish to see was three-fold:

  1. adopt nonviolence as a way of life;

  2. noncooperate with those systems, structures and values that promote oppression and violence;

  3. promote social reconstruction to create a nonviolent social order.


Gandhi's strategies for both noncooperation and social reconstruction were based on an analysis of the systems and structures of society. The bedrock was the nonviolent individual. It is a dynamic process- the social structures and systems influence the way we live and the way we live can have an effect on the structures. An awareness of this dynamic is necessary if we are to be the change we wish to see. Let's take a look at the To Respect Self and Others component of the Pledge. Respecting self certainly seems like solely a personal quest. However, this quest for self-respect has implications on me systemic level as well. In his book Preventing Violence, James Gilligan concludes,

"The basic psychological motive of violent behavior is the wish to eliminate the feeling of shame and humiliation "

According to Gilligan, violence always represents a means of self defense and is an attempt to force respect from others. Furthermore, Gilligan points out that shame is spread through the economic and social system- e.g., poverty and discrimination increase feelings of shame and humiliation. Recognizing both the individual and systemic aspects is essential to preventing violence. For example, correctional systems designed only to punish just increase the feelings of shame and lead to more violence The need for self- respect has serious implications when attempting to transform conflicts even on the international level People whose homeland is occupied by another country, ethnic group, or army feel extreme humiliation under the occupier. And a negotiating position that does not consider the need for the other party to save face" (have self-respect) is only setting the stage for a violent response.

In the U.S., the belief in rugged individualism runs deep. We believe that we can define ourselves on our own. However, it is only in relationship that we become who we are. Relationships imbedded in structures and systems impact us on deep levels of our being. In his book. The Powers That Be Walter Wink points out that we have internalized the violent systems and beliefs that surround us 'We are called to a deeper understanding of this in order to break free of the systems that control our minds (noncooperation) and to create the nonviolent world we wish to see.

This dynamic among systems, the interpersonal and the self was brought home to me in a vivid way during a program that included participants from around the world. Two were from opposite sides of a long-term violent situation. When they first arrived they would not be in the same room The structural and systemic identity of "enemy" had been deeply embedded. A woman from a third country listened to both, respected them and by doing so appealed to the goodness in both. She patiently practiced shuttle diplomacy by passing verbal and written messages. By the end of just two weeks the two participants were having conversations. They were beginning to free themselves from the systems that controlled their minds and identities (noncooperation) the nonviolent world we all wish to see. It was a microcosm of what could happen on an international scale The pledge was courageously being lived by the participants: respecting self and others, listening, communicating better, starting the process of forgiveness. It was a moving experience showing that we can really be the change we wish to see.

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Prayer for Peace and Justice

God, source of all light,
We are surrounded by the darkness of
the injustices experienced-by your people,
the poor who are hungry and who search
for shelter, the sick who seek relief,
and the downtrodden who seek help in
their hopelessness.

Surround us and fill us with your Spirit
who is Light.
Lead us in your way to be light to your people.
Help our parish to be salt for our community
as we share your love with those caught
in the struggles of life.

We desire to be your presence to the least
among us
and to know your presence in them as we
work though you
to bring justice and peace to this world
in desperate need.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reign with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Source—United States Catholic Conference, Department of Social Development and World Peace, Communities of Salt and Light: Parish Resource Manual (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1994), p. 48
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Can Patriotism and Consumerism Really Mix?

by Susan Voqt

It all started with "Buy Nothing Day," I had suggested in an article that people buy nothing on November 23, the day after Thanksgiving and nationally one of the biggest retail days in the United States. The idea was to raise consciousness about the over consumption practices and attitudes of most middle class citizens and to experience at least a little solidarity with those who sometimes can't afford to buy even the necessities of life. It was a symbolic action, not one .that would make a noticeable impact on the economy since most shoppers would just shift their buying to a different day.

I got a thoughtful e-mail, however, taking me to task. It went beyond the patriotic response of "Shop to support the war effort." It expressed concern about the downward spiral that results from people not buying: stores laying off workers or closing, which means even fewer people have money to buy goods, which means more layoffs, closings, etc. There was plenty of statistical support and personal testimony to how the economic downturn since September 11 had affected the writer. It was a sobering thought and worth considering. Indeed a weak economy eventually hurts a lot of people's livelihoods.

After reflecting on this I decided that it was not the act of buying stuff that was at the core of the issue but rather what we buy and whom we buy it for. Consider the following principles:

  1. Some things are just not worth buying.


    • Harmful products and services Things that are detrimental like tobacco, war toys, raunchy or violent video games or CD's, and products that pollute the environment come to mind. Gambling establishments usually make my list because they take advantage of vulnerable people's addictive personalities. These may not be illegal, but they eat away at our health and well being.

    • Frivolous purchases Breast implants, face lifts, and tattoos would fit here. Do our dogs and cats really need diamond studded collars (even if the owner can afford it)? Jewelry or clothing that primarily serve as status symbols don't seem worthy of our dollars. Our status should be a reflection of character and hard work not adornment.

    • More than we need Do couples with no children really need a 5-bedroom mansion (unless they're running a retreat center or bed and breakfast)? Do we need a car for every driver? Each family can evaluate things that they have duplicates of an ask questions like "Do we really need cell phones that match our outfits or more than one Christmas tree?"


  2. Make your purchases count

    • Will the value last? If you really need it buy it. If it will build relationships and enhance the quality of your life, buy it. For some, paying a person to clean their house allows more parent/child time. Buying a more expensive toy that can be handed down to siblings is worth the money. Products that add humor, help us lighten up, or provide a little pampering (like pet rocks, whoopee cushions, or bubble bath) can be good for the soul. Sometimes we just need a little fun in our lives.

    • Buy Lots of stuff — for others Here's where you get to indulge. Nobody ever said that to keep the economy strong you have to keep the stuff you buy. If you have the income to buy, why not buy stuff and give it to someone who needs it or donate it to a charity that can distribute it? Go ahead and buy another car -- and give it to someone who needs transportation. Be thankful that you still have a car that works. Perhaps invest in a company or person that needs capital to create new and worthwhile jobs or products.

Yes you can be a patriot. Yes, you can buy more. Just don't keep it.
Susan Vogt is a PPJN/FAVAN workshop leader who lives in Covington KY.
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