Frank Lawrence of the Green Party says that in more than 400 years in US history, “We have had only 16 years when we were not fighting with someone. We are the gods of war.”—Photo by Jane Stoever
PeaceWorks KC Economic justice, Nonviolence, Nuclear weapons

Cosponsors assail war, nuclear weapons

For the first time, PeaceWorks-KC this year asked several groups to cosponsor its Memorial Day observance and share reflections. Theodore John, of Veterans for Peace, said, "I've seen the destruction of conventional war. I can't imagine a nuclear war."

An elders’ circle strung out, cuffed, speaking volumes in silence—after crossing the nuke-plant property line May 31. From left: Henry Stoever, Brian Terrell, Brother Louis Rodemann, Jim Hannah, Tom Mountenay.—Photo by Tom Fox
PeaceWorks KC Nonviolence, Nuclear weapons, PeaceWorks events

Memorial Day event: ‘We spoke truth, we cried, we witnessed, we rejoiced’

This Memorial Day was the first time I was able to join PeaceWorks-KC at the National Security Campus, where non-nuclear parts are made for nuclear weapons. It was our 10th annual event there. I was moved by the experience.

Tulsa-King
Ashes after 1921 Tulsa race massacre vs. 1963 March on Washingtion public domain from Wikimedia Commons
PeaceWorks KC Nonviolence, Racism

Tulsa, Algeria, King, Gandhi

When African American World War I veterans with guns approached a white mob in 1921, the whites responded with massive violence. Over 30 years later, Martin Luther King, Jr., led a nonviolent movement that succeeded in expanding voting rights and open accommodations. Similarly, in the violent Algerian struggle for independence from France, 1954-1962, roughly a million out of 11 million were killed. By contrast, only a few thousand out of 350 million were killed during the nonviolent struggle for independence in India. India since has proudly been the world's largest democracy, while Algeria has struggled with autocracy and anocracy.

Free Press
Freepress.net
PeaceWorks KC Nonviolence

April 29 (Thursday), 7-8 PM: Media reform to improve democracy including reducing counterproductive militarism per Freepress.net

Craig Aaron, co-CEO of Free Press (FreePress.net), will be interviewed April 29 (Thursday), 7-8 PM Central regarding their advocacy and positions on various measures for media reform to improve democracy. The discussion will be carried live on 90.1 FM, KKFI.org, Kansas City Community Radio. It will also be available via Zoom videoconferencing and YouTube Live, … Continue reading April 29 (Thursday), 7-8 PM: Media reform to improve democracy including reducing counterproductive militarism per Freepress.net

The Friends Committee on National Legislation has circulated this phrase from Martin Luther King Jr. as both a poster and a yard sign, available online.
PeaceWorks KC Nonviolence

Reflections on a debacle—the Afghanistan war

As the mother of an Army Infantry Officer who served for 13 months during Obama’s Afghanistan surge, I feel an overwhelming sadness for the men and women who served in Afghanistan. I also feel great sadness for the huge losses and suffering the Afghan people endured. The military and the U.S. government knew early on that the Afghanistan War was a debacle.