Peace – RI Future

June 10, 2016June 10, 2016

Appreciating the values of a galactic education

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“But speaking the truth in love,
we must grow up in every way
into him who is the head, into Christ.”
St. Paul

This 2003 Quoflection is still pertinent for reflecting on our politics and values:

Can we set aside our national, cultural and intraspecies biases? Let us imagine we are Glipsloks from the planet Urduz (though a bit hairy, we consider ourselves beautiful). Using instantaneous googolplex processing, we quickly decipher all communications on Earth.

Our mission today is to educate our galactic neighbors. Please share your thoughts regarding the following proposed communication.

A Wise Alien — A wise alien encourages reflection

Residents of Earth,

To gain understanding, we Glipsloks are observing your planet. Your ways are puzzling to us. We notice you have 800 million people on your planet who suffer from malnutrition. You allow 100,000 children to die every week from starvation. You say you value justice. But we perceive much selfishness and apathy.

Our survey indicates more than 30 nations are currently waging war. This infliction of misery is confusing. You say you value human life. Yet you are oblivious to the suffering you impose upon multitudes of your fellow humans.

Your linguistic logic is bewildering. Many of your governments declare they are seeking peace—even while conducting a war. We Glipsloks do not understand. Until we heard such reasoning, we had no concept of duplicity.

You have video and audio capabilities that could inform you of misfortune throughout your world. Yet you focus your vision and care upon those like you. We Glipsloks value compassion for all. We see no benefit in choosing ignorance or prejudice.

We observe the leaders of one wealthy nation using advanced weapons to invade and occupy an ancient civilization. They say their purpose is to eliminate the other government’s advanced weapons. Yet they are unable to locate such weapons—while they maintain vastly superior stockpiles of such weapons of mass destruction. This double standard is perplexing.

Some leaders proclaim their love of liberty while advocating laws which severely restrict the freedoms of their citizens. They use these laws to arrest and detain many innocent people. The irony is these injustices are initiated by those managing the Department of Justice.

These leaders also appeal to patriotism, asserting that those who disagree with them do not love their country. Yet their country was founded on the principle that people are free to disagree. We Glipsloks do not understand such treachery.

We are also mystified by religious prejudice. Some leaders reject theocracy—if established by another country—but approve of a “Christian nation.” These leaders say they are motivated by faith while the basis for their actions is fear. How can this be?

They also speak of the evil of the other nation’s president. We see that he has indeed committed numerous atrocities. But don’t those who initiate war realize they cannot conquer evil with more evil? This produces a cycle of evil. We Glipsloks understand that only goodness overcomes evil.

Many leaders trust weapons whose power is puny. True, these weapons can take control of another nation. However, perpetrating violence for short-term advantage creates more problems than it solves. Your saying is true: “The pen is mightier than the sword.” We Glipsloks understand that genuine power is the result of speaking the truth in love.

We must ask you earthlings: Do you not value Peace? Love? Faith? Do you not regard Wisdom? Compassion? Goodness? Do you not cherish Humanity? Justice? Truth? You claim to honor these values. Yet your actions do not reflect them.

Nevertheless, we Glipsloks have hope for your planet. We see a leader among you who taught and embodied these values. He was willing to die, not kill, so you might find life. His risen spirit will guide you—if you follow him.

* * * * *

My fellow Glipsloks: How would you encourage our neighbors to reflect upon the disparity between their values and their actions?

February 25, 2016

What anti-war activists should protest for: Eric Draitser explains the multi-polar world

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Recently I was talking with a colleague who said he wished that, when there is anti-war protest in Providence, the protesters would be able to offer something a bit more substantial that just slogans and pacific ideals. I agree with this sentiment

To that extent, I recently had the opportunity to speak with Eric Draitser. He is a geopolitical analyst and commentator whose work can be read in CounterPunch, RT television’s website, and a variety of other forums. He currently can be heard weekly delivering the podcast CounterPunch Radio.

Over the next several articles, Draitser will introduce through our conversation a series of concepts and strategies that are now gaining currency within the international geopolitical arena. The theory of a multi-polar world, for our purposes, envisions the end of a world order where the United States is the dominant power in the international political arena. In its place, various regional powers emerge and develop a set of consensus points that are used to dictate a level of peace and stability in the world. In this world-view, the Russian, Chinese, Indian, and Iranian leadership in their spheres of influence help balance out and reduce the occurrence of conflicts.

This is not a new concept and it is one that is quite familiar to figures such as Sen. Jack Reed, the Rhode Island congressional delegate who is considered a liberal despite sitting on a military appropriations committee where he has shoveled billions of dollars into the maw of the military-industrial complex while Rhode Island has above-average unemployment and astounding rates of childhood hunger, homelessness, and poverty. Sen. Reed knows that a multi-polar world would reduce the spending on the Pentagon budget and make some of the social safety net programs proposed by the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign not just tenable but conservative when one considers that over half of our total annual budget goes to fund war. Yet in the name of an antiquated and paranoid Cold War mindset wherein we must fear the Moscow-Peking alliance, America is a shambling, barely-conscious impersonation of the late Roman empire, over-extended and dependent on a semi-privatized contractor military the has wrought chaos, destruction, and death across much of the world while alienating those who would have us as allies.

I do not deny that some of these concepts are jarring at first. The power structure has engineered a clever campaign to make the efforts of our potential allies seem like “imperialism” and “aggression”. It is also vital to understand that these are not apologias for singular individuals or governments, states are always violent systems. It is also not a direct path to the Big Rock Candy Mountain of some wonderful socialist tomorrow. Yet in a world where America is a pariah and loathed by its neighbors due to imperial arrogance and where Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Hillary Clinton are not sending themselves or their loved ones to die in war, consider these ideas with maturity.

December 6, 2015December 7, 2015

Scenes from a peace rally in Providence

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Several activists gathered today in Providence and marched to the State House in protest against war. Beginning at the statue of Ambrose Burnside, they exited the eastern gate of the park, walked down Exchange Terrace, and walked up past the Providence Place Mall to the State House, where they ended with some speechifying. The event was called for by Emily Daniels-Linback and her daughter and included people of all ages.

EDITORIAL NOTE: A previous version of this piece misidentified the individuals who called for the event.

July 17, 2015July 19, 2015

Pinwheels for Gaza

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Dexter Field in Providence was the site of an emotive, almost overpowering memorial to the 522 children who lost their lives in the senseless war between Israel and Gaza which began one year ago on July 7. One black pinwheel was created for all of the 521 Palestinian children and the one Israeli child who lost their lives. Each pinwheel was then labeled with the name of the child and planted in the grass near the corner of the park by Martha Yager of the American Friends Service Committee.

Passersby asked questions, explained the memorial to their children, or sat in quiet contemplation.

Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of the 4 young Palestinian cousins who were killed while playing soccer in front of a stunned international press corp.

“The story is no more horrific than any of the others,” said Yager in her release for the event, “but it put a human face on the random carnage of war.”

I wrote quite a bit about the local reaction to last year’s devastating war in Gaza. Interested readers might check out:

Emergency Solidarity Rally in support of Israel

Two communities, two rallies, one war

Rally in Providence stands with peace

As the ceasefire fizzles: A rally for peace in PVD

Forum: Understanding the Israel-Gaza Crisis

Video: Common ground found at Israel/Gaza forum

Solidarity, from Ferguson to Palestine

Here is a complete list of names and ages of all 522 children being remembered:

Ahmad Nae’l Mahdi, 16, Hussein Yousef Kawari’, 12, Basil Salem Kawari’, 9, Abdullah Mohammed Kawari’, 12, Qasim Jabr Odeh, 11, Seraj Iyad Abdel ‘Al, 8, Mohammed Ali Kawari’, 15, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Masri, 14, Aseel Ibrahim Al Masri, 15, Yasmin Mohammed Al Mutawaq, 3, Mohammed Mustafa Malaka, 2, Ameer Iyad Areef, 12, Mohammed Iyad Areef, 10, Nidal Khalaf Al Nawasra, 4, Mohammed Khalaf Al Nawasra, 2, Raneem Jawdat Abdel Ghafoor, 1, Sulaiman Saleem Al Astal, 17, Musa Mohammed Al Astal, 15, Meryam Atiyyeh Al ‘Arja, 9, Abdullah Ramadan Abu Ghazal, 4, Abdel Rahman Bassam Khattab, 6, Saad Mahmoud Al Haj, 17, Fatima Mahmoud Al Haj, 14, Ismail Hasan Abu Jame’, 17, Saher Salman Abu Namous, 2, Anas Yousef Qandeel, 17, Nour Marwan Al Najdi, 10, Safa Mustafa Malaka, 6, Anas Alaa’ Al Batsh, 7, Manar Majid Al Batsh, 13, Marwa Majid Al Batsh, 7, Amal Bahaa’ Al Batsh, 1.5, Qusai Issam Al Batsh, 12, Mohammed Issam Al Batsh, 17, Hossam Ibrahim An-Najjar, 15, Mu’ayyad Khalid Al A’raj, 2.5, Ziyad Maher An Najjar, 17, Sara Jehad Sheikh Al Eid, 4, Hamza Ra’ed Thary, 5, Ahed Attaf Bakr, 10, Zakariya ‘Ahed Bakr, 10, Mohammed Ramiz Bakr, 11, Ismail Mohammed Bakr, 10, Ibrahim Ramadan Abu Daqqa, 10, Yasmeen Mahmoud Al Astal, 5, Hosam Mahmoud Al Astal, 8, Afnan Wesam Shuheebar, 8, Jehad Issam Shuheebar, 11, Waseem Issam Shuheebar, 8, Mohammed Ibrahim Intaiz, 13, Mohammed Salem Intaiz, 13, Yamin Riyad Al Hamidi, 4, Rahaf Khalil Al Jbour, 4, Mohammed Ismail Abu Msallam, 15, Ahmad Ismail Abu Msallam, 11, Walaa’ Ismail Abu Msallam, 14, Mousa Abdel Rahman Abu Jarad, 8 months, Haniya Abdel Rahman Abu Jarad, 2, Sameeh Na’eem Abu Jarad, 1.5, Ahlam Mosa Abu Jarad, 17, Samar Na’eem Abu Jarad, 14, Qasim Hamed Ulwan, 4, Emad Hamed Ulwan, 7, Rezeq Ahmad Al Hayik, 1.5, Sara Mohammed Bostan, 10, Abdallah Jamal Al Smeeri, 17, Amjad Salim Shaath, 15, Faris Jom’a Al Tarabeen, 3 months, Omar Eed Al Mahmoum, 17, Seham Ahmad Zourob, 11, Mohammed Ziyad Al Rahl, 5, Mohammed Rafeeq Al Rahl, 17, Omar Jameel Hamouda, 10, Nagham Mahmoud Al Zweedi, 12, Ru’ya Mahmoud Al Zweedi, 6, Waseem Rida Salhiyeh, 15, Mohammed Bassam Al Sorri, 17, Mahmoud Anwar Abu Shabab, 16, Dina Omar Azeez, 5, Aya Bahjat Abu Sultan, 17, Khalil Usama Al Hayya, 5, Hamza Usama Al Hayya, 4, Amama Usama Al Hayya, 6, Marwa Suleiman Al Sirsawi, 12, Dina Adel Isleem, 3, Heba Hamed Al Shiekh Khalil, 14, Tala Ahmed Al I’tiwi, 10, Dina Rushdi Hamada, 16, Saji Hassan Al Hallaq, 4, Kenan Hasan Al Hallaq, 6, Mohammed Hani Al Hallaq, 2, Ibrahim Khalil Ammar, 13, Iman Khalil Ammar, 9, Asem Khalil Ammar, 4, Rahaf Akram Abu Jom’a, 4, Abdel Rahman Al Iskafi, 12, Marah Shakir Al Jammal, 10, Ahmed Sofyan Al Jammal, 9, Samia Ahmed Al Sheikh Khalil, 2, Shadi Ziyad Isleem, 16, Fadi Ziyad Isleem, 10, Ali Ziyad Isleem, 11, Mohammed Rami Ayyad, 3, Mohammed Ashraf Ayyad, 3, Najiyeh Jehad Al Helou, 15, Maram Ahmed Al Helou, 2, Kareem Ahmed Al Helou, 5 months, Karam Ahmed Al Helou, 5 months, Nirmeen Majid Daher, 10, Othman Raed Al Jammal, 11, Ghada Subhi Ayyad, 13, Azmi Khalid Badwan, 16, Sha’ban Jamil Ziyada, 12, Mohammed Ayman Al Sha’ir, 6, Heba Akram Al Sha’ir, 7, Razan Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 14, Jawdat Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 13, Aya Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 12, Haifaa’ Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 9, Tawfeeq Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 4, Ahmed Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 8, Nour Eddin Tawfeeq Abu Jame’, 4, Ayyoub Tayseer Abu Jame’, 10, Nujoud Tayseer Abu Jame’, 6 months, Fatima Tayseer Abu Jame’, 8, Rayan Tayseer Abu Jame’, 2, Rinad Tayseer Abu Jame’, 1.5, Batoul Bassam Abu Jame’, 4, Suheila Bassam Abu Jame’, 2, Bisan Bassam Abu Jame’, 1, Sajed Yasser Abu Jame’, 7, Seraj Yasser Abu Jame’, 4, Sarraa’ Yasser Abu Jame’, 3, Hosam Hosam Abu Qeenas, 7, Anas Mahmoud Mu’ammar, 17, Abdallah Yousef Daraji – Al Moghrabi, 2, Mohammed Rajaa’ Handam, 15, Yasmin Nayif Al Yazji, 4, Hatem Nayif Al Yazji, 3, Arwa Yasser Al Qassas, 4, Samar Yasser Al Qassas, 3, Israa’ Yasser Al Qassas, 7, Yasmeen Yasser Al Qassas, 10, Nesma Iyad Al Qassas, 10, Lamya Iyad Al Qassas, 13, Yasin Ibrahim Al Kilani, 9, Yasser Ibrahim Al Kilani, 7, Sawsan Ibrahim Al Kilani, 11, Reem Ibrahim Al Kilani, 12, Ilyas Ibrahim Al Kilani, 4, Dana Mohammed Daher, 1, Abdallah Abu Hjayyir, 16, Alaa’ Abdel Majeed Abu Dahrouj, 17, Othman Salim Bree’im, 17, Fadi Azmi Bree’im, 17, Abedl Rahman Awad Al Qarra, 17, Ghaidaa’ Nabil Siyam, 7, Mustafa Nabil Siyam, 9, Abdel Rahman Nabil Siyam, 6, Dalal Nabil Siyam, 9 months, Ahmed Ayman Siyam, 15, Ameen Ayman Siyam, 17, Iyad Mohamemd Sabbah, 17, Fatima Ahmad Al Arja, 16, Mona Rami Ikhriwat, 1.5, Shahd Mu’een Qishta, 9, Mohammed Ahmad Al Baddi, 3 months, Mahmoud Ahmad Al Qassas, 10, Abdel Nasser Sa’di Meslih, 17, Nour Ra’ed Abu Hwishil, 6, Obaida Fadel Abu Hwishil, 9, Ibtihal Ibrahim Al Rmahi, 3, Iman Ibrahim Al Rmahi, 15, Wesam Alaa’ Al Najjar, 17, Mu’een Mohammed Siyam, 5, Khalaf Atiyeh Abu Snaimeh, 16, Rabee’ Qasim Abu Ras, 9, Salma Rajab Al Radee’, 6, Ayman Adham ElHaj Ahmad, 16, Hazem Na’eem Aqil, 15, Rawan Ayman Sweedan, 7, Jana Rami Al Maqat’a, 3, Mohammed Mansour Al Bashiti, 7, Zeinab Safwat Abu Teer, 4, Mohammed Akram Abu Shaqra, 17, Mohammed Na’eem Abu T’eema, 12, Adham Ahmad Abu Eeta, 4, Hadi Abdel Hameed Rab El-Nabi, 3, Abdel Rahman Mahmoud Rab El-Nabi, 1, Mohammed Jehad Matar, 12, Amna Jehad Matar, 11, Do’aa Ra’ed Abu Odeh, 17, Meryam Shayboub Al Shinbari, 11, Abed-Rabbo Shayboub Al Shinbari, 16, Ali Shayboub Al Shinbari, 9, Abed-Rabbo Jamal Al Shinbari, 17, Soha Abed-Rabbo Meslih, 2, Mohammed Akram Al Kafarneh, 15, Mahmoud Ismail Al Astal, 17, Nada Tha’ir Al Astal, 5, Ameen Tha’ir Al Astal, 4, Anas Hatim Qdeeh, 7, Mahmoud Sulaiman Al Astal, 17, Ahmad Mohammed Al Najjar, 17, Mahmoud Jehad Abdeen, 12, Nabil Mahmoud Al Astal, 13, Ameer Adel Siyam, 12, Mohammed Ahmad Siyam, 7, Ibrahim Abdel Rahman Al Sama’neh, 17, Waleed Sa’ad Al Harazeen, 8, Abdel Kareem Anwar Al Darazeen, 5, Mohammed Anwar Al Darazeen, 3, Nour Mohammed Abu Dbagh, 12, Ahmad Ramzi Abu Qadous, 13, Walaa’ Mohammed Al Qabid, 15, Ahmed Mohammed Al Qabid, 11, Ahmed Waleed Sammour, 9, Hadi Salah Abu Hasanein, 12, Abdel Azeez Salah Abu Hasanein, 14, Do’aa Sami Sa’ada, 11, Anwar Abdel Qader Younis, 2, Ameer Hamoudeh Abu Shahla, 2, Islam Hamoudeh Abu Shahla, 3, Ameera Hamoudeh Abu Shahla, 1, Samir Hussein Al Najjar, 1.5, Mutaz Hussein Al Najjar, 6, Ghaliya Mohammed Al Najjar, 1.5, Bara’a Salah Al Riqib, 11, Rawan Khalid Al Najjar, 17, Ahmad Khalid Al Najjar, 14, Hadi Suleiman Al Najjar, 7, Yousef Jamil Hamouda, 15, Fadi Salim Baraka, 14, Sameeh Jibreel Jneed, 5, Yousef Emad Qadoura, 11, Hind Emad Qadoura, 10, Mohammed Mousa Olwan, 9, Yousef Abdel Rahman Hassouna, 11, Mahmoud Hazim Shbeer, 12, Ahmed Hazim Shbeer, 10, Jamal Salih I’lyan, 8, Bara’ Akram Meqdad, 7, Mohammed Nahidh Meqdad, 13, Ahmed Jaber Washah, 10, Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Shaqfeh, 7, Mohammed Emad Baroud, 10, Mansour Rami Hajjaj, 9, Abdel Samad Mahmoud Ramadan, 16, Hanan Salem Al Far, 15, Ali Hasan Al Howari, 11, Rami Khalid Al Riqib, 16, Hussein Yasser Abu Saqer, 16, Dalia Nader Al Agha, 17, Dina Nader Al Agha, 14, Iyad Nader Al Agha, 17, Fadel Nader Al Agha, 11, Tamer Ahmed Al Najjar, 16, Israa’ Naeem Balata, 13, Alaa’ Naeem Balata, 14, Yehia Na’eem Balata, 8, Hadeel Adbel Kareem Balata, 17, Mohammed Abdel Nasser Al Ghandour, 15, Jood Yousif Abu Eedeh, 8 months, Halima Mohammed Suleiman, 1.5, Baraa’ Mohammed Suleiman, 6, Haneen Hosam Hamouda, 13, Rahaf Alaa’ Abed-Rabbo, 2, Jamal Mohammed Abed-Rabbo, 1.5, Ali Ahmed Shaheen, 16, Aya Ismail Al Batsh, 12, Mohammed Taleb Asaaf, 8, Osama Ahmed Al Helu, 5, Rahaf Mohammed Farahat, 1 month, Nada Izzo Al Ja’al, 2, Mohammed Raed Abu Jabr, 3, Sama Raed Abu Jabr, 1.5, Toqa Salah Abu Jabr, 1, Leen Anwar Abu Jabr, 2.5, Salma Anwar Abu Jabr, 1.5, Hala Ahmed Abu Jabr, 6, Reeham Taysir Abu Mashi, 14, Sara Ahmed Abdel Ghafour, 1, Samaa’ Mohammed Al Najjar, 15, Mohammed Atta Al Najjar, 1, Rafeef Atta Al Najjar, 3, Mona Jehad Al Najjar, 1, Omar Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 12, Abdel Ghani Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 11, Emad Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 10, Issa Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 8, Ez Eddin Waddah Abu ‘Amer, 4, Mohammed Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 12, Marah Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 10, Yasser Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 9, Marwa Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 5, Suleiman Ahmed Abu ‘Amer, 2, Mohammed Jamil Al Najjar, 12, Layali Wael Al Najjar, 2, Jana Fayiz Breeka, 3, Lama Fayiz Breeka, 1, Osama Fayiz Breeka, 16, ‘Hala Ahmed Mu’ammar, 2, Yazan Ahmed Mu’ammar, 3, Aya Sami Al Ramlawi, 9, Mos’ab Ahmed Islaih, 17, Mohammed Mustafa Abu Hammad, 14, Mohannad Ashraf Al Qarra, 17, Zaher Mahmoud Al Najjar, 7, Abdallah Nidal Abu Zaid, 4, Shama Wael Abu Zaid, 16, Bisan Iyad Abu Zaid, 12, Mohammed Omar Dheer, 10, Maria Omar Dheer, 12, Tasneem Mohamed Dheer, 8, Mu’min Omar Dheer, 9, Ghaidaa’ Omar Dheer, 7, Salama Mahmoud Dheer, 12, Mohammed Mahmoud Dheer, 7, Arwa Mahmoud Dheer, 16, Yamin Omar Dheer, 5, Ibrahim Ahmed Al Hashash, 15, Bilal Ahmed Al Hashash, 16, Alaa’ Bahaa’ Al Ghareeb, 16, Alaa’ Ramadan Khader Salman, 17, Osama Mohammed Sihweel, 17, Sujoid Abdel Hakim Olwan, 11, Lama Ahmed Al Khalili, 5, Deema Ashraf Al Khalili, 4, Ziyad Ashraf Al Khalili, 3, Leena Alaa’ Al Silik, 9, Omniya Mohammed Al Silik, 8, Malak Jalal Al Silik, 7, Abdel Azeez Mohammed Al Silik, 3, Abdel Haleem Mohammed Al Silik, 5, Abed Wael Al Shamali, 16, Shaimaa’ Ibrahim Al Sheikh Ali, 1 week, Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Khousa, 1, Shahd Ibrahim Abu Khousa, 10, Yazan Emad Abu Khousa, 3, Retal Basheer Abu Khousa, 1, Mohammed Mohammed Abu Shamala, 9, Ibrahim Mu’tasim Kalloub, 4, Mohammed Akram Al Smiri, 14, Ibrahim Akram Al Smiri, 10, Asmaa’ Abdel Haleem Abu Al Kas, 15, Mayar Jamal Abu Msabeh, 10, Salah Mousa Hejazi, 8, Layan Nael Al Silik, 3, Ola Jalal Al Silik, 15, Nour Ezz Al Ja’al, 5, Hosam Ra’fat N’eem, 16, Mahmoud Ashraf Al Khalili, 7, Hadeel Amer Al Bayoumi, 14, Aseel Amer Al Bayoumi, 16, Hasan Mohammed Al Bayoumi, 14, Rinad Ashraf Al Assar, 1.5, Lama Ra’fat Al Assar, 7, Malak Shakir Abu Shouqa, 2, Mohammed Ammar Shalat, 10, Faris Mohammed Siyam, 11, Othman Fawzi Abdeen, 17, Ahmed Saleem Abdeen, 17, Sama Nael Al Birrawi, 10 months, Fayiz Tareq Yaseen, 16, Mohammed Ahmed Al Neirab, 14, Mu’men Ahmed Al Neirab, 8, Mahmoud Ahmed Al Neirab, 10, Lujayn Basim Al Farra, 4, Abdel Rahman Basim Al Farra, 8, Nadeen Mahmoud Al Farra, 16, Mohammed Mahmoud Al Farra, 12, Yara Mahmoud Al Farra, 8, Maysoun Ra’fat Al Breem, 7, Haytham Ahmed Al Smeeri, 12, Raneen Ali Al Qarra, 15, Fadi Nasser Al Qawasmeh, 17, Omar Shakir Barbakh, 15, Mu’tasim Mohammed Al Najjar, 12, Nagham Shareef Al Namla, 10, Jehad Suleiman Abu Omran, 12, Khalil Ibrahim Sheikh El Eid, 4, Aya Ibrahim Sheikh El Eid, 5, Abdel Kareem Ibrahim Sheikh El Eid, 2, Hala Bassm Madi, 3, Jana Bassm Madi, 2, Yousef Ahmed Madi, 3, Ibrahim Anwar Al Sha’er, 16, Emad Ahmed Ahmed, 17, Yehia Salim Al Tarabin – Al Mahmoum, 13, Do’aa Mustafa Al Mahmoum, 4, Bisan Mustafa Al Mahmoum, 12, Heba Mustafa Al Mahmoum, 9, Obada Mustafa Al Mahmoum, 2, Asmaa’ Salim Al Tarabin – Al Mahmoum, 16, Ibrahim Suleiman Al Masri, 5, Khalid Suleiman Al Masri, 4, Mohammed Ahmed Abu Sha’ar, 17, Anas Ibrahim Hammad, 4, Mohammed Anas Arafat, 5 months, Ameer Ra’fat Zorob, 15, Odai Ra’fat Zorob, 13, Shahd Ra’fat Zorob, 10, Khalid Ra’fat Zorob, 8, Ahmed Mustafa Zorob, 15, Mohammed Musrafa Zorob, 12, Waleed Mustafa Zorob, 6, Mu’tasim Musrafa Zorob, 2, Rawan Nash’at Siyam, 8, Rami Nash’at Siyam, 15, Ameen Yousef Abu Madi, 8, Yousef Shadi abu Madi, 7, ‘Hala Shadi Abu Madi, 10 days, Aseel Sofyan Ghaith, 3, Nour Mohammed Abu ‘Assi, 1 month, Haitham Yasser Abedl Wahab, 15, Ayman Yasser Abedl Wahab, 13, Lama Yasser Abedl Wahab, 9, Mohammed Yasser Abedl Wahab, 2, Ibrahim Fathi Eeeta, 13, Ahmed Fathi Eeeta, 7, Mohammed Fathi Eeeta, 5, Ibtisam Bassam Al Neirab, 12, Doha Bassam Al Neirab, 15, Ola Bassam Al Neirab, 3, Mohammed Omar Salih, 17, Rana Raed Abu Suleiman, 10, Ahmed Rami Abu Suleiman, 2, Lama Rami Abu Suleiman, 3, Mohammed Rami Abu Suleiman, 11, Jana Rami Abu Suleiman, 3, Emad Naseem Saidam, 17, Mohammed Nidal Abu Mehsin -Al Nims, 17, Yousef Mahmoud Abu Taha, 16, Riziq Ismail Abu Taha, 1, Somoud Ahmed Al Roumi, 5, Ameen Ahmed Al Roumi, 15, Mohammed Shu’aib Al Bahabsa, 17, Rajab Abdel Rahman Al Shrafi, 9, Abdallah Abdel Hadi Al Majdalawi, 13, Rawan Ahmed Al Majdalawi, 9, Mahmoud Ahmed Al Majdalawi, 8, Ahmed Mohammed Abu Nijm-Al Masri, 17, Raghad Mohammed Nijm-Al Masri, 3, Shaimaa’ Wael Qasim, 14, Remas Salem Khattab, 5, Tareq Eid Abu Mashi, 12, Dalia Atwa Khattab, 13, Ismail Wael Al Ghoul, 14, Mustafa Wael Al Ghoul, 1 month, Malak Wael Al Ghoul, 6, Mahmoud Mohammed ‘Okal – Hejazi, 9, Mohammed As’ad ‘Okal – Hejazi, 10, Aya Mohammed Abu Rijl, 3, Monthir Mohammed Abu Rijl, 6, Saqr Bassam Al Kashif, 7, Tareq Ziyad Abu Khatleh, 15, Amr Tareq Abu Al Roos, 15, Ahmed Khalid Abu Harba, 14, Yousef Akram Al Iskafi, 16, Ismail Sameer Shallouf, 17, Muneer Khalil Abu Dbaa’, 14, Maria Mohammed Abu Jazar, 2, Firas Mohammed Abu Jazar, 2, Nour Bahjat Wahdan, 2, Ghena Younis Saqr, 2, Ahmed Hatim Wahdan, 13, Hussein Hatim Wahdan, 9, Aseel Mohammed Al Bakri, 4, Asmaa’ Mohammed Al Bakri, 4 months, Mohammed Amjad Uwaida, 13, Amal Amjad Uwaida, 5, Hammam Mohammed Abu Suheeban, 11, Kamal Ahmed Al Bakri, 4, Khalid Ziyad Al Hindi, 15, Osama Hussein Lafi, 11, Ibrahim Ahmed Al Najjar, 16, Ibrahim Zuheer Dawawsa, 10, Bilal Bassam Mish’al, 15, Mahmoud Maher Hassan, 14, Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Haddaf, 8, Mahmoud Khalid Abu Haddaf, 15, Aya Anwar Al Sha’er, 13, Ez Eddin Saleem Abu Sneima, 12, Ahmed Mohammed Al Masri, 14, Maidaa’ Mohammed Aslan, 1.5 month, Ali Mohammed Daif, 7 months, Mustafa Rabah Al Dalu, 14, Sara Mohammed Daif, 2, Nour Mahmoud Abu Haseera, 2, Maysara Ra’fat Al Louh, 10, Farah Ra’fat Al Louh, 7, Mustafa Ra’fat Al Louh, 6, Saher Mohammed Al ‘Abeet, 11, Mohammed Emad Al ‘Abeet, 15, Iman Younis Al Louh, 17, Hassan Srour Tamboura, 13, Abdallah Tareq Al Reefi, 6, Ziyad Tareq Al Reefi, 13, Omar Nasser Al Reefi, 4, Raed Ahmed Khdair, 5, Mohammed Hamdi Salim – Abu Nahl, 17, Mahmoud Tal’at Abu Shreetih, 13, Ahmed Nasser Kellab, 17, Yousef Nasser Kellab, 15, Abdallah Nasser Kellab, 9, Seba Rami Younis, 4, Abdallah Shehda Abu Dahrouj, 3, Abdel Hadi Shehda Abu Dahrouj, 2, Badr-Eddin Hashim Abu Mnee’, 17, Mohammed Wael Al Khodari, 16, Zeinab Bilal Abu Taqiya, 1, Hussein Khalid Ahmed, 8, Tasneem Issam Joudeh, 14, Raghad Issam Joudeh, 12, Mohammed Issam Joudeh, 8, Osama Issam Joudeh, 6, Ahmed Radad Tanboura, 15, Amna Radad Tanboura, 13, Lama Khader Al Nabeeh, 4, Omar Hosam Al Breem, 16, Mohammed Hosam Al Breem, 13, Daniel Tragerman, 4

January 12, 2015

Vigil for Charlie Hebdo attacks outside the ProJo offices

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About 60 people gathered outside the Providence Journal offices in Providence Sunday to hold a vigil for those killed in last week’s Charlie Hebdo terror attacks in France in which fundamentalist Muslim gunmen indiscriminately murdered cartoonists and police officers. The vigil was organized by the Alliance Française de Providence, RI in cooperation with Muslim supporters and attended by many who have been touched by the tragedy, including local artists.

The Providence Journal was chosen as the site of the vigil because organizers saw the nearly 200 year old newspaper as a strong symbol for the freedom of the press, a value shared by France and the United States.

I spoke with Dominique Gregoire, president of the local Alliance Française about the attacks, the response both here and internationally and about Charlie Hebdo.

Gregoire put the event into perspective when he told me, “This is just as if a commando came onto the set of Saturday Night Live and killed Amy Poehler and people like that.”

Walk Across Rhode Island for Peace and Justice begins today

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This morning marked the beginning of the “Walk Across Rhode Island for Peace and Justice” which began at Wilcox Park in Westerly. Inspired by the Little Rhody Peace March, the Great Salt March, the Flame Walk from Los Alamos to Hiroshima, the Dhammayietra through Cambodia, and Peace Pilgrim’s walk criss-crossing America, this walk will take place over several days and end at the Wall of Hope near Waterplace Park in Providence on September 20. This walk is being organized by the American Friends Service Committee and is part of a month’s worth of events centering on Peace.

Here is the schedule for the walk:
Thursday Sept. 11 we walk from Westerly to Charlestown.
Friday, Sept. 12 from Charlestown to Kingstown.
Saturday, Sept. 13 from Kingstown to North Kingstown.
Sunday, Sept. 14 from North Kingstown to Warwick.
Saturday, Sept. 20 from Warwick to Providence, where we join the mediation walk from Memorial Park (South Main st.) to the Wall of Hope (near Water Place Park).

Accodring to the organizers, “The walkers will be accompanied by a support vehicle that will carry backpacks, bed rolls, water and food. Each day we will walk about 10-12 miles. There will be plenty of rest stops along the way and folks can always climb in the support vehicle for a bit if needed. Each night we will gather for a dinner or potluck in a host church and have time in the evening for a program or for sharing with the local community about our walk. The host church will also offer sleeping space for those who want it.”

I was at the park this morning to witness the start of the peace walk. The mood was optimistic and meditative. I felt the weight of President Obama’s words the night before as the United States prepares to plunge once more into war.

There are better options.

September 2, 2014September 3, 2014

September is the month of Peace

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The Peace Flag Project coordinates and connects the community to events that celebrate peace during the month of September. Celebrating the Month of Peace is about working to create the Beloved Community and a Culture of Peace in our communities. A peaceful culture is one that we, as citizens, can create by how we live our lives each day.

The goal is peaceful relationships on all levels.

Our focus is on how we live with our families, friends, and community members; what kind of citizens, coworkers and colleagues we are; and, how we educate our children and work for social justice.

It is about being able to live a healthy life with meaningful work, good housing and safe neighborhoods.

It is about affirming our need for artistic expression and appreciation for culture in all its diversity.

It is about how we live on this planet and use its resources.

It is about appreciating the connection of all life physically and spiritually.

List of Events this Year

Month Long Events

Peace Flag Workshops: Providence Community Libraries, 9 Locations. https://www.provcomlib.org/peace-flag-project
Peace Art Exhibit: 9/4-9/30, M-F 9:00-5:00. Atrium Gallery, First Unitarian Church of Providence, 1 Benevolent St, Providence. https://www.facebook.com/events/1446576138943309/

Special Events

Monks of Gaden Shartse Dokhang Monastery World Peace Tour 2014-15 in RI: 9/5, 7:00PM, Talk: World Peace & Unity and 9/6, 9:00-3:30PM, Sand Mandala, Singing Bowl Meditation & More. Contact janetlarsonyoga@gmail.com for details.
Walk Across RI for Peace & Justice: 9/11-9/14, All Day. Walk from Westerly to Providence. contact myager@afsc.org, karinalutz@hotmail.com or call 508-399-66-99 for details.
Peace Art Exhibit Opening: 9/12, 5:00-6:30PM. Atrium Gallery, First Unitarian Church of Providence, 1 Benevolent St, Providence. https://www.facebook.com/events/790116501041353/
RiverFest by Day: 9/13, 12:00-4:00PM. Peace Flag Workshop. River Island Park, Woonsocket. https://www.facebook.com/events/273467949522034/
Slater Park Fall Festival: 9/13-9/14, 11:00-5:00PM. 9/14-Peace Flag Workshop. www.pawtucketartsfestival.org
Day of Honor: 9/14, 10:00-5:00PM. Peace Flag Workshop. Free Admission for Civil & Military Service, ID required. Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence. http://rwpzoo.org/
URI Kingston Celebration of UN Day of Peace: 9/18, 11:00-3:00PM. Peace Flag Workshop. URI Kingston Campus Quad, 45 Upper College Rd, Kingston. http://web.uri.edu/nonviolence/
Peace Art Exhibit: Gallery Night Providence Tour: 9/18, 5:00-9:00PM. Atrium Gallery, First Unitarian Church of Providence, 1 Benevolent St, Providence. https://www.facebook.com/events/1435631446717994/
PARK(ing) Day Providence: 9/19, 8:00-4:00PM. Peace Flag Workshop. Parking Space at 347 Broadway, Providence at the intersection of Broadway and Knight St. https://www.facebook.com/events/1517020778510105/
Voices for Peace Concert: 9/19, 7:00PM. The Avenue Concept, 304 Lockwood St, Providence. https://www.facebook.com/events/1452773641674969/
37th Annual Heritage Day Festival: 9/20, 12:00-6:00PM. Peace Flag Workshop. Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 N Main St, Providence. http://www.preservation.ri.gov/heritage/
Peace Walk: 9/20, 3:00-6:00PM. Walk from Memorial Park, 121 S Main St to Union Station Plaza, Providence. https://www.facebook.com/events/1467894193485457/
First Works Urban Carnivale: 9/20, 6:00PM. The Providence Rink at the Bank of America City Center, 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence. http://bit.ly/1jKB2MD
United Nations International Day of Peace: 9/21, All Day. http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/
Interfaith Peace Gathering: 9/21, 12:00PM. Unitarian Congregation of South County, 27 North Rd, Peace Dale.
Aurea Presents Not About Heroes: 9/21, 7:30PM. Slater Mill, Pawtucket. http://www.pawtucketartsfestival.org/events/September/21/2014/aurea
RI for Community and Justice Peace Festival: 9/23, 6:00-7:30PM. URI Providence, Paff Auditorium, 80 Washington St, Providence. www.ricj.org

More information about all of the RI Month of Peace events: http://thepeaceflagproject.org/peace-month-events-sept-2014/

August 30, 2014August 30, 2014

Solidarity, from Ferguson to Palestine

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Since no one interested in social, economic or environmental justice was getting anywhere near the mansion in Newport where President Obama is attending a $32,000 a plate political fundraiser, (in which the 1% will purchase access to the government the rest of us will never know) anti-war activists gathered in Providence, at Burnside Park, to call some small measure of attention to issues that matter.

The response to Obama took place after the Gazan Solidarity Rally, which has been running weekly since Israel’s most recent military siege. As one peace event ended the next seamlessly began. In all about thirty people attended the two events.

The protesters spoke to passersby, handing out flyers that elucidated the similarities between the situation in Gaza under Israeli occupation and conditions in Ferguson, MS in the wake of the shooting death of Mike Brown, an unarmed black man. The list of demands made by the Providence protesters included stopping the war on Gaza, stopping police brutality in communities of color, ending all U.S. aid to Israel, ending U.S. military incursions in the Middle East, ending NSA spying on private citizens, and ending the militarization of the police.

“One reason for our choice of locale,” said Paul Hubbard, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Antiwar Committee, “is that President Obama will be fund-raising among the 1% at a secluded, ocean-front mansion in Newport. The other 99% of his constituents will probably be unable to catch even a glimpse of him, due to the blocked roads and high security surrounding his brief visit. This situation strikingly symbolizes the truth about which groups the U.S. government is really serving.”

Rallies like this seem small and inconsequential when stacked up against $32,000 fund raisers and the corporatization of the military and the militarization of the police, but such rallies offer up another way of thinking about the world and another way of being.

What is being offered is peace, and the courage to embrace it.

Poet and activist Jared Paul read his six-part, “Apartheid Then, Apartheid Now” which you can watch on video below:

August 26, 2014

Video: Common ground found at Israel/Gaza forum

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The one thing that virtually everyone who attended last night’s forum, Understanding the Israel/Gaza Crisis, is that the subject is extremely difficult to talk about without extreme emotions hijacking the discourse. Many of us, said moderator Reverend Donald Anderson, executive minister for the RI Council of Churches, have family or friends living in harms way in Israel or Palestine, so this is a hard topic to not take personally.

These concerns did not stop Rabbi Jim Rosenberg, retired spiritual leader of Temple Habonim in Barrington, or Martha Yager, of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), from wading into such treacherous waters as they engaged in an open dialog exploring many sides of the complex issue. Sponsored by the East Bay Citizens for peace, over eighty people attended the event and many posed challenging and interesting questions.

Rabbi Rosenberg began the forum by reading from a piece he had written for the Jewish Voice entitled, “What happens to a dream deferred?” written when the present conflict was just getting under way and the death toll was not quite so high. Rosenberg finds hope in “human solidarity” expressed in small actions of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. “…most Palestinian Arabs and most Israeli Jews contain overflowing reservoirs of human compassion,” he said. “The current nightmare has been brought about by the failure of decent citizens and their governments to condemn and to curb the actions of the lunatic fringe of both societies.”

Martha Yager, who recently visited Gaza as part of an AFSC staff visit sees the issue through a pacifist lens. She decried the militarization of the Israeli economy and pointed out that Palestine is not technically a nation. It is difficult for what passes as government in Palestine to provide national leadership. The occupation of Palestine by Israel is pervasive, and any move towards peace, according to Yager, must begin with an understanding that the occupation is itself a form of violence. “People have a right to resistance,” she declared.

The questions from the audience were pointed. A lawyer specializing in human rights work asked Rosenberg if he believed that Israel, with its greater military and political power had an obligation to use its power to end the occupation. Rosenberg did not hold out hope for an end to this conflict in his lifetime, or in the lifetime of his children. Another audience member took issue with Yager because she had not, in the audience member’s opinion, pointedly condemned the actions of Hamas. Yager assured the audience that she is no friend to Hamas, describing the political party’s rise to power as a protest vote on the part of the Palestinian people.

What might be most surprising to those who follow the terrible and seemingly perpetual tragedy in the Middle East is how much common ground actually exists. Both sides in the conflict and everybody present at the forum last night want peace. Only the most extreme elements on both sides deny that the two state solution provides the best hope for peace.

You can watch the entire forum here:

August 24, 2014

Forum: Understanding the Israel-Gaza Crisis

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The ongoing state of war between Israel and Palestine that periodically erupts into catastrophic death and destruction does not easily lend itself to rational, compassionate discourse. Those who venture into this subject do so at the risk of being labeled apologists for genocide, accomplices to terrorism or some other conversation stopping label. Who are the brave souls willing to navigate these treacherous waters in Rhode Island?

Martha Yager, program coordinator for the Southeast New England office of the American Friends Service Committee, and Rabbi Jim Rosenberg, retired spiritual leader of Temple Habonim in Barrington, will discuss these views in forum on Monday, August 25, 7pm at the Barrington Public Library, 281 County Road (Rte. 114) in Barrington. The forum will be moderated by the Reverend Don Anderson, Executive Minister for the RI Council of Churches.

A time for questions and answers will follow the forum, which is sponsored by the East Bay Citizens for Peace, and the American Friends Service Committee. This forum is free and open to the public.

Any donations will be much appreciated.

August 10, 2014August 10, 2014

As the ceasefire fizzles: A rally for peace in PVD

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Even as the ceasefire in Gaza broke down and violence resumed, forty activists gathered in downtown Providence yesterday to make the case for peace. The event was organized by Afsc-Sene. Check the link for future events.

August 2, 2014August 2, 2014

Rally in Providence stands with peace

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On Friday afternoon Providence joined cities around the world holding a rallies calling for an end to hostilities in Gaza. The local event, outside the Federal building in Downtown, across from Kennedy Plaza, was hosted by the American Friends Service Committee and attended by activists from several local groups, including Occupy Providence and East Bay Citizens for Peace. Those in attendance were against both the war as it is being perpetrated by Israel and the continued funding of Israel’s military by the United States.

In a long conversation with Kevin, one of the protesters, we talked about how sad it is that being against war is an unpopular political position. Certainly everyone talks about wanting peace, but how many are committed to disarmament, and the cessation of military sales and preventing the development of new weapons systems?

I maintain that agitating for peace is more courageous than advocating for war.

Members of three other groups were also in attendance: The Providence Police Department, the United States Marshall Service and Homeland Security were all on hand, apparently to make sure that peace activists don’t get out of hand and do… peaceful things…

I don’t know why so much law enforcement needed to be there, actually.

Another rally is scheduled for next Friday at 4pm.

July 24, 2014July 24, 2014

Emergency Solidarity Rally in support of Israel

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The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island held an “Emergency Solidarity Rally” on Wednesday night at the JCC on Elmgrove Avenue in Providence in support of the State of Israel during the present military crisis in Gaza.

The event was marked by prayers and songs from religious leaders as well as reports from Naomi Sommer, an Israeli teen staying Providence and Maor Mintz, who lives in a Kibbutz only a mile or so outside Gaza. Both spoke about the difficulties of living under the threat of rocket attacks and of the fear for their loved ones back home.

Opinions on the policies pursued by the State of Israel in Gaza were mixed. While virtually all of the four hundred people present felt that Israel has a right to defend itself and wished for a peaceful settlement to the current war, there were some disagreements among the attendees as to what exactly Israel’s course of action should be. As Marty Cooper, director of the Community Relations Council pointed out, in a room of 400 people there are probably 800 opinions about Israel in regard to the current crisis.

Rabbi Sarah Mack, president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island, prefaced her opening prayer for peace with the observation that, “We stand with Israel in all its shades of gray.”

Rabbi Michelle Dardashti explored some of the darker shades of gray when she read a poem that explored the suffering of first the Israeli and then the Gazan people. Dardashti told the crowd that, “It’s easier for us to hear the first part of [the poem] about our people suffering, and it’s very scary and hard for us to look at the images of the Gazans crying and bleeding and suffering. We do have a right and an obligation to defend ourselves, and we also have an obligation, I believe, to defend our hearts from hardening.”

In response, there were a very few cries of “No!” as some in the crowd refused the Rabbi’s call for compassion.

Still, as Rabbi Dardashti led those assembled in a prayer for peace, all but a very few stood in prayer with her. In the end, at this rally for solidarity, compassionate hearts prevailed.

Would that such hearts could prevail in the Middle East.