Cindy Sheehan and the 2000th Death

In his piece, Early Warning,a few days ago, William Arkin pretty much drills Cindy a new one. It was interesting because I had been wondering where she's been and what the plan is. Arkins piece didn't help. The highlight for me was when he quotes her: Cindy says: "I'm kinda addicted to getting arrested." Arkin says: "As soon as the casualty number tops 2,000, the grieving mother says she's going to tie herself to a White House fence and refuse to leave until President Bush agrees to bring home the troops."

And indeed, She Did !

So the piece prompted me to post this. Previously posted at Big Orange as The Something" She Can Do. Over there, it got zero response - I hope it does better here.

"The Something" She Can Do

Every idea, every dream begins with a single voice. As the idea is passed from one voice to the next, what began as a solitary song can grow into a rich, full chorus. Likewise, our most cherished family traditions begin with a single memory, but as we recall them again and again and pass them along, they grow into strong, enduring customs and then become a family’s collective way of thinking.

Might it be possible then that a yearning for peace in this world could grow into a way of thinking for all of God’s family, a collective change in perception, so that society no longer views war as being acceptable?

I have been told that I cannot change anything. Whenever this happens, I remind myself of what Helen Keller said, “Yes, I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something I can do.� It’s true. No one can do everything. And maybe in using my single voice I will never change anything. But like Helen Keller I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. And the something that I can do is to be an advocate for peace.

Imagine that you are never told you cannot change anything, but instead you are lifted up and reminded that there is incredible power in one voice. Instead of being discouraged, you are heartened by words of encouragement that tell you to speak up. Instead of being ridiculed, you are told to stand up and let peace begin with you. And instead of being shunned and cut off, you are given love, respect, and permission to sing out loud and told that your voice for peace will be passed on to a friend. Yes, it is only one voice but one voice can swell into a huge harmony that strengthens with each repetition.

I know that Christ is the embodiment of peace. And I know He did not care if He was rejected, ridiculed, and shunned and neither do I care. Either I am for Christ or I am not. Either I am for peace on earth or I am not. And so it is in my humble attempt to serve and imitate Him, that I am obliged to ask myself this question: How is it that I would call myself His follower and then not decry the slaughter of any person at the hands of another?

Then I conclude- It’s a foolish society that sits idly by with a government claiming Christ as its own while it plans and devastates a country and then tries to rebuild it, but can't bring itself to end hunger and homelessness and provide basic healthcare for its own children.

It is for that foolishness that I am now further empowered to rejoice in the hope for peace with the single voice God has given me. If I am an advocate for peace, war ends for me today! And when society can rise above its aggressive, intolerant way of thinking, open its collective heart to let peace enter, stand up and say, “no more�, then war ends.

A.J. Muste said, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.� For society to understand this will require a leap in consciousness necessary for us to act as Christ did when He said, “love your enemy.� He teaches us that humility is a virtue befitting sinners. It is humility that demonstrates to us our place before God- and it is that same humility what should mitigate any conflict between human beings. Imagine that we all use that humility to make a collective declaration that peace is more satisfying to us than war and that war is no longer acceptable. And that is how we will achieve peace in the world- one voice at a time. Imagine, Peace as a way of life- not a result of war. What’s the something you can do?

Peace.