Grand Rapids, Michigan

Peace Presence

Replace Fear with Hope

by Ilene Van Bruggen

My everyday wish for everyone, including President Bush, is a world of a secure, just and lasting peace. I am one of the “strange” group called Peace Presence which vigils with signs every Monday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the northeast corner of Division and Fulton.

In my view, the concept that war can eventually bring peace is a myth. Do we suppose the victims among the Afghanis, Iraqis, Palestinians and Israelis know the outcome of war as peace? Are not the mothers of many of our own victimized soldiers apt to severely question our own nation’s version of patriotism? Genuine peace can only come by way of peaceful means.

My convictions were not the same during the Viet Nam era when I blindly trusted every word that was said about the spread of Communism. I can now see that the fear of Communism and today’s fear of terrorism has rallied tremendous support for war and for keeping the weapons industry in business.

People of the USA, is not our time long overdue for us to overcome our fears and then to replace them with hope? I suggest we base our hopes on love’s rule, the Golden Rule. Imagine not doing to other nations as we would not want other nations to do to us. Imagine doing to other nations as we would want other nations to do to us. Imagine the USA as a peace-loving nation!

Do we help make such dreams a reality or do we continue down a spiraling staircase of moral decay? Is not the choice left up to all of us?

My favorite signs from Peace Presence are, “God Bless All Nations” and “Wish You All World Peace (Bush Too).” We can be found at www.peacepresence.org.

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