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8 Oct 2002 @ 17:58, by Sandi Hunter
Subject: Stand for Peace
PLEASE PASS IT ON
WE STAND UNITED
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MEN AND WOMEN ARE BEING CALLED TO STAND AS PEACEHOLDERS ON
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, AND TELL THE U.S. SENATE NOT TO PASS THE RESOLUTION
LETTING THE PRESIDENT ATTACK IRAQ.
WE ARE CALLED TO STAND IN SILENCE AROUND THE FEDERAL BUILDINGS AND THE OFFICES
OF OUR U. S. SENATORS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY-AND ESPECIALLY AROUND THE CAPITOL
BUILDING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
WE ARE CALLED TO STAND AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS FAMILIES, AS MEMBERS OF CHURCHES
AND OF SYNAGOGUES, TEMPLES, AND MOSQUES. WE ARE CALLED TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THOSE SENATORS WHO SEEK A HIGHER GROUND TO PREVENT THE RESOLUTION'S
PASSAGE--AND ESPECIALLY IF SENATOR BYRD'S FILIBUSTER TAKES PLACE. WE ARE
CALLED TO STAND UNITED, AS AMERICANS HOLDING A VISION OF PEACE.
TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS STAND IN SILENCE FOR PEACE:
-FORWARD THIS BULLETIN to everyone in your network, telephoning those
without email ;
-forward it to your Senators and Congressmen and local media, to let them
know you'll be there;
-find out where your local federal building is, or your Senator's office
(they're in the phone book), or, if you have the means, get to the Capitol
building in Washington, D.C.;
-ARRANGE TO SPEND AS MUCH OF THURSDAY AS POSSIBLE STANDING (or sitting if
health is an issue) around your chosen site; if you can only stand for a lunch
hour, great; if you can be there for the full day, great;
- PRINT OUT SOME COPIES OF THIS BULLETIN to take with you and hand them to
the spokesperson to share with others (you can copy the text without the names
and dates and print it).
-DRESS APPROPRIATELY: WOMEN WEAR BLACK AND MEN WEAR WHITE, for spirit-to
distinguish the silent vigil of Peaceholding from any other demonstrations
that may be happening;
-feel free to JOIN THE GROUP AND LEAVE IT AS YOU NEED, honoring your own
being as you call on the government to honor all life.
When standing, PLEASE HONOR THESE GUIDELINES:
- WEAR BLACK IF A WOMAN OR WHITE IF A MAN (distinguishes our silent stand
from all other demonstrations that might be going on around us)
-with the group, CHOOSE ONE SPOKESPERSON to answer all questions and hand
out flyers during the stand;
-STAND SILENTLY, holding a vision of peace for your self, the community, and
the world;
-stay out of the way so you DO NOT OBSTRUCT OR INTERFERE WITH ANYBODY else
during the stand.
By standing together we unite in expressing to our leaders that reverence for
life on the planet demands alternatives to war: Wisdom now must guide us to
find new ways to resolve our conflicts. Silence allows us to be a witness,
seeing the consequences of war. In silence we stop and let the Spirit that is
expressed in all life help us be more creative and mature. By wearing black
(or for men, white), we identify ourselves as nonviolent holders of peace,
distinguishing ourselves from those who would shout or act out their emotions.
WE STAND UNITED
THE TRADITION
As participants in this Stand in Silence for Peace, we are part of the larger
tradition of Mahatma Gandhi, Rev. Martin Luther King, Aung Sang Sun Kyi, the
Women in Black, and others who have changed the world by peaceful, nonviolent
action.
As Peaceholders--men and women joined together in holding a vision of peace
for ourselves, our communities, and our world--we stand united with thousands
of others over the years whose prayers and dreams and actions have been the
same.
WOMEN IN BLACK
Women in Black stand in silent vigil, wearing black in remembrance of those
lost to violence, holding a vision of peace. Begun in 1988 by Israeli and
Palestinian women in the Gaza Strip, Women in Black organized and were
effective in South Africa and Belgrade during the '90s, as well. They stand
where they can be seen without impeding normal activities. They stand
silently, each group appointing a single spokesperson to answer questions and
hand out flyers (such as this bulletin) explaining who they are and what
they're doing.
MEN WEARING WHITE
Men Wearing White is a separate-but-related movement, standing for peace on
their own, or joining Women in Black as Peaceholders when the need is for
solidarity--as on Oct.10. Though many men have wanted to join Women in Black
over the years in standing for peace, it has not worked. Women, representing
the feminine, receptive spirit, need a voice of their own and too often give
way to the active, enthusiastic voices of men in their group.
Men Wearing White standing with Women in Black represent the black-and-white
clarity that is needed at this critical point in our history, reflecting the
yin and yang balance our world needs. The request of Men Wearing White is that
they honor the guidelines and traditions of Women in Black when standing with
them--this means standing in silent vigil holding a vision of peace.
THE POSSIBILITY
Most of us who have participated in such a vigil have felt our souls touched
and choose to stand regularly as Peaceholders, as part of our spiritual
practice or religious faith. If you feel this way, ask the spokesperson on
Oct10 when and where a regular stand is held. If there is none, or you need a
different schedule, feel free to start a new stand using the following
guidelinesâ?¦
WE STAND UNITED
TO CREATE A REGULAR PEACEHOLDING VIGIL
1. contact the concerned, spirit-filled men and women you know and tell them
about your experience and desire to continue it;
2. with those who are interested, select a time and place where you'll be seen
but won't impede normal activities (e.g., 5:30 Wednesdays on the Courthouse
steps; 1st & 3d Mondays at noon in the town square);
3. make a sign that says some version of: We stand united as Peaceholders
standing in silent vigil holding a vision of peace for this community and the
world;
4. make up a couple dozen flyers using the relevant information from this
bulletin and including when and where you will be standing;
5. dress comfortably and use umbrellas and stools as needed for health-do
choose to wear black or white, the psychological effect is important;
6. Show up when and where you've agreed, with your sign and flyers;
7. with the group, decide who will be spokesperson, offering to answer
questions and hand out flyers and who will say when the time for standing is
over;
8. maintain a comfortable silence as you stand and feel peace radiating
through you and out to the world around you;
9. when the time is over, acknowledge each other and, as a group, decide who
will take the sign and flyers and bring them back next time;
10. ask everyone who stood with you to contact everyone they know to join you
next time, get phone numbers or email addresses of those who are willing and
create a "phone tree," and reply to this email so everyone can be reached
when important times come, like 10-10, to stand in large masses.
KNOW THAT BEING PEACE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO EXPERIENCE IT in the world
around you--and give thanks each day for the peace that is present in your
life today.
The Blessings of Peace, in your heart and your world, be yours always---
from the members of the
Peaceholders Network
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Category: Projects
3 comments
8 Oct 2002 @ 18:56 by istvan : Had enough of marching?
Good idea, standing has a magical sort of quality. Let 's stand in memory of peace.
8 Oct 2002 @ 23:09 by rishi : The Spirit
The spirit of the standing or marching is what is being cultivated. It's like a part of the mind of the world, subconsciously giving the rest of the mind an indicator of both danger and the need for revolution...
9 Oct 2002 @ 01:38 by jazzolog : While Standing Or Marching
Be sure to SING! Even join hands.
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