Creating a Culture of Peace

"In the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School last December, NRA head Wayne LaPierre famously quipped that the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. I guess no one told Antoinette Tuff, who just yesterday prevented a standoff with a gunman from turning into another tragedy using only the power of her words."  Read more of the blog post here. New York Times article here.

Elliott Adams, former President, Veterans for Peace, and Creating a Culture of Peace board member, is in the fourth week of a hunger strike to close Guantanamo.

He plans to hold to his hunger strike until he feels enough Americans care enough to start a self-sustaining movement. "The government is afraid of losing votes," he said. 'If everyone in this country wanted the prison shut down, it would be, regardless of any law." As his strike continues, Adams said his progress will eventually be posted on closeguantanamo.org."

Most everyone, Christians and people from all faiths and no faith, know the line from the Beatitudes in the Gospel According to Matthew, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” (Mt. 5:9) It has been a scripture lifted up by those committed to making peace for over two thousand years. Sometimes people forget that is the seventh step in what former executive of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, Jim Forest called, “The Ladder of the Beatitudes”. For Jim, these passages were in a specific order for spiritual work. The belief lies in that all journeys must start with powerlessness. Whether you are taking the first step in recovery and realizing you are powerless in relationship to addiction or sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing, “Blessed are the poor in the Spirit.” (Mt. 5:3) Becoming a peacemaker does not happen overnight or even at will in the right moment. Peacemaking is deliberate and designed. Peacemaking is organized and strategic. Peacemaking is purposeful and positive.

The Sun Chronicle, Tuesday, January 15, 2013: On Jan. 1, I began a 30-day fast to encourage our nation and leaders to embrace the values and commitment to nonviolence exemplified by the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I propose a National Day of Prayer and Reflection on individual and collective responsibility for violence; the appointment of a National Advisory Commission on the Causes of Violence in America; incorporating nonviolence education into elementary and secondary school curricula; a study on the history and causes of violence; and a commitment by faith communities to teach forgiveness and unconditional love.
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A timely message from Maulana Karanga, the creator of Kwanzaa, about violence and peace. --Toni McClendon, CCP Board Member

Los Angeles Sentinel, December 27, 2012, p. A-6: The savage and senseless massacre of 26 people, 20 children and 6 adults, at an elementary school in Connecticut has once again forced the country to face a random rage and murderous rampage which allows no exemption for innocence of age, non-involvement or accidental presence. Indeed, it extends no respect to person or place, striking with cold-blooded calculation at movies, malls, religious sanctuaries and schools, and in big cities, small towns, so-called nice neighborhoods and mean streets, offering security and peace of mind to no one. But no matter how often it happens, it is a shocking and shattering experience, and a reminder of the continuing and problematic presence of violence as both an inadequately discussed legacy and continuing life-experience in this country and in its conception of overwhelming armed power as a personal and national existential need.

It is with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation that we announce the retirement of our founding Executive Director, Janet Chisholm, on May 31, 2012.

More than 12 years ago, Janet envisioned the possibilities that would emerge from a national nonviolence training organization. She created the curriculum that is at the heart of our work, thus giving birth to this organization that is becoming a national movement. We would, simply, not be here without her leadership, her vision and her dedication.