April 04, 2003
yes, i would call for peace.

someone made a good point-- about whether if it were *my* family who were being tortured, killed, etc.. would i still feel the same?

yes, i would. in fact my mother and i have spoken about this very issue.. whether it is one of us who dies in a terrorist act, what kind of reaction the other would want. both of us agreed-- NON-VIOLENCE. my mother is in ethiopia, she travels there to visit my stepfather. i am in greece right now. i went as far to write a statement to be released to the press in case i die in a terrorist act. i also asked my immediate family to do something they normall wouldn't-- be active. call for non-violence, for it is my name in which they would be acting. my mother, father and brother all agreed. and if my mother is to die? i will speak on behalf of her, because she and i have talked about it.

now, how am i working towards non-violence? i am a member of a non-violence group in eugene. i am studying gandhi and his principles of satyagraha. gandhi was a man ahead of his time, of this time. i look towards the dalai lama as my example. we can all work towards this, if only you believe. a couple of good non-violence links: the m.k. gandhi institute for non-violence and the dalai lama. further i highly recommend the conquest of violence: the gandhian philosophy of conflict by joan bondurant. that and gandhi's auto-biography are the 2 best reads on satyagraha. and yes, non-violence works.. it worked to free the people of india from the empire of the british. but it only works if you believe in it.. if you choose to give into violence you only continue the cycle.

and on that note. i'm outta here.

Posted by brooke at 02.26.02 PM

yes, i would call for peace.

someone made a good point-- about whether if it were *my* family who were being tortured, killed, etc.. would i still feel the same?

yes, i would. in fact my mother and i have spoken about this very issue.. whether it is one of us who dies in a terrorist act, what kind of reaction the other would want. both of us agreed-- NON-VIOLENCE. my mother is in ethiopia, she travels there to visit my stepfather. i am in greece right now. i went as far to write a statement to be released to the press in case i die in a terrorist act. i also asked my immediate family to do something they normall wouldn't-- be active. call for non-violence, for it is my name in which they would be acting. my mother, father and brother all agreed. and if my mother is to die? i will speak on behalf of her, because she and i have talked about it.

now, how am i working towards non-violence? i am a member of a non-violence group in eugene. i am studying gandhi and his principles of satyagraha. gandhi was a man ahead of his time, of this time. i look towards the dalai lama as my example. we can all work towards this, if only you believe. a couple of good non-violence links: the m.k. gandhi institute for non-violence and the dalai lama. further i highly recommend the conquest of violence: the gandhian philosophy of conflict by joan bondurant. that and gandhi's auto-biography are the 2 best reads on satyagraha. and yes, non-violence works.. it worked to free the people of india from the empire of the british. but it only works if you believe in it.. if you choose to give into violence you only continue the cycle.

and on that note. i'm outta here.

Posted by brooke at 02.20.47 PM

April 03, 2003
various anti-war ramblings from athens, greece.

so, people don't like my views. you tell me that i shouldn't be ashamed to be an american. well.. i'd probably have a longer response if i weren't being timed..

but. i was told not admit to being an american when i came here. once i got on that plane, and except for passport control, i was told to be canadian. i said fuck that-- i'm out. so, because i'm out i get various responses. and yes, i look at the pictures from al-jezzera and abu dhabi.. and now i hear that north korea is pissed that south korea has sent troops to iraq. and all this could start a world war. and i'm in fucking greece, not tucked away safely on the other side of the atlantic (actually closer to north korea) with my loved ones.

skala had a summer camp type of feel. i was there before camp
started. the counselors preparing for the campers to come in, painting
and hammering, readying for the season to start. areti's cafe a hangout
after a hard days work done. areti's cafe a place to let the hair down--
so to speak. i only imagine late at night when the campers are all
there-- a secret hideaway after a long day of touristing. a place where
not only the painters and the proprietors can let loose, but also areti
and george when they all come in. a different kind of friendliness, a
familiarity that all their livelihoods depend on the money of the
tourists, most from countries richer than this one.

i will carry the rock areti gave me-- it is the most valuable souvenir i
have. i will arrive home next wednesday with the good and the bad about
this trip and i will tell of skala and the kindness and the true highlight
of *any* trip to greece.

but my heart leads me off this island. it leads me home. i have 6 days
left, i know, but i must get closer. i think i understand, though i am
not sure.

and i want to remind people that it is the USA that put the taliban in power, that trained ol osama, that put noriega in and then took him out. sadaam is a bad dude, but it is not our responsibility to be the world's police.

i believe this and only this. it is our repsonsiblity as humans to look at means of non-violence. it is our responsibility as fellow human beings to extend caring and compassion. it is not our responsibility to police the world with views that others might not very well agree with, with forms of government that others might not want. it is not our responsibility as humans to be violent towards others just because we have the might. it is our responsiblity to go beyond that.

for those who continue to think that this is about saving the people of iraq, i feel sorry for you. that was the same propoganda that was given about afghanistan and maybe you should read up on how things are going there. or how about the people of eithopia, if we give such a damn why isn't that making such big news? or or or? or why the fuck doesn't the USA give a damn about how the women of saudi arabia are treated, or that the vast majority of the terrorists who blew up the WTC were saudi? answer those questions for me.

but i. i don't give a flying fuck.. what i care about is not being nestled over there. what i care about is the voices of what i have heard here, voices of compassion and reason. voices of those who honestly care..

if you care so much, then start figuring out a way past the violence. there is NEVER ever a need for violence.

Posted by brooke at 02.57.39 PM