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Spirit & Stardust Citizens across the United States are
now uniting in a great cause to establish a Department of Peace, seeking
nothing less than the transformation of our society, to make non-violence
an organizing principle, to make war archaic through creating a paradigm
shift in our culture for human development, for economic and political
justice and for violence control. Its work in violence control will
be to support disarmament, treaties, peaceful coexistence and peaceful
consensus building. Its focus on economic and political justice will
examine and enhance resource distribution, human and economic rights
and strengthen democratic values. Domestically, the Department of Peace
would address violence in the home, spousal abuse, child abuse, gangs,
police-community relations conflicts and work with individuals and groups
to achieve changes in attitudes that examine the mythologies of cherished
world views, such as 'violence is inevitable' or 'war is inevitable'.
Thus it will help with the discovery of new selves and new paths toward
peaceful consensus. The Department of Peace will also address
human development and the unique concerns of women and children. It
will envision and seek to implement plans for peace education, not simply
as a course of study, but as a template for all pursuits of knowledge
within formal educational settings. Violence is not inevitable. War is not
inevitable. Nonviolence and peace are inevitable. We can make of this
world a gift of peace which will confirm the presence of universal spirit
in our lives. We can send into the future the gift which will protect
our children from fear, from harm, from destruction. Carved inside the pediment which sits
atop the marble columns is a sentinel at the entrance to the United
States House of Representatives. Standing resolutely inside this "Apotheosis
of Democracy" is a woman, a shield by her left side, with her outstretched
right arm protecting a child happily sitting at her feet. The child
holds the lamp of knowledge under the protection of this patroness.
This wondrous sculpture by Paul Wayland
Bartlett, is entitled "Peace Protecting Genius". Not with
nuclear arms, but with a loving maternal arm is the knowing child Genius
shielded from harm. This is the promise of hope over fear. This is the
promise of love which overcomes all. This is the promise of faith which
overcomes doubt. This is the promise of light which overcomes darkness.
This is the promise of peace which overcomes war. Check out Dennis's Action Center for
Peace at |
“This wondrous sculpture by Paul Wayland Bartlett, is entitled "Peace Protecting Genius". Not with nuclear arms, but with a loving maternal arm is the knowing child Genius shielded from harm.” |
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