a center for education and non-violent action on issues relating to human rights, economic justice, environmental sustainability, and nonviolence
Donations to the Peace House can be sent to
2912 N. Robinson, Oklahoma City, OK 73103
PEACE ACTION NETWORKING MEETING
Saturday (September 4)
at The Peace Education Institute, 11404 N. Midwest Blvd.
9:15 coffee, juice, fruit
9:30 - 10:30 - MEET
Bring calendar items.
THE RISE OF THE REASONABLE MAJORITY
By Nathaniel Batchelder
For thirty years, Americans have watched - or supported - a march toward larger military spending; tax cuts benefiting largely the wealthy and budget cuts for programs serving vulnerable people; deregulation of banking and financial industries; support for global trade treaties and the exodus of tens of millions of American jobs to poorly paid workers in developing countries; deregulation of corporate responsibilities to the environment and their workers; a series of foreign military adventures clearly reflecting America’s addiction to oil and unholy faith in military-industrial might; etc., etc., etc.
In Oklahoma, the drift has been toward government heavily influenced by narrow religious and political perspectives. Our state had laws prohibiting gay marriage but passed a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage - a Trojan Horse strategy turning our Legislature over to radical right-wingers. Gone are our mental health facilities, so our mentally ill now fill our jails and prisons. Cut are drug and alcohol treatment facilities which will result, again, in greater costs as untreated addicts and alcoholics wind up in prison. Our state incarcerates more women per capita than any other state or nation in the world. Our public schools, once the best in the world, and teachers’ salaries, are cut to the detriment of our children’s education and future. And our Legislature has passed half a dozen laws thrusting government between every woman and her private reproductive decisions.
The daily drumbeat of national radio shock jocks would have us fear or dislike all those they say are “the problem” in America – including Hispanic immigrants, Muslims, homosexuals, feminists, labor advocates, environmentalists, liberals, and even our president, who they say is not an American, is a socialist, and wants “death care” to kill your grandparents.
THE REASONABLE MAJORITY of Americans reel in dismay at this smallness of vision and selfishness of politics. We seek a world in which all nations collaborate for the protection of the planet and all its living inhabitants; where the rich graciously pay their fair share to support programs serving the less fortunate; where every child is wanted and has access to educational springboards to a better life; where every person is secure in access to basic health care and a dignified retirement; where people of all races, cultures and religions are received and welcomed with grace and dignity; where corporations are regulated to meet responsibilities to the environment and their workers; where banking and finance are regulated to prevent greed and malice from causing economic meltdowns that destroy savings and retirement hopes.
ANTI-MUSLIM DEMONSTRATIONS ARE NOT HELPING!
General Petraeus is pursuing a strategy to win the hearts and minds of the people in Afghanistan, already suspicious of US intentions after nine years of war. Anti-Muslim demonstrations in America are assuredly reported on TV news throughout the Middle East, endangering the US mission there, even endangering our troops.
Christians would not want to be blamed for wars waged by predominantly Christian nations, like Germany in WWII. We would say, “Those were not Christian wars,” even though Germany’s Christian churches were nearly unanimous in supporting Germany’s war efforts.
Muslims, like Christians, are largely peace-loving generous people, who should not be the butt of “Muslim jokes” or the target of venom from those who make generalizations about whole religions or nations because of the actions of a few. Such expressions are beneath our dignity as sinners ourselves, and should be decried as un-American by national leaders.
Those fomenting fear and loathing of Muslims damage America’s stature and reputation in the world, and undermine America’s military and political objectives in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Muslim Mosque Flap Absurd
The vile national flap over the proposed Muslim community center in New York City is a transparent campaign to incite hostility towards a religious community and all who speak in support of their Constitutional rights as citizens of the USA.
The property in question was purchased before the 9/11 attacks, is a full three blocks from "ground zero," and cannot even be seen from the ground zero memorial.
The vast majority of Muslims in America are as peace-loving as most Christians. They should not be held accountable for the violent actions of the 9/11 terrorists, any more than most Christians should be held accountable for extremist Christians who murder abortion doctors.
Shame on national radio jocks Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and the rest, for constantly instilling fear and hatred among listeners with groundless charges, unsubstantiated rumors, and outright deceptions that are divisive and destructive to civil life and reasoned dialogue in America.
