The May/June and July/August issues of the Oklahoma Peace Strategy News will be combined for a special Summer 2013 issue to be published in early June.
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Sent the following letter to eight newspapers in Oklahoma. Hope you will call the Governor about this.
Oklahoma needs the federally-funded expansion of Medicaid that Governor Mary Fallin is refusing. It would extend Medicaid to some 150,000 Sooners currently not insured. She says Oklahoma cannot afford it, but it is 100% federally funded the first three years, then Oklahoma begins to pick up a maximum of 10% of the cost. Oklahoma will benefit from a half billion dollars every year by investing only 10% of the federal cost.
Others say Oklahoma should not encumber the federal government the half billion dollars a year to fund it. But Oklahoma already receives $25 billion from the federal government every year for highways, military bases, public education, etc., etc. Nobody suggests refusing that. Medicaid expansion is a national program to benefit every state, and Oklahoma should be one of them.
If we don’t take Medicaid expansion, Oklahoma taxes will pay for other states that do take it. It is an offer we can’t refuse. Governor Fallin needs to hear from the people that she should change her mind. Call her at 405-521-2342.
Lawrence Wilkerson with Hal Spake and Nathaniel Batchelder
On Feb. 5 and 6, Col Wilkerson visited Central Oklahoma, speaking at several events.
On Feb. 5, he was the guest of the University of Central Oklahoma, and his speech at the Nigh University Center, attended by over 100 students and local residents, was entitled “We Need Not be Enemies: Iran the the U.S. in the 21st Century.”
The talk was followed by a lively question and answer period. The talk was filmed by UCO and is provided here courtesy on the school’s Youtube channel.
Speech by Col. Larry Wilkerson at UCO on Feb. 5, 2013
On Wednesday, Feb. 6 Col. Wilkerson joined members of Americans Against the Next War for a morning press conference at the Oklahoma State Capitol, emceed by AANW’s Nathaniel Batchelder of the Oklahoma City Peace House. His remarks about U. S. foreign policy in the Middle East and around the world serve as a call for a new perspective by Americans, whose spirits and coffers are drained by more than 10 years of ceaseless war. A different future is possible, if we heed that call.
At noon on Wednesday, he made visit to the OU campus for a lunchtime discussion with students, and locals yet more of his experience on the world scene and hard-earned wisdom of politics and diplomacy. That event was sponsored by the College of International Studies and the OU Iranian Studied Program.
Col. Wilkerson jokingly remarked during his visit that Oklahomans sure know how to get their money’s worth out of a speaker. But throughout the visit to our area, the Colonel was forthcoming — seeming to be more than happy to tell his story and share his opinions. Those of us who attended any of his events learned a good deal, and were heartened that his strong voice calling for peace and mutual cooperation, instead of war and threats, was so widely available to us.
Col. Wilkerson is part of The Iran Project, and invites those interested to use the reports and other resources on the project’s web site.
Speech at the Midwest City Martin Luther King Breakfast Jan 21, 2013
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Nathaniel Batchelder
The title of today’s talks – The Wisdom of Peace – is crucial to our times. Dr. King’s words – his sermons and speeches – ring in our ears today as we commemorate his life and lift up again his prophetic messages for the ages.
He advocated nonviolence and love as a grounding for all efforts for social change. And indeed, our society and world badly need more love, compassion, understanding, civility, and nonviolence in speech as well as action.
We support your dream, Dr. King, of overcoming racism and all divisions among people simply on account of who they are.
We support your dream, Dr. King, to overcome poverty by creating a society and an economy in which every person has access to development.
We support your dream, Dr. King, to overcome militarism and war that destroy lives, drain resources, and render unaffordable the programs that serve people in our society.
And I suggest that Dr. King would expand his vision of peace today to include harmony with nature, with all other species, and with the natural systems that support life on earth.
Spiritual people whose prophetic voices ring across the ages were always those called to speak out about things that were just not right … as we have heard the words of Amos in the Old Testament: “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. King all challenged their societies for justice and compassion for the outcast, the vulnerable, and the oppressed, and love for all members of the human family. » Continue reading “The Wisdom of Peace”
Peace House volunteer John Walters helped make the Peace House “float” in this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Parade, which wound through Oklahoma City spreading our messages through banners, signs and flyers. And, he provided these great pictures.
John Walters and David Brinker.
John Walters, OKC Amnesty coordinator
John with the Peace House banner.
The big sign that graces our monthly streetside demonstrations.
Peace House Director Batch and David Brinker
The poster below the banner is from Americans Against the Next War.
(click image to read news and views from Peace House OK's Director, Nathaniel Batchelder)
The May/June and July/August issues of the Oklahoma Peace Strategy News will be combined for a special Summer 2013 issue to be published in early June.
