Tags: 9-11 | peace | reaction

Our government stole from us the time to grieve.

They have made it clear they want war - on anyone, at any price, with seemingly no thought for the consequences. Government officials speak openly of going after "high-value" targets such as capital cities in countries that "harbor" terrorists.

There are calls for carpet-bombing a country of 25 million people. In a world where no objections are raised in the halls of power to such plans, our task is clear: We must fight for the soul of our planet. We have no choice but to begin speaking out and organizing for peace as we grieve.

The best way we can honor those who have died is to make sure no more innocents are killed, at home or abroad. If we win, there is the possibility of a new movement for peace, a new hope for justice. If we lose, the escalating cycle of hatred may usher in a new era of unending war.

{quote}Darkness cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. - Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.{/quote}Officials think they have the support of an angry, blood-thirsty public, and many in the United States are calling for vengeance. But there is also great fear, not just for our own safety but for what such a war will unleash in the world.

Military actions that kill civilians will also multiply tenfold the number of people willing to die to wreak havoc on the United States. We have already paid a terrible price. What will happen when we arouse further anger with a blatantly unjust and destructive retaliation?

Many, even in the peace movement, are saying, "Now is not the time to talk politics; the country needs time to heal." Just the reverse is true: Now is the time, before it is too late. We call for a peace, based not on terror and death but on recognition of our common humanity.

Now is the time: For action. For organization. For change.

People which want to sign onto this call should write to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

{quote}The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it... Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. -Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. {/quote}