"While it is unrealistic to hope to totally transform everyone with the power of principled nonviolence, it is entirely realistic to expect that a consistent but assertive use of careful nonviolence in response to injustice will change the opinions of many of the class of people who are part of the oppression and without which the repression could not continue."
A State answers by talking to itself:
Justice, Rule of Law, it says, are identical
And occupy one space. The way a lake
Where men fish through holes
In the ice, thaws and absorbs in the end
Each distinct, accidental, blood-stained
Snowflake, the state erases and humiliates.
"Peace movement is an oxymoron. Peace means calm. Those who oppose war are not calm. Peace means quiet. Explosions, rallies and riots are not quiet. Peace means stillness, which is the opposit of movement .But movement also means group, association, society, faction and progress. what pressure group is tranquil? What lobbyist is silent? What activist seeks harmony with the system?"
"I shout out to the tens of millions of protestors: I hope that you always remember that one person can make a difference. Be creative. Be respectful. Ask hard questions! Don't be afraid! Take one day at a time. Use what you can to send out the message and next time, bring three more friends than you did this weekend.
"Our common theme is this: We will not surrender the fight. We have to do something.
"And it takes courage to do this under a (False) Orange Alert, with fifty cops in riot gear all around you."
"If we truly want to increase freedom for Americans, we must start by saving the millions around the world who die from lack of food, water and medicine. We must start spending tax money on medical research to find cures for cancer, AIDS, and other diseases, rather than deadly weapons. Peace on earth depends on treating people with justice and not arming ourselves to the teeth. This is what Christ taught. What better time to live his message?"
Mike is hitting the road with Cost of Freedom this spring. Stops are being scheduled in the midwest and along the west coast. A more detailed schedule will be posted shortly.
If you can help out, email Whitney Trettien at trettien@mit.edu.
