AN
OVERVIEW
by Char ~*, with Peace links from Nicole Savage, and Penny Sidoli
As
we grew up and were taught to salute the flag, to become consumers, and
not to question our government, many began to realize that our political
ideas where fashioned from fear. We were taught that Russia was out to get
us -- it was just a matter of time.
We had drills to learn to protect ourselves from nuclear holocaust -- hiding
under our school desks and clasping our hands over our heads. We watched
as a generation of our elders built bomb shelters and stocked shelves with
rations for the time of "The Big One."
And we learned to accept War as a natural condition of our culture. To not
question it, and just maybe fashion careers around it.
Enter the 60's -- a mass shift in consciousness occurred -- a combination
of psychedelics and a generation of young adults facing the prospect of
going to a war that they didn't understand -- Vietnam. To Kill or perhaps
to Die.
People began to look at the atrocities of War -- flashed steadily across
t.v. screens -- screaming headlines -- bloodied magazine covers -- while
frantic youths sought release from the Draft, and were faced with the prospect
of being criminals if they didn't wish to fight. The reasons for War didn't
make sense, but the reasons for Peace
were many, as people began to "march to the tune of a different drum,"
dance for Love, and sing for Peace.
And from hearts filled with compassion, and minds needing to be heard, came
the musical voice to "put an end to war," with Protest Songs
And people began to take a good look around and a good look within, and
out of this introspection came a new spirit of understanding and sensitivity,
of seeing themselves as being connected, and "One" with each other and the
Universe -- and there came about a deeper insight into the truism "Do unto
Others as you wish them to do unto You" -- and from this came a desire for
a radically more Peaceful world.
Thus,
The Peace Movement was Born.
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