Peace as a civil right
On reading my MLK Day reflection, a friend alerted me to an MLK Day speech by U.S. Representative Dennis J. Kucinich: Peace as a Civil Right.
I am moved by Rep. Kucinich’s courageous and compassionate words — they’re all the more striking coming from someone in the seemingly noncourageous, noncompassionate U.S. Congress [italics mine] —
This evening let us reflect on [Dr. King’s] challenge to America’s prosecution of a war in Vietnam as we ponder an America poised to once again use its destructive power against a nation of people already broken by war, by US sanctions, by an uncaring leader. America stands ready to accelerate the bombing over major cities in Iraq, to destroy lives, families, houses, buildings, water systems, electric systems, to light fires to force populations to move, to engage in house to house combat. All in the name of fighting terrorism. In the name of removing weapons of mass destruction…
Once again the hopes of people of two nations are being smashed by weapons in the name of eliminating weapons. Let us abolish weapons of mass destruction at home. Joblessness is a weapon of mass destruction. Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction. Hunger… Homelessness… Poor health care… Poor education… Discrimination is a weapon of mass destruction…
This day is a day to reflect on the ability of one person to make a difference. This day is a day to reflect on how one person can change the thinking of a nation and the world…
The whole speech is worth reading. It heartens me to hear this voice of sanity, reason, and compassion speaking out from among U.S. leaders.
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