It's been a while since I've posted, or left my little cranes out in the world. Finally getting back to it...
Last week -- sent one each, enclosed in a letter stating my concern about GMO's to the following candidates: Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, and John Edwards. Still waiting to hear back.:)
Friday December 7th-- left one in the receipt dispenser of a as pump at the Turkey Hill in Thorndale.
Today, Monday, Dec 10th -- left one in the gas pump handle of the Wawa in Downingtown.
More to come...
Monday, December 10, 2007
Friday, June 01, 2007
A letter to Cindy Sheehan
Dear Cindy,
I read your good-bye letter yesterday. First I want to say that I am truly sorry for your loss. Mine is not a military family, but my oldest son (of four boys) will turn 18 soon, and I am loathe to think what this government may demand of him and his brothers in the future.
I want to express my admiration for your willingness to have taken up the cause for peace for as long as you did, something so many of us are not willing to find the time, or the guts, to do. I am sorry for the bitterness and feeling of failure that you experienced as a result of the politics and egos of those who wanted to exploit your message for their own purposes. The bearers of the standard of peace, historically, have been met with resistance and outrage from the masses.. even by those who claim to want the same thing. And typically, their lives did not end without violence. Be thankful you made it out alive. But know, too, that the ripples of what you've created.. the individuals that you've touched and inspired, may not be so obvious and evident as your detractors, but may prove to be more powerful than any of the results you were looking for from our political process.
The thing is, peace cannnot be achieved through fighting. I'm not even sure one can die for it. It's an individual matter, attained only through the recognition that there is no Other. What we do to our brother (sister), we do to ourselves. (and what we do to ourselves affects us all). A deceptively simple lesson... but the truth is, like you said, it is up to us. There is no military strategy, no political party, no activist group, mandate or law that can bring peace. It can only come from within.. a way of being in the world, and manifesting through our interactions with every individual (and I do mean EVERY individual... no exceptions!)
So, Cindy, thank you again. And now, please go home. Take care of your children, take care of yourself. Reconnect with your life, your source of strength and your love. Those of us who truly desire a peaceful world don't demand sacrifice. But every ray of light shining in this world is needed, and helps all of us to acheive the goal of peace.
With love,
o.h.
I read your good-bye letter yesterday. First I want to say that I am truly sorry for your loss. Mine is not a military family, but my oldest son (of four boys) will turn 18 soon, and I am loathe to think what this government may demand of him and his brothers in the future.
I want to express my admiration for your willingness to have taken up the cause for peace for as long as you did, something so many of us are not willing to find the time, or the guts, to do. I am sorry for the bitterness and feeling of failure that you experienced as a result of the politics and egos of those who wanted to exploit your message for their own purposes. The bearers of the standard of peace, historically, have been met with resistance and outrage from the masses.. even by those who claim to want the same thing. And typically, their lives did not end without violence. Be thankful you made it out alive. But know, too, that the ripples of what you've created.. the individuals that you've touched and inspired, may not be so obvious and evident as your detractors, but may prove to be more powerful than any of the results you were looking for from our political process.
The thing is, peace cannnot be achieved through fighting. I'm not even sure one can die for it. It's an individual matter, attained only through the recognition that there is no Other. What we do to our brother (sister), we do to ourselves. (and what we do to ourselves affects us all). A deceptively simple lesson... but the truth is, like you said, it is up to us. There is no military strategy, no political party, no activist group, mandate or law that can bring peace. It can only come from within.. a way of being in the world, and manifesting through our interactions with every individual (and I do mean EVERY individual... no exceptions!)
So, Cindy, thank you again. And now, please go home. Take care of your children, take care of yourself. Reconnect with your life, your source of strength and your love. Those of us who truly desire a peaceful world don't demand sacrifice. But every ray of light shining in this world is needed, and helps all of us to acheive the goal of peace.
With love,
o.h.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
20,000 Troops = 20,000 Peace Cranes
Ok. Well, my friend, Susan, informs me that she heard it was 21,500.
Anyway.
We are at a moment in history similar to the one where a prior generation had taken to the streets. Many of us admire and wax nostalgic for the passion of those times... and yet, here we are, faced with the same disregard for (human life, sane leadership?) that should call for tremendous outrage. Who is willing at this time to resist and protest the way our foremothers and fathers did (well, okay, not mine..)? We have children to worry about, bills to pay, blogs to write, etc, etc... is there a way to send a message that speaks more of peaceful resistance and doesn't take a whole lot of time?
The beauty of the crane, like so many things Japanese, is it's simplicity. One intricately folded piece of paper, in the shape of a bird, is in itself a work of art. But what about 100, or 1,000? (see: http://www.wtchealingproject.org) What about one paper peace crane for every soldier pledged to ship off to Iraq? What if every person reading this were to send one peace crane to their congressperson. Or to the White House? (or for really ambitious folk, how about a whole crateful???)
Sometimes I like to write things on them..little sayings.. but they also send a powerful message on their own. And they don't have to be on fancy paper. Just a 3" x 3"square of anything will do...used gift wrap, junk mail.. I think military obituaries would be perfectly appropriate. I'm folding a few out of a Discover solicitation as I write this.
And if you really get into the groove like I did, where you find yourself folding cranes while hanging out with friends or watching tv, and you have bagfuls of 'em, you can inconspicuously leave them in places. Be creative!! If you work in a government office, leave one on the water cooler! Or on an ATM machine. There are so many possibilities... make some huge ones and hang them in visible locations. I would love to see photos of your cranes perched around the world!
Want to know how? Here's an informative video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9VF3gdf_Hk
Where should you send them? http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ ( you can even get a little personal info on your rep in DC!)
Anyway.
We are at a moment in history similar to the one where a prior generation had taken to the streets. Many of us admire and wax nostalgic for the passion of those times... and yet, here we are, faced with the same disregard for (human life, sane leadership?) that should call for tremendous outrage. Who is willing at this time to resist and protest the way our foremothers and fathers did (well, okay, not mine..)? We have children to worry about, bills to pay, blogs to write, etc, etc... is there a way to send a message that speaks more of peaceful resistance and doesn't take a whole lot of time?
The beauty of the crane, like so many things Japanese, is it's simplicity. One intricately folded piece of paper, in the shape of a bird, is in itself a work of art. But what about 100, or 1,000? (see: http://www.wtchealingproject.org) What about one paper peace crane for every soldier pledged to ship off to Iraq? What if every person reading this were to send one peace crane to their congressperson. Or to the White House? (or for really ambitious folk, how about a whole crateful???)
Sometimes I like to write things on them..little sayings.. but they also send a powerful message on their own. And they don't have to be on fancy paper. Just a 3" x 3"square of anything will do...used gift wrap, junk mail.. I think military obituaries would be perfectly appropriate. I'm folding a few out of a Discover solicitation as I write this.
And if you really get into the groove like I did, where you find yourself folding cranes while hanging out with friends or watching tv, and you have bagfuls of 'em, you can inconspicuously leave them in places. Be creative!! If you work in a government office, leave one on the water cooler! Or on an ATM machine. There are so many possibilities... make some huge ones and hang them in visible locations. I would love to see photos of your cranes perched around the world!
Want to know how? Here's an informative video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9VF3gdf_Hk
Where should you send them? http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ ( you can even get a little personal info on your rep in DC!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)