Has anyone read Cindy's latest piece on CommonDreams?

[GliderGuider]

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1010-21.htm

I find this article totally remarkable. Cindy is turning into Mahatma before our very eyes. I've never seen anyone travel this spiritual path so fast. The fact that she has spent the last year immersed in animosity, confrontation and negativity makes this all the more amazing. She will be accused by some of "going soft", but I don't see it that way. Cindy is obviously on a very personal quest, and this is the next logical stage. I think she wears her new enlightenment well. It will be most interesting to see if this marks the beginning of her "real" influence on the world.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. What she said

is a basic mystical practice. To have peace, one must BE peace.

Salaam, Shalom, Shanti

[judy]

2. Is Cindy going to pursue the Camp Casey in Washington DC

idea?
Or has she decided it was time to rest...Which she definitely deserves. In which case, is anyone going to camp out in DC to ask Smirkolini about his noble cause?

Will said she was going to do it, but it does not seem to be happening. It was such a powerful statement, I miss it :)

[Marleyb]

3. no angry words, no harsh statements?

I don't know if this is a successful course of action. I think the attention Cindy has gotten has been a result of her harsh statements toward this administration. And we should be angry dammit!

I am all for 'be peace' as an ideal. However, it seems to fail in the real world. People who practice this end up being ignored. For instance, Thich Nhat Hahn....I have read his books, I love what he is about, but I think that more people know who Cindy Sheehan is at this point. And here he has been speaking his truth since Vietnam but where has that gotten us? The situation is pretty dire in my opinion, not a time to be nice. MLK told us exactly what was going on in this country during Vietnam, and now it is ten times worse, but hardly anyone remembers his message other than being about civil rights.

See, the republicans have studied the teachings of Jesus, Ghandi, MLK and they are like cool, no problem, so they came up with their storm trooper cops to beat up peaceful protesters to shut down resistance. When there is a peaceful protest, the people are simply ignored. Now they have stolen the teachings of Jesus. I appreciate the teachings of Jesus but I think his message has been squashed and is currently unsuccesful, unless you are excited that the rapture is coming, but rapture wasn't really the teachings of Jesus.

Anyone who has taught a group of children knows, that you can ask nicely, ask nicely again, ask nicely again...but at some point only demanding loudly will get their attention.

So what can we do that is truly successful, that is the question?

[Cults4Bush]

4. In tears at the office, colleagues wondering whats wrong...

Cindy has arrived she understands and ackowledges the most basic precepts of peaceful struggle now in a way that I haven't heard before. Thich Nhat Hahn is an amazing human, and has a very unifying message in his teachings. Very humble in all ways.

To see this happen to Cindy is just amazing. She is on the path of MLK and Ghandi now. I am soooooooo freaking happy right now... happy but calm.

Cindy is home... home.

This was the best thing that could've happened to the peace movement, Cindy is home in her heart. Whcih means more and more wisdom will come forth from her heart. One who so clearly walks the earth in peace can only teach others the same.

Today... Cindy... gave me hope.

[Cults4Bush]

5. Please K&R this.. this is a rather large emotional event that will effect

the direction the peace movement entails.

can't stop sobbing.. so damn beautiful.

[Cults4Bush]

6. Kickin for greatest placement. n/t

[Cults4Bush]

10. pretty please?? n/t

[Cults4Bush]

11. ok last time, then I'll stop.

maybe.... :P

[Marleyb]

7. How do you see this changing the peace movement?

I think Cindy has already brought the Iraq war back to the front pages by her bold stance in demanding answers. I know she has helped move the opinion polls to where the clear majority of Americans now believe the war is a mistake and the troops should be brought home now. I am sure her speaking out about the lies is what has brought 50% of the American people to seek impeachment.

Now, what she has been saying isn't 'being peace'. It has been calling the administration on their bullshit, making people uncomfortable in their 'reality', challenging the lies and waking people up.

This peace march that she is discussing was one where they sat in silence. I am not understanding how silence is useful at this point.

At a local peace rally, the organizers did the same thing. They had everyone stand in silence for an hour. Instead of motivating speakers, getting to know fellow peace marchers, exchanging information with like minded folks...everyone was forced to be silent. No one in town even noticed the rally. I don't understand how this leads to success?

[Cults4Bush]

9. Hi Marley, thanks for being sincere in your questioning.

Mamabears post below pretty much sums it up for me.

I see this in an interpersonal way. When I was cmaping in the dicth at Camp Casey there was a "purity" to the whole "scene" that is hard to explain. I do know that the local cops I spoke with noticed that purity and it was one of the reasons thinsg went so smooth.. so well for us with local police. They knew we would not let any violence happen and that we would police our own rhetoric and do our level headed best to avoid any confrontations because they would only hurt our cause. Some of those guys were not into what we were doing but they sure did have a lot for respect for us.

If we get overly zealous in our rhetoric all the time and any kind of violence breaks out they can label us radicals forever. MLK knew this and even though his last march had violence (ala agit-prop types)in it he knew that we couldn't take a peace movement to the streets if there was violence. It makes us hypocrites and shakes the whole movement up.

If there is silence during protest hwo can they say we were provoking? How can they find a reason to attack a true peace movement being peaceful?

Cindy finding home like this is what I am most excited for, I know exactly the mind space she is speaking of and I dare say that she'll be redoubling her efforts and you will not see her getting played by anyone who proposes violence in opposition. Mostly its because she found some healing and instead of retiring off with this healing she has become more shrewd.

I have faith that this will show more and more in her words as time moves on. She can be a leader unlioke any we have had since we lost MLK. My gut feeling is that Cindy has now realized this and has accepted responsibility for it. The courage of that woman is truly on a par with those great leaders so many of us cherish in our hearts. Taking on this task outside of just reacting with onesty which is what she has been doing till now means taking the hundreds of death threats seriously whilst still making yourself vulnerable so you can speak truth to power... I worry for her and truly humbled by her actions and words.

As for the silent protest you spoke of... I dunno. I mean are you sure no one was allowed to speak to eachother before or after? That it didnt get any recognition is no change from loud and boisterous protests.

I do know that a lot of people who support ending the war are afraid to come out to the anything goes type of rallies (though I love them). Different strokes... and all.

In the end I believe this could change the peace movement because perception of Cindy by those who think of her negatively will change over the next year or so due to this interpersonal change. I believe that it will show...

[MamaBear]

8. She has found what she needs in the moment.

I wish her only well. I think her willingness to be conscious and grow can only help.

It's less about what Cindy Sheehan will do now than what we will do.

After all, any of us could ask Bush The Question: For What Noble Cause Did Our Children Die?

I am childless, but in a way they're all my kids. Had I the courage, I could ask the question myself.

I haven't read any of Thich Naht Hahn's recent work because years ago I decided I had had enough of "teachers." Maybe it's time to take another look.

I have recommended this thread. Thanks for posting.