Peace is not a dirty word.

[rjones2818]

The fascinating thing, at least in the way I look at things, is that it seems that peace has become a dirty word in this country. Even amongst Democrats. Each step we take is informed by what bloody misery we are helping to spread across our planet. We bring our troops to various countries and leave them there. This is not the way of a country that searches for peace. This is not the way of a country which wishes for peace. This is not the way of a party that wishes for peace.

Here are definitions of peace from <a http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/peace ditionary.reference.com:

-noun:
1. the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.
2. (often initial capital letter) an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism: the Peace of Ryswick.
3. a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors.
4. the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security: He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace.
5. cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.
6. freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity.
7. a state of tranquillity or serenity: May he rest in peace.
8. a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquillity: the peace of a mountain resort.
9. silence; stillness: The cawing of a crow broke the afternoon's peace.
10. (initial capital letter, italics) a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes.
–interjection
11. (used to express greeting or farewell or to request quietness or silence).
–verb (used without object)
12. Obsolete. to be or become silent.
—Idioms
13. at peace, a. in a state or relationship of nonbelligerence or concord; not at war.
b. untroubled; tranquil; content.
c. deceased.

14. hold or keep one's peace, to refrain from or cease speaking; keep silent: He told her to hold her peace until he had finished.
15. keep the peace, to maintain order; cause to refrain from creating a disturbance: Several officers of the law were on hand to keep the peace.
16. make one's peace with, to become reconciled with: He repaired the fence he had broken and made his peace with the neighbor on whose property it stood.
17. make peace, to ask for or arrange a cessation of hostilities or antagonism.


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Look at the first definition:

1. the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.

Normal? When have we, as a nation, been at a true peace? When have we not been using our various weapons, including economic, upon various other parts of the world? What candidate(s) running can we actually expect to try to bring the US into a condition of peace?

There are many noble quotes on peace (picked up from various places):

Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.

Buddha (560-483 B.C.)

Nothing is more precious than peace. Peace is the most basic starting point for the advancement of humankind.

Daisaku Ikeda

A truly free society must not include a "peace" which oppresses us. We must learn on our own terms what peace and freedom mean together. There can be no peace if there is social injustice and suppression of human rights, because external and internal peace are inseparable. Peace.is not just the absence of mass destruction, but a positive internal and external condition in which people are free so that they can grow to their full potential.

Petra Karin Kelly (1947-1992)

There was never a good war or a bad peace.

Ben Franklin (1706-1790)

The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war.

Desiderius Erasmus (1469-1536)

I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it.

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)

If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.

Moshe Dayan (1915-1981)

It is possible to live in peace.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but on the positive affirmation of peace. We must see that peace represents a sweeter music, a cosmic melody, that is far superior to the discords of war. Somehow, we must transform the dynamics of the world power struggle from the negative nuclear arms race, which no one can win, to a positive contest to harness humanity's creative genius for the purpose of making peace and prosperity a reality for all the nations of the world. In short, we must shift the arms race into a peace race. If we have a will - and determination - to mount such a peace offensive, we will unlock hitherto tightly sealed doors of hope and transform our imminent cosmic elegy into a psalm of creative fulfillment.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Carl Sandburg:
Choose
The single clenched fist lifted and ready,
Or the open hand held out and waiting.
Choose:
For we meet by one or the other.

Oscar Romero:
Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity.
It is right and it is duty.

The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.

Jane Addams

Bullets cannot be recalled. They cannot be uninvented. But they can be taken out of the gun.

Martin Amis

Peace is the work of justice indirectly, in so far as justice removes the obstacles to peace; but it is the work of charity (love) directly, since charity, according to its very notion, causes peace.

Thomas Aquinas

Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.

Aristotle

And I suppose, after Aristotle, that it is good to read an oath attributed to his greatest student. It is where I start on my search for peace:

Alexander had all his officers and satraps take an oath of peace - something that is obviously impossible today - but wouldn't it be nice...

"I wish all of you, now that the wars are coming to an end, to live happily, in peace. All mortals from now on will live like one people, united, and peacefully working towards a common prosperity.

You should regard the whole world as your own country with common laws, a country where the best and the brightest rule, regardless of race.

I do not separate people, as do the narrow-minded, into Greeks and barbarians. I am not interested in the origin or race of citizens. I only distinguish them on the basis of their virtue. For me each good foreigner is a Greek and each bad Greek is worse than a barbarian.
If ever differences arose, never resort to arms, but resolve them peacefully. If need be, I will serve as your arbitrator. Do not consider God as a dictatorial Ruler, but as Father of all, so that your conduct would resemble the cohabitation of siblings within one family.

On my part, I consider all of you equal, white or dark, and I would like you not to be only plain subjects of my Commonwealth, but all shareholders, all partners.

To the extent it is in my power, I shall try to accomplish all that I promise. Keep the oath we are taking with the libation tonight like a Contract of Love"

Alexander III of Makedon, known by us as Alexander the Great

http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/764309 Alexander's Oath at Opis

People may wonder why someone would support Dennis Kucinich for the Democratic presidential nomination. He's not talking about belligerence. He's not talking about taking someone else's property. He's not talking about sending our troops around the world to 'protect' America's interests. He's talking about peace. He knows that the road to peace is long and hard. He knows that there are many pitfalls along the way to peace. He knows that if we should obtain peace, we will have to work to keep it, and be ever vigilant to protect it. He also knows that peace is the ultimate goal for the people of the world, and that he will work to help the world obtain it. It's the main reason why I support Dennis Kucinich for president.

As always,

Go Dennis!
http://dennis4president.com Kucinich 2008!
Choose Peace!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

1. In My Opinion, He's Talkin Out Of His Ass.

Any one of us here could say the same idealistic things he says that makes those here support him so much. It's so easy to just simply 'say' things. But getting them done in reality is another matter altogether. And in reality, he doesn't have a shot in hell of successfully doing that which he states. I also fear that if some aggression arose and we needed his leadership to protect our nation, that he wouldn't even know where to start. Dennis is really strong on the 'ideal perfect world' speech front, but I fear not so much on the whole defending our nation strongly front. That's my impression of him anyway.

But the biggest reason I don't support him is because though the things he says sound really good sometimes, they just aren't even close to being attainable. It's like he's in some fantasy land in which the President has a magic wand that he can just wave in the air and make everything go away. But I need a president who knows how to exist in real life, and actually get things done. Dennis has never been elected to any real challenging office, and his role as Mayor wasn't exactly something we should be touting to show how great he can be.

Dennis knows how to say the things the base wants to hear, but as President I think he'd be one of the worst at getting anything done that we've ever had.

That's my impression of him, and why I couldn't imagine him being president in a million years. It's also why it doesn't surprise me that he can only muster 2% of Democrats.

[eridani]

7. I bet he wouldn't say "now you've covered your ass" to intelligence operatives--

--warning of a serious possibility of strikes within the US. The world's major aggressor nation at the moment happens to be us. What do 1000+ military bases around the world have to do with defense, anyway?

The most serious threat of a nuclear attack on us happens to be Russia, not because they mean us any harm (despite the Sociopath in Chief's desire to restart the cold war), but because their command and control systems are so badly deteriorated. The Nunn/Lugar Threat Reduction Initiative actually put up money to help them deal with this. Do you doubt that Kucinich would not only fully fund it, but increase its scope?

We have a choice. We can either give up our empire peacefully like the British and the Soviets did, or we can destroy our society trying to hang on to it. Kucinich is the only candidate even daring to raise this question.

[rjones2818]

9. I'd trust Mike, I think,

but not the rest. And I don't think that they're all warmongers, though I can think of at least 2 1/2 I'd put in that category. I just don't think the others have the scope of thought to keep from using our power instead of working things out. I think most politicians in this country would take the easy way out, and they'd be supported by many Americans.

Go Dennis!
http://dennis4president.com
Choose Peace!

:woohoo:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

14. I'm Sorry, But Is Bush All Of A Sudden Running On The Dem Ticket In 08?

Your post seems to imply that could be so, since he's the one you're using in comparison.

[eridani]

20. All of the Dem candidates would pay attention to actual threats, however--

Kucinich is the only candidate who disavows continuing efforts to dominate the rest of the world by force, which most of the other candidates persist in confusing with actual defense.

[patrioticintellect]

12. Kucinich the Worst at Getting Things Done?

He can't muster support because the media gives all its attention to top-tiered candidates. Even media run debates are manufactured to favor the top candidates. And the top candidate know it but say nothing for fear that speaking up will affect their chances of winning.

Strength Though Peace is the best campaign slogan out there. And Dennis has a plan behind it. He has a plan for the Dept. of Peace and Nonviolence. The bill authored by Kucinich in the House of Representatives has 67 cosponsors.

Kucinich isn't just an ideological from the "blame America first" crowd. He isn't just a guy railing against the norm. He has practical ideas for how to rework America and make progressive change.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. LOL

"Strength Though Peace is the best campaign slogan out there. And Dennis has a plan behind it. He has a plan for the Dept. of Peace and Nonviolence."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Sorry, but that still cracks me up.

[patrioticintellect]

18. Well...

Your avatar says, "Fuck Nader". Why would I ever expect any progressive intelligence out of you?

[Time for change]

16. What is it he's said that you think is unattainable?

And why do you think it's unattainable?

[Shine]

2. It's never been a dirty word to me

I liked all your quotes. :thumbsup:

Welcome to DU, btw, too! :toast:

[rjones2818]

6. Thanks!

Have one on me!

:beer:

:)

[Gregorian]

3. The love of money is the root of all evil.

What a wonderful post. I was stunned by Moshe Dayan's quote. I had not heard that before.

Peace, as I've said before, is not profitable. Or so we tend to think. But even if it isn't, the alternative only enriches evil.

I fear that the forces of finance are so great in the world, especially America, that the very scent of Dennis Kucinich is overwhelming to most. But he is in Congress.

It's the age old struggle. I suppose you can also hear the same voices I do. The rabid conservative authoritarian fools who without a doubt are calling Kucinich all kinds of derogatory names for taking a peaceful stance. That goes without saying.

I also support him.

[bonito]

4. A most welcomed post

:hi:

[rjones2818]

5. Many thanks!

:hug:

[porphyrian]

8. What if you use it in place of profanity?

Go peace yourself!
Peace you, you piece of peace!

I bet someone could make it dirty.

[rjones2818]

10. Maybe we need to find a way

to make peace sexy!

Have an unshirted Putin with peace painted across his chest! :)

[porphyrian]

11. Sounds like a job for Photoshop... - n/t

[Time for change]

13. Self delete - posted in wrong place, sorry

[La Coliniere]

17. Thank you for your assemblage.

I can see you really care. Many of us do.

[slipslidingaway]

19. Great quotes K&R. Some are trying to make peace a dirty word,

rejecting the idea of aiming high and then settling for less.

And we do not make our nation safer by generating more hatred of our country and citizens! If I were an Iraqi citizen I would be wondering why the American people, after destroying so much of their country and killing and displacing so many people, remain silent about the draft Oil Law.

The only candidate to raise this issue has been Kucinich.

:toast: