Category Archives: Nonviolence

Occupy Wall Street goes to museums (and finds inspiration from Philip Glass)

Update: Full text and three videos
at our new Peace Couple post: here.

Live blogging of Philip Glass, etc,
happening at The Nation: here.

The Nation reported the words of Philip Glass last night:

“When righteousness/ Withers away/ And evil / Rules the Land /We come into being /Age after age/ And take visible shape /And move / A man among men/ For the protection/ Of good /Thrusting back evil /And setting virtue/ On her seat again.”

The Nation report on the Philip Glass, pre-event is…

10:25 From a NY #OWS friend at Lincoln Center for Philip Glass at GA tonite (see item down the page): Tons of cops already w/ barricades. Heard voice on cop’s radio say, “Lock it down.”  Rumors earlier that cops would keep public off public plaza.

_______________________________

Occupiers say: “Kick us out of camp? We will find new strategies for nonviolent, social change”. One story at the LA Times  is: here.

In New York, here is one of the new strategies…

Posted at occupywallst.org:

Occupy Museums Goes to the Lincoln Center

When: Thursday December 1, 2011 at 10:30pm.

What: A General Assembly at 10:30 (at night) at Lincoln Center.

Join us in an open conversation about the effects of increased privatization and corporatization of all aspects of society, and the use of nonviolent civil disobedience around the world to reclaim the commons. Composer Philip Glass will join the general assembly and mic-check a statement. Continue reading Occupy Wall Street goes to museums (and finds inspiration from Philip Glass)

What’s so funny about wanting peace?: Peace Song for 11/29/2011

(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding is the Peace Song of the Day for November 29th. The song was written by Nick Lowe, and made popular by Elvis Costello.

Continue reading What’s so funny about wanting peace?: Peace Song for 11/29/2011

Worried Occupation Blues: Peace Song for 11/27/2011

Worried Occupation Blues is the Peace Song of the Day for Sunday, November 27, 2011. This song is based on the traditional song, Worried Man Blues. Kimberly added new lyrics. Then, Kimberly and Ian sang it on Youtube as a kind of teaching tape. We are hoping that some more polished singers will pick up the idea, and maybe make their own videos.
Continue reading Worried Occupation Blues: Peace Song for 11/27/2011

Simon Weil’s Reflections on War

The Power of Nonviolence Writings by Advocates of PeaceThe tenth chapter of The Power of Nonviolence: Writings by Advocates of Peace contains a selection from  Simone Weils short 1933 essay Reflections on War .  Weil wrote this essay at age 24, and would die young eleven years later. Some would ascribe her death to her empathy for those suffering during World War II being too much for her frail health.

This section of the essay begins with the query: “Can a revolution avoid war?”  She rightly states that “Revolutionary War is the grave of revolution.”  This was the central to the nonviolent methods of Indian independence taking place at the time this essay was written.  And is central to the beliefs of today’s Occupation movement in the US.  Continue reading Simon Weil’s Reflections on War

Pumpkin Pie: Peace Song for Thanksgiving Day, Nov 24, 2011

The Christians and the Pagans” by Dar Williams is the Peace Song of the Day for Thanksgiving, November 24th. (Don’t worry! It’s a funny song. And, the Christians and Pagans get along, eventually…)


***
More about why this is a peace song: Continue reading Pumpkin Pie: Peace Song for Thanksgiving Day, Nov 24, 2011

Occupy the White House in 2012

white house occupiedI’m not just talking about putting the #occupy bat-signal across the White House.  Though that would be entertaining. And like I said last week about #OccupyCongress, I am not talking about pitching a tent on the South Lawn.  (And I am definitely not talking about @Moveon ‘s phony #OccupyCongress campaign where they are shilling for one corporate party over the other.)

In last week’s Occupy Congress post,  we discussed that this year has been about stepping out side of your comfort zone.  It is time for all of us to take back our democracy, and demand what we want rather than take what we are sold.  I plead for you to run for Congress last week, so that we finally had a representative of the 99% in Congress.  The 1% is represented by the party of the greater evil and the lesser evil.  To paraphrase Jerry Garcia, now is the time to stop choosing evil. We need to get  corporations out of the White House — out of our domestic and foreign policies. Continue reading Occupy the White House in 2012

Peace Song of Day…”War: What is it good for? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!”

War by Edwin Starr is the Peace Song of the Day for Monday, November 21st. Singing this song will open up your chakras, and help you get emotionally fierce about war and peace!

“War…huh! Good God…”

Continue reading Peace Song of Day…”War: What is it good for? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!”