Dona Nobis Pacem

It's blog blast for peace day, a day created by Mimi at Mimi Writes - when twice each year bloggers all across the internet and all across the world create a cyber prayer for peace.

I think the American public made a prayer for peace on Tuesday when we elected Barack Obama and I'm happy that this time as I blog for peace I feel like our prayers are flowing with the tide rather than against it.... I don't quite like that analogy. Maybe this is better. I have felt for so long like here in my country we were caught in a vortex of darkness, led by a pathetic man who was/is venal and greedy and probably something of a puppet to darker forces of this world. Today as I write this I feel like a great cloud is lifting. I love and admire Mr. Obama. I know he wants to prosecute the war in Afghanistan and that troubles me though perhaps it is a wise goal. War never seems like a good idea to me no matter the cause, but maybe controlled violence in the interest of stopping uncontrolled violence is a necessary evil. I don't know. I know we have a better chance of peace with a man who sees other human beings wherever he looks, who isn't so eager to demonize those he disagrees with that there is no hope for a meeting of the minds. I know we have a better chance of peace when we relate human to human instead of ideology to ideology. It's easier to hate a faceless "them," than a him or her whose eyes you look into, whose pain you see.

I was deeply distressed by the ugliness of the campaign that Mr. McCain and Mrs. Palin waged. Glad too, in a way, because I think it may have cost them the election. That makes me happy not just because my guy won, but because it says that some part of our consciousness has awakened to the truth that hate erodes us. My country has been like a blind amnesiac in a mine field for the last 8 years, unsure of who we were and afraid to move in any direction. We allowed ourselves to be guided by voices of deceit that led us not out of, but deeper into danger. Like a character in one of the soap operas I'm sorry to admit I watch, who as rewritten the history of the beautiful amnesiac in his care to suit his own purposes, Bush, Cheney and their commitee of thugs, took advantage of our shock and confusion after 9/11. And we let them. We went against our hearts. We went against our spirit. Like a sleep-walking giant we trampled on a lot of lives in our own nation and abroad.

Now we are waking up. Already, our eyes are seeing light again and our spirits are rising. I know this is melodramatic of me, but I feel like Mother Earth herself has breathed a sigh of relief. And I think maybe there are Angels dancing somewhere. Peace feels possible. All kinds of peace. It seems possible that the poor may have some hope again. It seems possible that those struggling with illness may now have access to treatment without choosing between food and care, or a home and medication. It seems possible that affordable energy that will not take from the earth and will provide employment for many who need work may be with in our grasp. It seems possible that in the greater world people may be willing to sit down and negotiate instead of killing each other. It seems possible that we will begin listening to our better natures and that in so doing we will lead by example and inspire others to do the same.

I have long found it devastating that those in positions of power have used the acts of small numbers of troubled people as an excuse to ravage the lives of others, as an excuse to turn away from peace treaties, as an excuse to justify hate and the thing-if-ication of their fellow humans. I believe that thoughts have power and that we draw to ourselves that which we put our attention to. I try to focus on the positive, on beauty and the light. Being as fallable as I am, it hasn't always been easy when the so-called heart of power in my nation seemed bent on greed and war. Still, something in us - and in the world at large - must have shifted. We have drawn a man of peace into a position of power on the international stage. Our better angels have sung and I have to believe that their voices are only going to get louder in the coming days. I hope so. My new president elect gives me hope. Things like the blog blast for peace give me hope.

I couldn't find a vocal version of this song that pleased me so I went with this one. not quite angels, but...

Please check out the hundreds of other blogs posting for peace.

Dona Nobis Pacem

Here's a sing-along Dona Nobis Pacem for anyone who likes to sing.

One last thing: My gratitude for day #6: Well, I"m grateful for the blog blast for peace and for all the voices in this world that speak for, sing for, write for, pray for and live their lives in a spirit of peace.

P.S. A number of people have commented about the angel on my globe so I thought I'd add her story. She was a gift from a friend of mine on the 20th anniversary of my older sister's murder. Her wings read: "Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy." I wanted to include her as sort of a secret tribute to my sister.

Peace Blast, Wordless Wednesday and Project Blue (Take Four)

Twice a year for the past four years, Mimi at Mimi Writes, hosts something called the Peace Blast. It's cyber event bringing together the combined energy of people from around the world in sharing our love of, hope for and belief in the possibility of peace. I've tried to approach this in a way that combines it with Wordless Wednesday and Anna Carson's Project Blue and draws in the energy of all the wonderful creative people who participate in those memes, while still honoring the principles of both. Of course I'm putting a lot of words here but I'm seldom really wordless. Honoring Project Blue was pretty easy. To honor the idea of Wordless Wednesday, I posted the Peace Blast Earth banner (also blue) and put the bulk of my words into the body of one of my photos which I messed with using Paintshop Pro. I did write some other posts on peace which anyone who wants to can read here or here. You can click on the first graphic for an easier to read size.


(Well, I have to add some more words. Sorry. Angel, the world's most mis-named cat - has many naughty talents. One of these is popping open the boom box and removing CDs. I keep coming up with ways to thwart her and she keeps figuring out ways to thwart me back. This week she has been at it again but her shenanigans gave me an idea for project blue that also felt in tune with the Peace Blast and WW. The CD she popped is a lovely blue one called AWAKENED HEART. The artists, Saggio and his wife Barbara are friends who were extremely kind to me during my time in Arizona. They are incredibly talented. Saggio's music is a gift of Spirit and is both beautiful and healing. Kwan Yin here is the Goddess of Compassion and I liked the idea of her holding the CD. Certainly both compassion and awakening hearts are a key to creating a peaceful world. )



Happy Wordless Wednesday, Everyone. I hope you'll check out other the Peace Blast and even add your own voices to the chorus.

My other Project Blue posts include:

Blue Skies
Seldom Used Objects
A Box and Some Rocks
Peace

Countdown to Peace Blast 2008

Mimi Writes is having a Peace Blast on June 4th. I think this is an awesome idea. All you have to do is click on the link to her site, pick up a blank globe graphic, sign it and return it to her. She has detailed instructions. I've submitted mine and will post it again on June 4th.


I believe that peace is possible, that war and violence are the will of a very small minority to whom we have given too much power. I believe that more people in this world want peace than want war, that our true human instinct is towards peace. We have to be tricked into war. No matter what some may tell us, war is not our nature. Peace is.

It is past time to speak out. We need to vote. We need to nag and pester and insist that our lawmakers govern according to our wants and values and not according to bogus polls or political expediency. We need to stop listening to the voices of fear and hate and listen to the voices of reason and compassion. We need to stop seeing enemies and start seeing fellow beings. We need to meet anger with kindness, to offer a different mirror in which those who would hate to can see themselves. There's a Hawaiian saying that goes "energy flows where attention goes." In other words, we draw to us, what we focus on. If we focus on fear and hate, we draw fear and hate into our lives. If we focus on peace, likewise, we draw that to ourselves. I've said it before here, but it's worth repeating. There is more power in being FOR something than against something. Almost every esoteric philosophy teaches this in one way or another. Neither our minds nor the universe read the word "not." They react to where our attention is. If it is on war, the universe offers up more war. If our attention is on peace, the universe offers up peace. Let's be FOR peace.

I hope you'll visit Mimi Writes, pick up a banner and join the blast.

Memorial Day Weekend: Bill Moyers on Veterans and the War

I love Bill Moyers. I first fell in love with him years ago during the wonderful series of interviews he did with Joseph Campbell. Anyone who hasn't seen those interviews should run right out to the video store or netflix (if they have them) and make it a point to watch them. They are life-changing.

But back to Bill Moyers. He is such a gift in a news and media world barren of content and thoughtfulness. His shows are actually a source of genuine information. His commentaries reflect his decency and wisdom. I admire him, I adore him, I am grateful that he is out there doing the work he does and doing it so well. So, anyway, I really had to control myself to post just these few video clips.

While I was retrieving the first two videos I ran across this one. It's not about the war or veterans, but it is deeply disturbing and I thought I'd share it.



Ok.... I had to add one more, Jon Stewart being serious and brilliant ....