The
Thought Emporium has been officially antiwar since September 24th, 2002-
a time when news of the conflict in Afghanistan had all but tapered
off, and the idea of war with Iraq was still simple speculation. Like
most other citizens of this country, I had been filled with fear by
the events of September 11th. While this was not the first time I had
seen terrorism carried out in our nation, it was the first time the
source had been foreign. Unlike many others, my fear was not characterized
by a thirst for revenge and retribution; quite the contrary, I was very
much afraid of such revenge and retribution. After reading accounts
of the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars, carried out in fear of an invisible
enemy and characterized by a lust for power, I felt that it was below
our great nation to stoop again to the level of war and imperialism.
Yet, the stage was set for just such a thing. With an unprecedented
patriotic fervor and a nation deeply afraid of global terrorism, our
War On Terrorism was unleashed throughout the defenseless "developing"
world, worsening the living conditions of millions and killing hundreds,
if not thousands, in Afghanistan, imprisoning 15 and 16-year-old "enemy
combatants" along with countless others at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
and causing Iraqi hospitals to overflow with thousands of civilians
mortally wounded by US bombs.
Today's world is filled with violence and terror, from the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip to the embattled nations of Africa. Now we are forced
to face our own government as the perpetrator of this violence
and terror, something any person of conscience must recognize and stand
against.
During the weeks when war in Iraq seemed imminent, I saw beauty, I saw
love, and I saw compassion. I saw people united under a common idea,
a common goal, and I watched as the media tried to capitalize on our
divisions. I saw soccer moms and girl scouts marching and singing alongside
Marxists, anarchists, and revolutionaries. I learned a lot about dedication
and solidarity. I learned that there are many visions of America, and
I learned that differences in these visions can tear people apart. I
experienced firsthand the might of the media, the arm of the state,
and the power of the people. I saw potential, unlike any I had seen
before- potential for positive change in the face of adversity- potential
that I admire and appreciate. I felt the sting of words as my actions
were labeled "treacherous," "unpatriotic," even
"lunatic." For the first time, engulfed by a crowd of a hundred
thousand people, I truly felt that I was not alone.
These are experiences shared by countless people, experiences that should
be treasured and not forgotten.
The peace movement, for all its shortcomings, is a tremendous movement
with tremendous potential. While many pointed fingers and criticized
the division within, few saw this division as a clear indicator of the
size and diversity of this global movement. Any cause which unites conservatives
and liberals, the Green Party and the American Communist Party alike,
is bound to have some infighting and lack of unity, yet the potential
was there, and to some extent, it was realized. I feel that if the energy
of the peace movement continues and the soccer moms and anarchists manage
to agree on short-term goals, if not long-term tactics, then a permanent
progressive movement can be re-established that has the power to change
the world and improve the lives of billions.
I created this page as a tribute to the peace movement, and as a centralization
of all the pro-peace sentiment present on the site.
Hopefully the galleries and information here will serve to jump-start
your very own activism or at least get you thinking.