News

The Peace Forum is continuing to plan events to keep us in the public eye, to continue to raise awareness in the community, and to help us all feel less alone in our desire to change governmental policies.

On September 21, we are planning to have a person in black vigil on 10th and main in Klamath Falls, at 5:00 p.m.

In December, we will show the film Joyeux Noel as a pizza and a flick event.

If we continue to envision peace, we will eventually manifest it.

To paraphrase Gandhi and Keyes,  Become the hundredth monkey you want to change the world.

David

July 4th Parade

Friends,

To all who walked with the peace forum in the 4th of July parade in Klamath Falls, many thanks for supporting our efforts.

I perceived that we were , in general, received without rancor. I heard no insults.  I saw no single digit salutes or greetings.  I did hear some clapping and a cheer or two.  The best was a young child of about five.  He shounted peace and flashed a peace sign.

We accomplished the task/goal of letting the community know we are here!

David

4th of July Parade

The Klamath Basin Peace Forum will be participating in the Klamath County/Basin/City 4th of July Parade.

It is important to remember the difference between being in this “celebratory” parade and our efforts at times to protest and to demonstrate our opposition to this administration’s military activities in Iraq and its saber rattling towards Iran and other nations  with whose positions and policies the  administration disagrees.

We are participating in the 4th of July parade to make a presence about our presence in the community.  We are participating to show that we are as “patriotic” as any citizen.  We are participating to remind the community that we support peace and our troops.  We are participating as a piece of education about who we are and what we represent.

We are not demonstrating a particular action or policy.  This is not the purpose of our participation.

I am using we here as a rhetorical device.  I do not represent the views of all peace forum members.  I am trying to articulate why we will not be carrying signs against the war,  This is not a protest march or demonstration.

While we have a responsibility to constantly remind others of our dissatisfaction with current administration policies,  we also are a communioty organization with an obligation to demonstrate how we belong to the community and are part of it.

Please come to the parade.  Support us by marching with us, or by showing your support for peace by your claps and cheers as we march past.

Peace..

David

Is it just a number?

Read in the paper this morning that U.S. death count is now more than 3,500.  Is this another milestone?  The surge seems not to be working.  The president claims to want the troops on the ground to have the final say in combat decisions, but he only listens to perspectives that match his imperialistic vision for nation-building. He will allow no time lines and yet sets benchmarks.  The Democratic party sent out a message that the administration is viewing Iraq not as another Viet Nam but as another Korea.

Fifty years later will be wondering why we are still defining Iraq for Iraqis?  How can we honor heroes this 4th of July? Can we speak to the hypocritical policies while recognizing the legitimate service to country?

Perhaps we can honor those in the peace movement who have been arrested, who have been vocal opponents, maybe posters of politicians who have been against policy, maybe one of Cindy Sheehan?

David

Coming Activities

Friends of the Peace Forum:

On Sunday, June 9, 2007, we will be meeting to discuss our participation in the 4th of July Parade. We will also discuss what we want to do next. Any thoughts on how to honor heroes. Maybe we could honor peace makers. Do something with images of people who have sacrificed for peace? (Gandhi, King, etc)

David

Peace Class

David Isaiah Hedelman, M.S. will be teaching a course “The Psychology of Peace” (Psych 299)  at Klamath Community College this term.  Spring 2007. It will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-3:50 P.M.  Peace is the Way is the text for the course.  This is a collection of essays written for the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Authors include Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr.  Thich Nhat Nanh and others.

Posting and Information

Information about activities and discussion of current events related to US policy in Iraq, Iran, other venues, and about domestic political issues will be posted here rather than through the Peace Forum e-Mail.

Peace

Reminder

On Saturday March 17th, 2007, The Klamath Basin Peace Forum will sponsor a Demonstration for Peace: This action is in coordination with other event throughout our Country. It is time to speak out against continued deployment, escalation of the conflict, and the drumbeat towards invasion of Iran.

Join us.

The Dignity of Us All

Friends,

I came across The Birmingham Pledge while working with Klamath Community College’s efforts to present information to students about diversity.  I include it here for each individual to consider.

The Birmingham Pledge

• I believe that every person has worth as an individual.
• I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color.
• I believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.
• Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
• I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.
• I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.

As a peace organization, I believe it is important to support the dignity of each of us. To sign this pledge, go to

http://www.birminghampledge.org/

Thanks to all:

New members

Friends,

The action we took on January 27, 2007 was an interesting commentary on how things are shifting. In many of our actions against the insanity of American policy in Iraq, we jokingly refer to those of us who have attended as the usual suspects. On Saturday, January 27, 2007, this was not the case. There were new faces underneath the signs. Even when filtering in the desired perception that it was so, the level of community support seemed greater. There appeared to be conservative Republicans, not to be confused with “Neocon” Republicans, there with us. The tide, as pundints say, is turning. Congress is considering resolutions to at the very least condemn the surge in troop levels, is considering moderating financial support for the “war effort”, and is looking into the events that lead to the initial drive into Iraq.

I encourage you to read and support the efforts of Thea Skinner. She was at the action, in part, representing the Herald and News. While the paper chose not to publish her words about the action, she has posted them on her blog. The address for her work is:

http://www. sensiblecommunicator.blogspot.com

David