|
Browse events |
| March 2010 | |
|---|
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | | | | |
|
|
|
|
United Nations International Day of Peace Event - Thursday, September 21, 2006 |
|
|
Story submitted by Horace Santry on Saturday, September 23, 2006 - 9:52am |
|
United Nations International Day of Peace Event in Wichita
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Press Conference at the Peace Center – The Human Cost of War.
By Horace Santry
On November 30, 1981, with resolution 36-67, the United Nations established September 21 of each year as an International Day of Peace.
In the resolution we are reminded that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defense of peace must be constructed” Those that profess a desire for a peaceful world must keep in mind the total human costs involved in supporting acts of retribution, act of war.
In an effort to help realize that cost, the Peace and Social Justice Center and People of Faith for Peace created and maintain this Human Cost of War display.
The numbers posted here represent, as best we can calculate, the total human dead and wounded since the March 18, 2003 invasion of Iraq. We have available for everyone the sources of our numbers.
When this display was established in December 2004 the total human dead was 42,415. In a few moments we will install numbers showing 104,789 human dead. In just 21 months – the equivalent of a city the size of Hutchinson Kansas has died. – in all probability the numbers of human dead is much higher.
The shoes and faces on the fence here are meant to show who is dieing, there are about 125 pairs of children’s shoes, grandparent’s shoes, men’s shoes, women’s shoes, - we need 104,000 pairs of shoes to show that in addition to our U.S. Military, Coalition members and private contractors dieing, the whole spectrum of human experience is being impacted, including the wounded and the pain experienced by those left behind to deal with the death of a loved one..
The continued use of violence in an attempt to resolve differences and disputes leads to more violence – be it in our homes with domestic violence, in the streets of our city with drive-by shootings, or between nations with acts of war. In an attempt to punish those we declare to be “at fault” innocents are wounded and killed.
It is hard work to find solutions that do not involve the use of violence. First the desire to stop needless death must be embraced. Then we must look for nonviolent means - to that end, this Sunday we will hold “Just Policing in a Violent World: Peacemaking Beyond Fear” to investigate viable alternatives to retributive violence. Information is on the sheets being passed around.
I would now like to introduce Allison Lemons of People of Faith for Peace who will speak in remembrance of Rev Gary Cox. Rev Cox dedicated this Human Cost of War display almost two years ago, and up until his passing this August was a courageous voice for peace activism in Wichita,
Allison…
Gary Cox’s address
the dedication of the Shoe Memorial
the Peace and Justice Center
Dec., 2004
I want to welcome all of you to this place and to this moment. This is a time and place made sacred by the caring and loving people who have gathered here to honor the tens of thousands who have died in the Iraq War. PFP has joined with the Peace and Social Justice Center to create this memorial to those who have paid the price of this war with their blood. As Americans, there are those who disagree about whether or not the War in Iraq is justifiable, but as people of faith, we can all agree that the human cost of this war has been horrific.
It is our purpose today to both mourn and to honor those who have died in this conflict. They all share something in common: they didn’t start the war. The brave men and women who committed their lives to the defense of our nation did not start this war, and the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have died did not start this conflict. So we gather to remember and to learn.
Those who start the wars and those who send their nations to war are never the ones who pay the cost of those wars with their blood. Today we prayerfully honor those who have paid that cost, the tens of thousands of men, women, and children, who are no longer among us because we, the human race, failed to live up to our calling as children of God and people of faith.
….
As we bring this memorial to a close, we have to ask ourselves, what is this about? What purpose does this serve? In that regard, this event is more about the future than the past. Once a nation commits itself to war, the inevitable result is the death of innocent men, women, and children. It happens every time. The cost of war is measured in innocent human life. We cannot turn back the clock and keep this war from happening; we can’t go back in time and work more diligently and more prayerfully to find a way to keep this war from starting. But we can do something about NEXT time! And friends, there WILL BE a NEXT TIME. The day will come when our nation will once again turn to war too quickly. When the horror of war is viewed, not as a last resort, but as one of many options, when human life is viewed, not as a precious and irreplaceable child of God, but rather as an expendable, political resource, our country will again choose war.
NEXT TIME, next time, may we all remember the COST of war. May we insist that our leaders attempt to wage peace as diligently as they are willing to wage war. And with the help of God, may people of all faiths stand together, brothers and sisters, against the political powers of death and destruction, and JUST SAY, “NO MORE!” “No more will we allow you to shed blood in our name. No more.” I swear, a new day is coming. The people that we remember today did not live to see it, but, with God’s help, we will. All that is required is the courage and the faith to stand together and just say, “NO MORE!.” God grant us that strength. Peace be with you all. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
