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Sunday, January 28, 2007

Sunday Blog Chatter ~ Your Thoughts On Peace


(Photograph by Annelisa from Words That Flow)

The first BlogBlast For Peace took place nearly three months ago. As I traveled through the blogosphere this weekend it was uplifting to see so many Peace Globes still floating around on your blogs. As you can see, I've been working on a comprehensive list of "Peace Bloggers" that I've placed in the sidebar. Over the last two days I've collected original posts on peace written November 7th and December 24th of 2006.

Reading them has affirmed something that bears repeating here: the Peace Globe movement was not, and is not, a political statement. It remains - and will always remain - a simple cry for peace. A wish. A prayer. A symbol of hope. A united front with an honest message: Dona Nobis Pacem, Grant Us Peace.

Conflicts rage across our world, not just in Iraq or Afghanistan. Wherever violence rules, evil is king and war incarcerates the souls, minds and lives of those it touches. I did not begin the Peace Globe movement to draw attention to one conflict above another; and certainly not to isolate or ignore the suffering of people embroiled and trapped in the devastating consequences of war in lesser known skirmishes and battles. War is war. Violence is violence. Suffering is suffering.

The worth of a human being lies not in the wealth of its territory
or lack thereof.

Debilitating poverty, sickness, indignities and inhumanity are all consequences of the realities and presence of war. Innocent people are thrown into hellish circumstances, soldiers defend freedoms at the hands of and within arms reach of ruthless leaders ruled by economic strongholds and barbaric tradition. For a time the atrocities of war seemed safely tucked away somewhere else.

When I read your inspiring words and see our names scrawled across the blue graphic we call Peace Globes, I am reminded that before I became a writer in the blogosphere, I didn't know you either. I didn't understand what you might be going through in your own corner of the universe. It's hard to admit but I found it easy to go about my daily business globally unaware, indifferent, caught up in my own life story and unconcerned with issues that did not directly affect my own turf and welfare. A peacemaker I was; but on a much smaller scale. Compassionate, yes....as many of you are, but on a local level.

What I've learned from Peace Globes is that once those globes made noise the very first day in our blogworld, I began to see and sense a universal urgency for peace I never knew existed before. I heard a unified passion for peace in your writings - words that were individually crafted on individual  websites by separate individuals.
And we all said the same thing.
It was then I knew that my carefully fenced kindnesses were full of hypocrisy. My prayers for world peace and an occasional thought toward poor starving children somewhere else, with a contribution conveniently drafted from my paycheck, smelled a bit like judgment and a lot like patronizing indifference.

My awareness has changed.
My ideas have broadened. I have grown in a real and personal way. You have helped me do that. My understanding of the world condition and our place in it has transformed. But one thing has not changed.

And that is my fundamental belief that words are powerful.
In the pages and pages you've written, the one thing I hear over and over is the theme of gratitude. And being thankful is a good thing. But it can become a smug place to live if my neighbor - in Afghanistan or Iraq or Darfur or any other war-torn place - has little to be thankful for and I am content with my apparent abundance.

I hope you will take some time today to read what we have collectively declared in these posts and digest the meaning behind them. From blog post to blog post, from the pen of the most impassioned essay writer to a simple five-line poem, story, or illustration -you will begin to see an unmistakable pattern. It is not a declaration of strategy. It is not a call to agree.
It is the voice of kindness.
And that's a fine place to start.

31 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

well now honey that was just beautifully written. smiles all day to you! bee

Bud Weiser, WTIT said...

Great post. I agree with you that wanting peace is not political. It's human.

You done good.

Missing any pink socks?

Frank Sirianni said...

Hi Mimi
Really nice touch adding links to the Dona Nobis Pacem posts in your sidebar.

And I hope you don't mind my imposing, but you've been Tagged by me. I know you're very busy, but I thought you'd enjoy what I came up with, especially if you need an entertaining, creativity type of diversion.

TTFN
Frank

Mimi Lenox said...

Thanks, Bee. Glad you stopped by on this chilly Sunday. Everytime I see your pic I want to pack a bag and head to the ocean for a picnic.

Mimi Lenox said...

I will check it out, Frank! Thanks.

Mimi Lenox said...

Bud - Thanks, Bud. Now that you mention it, my left foot is a little chilly.....

Elaine said...

Oh Mimi, I'm in tears after reading your post. The peace globes always do that to me.

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Wonderful post dear Mimi, Wonderful links.

Indeed, a lot of us have given a lot of lip service to peace through time, but it is a word of action, individual action - the way we conduct our lives, the choices we make, down to our minute puchases, all contributing in one way or another to "social justice" and, peace thereoff...

Big hug

Cinnamon Girl said...

Lovely post, Mimi, thank you for sharing =)

that frolicsome kid said...

Hey Mimi, just want to say thank you for writing this beautiful blog post and of course, for coming out with this wonderful Blogblast for Peace idea!

I agree, the world is so infiltrated with so much violence, it is disheartening for me to see news after news of the reports of violence. And violence itself generates more and more problems on its own that, if people don't stop to make peace with one another, everyone will suffer.

I think this is really a good beginning to cry out for peace among us humans.

Another special thing happened to me on that day of November 7. I made new blog friends, and both are now my really good friends. Annelisa and madd. I really cannot believe that the Dona Nobis Pacem has also converge our lives together. I really did not dream of that!

Amazing, really... =)

Liz Hill said...

I so appreciate all you have done to give us a forum to express this desire that is not political but simple and real and true. Thank you.

Dean aka Sgt Dub said...

Great post Mimi, hopefully one day we can get this working right. But of course, as long as it involves humans.....

Mimi Lenox said...

India - I know the feeling.

Mimi Lenox said...

Angeldust - I feel like I'm preaching to the choir with you guys.

Mimi Lenox said...

Starr - All of us sharing about Peace is an awesome thing.

Mimi Lenox said...

Kid - It's amazing to me that one so young brings such positive vibes to the blogosphere. You are an old soul, Kid.

Mimi Lenox said...

Kid - It's amazing to me that one so young brings such positive vibes to the blogosphere. You are an old soul, Kid.

Mimi Lenox said...

Turnbaby - Well spoken. Real and true is always best and foreign to most political concepts.

Mimi Lenox said...

SGT - Humans mess it up everytime! Stay safe, my friend.

CountryDew said...

Kindness says it all. If we'd all practice it, imagine how much better off we'd be.

Great post.

Anonymous said...

I guess all we want is just peace for the world and whatever that is on it, nothing left out.
:)
Peace is acheiveable, I'm sure of it
Let's try to make it a peaceful one for all

Annelisa said...

Hey Mimi (recognise that photo... haven't I seen it somewhere before? :-) )

Oh Mimi, you are never 'preaching to the choir'! You know, however much we try to stay focused, life always distracts us, and it's so good to be reminded now and then what our goal would be...

I'd forgotten how I'd gotten to know Frolicsome Kid through the Peaceglobe day - thank you for that! He has turned out to be a dear friend! As, indeed, have you!

It's a really lovely idea to put an index to the post in the sidebar... I might nick your idea, if that's ok, and double-up on the showing of other people's dreams ...

Which brings me to my last point I really have to say - I totally dispute what you said to Sgt Dub: Humans don't mess it up every time - [most times, but not every time!] Look at what you've been / are doing here, and all the beliefs in a better world coming from round the globe... These people speaking out are trying to clear up the mess certain humans have created, and to develope an atmosphere within which change might begin to take place...

Seems to me you have taken the broom from the cupboard and started clearing away the cobwebs... it's up to the rest of us to join in the spring-cleaning!

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Once again i leave here knowing I have been touched by a wonderful person.

Peace has nothing to do with politics... It has to do with humanity.

Thanks for saying it over and over...

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for those wonderful thoughts you´ve posted.

xoxoxo,

Sanni - human longing for peace

Mother of Invention said...

It would be neat to gather all these posts and bind them in hard copy too! My peace globe was put up at Annelisa'a because I lack the techy skills to do this but I think it is just as much of a "Power Of Peace Globe Thinking" kind of thing. We all have the Peace Globe Spirit of Mind.

Mimi Lenox said...

CountryDew ~Thanks for stopping by. Peace to you always.

Mimi Lenox said...

Zero- Our positive thoughts,globes and posts DO count. I just know it!

Mimi Lenox said...

Annelisa - I do believe in the power and magic of Peace Globes and in the conviction of our words. Your influence and spirit via the sky photographs made - and continues to make - a huge contribution to the project.
Here's to many more Dona Nobis Pacem days, until one day, we won't need them anymore.

Mimi Lenox said...

Bond and Sannie - You are comrades with me for the cause of Peace. I always feel honored when the subject is Dona Nobis Pacem and people are moved to comment. It's a magical movement I do believe.

Mimi Lenox said...

Mother Of Invention ~ I'm already working on the hard copy version. Many, many stories to tell about the first Dona Nobis Pacem. It will make a great book, I think - one that I hope will inspire people to join in and work together in a unified voice.

Sunflower Optimism said...

Mimi, finally catching up here - this is exactly what so moved me about Blood Done Sign My Name - it really made me take a good, hard look at myself and how I perceive the world. I really had to ask myself, as you did - was I guilty of "patronizing indifference?" Reading that book has changed me for the better, in a small way, as have the Peace Globes.

Now I know why you liked my 123 Book Meme so much - you are Queen of the Memes! Thanks for stopping by and for adding me here. If I knew how to do the code, I would put my Peace Globe on my blog permanently.

Keep up the wonderful work - we can change things, a little bit at a time.

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