Saturday 2 April 2011

Reconciliation of Civil Hearts

My friend, and fellow peace activist, Simon Moyle, recently journeyed to Afghanistan to be with the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers. They recently posted this call to a nonviolent way for peace in their country.

Some particular highlights from this document, that I think deserves more than a cursory glance.

"We are struggling because it seems that nowadays, the voice of war has its space and its rights; we wonder if the voice of peace has equal space and rights. We wish to raise our voice of peace to give it a chance, without fear or shame."

"We desire to patiently build our nation. So, while we appreciate your friendship and partnership, we desire just as much to trek on our own paths, build our own parks and choose which of our own mountains to climb."

"We’re not willing for one more international soldier, one more Afghan soldier or one more of our countrymen to die a violent death."

"We do not accept the violent actions or solutions that the world seems to be counting on. We have become a terror to one another, in our inconsiderate actions and in our cowardly silence, and this must stop."

"We wish to refuse the ‘insurgent’ any further excuse to hurt us; brothers killing brothers, friends killing friends, humans killing one another."