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Flower power
Flower powerWarrenton was the world's first Community of Peace, so declared by Mayor George Fitch on Sept. 10, 2002. The purpose of a community of peace, according to those behind the idea — and it was founded right here in Warrenton — is to encourage folks to be part of the solution, not part of the problem, by creating positive actions and acts of kindness.
The Warrenton Town Council has taken this a step further by declaring May as a “Month of Peace,” and the board of supervisors will most likely follow suit when it meets on Thursday.
All this is leading up to the planting of a “Peace Pole” in a peace garden in Rady Park at a ceremony planned for June 1.
The idea of a peace pole, according to Communities of Peace Foundation founder Gerry Eitner, “is to emphasize a positive ideal that everyone holds,” and the foundation is asking everyone to do at least four "acts of kindness" during the month of May. “This is a make-it-up situation,” Eitner said, “kind of like the movie 'Pay it Forward.'”
If we are understanding the message correctly, peace on a global scale is not possible without it first starting as a fully realized internal adjustment. The foundation, of course, isn't the first to suggest this process, and is wisely spending a good deal of time with children, planting the seeds and fostering the idea.
Leading up to the June 1 ceremony in Warrenton, Eitner has been working with Warrenton Middle School students from the Community Service Club, children at P.B. Smith Elementary School, Scout troops, kids in homeless shelters, and others.
“Rather than depending on a 'top down' approach, of governments, politicians, officials of any sort designing or negotiating peace, our approach takes the position that it is the responsibility, joy and indeed mission of everyone to create a peaceful world,” Eitner says on the foundation's Web site. “If people are happy and fulfilled, they don't create wars,” and, the Web site adds, “if we lead, our leaders will follow.”
That, more's the shame, is a level of evolutionary development to which we are still aspiring.
The American public has overwhelmingly had it with our foray into Iraq, and, to a somewhat lesser extent, with the war in Afghanistan.
“So?” Mr. Cheney wonders.
And so much for our internalized wishes for peace.
This is in no way meant to diminish or trivialize the compelling goals of the Communities of Peace Foundation. What it does suggest, is that those who are happy and fulfilled and don't want to create wars will still do well to take to the streets from time to time.
Code Pink was in Warrenton for a peaceful demonstration against the wars on Saturday. Code Pink and other anti-war activists can make us all a little uncomfortable these days. We learned from Vietnam how despicable it is to put men and women in camouflage, then heap on the disrespect for their having carried out the responsibilities of the uniform. Being against the wars is linked to being against the country, perhaps now more than ever.
Eitner likens the internal peace process “rather like a flower coming to full blossom.”
It's a wonderfully descriptive simile. Beautiful flowers need to be put on display for all to share..
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