Departure Day minus one.

The Catechetical Conference starts at 8AM with Registration from 7-8AM. That means tablers like us need to be there before 8AM. This feels like work! I feel like I'm getting up to rush to the airport. It's dark out. How quickly we forget what it's like to have one's life regimented into motion before one's slept enough.

It'll be good to tell folks about Maryknoll today - and to thoroughly read their materials when we're waiting.

This is the first day minus one of the Pilgrimage. This is the Portland Day.

March 16, 2012

The great Pilgrimage Across The Country starts Sunday.
As we travel I will ask and think about:
1. What is noteworthy about this place?
2. What needs improvement?
Send your ideas... about your place..

The kernel beneath this will be "What do I want to do about it?"

On the Road again...
Starting Sunday, come along and see what we find.

Travellers on the Peace Road

8/7/09 On the Road Again!
I forgot to pack my stack of magazines to read while travelling so I am going to try to stay open to what I encounter. I began a book about Palestinian Liberation Theology by Naim Ateek, and drafted a couple pages for the Search For Peace Film Festival web pages.
Encounters so far have been the consequences of addictions like tobacco, and lack of exercise on the body, and the power of nature against our feeble plans – wildfires have closed some mountain roads interferring with our “wilderness” experience. We will use technology and awe to approach and recognize a Force greater than ourselves, refilling ourselves with the Prescence.

I am aghast that Gerard F. Powers of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, quoted in America magazine, August 3-10, would explain concerning the assassination of terrorists, “the same criteria that would apply to war would apply to the killings of terrorists.” Terrorists by whose definition? I can only hope that he is misquoted or quoted out of context!
As Americans, we are now quagmired in a war because of bad or distorted intelligence and immoral preemptive strikes. Using more secret “intelligence” to target terrorists and making arguments or excuses for assassinations speeds our slide down a slippery slope greased by torture. Our country's rule of law and judicial processes must be followed to examine the evidence, determine guilt, and protect society - Lest we become a terrorist state to fight terrorism.
As Christians, we must also remember Christ saying, “Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you.”

Peace Voice 2009

8/1-2/09
A new start – again:
I attended Peace Voice 2009 held at Portland State University and enjoyed presentations especially on Gandhi by Michael Sonnleitner and Journalism for Transformtion by Rob Gould. Sonnleitner emphasized Gandhi's Triad of I. Truth - God, II. Ahimsa -nonviolence – Love – do no harm – not even wish any harm to one's brethren [There are no enemies] (Holy Spirit), and III. Tapas - Suffering (the Son). He briefly alluded to the Christian Trinity and I strongly feel that harmony. Gould emphasized the journalist showing respect for all sides and giving their strengths rather that sattacking their weaknesses. The journalist should be opening new worlds, providing new insights, bringing the possibility for new solutions, rather than inflaming old passions and stereotypes. I will try this a I write about the School of the Americas. A little research before we go to the Ft. Benning demonstration would be good preparation. Another talk about the Daodejing by Thomas Pynn showed wu-a(spelling?), a form of chi – energy that is the absence of violence, respecting or treating each thing in its own context. I saw an immediate connection and similarity to ahimsa.
May I learn to treat all others with loving concern as I work to make things better for all.