OMNI WAR WATCH WEDNESDAYS, #182, June 19, 2024 (Juneteenth). Compiled
by Dick Bennett
PEACEMAKING,
PEACEMAKERS
Jesus
J. William Fulbright
United Nations
JESUS A REVOLUTIONARY FOR PEACE AND NONVIOLENT ACTION
Brad Wolf. A Ministry at Risk. Philip Berrigan.
Brad
Wolf. A Ministry of Risk: Writings
on Peace and Nonviolence. Fordham
UP, 2024. Rev. by Mark
Colville in The Catholic Worker (May 2024).
When Dana Copp, M.D., and I started OMNI
in 2001, for peace and nonviolence, we did not have Jesus in the forefront of
our minds, though we did have some of his followers, like Martin Luther King,
Jr. Copp was a scientist and I was a
young skeptic, and such aspects of Jesus’ life as exorcism, which he was
reported to have practiced, could not provide a modern foundation for
peace. Mark Colville concentrates upon
other aspects of Jesus.
His review celebrates a book on the
peacemaking life and writings of Philip Berrigan. Mark Colville writes: “Philip Berrigan was
the most single-hearted person we ever knew, a man unswervingly devoted, both
in public and in private life, to the unity of word and deed. . . .Phil would
never stop asking himself, or us: ‘What does Christ want from me? What do the times demand of me? How can I lay down my life for others?’ The answers he found form the substance of
this book, as well as the convictions upon which he joyfully staked his life. .
. .The only starting point from which to form a Christian conscience or ‘to
take on the mind of Christ’ as St. Paul instructs, is identification with
the victims of state violence. That
is the precisely the path Jesus followed to the cross. . . .” Berrigan via Wolf via Colville continues:
“Dissent without resistance is consent.
Silence before the crimes of empire brings spiritual death. Properly understood, then, the Christian
conscience is a midwife that delivers revolutionary action into the world.”
The review is also a celebration of
the author’s book: “Brad Wolf’s
chronicle captures brilliantly the voice, as it evolved, of a true North
American Christian revolutionary. . . .smashing the murderous idols of war and
white supremacy.” I urge everyone who
seeks a nonviolent world to read this review leading to the book and the life.
For me, a local
connection: Recently the Black Like Me
demonstrations led to calls for the removal of statues around the country of
notorious warriors and racist bigots.
Some students called for the removal of Senator Fulbright’s statue,
which stands in front of Old Main and the offices of the College named after
him. Students know the truth about J.
William Fulbright: he was a racist, and I recommend reading Randall Woods’
biography, Fulbright. But like
the story of Jesus’ flaws, Fulbright’s limitations are counterbalanced by his
life’s work for peace. Fulbright’s
student exchange program and his advocacy of empathy even toward enemies, even
to the Soviets, justifies statue and college name. His racism created an opportunity for
students to learn more of the complexities of the world, and of our flawed heroes
(slave owners Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin), as part of the eminent mission
of all colleges of Arts and Sciences.
UNITED NATIONS
2024 NEWS FROM UN-USA
Palestine
The UN
General Assembly voted on the status of Palestine on Friday May 10, 2024.
Through this development, some have inaccurately claimed that if the UNGA draft
resolution is approved, the vote would trigger the 1990 Foreign Relations
Authorization Act that requires the U.S. to automatically defund the
UN. This is not true and it is important to stay informed. Read the latest
article from our sister organization, The Better World Campaign, to get the facts and continue
to stay informed.
UNA-USA at the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference
As part of the World Federation of UN
Associations (WFUNA), a UNA-USA delegation, along with 13 other UN
Associations, attended the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference (UNCSC) in Nairobi,
Kenya, May 9-10, 2024. Read more about the UNCSC and how UNA-USA joined
other civil society organizations to influence global policymaking and to share
their voice in preparation for the upcoming Summit of the Future.
World Refugee Day
Toolkit
Every year on World Refugee Day,
UNA-USA encourages its chapters and members to advocate for refugees around the
globe with programming, communications, and advocacy initiatives.
Join us in showing
your support on June 20, 2024. We will continue updating and adding to
the toolkit as it gets closer to the World Refugee Day. In the
meantime, plan how you, your chapter and your community will show your
support!
|
International Day of United
Nations Peacekeepers |
|
Show your support for UN Peacekeeping on May
29th, 2024! More than 2 million peacekeepers have served in over 70
UN peacekeeping operations since 1948!
How do peacekeepers protect civilians? They identify a
threat to the safety of civilians, peacekeepers work swiftly to: To honor their service and sacrifice, show your
support for peacekeeping on social media using #UNAforPeacekeeping and
#ServingForPeace
|
END WAR WATCH WEDNESDAYS, #182, June 19, 2024.
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