 
|
of the Peace Movement |
  |
|
|
|
As we grew up and were taught to salute the flag, to become consumers, and not to question our government, many began to realize that our political ideas where fashioned from fear. We were taught that Russia was out to get us -- it was just a matter of time. We had drills to learn to protect ourselves from nuclear holocaust -- hiding under our school desks and clasping our hands over our heads. We watched as a generation of our elders built bomb shelters and stocked shelves with rations for the time of "The Big One." And we learned to accept War as a natural condition of our culture. To not question it, and just maybe fashion careers around it. Enter the 60's -- a mass shift in consciousness occurred -- a combination of psychedelics and a generation of young adults facing the prospect of going to a war that they didn't understand -- Vietnam. To Kill or perhaps to Die. People began to look at the atrocities of War -- flashed steadily across t.v. screens -- screaming headlines -- bloodied magazine covers -- while frantic youths sought release from the Draft, and were faced with the prospect of being criminals if they didn't wish to fight. The reasons for War didn't make sense, but the reasons for Peace were many, as people began to "march to the tune of a different drum," dance for Love, and sing for Peace. And from hearts filled with compassion, and minds needing to be heard, came the musical voice to "put an end to war," with Protest Songs And people began to take a good look around and a good look within, and out of this introspection came a new spirit of understanding and sensitivity, of seeing themselves as being connected, and "One" with each other and the Universe -- and there came about a deeper insight into the truism "Do unto Others as you wish them to do unto You" -- and from this came a desire for a radically more Peaceful world. Thus, The Peace Movement was Born. |
||
