by
Brandywine Peace Community | 11.23.2006
Decades ago, the Brandywine Peace Community would stand, year after year in pre-Thanksgiving vigil, before General Electric (now: Lockheed Martin) in Valley Forge, PA, with a a block-long banner reading "Weapons Abound, People Starve, GE Feasts: Dare We Give Thanks?"
Decades ago, the Brandywine Peace Community would stand, year
after year in pre-Thanksgiving vigil, before General Electric (now:
Lockheed Martin) in Valley Forge, PA, with a a block-long banner
reading "Weapons Abound, People Starve, GE Feasts: Dare We
Give Thanks?". At the time General Electric was the U.S.'s chief
nuclear weapons contractor. It was, like Lockheed Martin today, the
very reference of the corporate war economy and the weapons
industry. Usually the vigil would include the building of a large
wooden shanty that would be delivered onto GE and people would
be arrested for daring to suggest that poverty and war-making are
two sides of the same corporate coin and raising a question about
giving thanks for the "American way of death."
Over the past decade, we've stood repeatedly at that same
weapons complex in Valley Forge, PA that now carries the name of
the world's largest weapons corporation, Lockheed Martin, with a
banner reading: "LOCKHEEDVILLE: where the business of war
matters and people don't". We've sought to make the very same
connection - violence, poverty, war - we did all those years ago.
Though we have continued to hold Thanksgiving presences,
instead of choosing resistance over thanksgiving, we have
suggested to give thanks BY resisting.
So on this Thanksgiving '06 we dare to give thanks, by holding up a
sampling of resistance and peacemaking. We Give Thanks:
- for the recent "March Under the El" and the ongoing Brandywine
Peace Community - Kensington Welfare Rights Union [KWRU]
partnership that refuses to be silent about the poverty/war
connection;
- for Veterans for Peace, Celeste Zappala, Al Zappala, Military
Families Speak Out, and Iraq Veterans Against the War for breaking
the mold and obedience to the military culture;
- for Michael Berg, whose love of his slain son, Nick, became an
example of forgiveness to George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld
and love for our suffering humanity;
- for Catholic Workers, and the simple way, who see in the poor,
imprisoned, and tortured the one born homeless beneath the star
and under the decree of empire die the tortured death of a political
prisoner;
- for the Granny Peace Brigade Phila., who on December 1 will face
court hearing for saying "take us, not our grandkids, for your war" at
the Phila. Armed Forces Recruiting Station;
- for the "Phila. Declare Peace 14" facing prosecution in Phila. for
demanding peace of our senators and congresspersons;
- for United for Peace & Justice, American Friends Service
Committee, the Declaration of Peace, the National Campaign for
Nonviolent Resistance, Code Pink, Global Women's Strike, War
Resisters League, Women's International League for Peace &
Freedom, Peace Action, and the Atlantic Life Community, providing
the national arc of peace and justice;
- for our friends at Epiphany House ("we love kids") and all the other
groups that advocate for children and a path free of guns;
- for the American voter who in this past election said "no" to the
war;
- for all people of faith, who know that scripture is the course of
justice, peace, and love of all and that faith ends where it divides;
- for the Bread & Roses Community Frund, the Friends Meetings
and church groups, and all the contributors that make our giving
possible;
and, as the Brandywine Peace Community turns 30 in '07, for every
person that continues to resist, sit-in, stand up, walk-on, "die-in",
climb over, pray, plant seeds, intone the bells of peace, and bang
the drum of nonviolent resistance at Lockheed Martin, who attend
the potluck suppers, who plan to participate in upcoming efforts for
peace, www.brandywinepeace.com
We Give Thanks for You!
Brandywine Peace Community
P.O. Box 81, Swarthmore, PA 19081 610-544-1818
brandywine@juno.com http://www.brandywinepeace.com
Resist Lockheed Martin...
*Friday, December 22, 7PM - Christmas Candlelight Vigil for Peace
Lockheed Martin (the world's largest weapons corporation),
Mall & Goddard Blvds., Valley Forge, PA (behind the King of Prussia
Mall)
Join us in the Peace of the Season, in music, caroling, speakers,
where the weapons are built and the light of peacemaking must
shine.
*Monday, January 15, 2007 (the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King,
Jr.) Martin Luther King Day of Nonviolent Resistance to the War &
the War Maker, Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin, Mall & Goddard Blvds., Valley Forge, PA
Hear the words of Dr. King for justice, peace, and nonviolent action.
Resist the works and profits of war, stand up to the injustice that is
Lockheed Martin, as the Brandywine Peace Community begins its
30th year and continues its campaign of nonviolent resistance.
Those planning or considering facing arrest for nonviolent civil
resistance on January 15, need to call the Brandywine Peace
Community by January 2, 2007 for the date, time, and place of the
planning and preparation meeting.
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