Militarism in Today's World
Perspective by Olive Branch*
Dec. 1 is the 61st anniversary of the abolition of the army in Costa Rica.
As we reach the tenth year of the twentieth century we are no closer to world peace than we were centuries ago. We have organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States which have stressed peaceful means of settling disputes but military solutions, including the threat of war, are still a fact.
The nations of the world keep adding on to their military structures. China has a million man army, the largest in the world. Some nations are building missile systems for long range attacks. Weapons such as napalm, depleted uranium and nuclear arms that kill and injure civilians long after the war has moved on should have been banned before they were ever used yet newer, more deadly weapons are funded for development.
The war in Afghanistan has lasted eight years. The war in Colombia more than twenty. The war in Iraq, based on lies of weapons of mass destruction, is not settled after six years. The fighting in the Middle East continues after countless lives and homes have been lost and is far from resolved. The war on drugs, begun in the 1980's, has not diminished the flow of drugs. Yet, instead of thinking of peace, the nations of the world continue building up arsenals.
At the summit meeting of presidents of the Americas held in Trinidad-Tabago in May 2009, President Arias of Costa Rica's gave a speech that was praised by all those present. He strongly criticized increased military spending. “In Latin America alone military budgets in 2008 added up to $50,000 millions, a 25% increase over the previous year. Who is our enemy?” he asks.
In 2008 the world spent $1300 millions on arms and the military while at the same time millions of humans live in misery, without the basics of running water, electricity, schools, roads or health care. In addtion to an already overstuffed military there is a trend toward using commercial private security companies as police and military forces, and in providing military training and military equipment for civilian police.
In the Americas, instead of working toward a world without wars we see build ups in budgets and arsenals. Colombia, Paraguay, Venezuela and Brazil have increased military capability and Colombia plans to open their bases to the United States military. In Honduras the army was used to remove an elected president and to control the streets and airports. The United States not only has the biggest military budget in the Americas but has about 700 bases, outposts and installations around the world.
And here in peaceful, non-military Costa Rica, the civilian police force receives training from the United States military either at the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning, Georgia or from visits of the U.S. Southern Command here. Even though president Arias promised to send no more police to the military School of Americas, the government continues to do so. The president also authorized the use of military type weapons by the police here. Such weapons were carried by the police at the northern border following the Christmas holidays prompting a protest by the Nicaraguan ambassador here.
President Obama of the United States has just won the year's Nobel Peace Prize for his preference for negotiations over military threats and his support for disarmament. Next year the nations of the world, through the UN will review the Nuclear non-proliferation Treaty, which was signed in 1968. Article VI of the treaty calls for reductions and and end to all nuclear weapons. That means all the countries including the five permenent members of the Security Council that hold veto power over UN decisions and which are all nuclear weapons nations.
A peaceful future looks promising. Now is a good time to speak out for peace and against military control of our governments and our national resources. Let's all call for controls over the weapons industry and the weapons trade, the arms, the bombs, the combat planes and helicopters, the chemical compounds that burn and radiate. Let's speak out in the streets, in the press, on T shirts, at the ballot box, through our voices, our music, our computers and pens. Through bumper stickers and books and peace oriented groups. In churches, community halls, schools, universities and the halls of governments. Let's make the nations of the world put their priorities in order. It's time for peace.
Olive Branch is the collective name for the Heredia group of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Costa Rican Section. WILPF international was founded in 1915 in the Hague and has national sections in many countries. See www.women4peaceincr@blogspot.com
Monday, November 16, 2009
MILITARISMO DE HOY
Militarismo de Hoy
por Olivia Ramos, Liga Internacional de Mujeres Pro Paz y Libertad
El primero de diciembre se comple el 61 aniversario de la abolición del ejercito en Costa Rica.
Al cercarnos al décimo año del siglo 21 estamos tan alejados de la paz mundial como estábamos siglos atrás. Organizaciones como las Naciones Unidas y la Organización de Estados Americanos promueven la solución pacifica de los conflictos, pero la solución militar continua siendo una amenaza.
Las naciones del mundo continuan aumentando su poderío militar. China tiene un ejército de un millón de personas, el más grande del mundo. Varias naciones están construyendo sistemas de lanzamientos de misiles para ataques a largas distancias. Napalm, uranio gastadoy armas nucleares que matan y hieren a civiles mucho después de que las guerras hayan terminado, debieron ser prohibidas antes de ser usadas y sin embargo, nuevas y más letales armas siguen siendo desarrolladas.
La guerra de Afganistán ha durado ocho años. La guerra en Colombia más de 20. La guerra in Irak, basada en mentiras sobre armas de destrucción masiva, no ha sido resuelta, después de seis años. La lucha en el Oriente Medio continua luego de un innumerable cantidad de vidas y hogares destruidos y no se vislumbra una solución. La guerra contra las drogas empezó en los 80 y el flujo de drogas no ha disminuido. Y aun asi, en vez de pensar en la paz, las naciones continúan aumentando sus arsenales.
En la Cumbre de Presidentes de America en Trinidad-Tabago en mayo de este año, el presidente Arias pronuncio un discurso que fue aplaudido por todos los presentes. Critico fuertemente el aumento del gasto militar. “El presupuesto de America Latina para armamentos en el 2008 fue de $50,000 millones, un aumento del 25% sobre el año anterior. ¿Quien es nuestro enemigo?” preguntó.
En 2008, el mundo gasto $1300 millones en armas y fuerzas militares mientras millones de seres humanos viven en total miseria sin siquiera agua, electricidad, escuelas y salud. Además de un aparato militar sobre-inflado, la tendencia a usar compañias privadas de seguridad como fuerza militar y policial, asi como para entrenar fuerzas policiales civiles va en aumento.
En las Américas, en vez de trabajar hacia una America sin guerras, vemos el aumento en presupuestos y arsenales. Colombia, Paraguay, Venezuela y Brasil han aumentado considrablemente su capacidad militar y Colombia se prepara para abrir bases militares estadounidenses en su territorio. En Honduras, el ejército acaba de destituir a un presidente electo y de tomar control de las calles y los aeropuertos. Los Estados Unidos no solo tienen el presupuesto militar más grande de America, sino que también tienen unas 700 bases e instalaciones militares por todo el mundo.
Y aquí en la pacifica C osta Rica, la policia es entrenada en la Escuela de las Americas y se reciben visitas de oficiales del Comando sur de Estados Unidos. El Presidente también autorizo el uso de armas militares por la policia civil. Estas armas fueron usadas en la frontera norte durante la época de Navidad, lo cual genero una fuerte protesta de parte del Embajador de Nicaragua en este país.
El presidente Obama acaba de ganar el Premio Nobel de la Paz por preferir negociaciones diplomáticas a amenazas militares y por su labor en pro del desarmamiento. El año entrante, las naciones del mundo, por medio de las Naciones Unidas, revisaran el Tratado de No Proliferación de Armas Nucleares que fue firmado en 1968. El Artículo VI de ese tratado exige la reducción y el desmantelamiento de todas la armas nucleares del planeta, incluyendo las de los cinco miembros permanentes del Consejo de Seguridad, los poseadores mayores de armas nucleares. (los Estados Unidos, Rusia, Francia, Reino Unido y China)
Este es el momento de manifestamos por la paz y en contra del control militar de nuestrsos gobiernos y nuestros recursos naturales. Hagamos un llamado colectivo en contra de la industria de las armas, las armas, las bombas, los aviones y helicópteros de combate, los químicos que queman e irradian. Hablemos en las calles, en la prensa, por medio de camisetas, de las urnas de votación, con nuestras voces, nuestra música, nuestras computadoras y nuestras plumas. Por medio de calcomanias, libros y grupos de paz. En las iglesias, en los salones comunitarios, en las escuelas, universidades y los pasillos de gobierno. Ya es hora de que las naciones del mundo ordenen sus prioridades. Es tiempo para la PAZ.
Olivia Ramos es el nombre colectivo del grupo de la Liga Internacional de Mujeres Pro Paz y Libertad, Sección de Costa Rica. LIMPAL fue fundada en la Haya en 1915 para promover la paz.
En Costa Rica, resp. Mitzi Stark, ced. 184000557907, Estilita Grimaldo, ced. Pen. Rentista 6807. Ced. Juridica de LIMPAL, 3-002-071521.
peacewomen@gmail.com, tel: 2433-7078
por Olivia Ramos, Liga Internacional de Mujeres Pro Paz y Libertad
El primero de diciembre se comple el 61 aniversario de la abolición del ejercito en Costa Rica.
Al cercarnos al décimo año del siglo 21 estamos tan alejados de la paz mundial como estábamos siglos atrás. Organizaciones como las Naciones Unidas y la Organización de Estados Americanos promueven la solución pacifica de los conflictos, pero la solución militar continua siendo una amenaza.
Las naciones del mundo continuan aumentando su poderío militar. China tiene un ejército de un millón de personas, el más grande del mundo. Varias naciones están construyendo sistemas de lanzamientos de misiles para ataques a largas distancias. Napalm, uranio gastadoy armas nucleares que matan y hieren a civiles mucho después de que las guerras hayan terminado, debieron ser prohibidas antes de ser usadas y sin embargo, nuevas y más letales armas siguen siendo desarrolladas.
La guerra de Afganistán ha durado ocho años. La guerra en Colombia más de 20. La guerra in Irak, basada en mentiras sobre armas de destrucción masiva, no ha sido resuelta, después de seis años. La lucha en el Oriente Medio continua luego de un innumerable cantidad de vidas y hogares destruidos y no se vislumbra una solución. La guerra contra las drogas empezó en los 80 y el flujo de drogas no ha disminuido. Y aun asi, en vez de pensar en la paz, las naciones continúan aumentando sus arsenales.
En la Cumbre de Presidentes de America en Trinidad-Tabago en mayo de este año, el presidente Arias pronuncio un discurso que fue aplaudido por todos los presentes. Critico fuertemente el aumento del gasto militar. “El presupuesto de America Latina para armamentos en el 2008 fue de $50,000 millones, un aumento del 25% sobre el año anterior. ¿Quien es nuestro enemigo?” preguntó.
En 2008, el mundo gasto $1300 millones en armas y fuerzas militares mientras millones de seres humanos viven en total miseria sin siquiera agua, electricidad, escuelas y salud. Además de un aparato militar sobre-inflado, la tendencia a usar compañias privadas de seguridad como fuerza militar y policial, asi como para entrenar fuerzas policiales civiles va en aumento.
En las Américas, en vez de trabajar hacia una America sin guerras, vemos el aumento en presupuestos y arsenales. Colombia, Paraguay, Venezuela y Brasil han aumentado considrablemente su capacidad militar y Colombia se prepara para abrir bases militares estadounidenses en su territorio. En Honduras, el ejército acaba de destituir a un presidente electo y de tomar control de las calles y los aeropuertos. Los Estados Unidos no solo tienen el presupuesto militar más grande de America, sino que también tienen unas 700 bases e instalaciones militares por todo el mundo.
Y aquí en la pacifica C osta Rica, la policia es entrenada en la Escuela de las Americas y se reciben visitas de oficiales del Comando sur de Estados Unidos. El Presidente también autorizo el uso de armas militares por la policia civil. Estas armas fueron usadas en la frontera norte durante la época de Navidad, lo cual genero una fuerte protesta de parte del Embajador de Nicaragua en este país.
El presidente Obama acaba de ganar el Premio Nobel de la Paz por preferir negociaciones diplomáticas a amenazas militares y por su labor en pro del desarmamiento. El año entrante, las naciones del mundo, por medio de las Naciones Unidas, revisaran el Tratado de No Proliferación de Armas Nucleares que fue firmado en 1968. El Artículo VI de ese tratado exige la reducción y el desmantelamiento de todas la armas nucleares del planeta, incluyendo las de los cinco miembros permanentes del Consejo de Seguridad, los poseadores mayores de armas nucleares. (los Estados Unidos, Rusia, Francia, Reino Unido y China)
Este es el momento de manifestamos por la paz y en contra del control militar de nuestrsos gobiernos y nuestros recursos naturales. Hagamos un llamado colectivo en contra de la industria de las armas, las armas, las bombas, los aviones y helicópteros de combate, los químicos que queman e irradian. Hablemos en las calles, en la prensa, por medio de camisetas, de las urnas de votación, con nuestras voces, nuestra música, nuestras computadoras y nuestras plumas. Por medio de calcomanias, libros y grupos de paz. En las iglesias, en los salones comunitarios, en las escuelas, universidades y los pasillos de gobierno. Ya es hora de que las naciones del mundo ordenen sus prioridades. Es tiempo para la PAZ.
Olivia Ramos es el nombre colectivo del grupo de la Liga Internacional de Mujeres Pro Paz y Libertad, Sección de Costa Rica. LIMPAL fue fundada en la Haya en 1915 para promover la paz.
En Costa Rica, resp. Mitzi Stark, ced. 184000557907, Estilita Grimaldo, ced. Pen. Rentista 6807. Ced. Juridica de LIMPAL, 3-002-071521.
peacewomen@gmail.com, tel: 2433-7078
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
For Some Children, Guns are not toys!
WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM
Costa Rican Section
Toys of Violence!
Take a look at the Kapowwe Toy Company's web page at http://www.kapowwe.com/
This Texas company's line of realistic looking and feeling toy weapons are just the thing for the season of peace and joy, or any other time, to give the kids a true sense of violence, aggression and terror.
As if kids don't get enough violence from television, cartoons, video games and movies they can now upgrade their play by pretending to massacre their playmates, classmates, teachers and even parents and siblings. Imagine playing terrorist, narco king or assassin with one of these truely realistic looking toy weapons. It's no longer a simple game of pointing a finger and yelling “kapow”. These toys give it the genuine touch.
So real looking and feeling are these firearms that real crooks, criminals and terrorists can use them in their jobs. So hard to distinguish from the real thing that they will confuse even the most discerning police, FBI agent or Homeland Security rep who then may mistakenly use a real gun in self defense. (Oooops, sorry, Sonny)
With such realistic looking toy guns the kids can get right in the mood for mowing down enemies real or imagined that they'll never consider peaceful solutions. Let them learn that power comes from having a gun, even if it's a toy one. Just think of what they can all do with one of these toys. Take candy from babies and money from kids or rob a store or house. Wowwe, kapowwe!
For those of us trying to teach peace, human rights, love your neighbor and thou shall't not kill, the Kapowwe company and others that make and market make believe murder have made our world a more difficult and dangerous place.
In Peace,
Olive Branch
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom – Costa Rican Section
Liga Internacional de Mujeres Pro Paz y Libertad – Sección Costa Rica
peacewomen@gmail.com
Thursday, November 5, 2009
DEMILITARIZATION DAY FOR LATIN AMERICA
Dear Fellow Peace Worker:
We met at the Peace Summit in Costa Rica recently and I mentioned to you our project to declare a Demilitarization Day for Latin America.
Since then, The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom of Costa Rica, Heredia Chapter, met and decided on December 1, 2010 as the DIA PRO DESMILITARIZACION DE AMERICA LATINA, December 1 being the day that Costa Rica decided to abolish its army in 1948.
As you know, we will need your help to make this a reality. As you also know, Latin America has increased its budget for military build-up in the last couple of years by
25%. With the increasing number of poor and starving men, women and children in our countries, it seems unthinkable that governments would assign so much money for arms. Who are we afraid of? What neighbor country is going to attack us?
Of course, we also know that the arms producing countries push arms sales on developing countries. Sometimes, aid is contingent upon these purchases. Therefore, it is our intention to raise consciousness amongst the population and within the governments that Latin America needs to eliminate its poverty first, and not waste its money on arms it does not need. Just imagine what $50,000 million spent on arms would have meant in food and shelter for the poor of Latin America!
Are you willing to help us? Can you help us spread the word in your country? How many and which organizations in your country can you contact to get them on the bandwagon?
PLEASE, let me hear from you at estilita8@gmail.com Saludos from peace-loving Costa Rica.
Estilita Grimaldo and the women of...
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom of Costa Rica,
Heredia Chapter.
We met at the Peace Summit in Costa Rica recently and I mentioned to you our project to declare a Demilitarization Day for Latin America.
Since then, The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom of Costa Rica, Heredia Chapter, met and decided on December 1, 2010 as the DIA PRO DESMILITARIZACION DE AMERICA LATINA, December 1 being the day that Costa Rica decided to abolish its army in 1948.
As you know, we will need your help to make this a reality. As you also know, Latin America has increased its budget for military build-up in the last couple of years by
25%. With the increasing number of poor and starving men, women and children in our countries, it seems unthinkable that governments would assign so much money for arms. Who are we afraid of? What neighbor country is going to attack us?
Of course, we also know that the arms producing countries push arms sales on developing countries. Sometimes, aid is contingent upon these purchases. Therefore, it is our intention to raise consciousness amongst the population and within the governments that Latin America needs to eliminate its poverty first, and not waste its money on arms it does not need. Just imagine what $50,000 million spent on arms would have meant in food and shelter for the poor of Latin America!
Are you willing to help us? Can you help us spread the word in your country? How many and which organizations in your country can you contact to get them on the bandwagon?
PLEASE, let me hear from you at estilita8@gmail.com Saludos from peace-loving Costa Rica.
Estilita Grimaldo and the women of...
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom of Costa Rica,
Heredia Chapter.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
HISTORY AND MISSION OF WILPF
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom began in 1915 when l200 women from twelve countries (many of them professionals and involved in the suffrage movement) met in The Hague, Netherlands. Their purpose in coming together was to discuss peace and freedom which was in stark contrast with the Great War being waged at that time in Europe. Initially, they visited the governments of the countries involved and vowed to continue their international efforts for peace, justice and human rights. Today this mission has grown to include disarmament, human rights and economic justice.
International Office: WILPF has its international office in Geneva staffed with a Secretary General and an International Board. There are more than a total of 50 sections of WILPF in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and the South Seas.
Tri -annual meetings with members from all the sections determine the general goals for WILPF, which guide the sections working within their own perimeters toward these goals. The organization is for women and men who support the ideals of WILPF independent of political or religious connections. The WILPF international web page is www.wilpf.int.ch .
Connection to the United Nations: WILPF has consultative status at the United Nations and has an office at the UN headquarters. The office sends out daily reports from the UN’s Permanent Disarmament Conference and is now on the agenda for NGO’s to present reports. In the Americas there are WILPF sections in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru and Chile. Susi Snyder is the International Secretary General.
The Costa Rican Section: WILPF is called the Liga Internacional de Mujeres Pro Paz y Libertad in Spanish or LIMPAL. The section was formed in 1981 during the time that civil wars were rampant in Central America. Over the years WILPF has continued to work on issues of peace and justice. There are two age-oriented groups in the San Jose area. One group is made up of young women and university students. This group works mainly with children and adolescents in marginal areas, on issues of conflict resolution and rights of children and youth. The more senior group works in several areas, particularly on issues of rights for women and migrants. In addition, all section members work with and support efforts for peace and human rights. Olga Carrillo is the president of the Costa Rica Section. The section office is located in the Friends Peace Center in San Jose.
The Heredia Group: Our bilingual group includes women and men from many countries. We concentrate on disarmament issues at national and international levels, and on Costa Rican children. We have an annual campaign against toys of violence, and have published a coloring book depicting ways of building a peace culture. These books are distributed to schools and organizations working with children.
In March 2009 we joined the Coalition Against Uranium Weapons and participated in the international conference held in Costa Rica. The conference mission was to promote a treaty to prohibit this type of weapons. We support and work for efforts to reduce arms and military spending and to spread a peace culture. Our E-mail address is peacewomen@gmail.com .
International Office: WILPF has its international office in Geneva staffed with a Secretary General and an International Board. There are more than a total of 50 sections of WILPF in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and the South Seas.
Tri -annual meetings with members from all the sections determine the general goals for WILPF, which guide the sections working within their own perimeters toward these goals. The organization is for women and men who support the ideals of WILPF independent of political or religious connections. The WILPF international web page is www.wilpf.int.ch .
Connection to the United Nations: WILPF has consultative status at the United Nations and has an office at the UN headquarters. The office sends out daily reports from the UN’s Permanent Disarmament Conference and is now on the agenda for NGO’s to present reports. In the Americas there are WILPF sections in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru and Chile. Susi Snyder is the International Secretary General.
The Costa Rican Section: WILPF is called the Liga Internacional de Mujeres Pro Paz y Libertad in Spanish or LIMPAL. The section was formed in 1981 during the time that civil wars were rampant in Central America. Over the years WILPF has continued to work on issues of peace and justice. There are two age-oriented groups in the San Jose area. One group is made up of young women and university students. This group works mainly with children and adolescents in marginal areas, on issues of conflict resolution and rights of children and youth. The more senior group works in several areas, particularly on issues of rights for women and migrants. In addition, all section members work with and support efforts for peace and human rights. Olga Carrillo is the president of the Costa Rica Section. The section office is located in the Friends Peace Center in San Jose.
The Heredia Group: Our bilingual group includes women and men from many countries. We concentrate on disarmament issues at national and international levels, and on Costa Rican children. We have an annual campaign against toys of violence, and have published a coloring book depicting ways of building a peace culture. These books are distributed to schools and organizations working with children.
In March 2009 we joined the Coalition Against Uranium Weapons and participated in the international conference held in Costa Rica. The conference mission was to promote a treaty to prohibit this type of weapons. We support and work for efforts to reduce arms and military spending and to spread a peace culture. Our E-mail address is peacewomen@gmail.com .
Thanks from Gail Nystrom for WILPF Coloring Books
The Olive Branch of WILPF received a thank you note from Gail Nystrom responding to our gift of children’s coloring books for peace. Gail Nystrom founded the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation (CRHF) in 1997 and has guided the organization since its establishment. Based in the rural community of Santa Ana, Costa Rica CRHF works to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable populations in Costa Rica. Find out more about this organization at http://CRHF.org
Gail’s letter follows:
Dear Friends from WILPF,
On behalf of the children in the La Carpio School, I would like to thank you so much for the wonderful coloring books about Peace that you donated. We were able to go into the school and work with six groups of children with twenty volunteers for several hours in the morning. We used the time to talk about peace and nonviolence in the neighborhood and the home. We also gave each child a box of colored pencils that you had donated. We let the teachers and the director of the school know that you had donated these items.
I appreciate your concern for these children and look forward to working with you in the future.
Yours,
Gail Nystrom
Director Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation
Gail’s letter follows:
Dear Friends from WILPF,
On behalf of the children in the La Carpio School, I would like to thank you so much for the wonderful coloring books about Peace that you donated. We were able to go into the school and work with six groups of children with twenty volunteers for several hours in the morning. We used the time to talk about peace and nonviolence in the neighborhood and the home. We also gave each child a box of colored pencils that you had donated. We let the teachers and the director of the school know that you had donated these items.
I appreciate your concern for these children and look forward to working with you in the future.
Yours,
Gail Nystrom
Director Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation
Monday, August 10, 2009
WHY CAN’T WE FIND PEACE!
Peace can mean different things to different people. To some it can be a feeling or state of tranquility or quiet and harmony in personal relations; also freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. Still others may view it as a state of security, or order within a community provided for by law or custom. Some see it as the opposite of war or freedom from civil disturbance. It may be considered as a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity; as well as a state or period of mutual concord between governments.
If someone asks me what I am looking for in life, my first thought or reply is always “inner peace”. I look at it as something personal. But can anyone find inner peace when much of what we hear and see in the media is all about war and discontent? Currently every time I hear the names Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel, Palestine, Korea and many others the color I see is red. This is the red of blood shed over hatred, greed and lust for power. It’s the red of anger I feel that there is no peace anywhere as long as these feelings exist between countries and people.
Why can't we get along? Would I find more peace if I stopped watching and listening to the news or if I moved to an isolated cabin in the mountains? The world has gotten too small and everyone is affected no matter where we reside. I have met people from all over the world and realize that we are basically the same. Yes, we have different backgrounds, color, status and religious beliefs, but we all bleed red. I am an American Jew living in Costa Rica (so sue me!) I have learned much from being here for the last two years. My friends are Tico, Canadian, French, British, Italian, American and are of many colors, faiths, ideologies and likes and dislikes. What we have in common is respect for each other. No one walks around with a chip on their shoulder for very long. It doesn’t get knocked off it gets rubbed off with a big hug. In order to get along with others we must find our inner peace through tolerance, understanding, sharing and forgiveness and turn it outward so that it rubs off on someone else. As a famous singer once said (God rest his soul) ”we are the world!”
Ellen Moltz Los Arcos, Joy Streck Cariari
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