There is a certain set of principles upon which many people of all ages have lived by and given their lives to secure. These principles...

• Justice: The principle of moral rightness. Conformity to moral rightness in action or attitude; known as righteousness. The upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law.

• Tranquility: a state of peace

• Defense: A means or method of protecting

• Welfare: Health, happiness, and good fortune; known as well-being and prosperity.

• Liberty: The condition of being free from restriction or control. The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one’s own choosing. The condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor. Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control. A right or immunity to engage in certain actions without control or interference.

What do all these have in common? They’re all guaranteed to us by the Constitution of these United States of America. Why are these specific ideals used? Simple, “to form a more perfect union”. But then again, you knew that, isn’t that why you’re here today?

Some people ask me why I chose to not participate in the military anymore. Some say I swore to an obligation and have a responsibility to that obligation. They’re right I did swear to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States of America...’

What happens when supporting the constitution and supporting the President comes into a state of contradiction?

To whom do I swear my allegiance? To a constitution that establishes justice, insures domestic tranquility, provides for common defense, promotes general welfare, and secures the blessings of liberty, which was fought and died for by brave men and women spanning hundreds of years...Or, do I pledge my allegiance to a person who was controversially elected, twice, to a seat of power that is supposed to swear to those same principles.

Don’t get me wrong, serving in the army was something I liked doing. In fact, it’s an honorable profession, to defend against injustice, promote tranquility, help to ensure prosperity, and secure the blessings of liberty.

But what happens when serving for the greater good becomes corrupted by an agenda of a select few? So, what are the justifications for the war in Iraq?

Who knows but that select few who serves the ends of their own agenda? The justifications we were given still remain unsubstantiated, resulting in an unjust war. This is not to mention the fact that thousands upon thousands of innocent human beings have been slaughtered, resulting in an immoral war.

Some say that war is inevitable and violence is a necessary means to an end. The only situation in which violence is even remotely justified is in the defense of innocence. Violence and terror is never a means to resolve conflict because terror inexorably leads to fear that is expressed by violence.

They say this war is being fought to preserve and promote democracy. How is it promoting and preserving democracy when the means used to do so are a contradiction of the ideals of which our country was founded?

Many people say that the world needs to change if we are to ever reach a state of peace. Gandhi said that in order to change the world we must ‘Be the change we want to see in the world.' Not just talk about the change, but embrace the change so deep that it becomes who we are.

As Tupac Shakur said ‘We gotta make a change...It’s time for us as a people to start makin some changes. Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live, and let’s change the way we treat each other. You see, the old way wasn’t workin, so it’s on us to do what we gotta do...to survive.’

Gandhi also proposed a means to resolve our conflicts; in fact, he said ‘Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.’

What would happen if we embraced compassion for all our brothers and sisters? What would happen if we allowed a love-supreme to rule our actions? What would happen?

We find ourselves in a curious situation. We as a united people have the power to change the face of the world as we know. Not through violence, and mass proliferation of intolerance, domination, control, subjugation and fear. But through a new way, a way of unity, compassion, understanding and love.

The old way has ruled long enough, and in order to change that system we must embrace a means that transcends the negativity of hate and fear. We must be that change in everything that we do. Not just at peace rallies, but everywhere and with everyone, especially ourselves. The means through which we love our fellow man is founded in the love we have for ourselves.

We must resolve the conflict we have in our hearts to open up and resolve the conflict we have with others. If we cannot resolve our inner conflict there is little hope to resolve the issues we face globally.

We are sitting at a fork in the proverbial road of destiny. We as humanity can either ignore the necessities of embracing a new way, or we can embrace that new way. The choice is up to each individual. No one can make this choice for us; we must make it for ourselves.

It doesn’t matter what country we hail from because we’re all bound to this place called Earth. The differences we all possess can no longer be allowed to hold us back from coming together and paving a new way. We must go back and resolve our past to move forward tranquilly.

To find out more information go to Michael’s website www.one-luv.com.

Coalition for Peace
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