… violence is a culture unto itself; it is not something
one dons like a hat when dealing with the “enemy” and then gets set aside at
the end of the confrontation. Once
violence enters the arena, it creates a culture that is very difficult to
eradicate. In fact, liberation in the
true sense also means liberating the “enemy” from its own violence. This is why nonviolence is often one of the
most powerful tools in any resistance movement.
Mitri
Raheb, Faith in the Face of Empire
________________________________
It has become an estimable thing,
this oppression
Masked warriors
crusading against the enemy
the foreigner
those foul, dangerous denizens who lurk
seeking to destroy the very fabric
of our nation
Those dark malevolent purveyors of evil
who eat our pets
and speak in strange tongues
who shred our “traditional” values
(the ones we don’t actually live out ourselves)
Those enemies of “our God,”
who worship evil gods who demand
our destruction
those barbarians, poised to destroy
all that we hold dear
empire
Violence is necessary
isn’t it
to protect and suppress
armed soldiers in the street
a small price to pay
It is justifiable then
when, for the sake of freedom
we erase freedom
when we violently suppress
smashed car windows
a death or two
children incarcerated
women thrown face down on the ground
are a small price to pay
the random acts of violence
become the norm
the way it is
It becomes who we are
open carry
ICE
concentration camps
We find that we cannot stop
we cannot get enough
violence becomes our fuel
our security
There is no end
lost
are the teachings of peace
We mistake coercion and control
with peacemaking
(peace through strength)
We count the sins of others
and count those sins against them
meting out justice
In our culture of violence, we do not hear
turn the other cheek,
go the second mile,
suffer the children,
bless and do not curse
welcome the strange
These words have become strange
amid the cacophony of domination;
They should obey,
They deserved it,
They are bad, dangerous… evil.
We are overcome by violence
and no longer seek to overcome evil
with good
their violence becomes
our violence
Thank you, God
for those who step into the abyss
in between
who put their hearts, souls, and minds
on the line
Alex, Renee
Mothers with whistles
Young and old
Peacemakers
Protectors
Insisting that love wins
That we can overcome evil with good
These are the ones who dwell in the shadow of the cross
the ones who walk where Jesus walked
down the long path
through a fragmented world
to the garden
