Reflections after Scott Ritter
The aspiration for peace runs deep in the human heart. “Wars are fought to establish peace…” so the story goes. The Ann Arbor Coalition Against War has roots going back to the Vietnam War and every war since. The Vietnamese call it the American War.
We cannot find a good war, especially in the nuclear weapons era. It has not slowed the war machine and AACAW recognizes that information is at the center of all wars. Conflicts over resources, markets and labor pools are pieces of investor strategies to keep the creation of wealth moving from the Earth and workers up to the supreme elites. Once it was the 1%, now to even small numbers of the real ruling class.
On the first three days of December, we were fortunate to have Scott Ritter here, brought into town by AACAW. His book, “Disarmament in the time of Perestroika,” sold well and will enlighten many about his journey to the truth. Many people remember him as the weapons inspector whistleblower on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. His 30 years of service as a military intelligence officer continues based on his initial vow to defend the constitution and serve the people. Of course, the government tried to silence him; accusations were made and a legal system well known for its labyrinth of injustice did great damage to his life and to the public discourse. We needed to hear from him now more than ever. The three days he spoke were all experiences of heartfelt struggle to bring good sense into the commons.
Following Ritter’s event at the AADL, I conversed with a friendly son, whose name is Beckett, and his father. May apologies to the father for poor memory of names. The father made the essential observation that when we speak from the heart we can find the balance of brain intelligence and gut intuition. Father and son supported me writing “Begin at start and tune in to your heart,” which will be published in Groundcover News next month.
I know that Scott Ritter is a living example of “coming with a clean heart,” as all indigenous centered cultures know. Scott’s conviction and prison time is a story of persistence and bravery, in which he emerges from prison as a more complete human being. His encounters with prison gang culture educated all involved – even the parole system wanted him for outreach education. Despite the bureaucratic compliance demanding that the innocent plead guilty to prove their therapy is working, Scott persisted until he gained freedom from prison after three and a half years.
War culture hurts everyone, as most veterans already know.
I am known as the “pause for a breath guy.” Breathing with your heart is a simple and necessary approach for peace of mind and a culture of peace. It is also necessary in the age of imperialism to dismantle the war machine and the hydra head of financialization.
I view AACAW as part of a movement bringing peace as the healing process for our physical, social and Earth bodies. Everything is connected in our everyday life. We have a fresh moment now in which to breathe again. Grant your blessings that we build this kind of peace culture in every moment. AACAW has a vigil at Liberty and Fifth by the Post Office on Fridays at 5:30 pm. Visit annarborcoalitionagainstwar.org. We want peace.
