Friends,

I am disturbed to see poll results over the past weeks indicating that as many as 80% or even 90% of Americans — and even Canadians — support George W. Bush’s plan for military retaliation against “any country which harbours terrorists”. Disturbed because I don’t believe that violence begets anything but more violence. Disturbed also because these poll results don’t reflect my experience: many people whom I have spoken with informally have agreed that a peaceful solution can be the only lasting solution in such a time of crisis.

My experience suggests that many people are calling for a show of restraint–a time for sober reflection, and serious change. Many people are realizing that the world is not clearly delineated by good and evil, as some are advocating, but is a much more complex mixture of various opposing experiences.

I have created a website to gather support for the cause of peace and restraint (http://quickly.to/anger). If you agree that violence only leads to more violence and hatred, and that there must be a better solution, please affix your name accordingly. Also, please forward this email or the URL to all of your peacemaking colleagues and friends around the world, and help me to raise the rhetoric of peace. At present, our voices are being lost.

Help me to start people talking. Help me to make it known that war isn’t the only solution in this time of crisis.

Steven Kuhn,

Oct 1 01]