Afghan peace will NOT come from the Powers
March 9, 2011 by
Filed under Journey Updates
Dear friends,
Afghan Peace will NOT come from the Powers!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4KLgK8vkmU
Related, please read ‘Afghan Civilians Intentionally Targeted by NATO/ISAF Forces’ http://afghansforpeace.org/archives/1291.
Love,
Hakim and the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers
http://ourjourneytosmile.com/blog
http://globaldayoflistening.org
NATO forces killed 9 Afghan children while they were collecting fuel in Kunar
Text of video
Before the Afghan winters…
Children like Abdulai collect fuel
9 Kunar fuel-collecting children were killed by NATO helicopters
Peace was vandalized
We’re committed to peace & will rewrite peace 100 times over
Ali, what is Aziz Jan writing?
Aziz Jan is writing, ‘Why not love?
Ali Agha, what does’ Why not love’ mean?
It means…‘Why not be friends?’
The wishes of the People are not fulfilled by the Powers
Dear youth, to bring peace, let’s not just talk like the elders
Just come and walk the path of peace
Why not bring peace?
Why not love?
We grieve for those killed in war.
We will walk and work for peace.
‘I wish to live without wars’
Day of the People’s Peace
Afghan News Year’s Day
21st of March 2011
Afghan peace will NOT come from the Powers
AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA
Peace is not yours to give, Mr. President.
But hope is certainly yours to take away.
As I listened to a friend and colleague in Afghanistan a few days ago, the difference I discerned in his voice from previous conversations was visceral. That he unswervingly and joyfully dedicates his every thought, word and deed to advocating for peace in Afghanistan through peaceful means made his tone and tenor all the more heart-wrenching. Our phone connection was not clear, but I thought I heard him say something akin to: I never thought I would hear myself say that the Afghan people need hope now more than they need peace. What I know I did hear him say clearly shortly thereafter was: “The people have nothing to lose now. They are being killed anyway.” That you, Mr. Obama, are now singularly responsible for stealing the hope of the ordinary People of Afghanistan is an abomination. That you continue to steal it in the way that you do, however, is a crime of the deepest shame. I have come to know my friend well enough to know that he does not “hurt” for himself because of the hopelessness and pain you inflict, but rather for each and every individual person who makes up the “ordinary” People of Afghanistan: the infants and small children, the youth a few years older, the elders, the women who care for all, and the men who now find themselves having to protect their families against you. Such is the legacy you have created for yourself.
For his safety, my friend’s name shall remain anonymous, but his sentiments shall not, if I have anything to say about it, Mr. President, which I do. (See, First Amendment to the United States Constitution: Right to Petition government for Redress of Grievances.)
As you may or may not recall, you based your campaign to be the president of this nation on the premise and promise of “hope.” The ironies here abound. The ironies are sickening. I am not unaware that you inherited a “war” already in progress in Afghanistan on your first day in office. But such inheritance is not a defense to any concern of mine. And nor was it, nor is it, apparently, any concern of yours. You were eager for this war and you championed it. You campaigned to be the supreme military commander of it. You criticized your predecessor for not paying enough attention to it. You committed to send more troops to it even before having the elected authority to do so, and you touted it as the “good war”, in juxtaposition to Iraq, the ostensible “bad war.” More ironies abound. More ironies sicken. You are not a man of peace, as my friend is, Mr. President, and your award last year would
have made Alfred Nobel throw up. A man of peace would be wise enough to know that peace cannot be imposed where there are no enemies except for the enemies one makes trying to impose peace. Peace cannot be dictated from afar, it cannot be lectured, it cannot be strategized, it cannot be politicized, it cannot be threatened, it cannot be bought, and it certainly cannot be bombed into existence. Peace is not yours to give to Afghanistan, Mr. Obama, and it never will be, no matter if you stay there until kingdom comes. Peace is a choice and it is a choice you have no standing to make in that place. Peace will come, or not, to Afghanistan and to every Afghan, from within, by and through their own choices, not by the erstwhile beneficence of whether you choose to war there on any given day in their name. Your only possible contribution to peace in Afghanistan can be to get out of the way of the only people capable of creating peace there. Simply get out of the way, for peace will never come…. choices can never be made… while you murder and maim, while you occupy, destroy and desecrate a people whose hope you have stolen.
By: Kathleen Kirwin
March 9, 2011
[Kathleen Kirwin is a trial attorney specializing in high-level civil rights and criminal cases and is currently based in Sarasota, Florida. She also practices international human rights and criminal law and has been an anti-war activist for the past 40 years. Kathleen can be contacted at kdkirwin@gmail.com. Her new website, The Revolutionary Legal Front, is under construction and will be online
An Afghan boy fulfills his promise to US Ambassador Eikenberry
April 8, 2010 by
Filed under Journey Updates
Please watch an ordinary Afghan boy fulfill his promise to Ambassador Eikenberry & President Obama, as elite promises falter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEnUU4hCVoo
Text of video
Autumn 2009.
Send your teacher my greetings of peace.
Tell him that the Bamiyan Governor says,
“Teach Zekerullah the alphabet.”
Zekerullah, you should promise Governor that you would go to school in the New Year ( spring of 2010 ).
Would you promise?
Yes.
“Well done, well done!”
US Ambassador Eikenberry visits the Afghan Youth Peace Vigil
How about you ( Zekerullah )? What’s your favorite subject?
Unfortunately, I didn’t go to school year.
Are you going to go back next year?
He promised. Before you arrived here, I had a conversation with him. He left school ; he couldn’t follow.
Okay…I hate to…I’ll go ahead & get that news ( peace message ) to President Obama. Can I tell him that you’re going to go back to school? Yes.
Is that a pledge?
If the days are not ‘bad’, I’ll definitely fulfill my promise…if days turn bad, no one can fulfill their promise.
Spring of 2010 arrived ; Zekerullah now works half the day…
…& goes to school in the afternoon with these grade 2 Dari & Math textbooks.
Did you shave your head?
Yes, I did. The weather has warmed up.
It’s already the New Year?
Yes.
Show me your haircut.
Here it is…
Where will you go right now?
To school.
Well done,‘son’!
Which grade did you enroll in?
Grade 2
Very good.
So, are you fulfilling your promise to Obama, Eikenberry & Governor Sarobi?
Yes!
I want to fulfill my promise this year, to learn to read & write, to be literate
What do you want to be in the future?
I want to be a doctor.
Really?
Yes, like yourself…
Are you going to school?
Yes.
What’s the name of this school?
The Central Boys School
Study hard, okay?
What message do you have ( for the US Ambassador )?
That he would also fulfill his promise.
Bye, God protect you!
God protect you!
Peace comes not with words but with resolute action
Love’s seed in an insecure Afghan province
March 11, 2010 by
Filed under Journey Updates
Please watch Afghan Youth speak for peace in an insecure Afghan province
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srLM3Yiwc4A
the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers
The Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers traveled to Dai Kundi Province
Dai Kundi is mountain-isolated & war was raging in 2 of its districts during our visit to this neglected place
?About 50 youth of Dai Kundi met the Bamiyan youth for a Peace Program
Though there was a deep hopeless-ness, the hunger for love & peace was even greater
We are truly surprised & proud that such Afghan youth exist at all…
Despite difficulties & limited resources, they’re raising the voice of peace in Afg.
I personally pledge my support ; we can only raise the voice of peace through love & brotherhood.
Not only for peace in Afg but also the world…only love can plant the roots of peace in the world
Is your home-country peaceful?
This is the story…( words not clear )…shooting & shooting & shooting….& they couldn’t kill….
Coming to Dai Kundi has been a happy trip for us. There are trees etc…but life here is difficult.
We haven’t seen any happiness in these 30 years of war. In the future, we should make friends with Pushtoons, Hazaras, Uzbeks & Tajiks. We have a bad ‘culture’ of keeping a distance from one another
People should understand the true situation in Afghanistan
Without ( accurate ) information, people should not judge us
I request American youth to be ‘of one hand’ ( united ) with us for peace
Those who are in contact with us, don’t abandon us. Please be with us in our message of peace
The Afghan seeds of love and peace are being sown, person to person
And like the almond trees in Dai Kundi, we hope for love & peace to grow
almond trees in Dai Kundi
The human faces of the Afghan peace vigil for Obama
October 25, 2009 by
Filed under Journey Updates
Please watch the Afghan youth struggling happily to raise the voice of peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkTmzCyJtw4
Text of video
The Afghan youth tucking in for the night at the peace vigil
The peace volunteers spend their night in a makeshift tent
When struggling together, humans can bring some warmth to the cold
Like new breakthroughs, waking up can be tough
Zekerullah’s morning vapor
The cold of Afghan autumn nights will not stop us as we raise the voice of peace
Abdulai’s morning vapor
The human faces on the 4th day of our Peace Vigil at Bamiyan Peace Park
tucking in for the night
the cold autumn in the vigil tent
zekerullah’s morning vapor
abdulai’s morning vapor
Day 4 Peace vigil at Bamiyan Peace park
Dear Afghan youth peace volunteers,
Here are a few photos from our place of vigil. We’ve had the opportunity to really talk to over 300 people about your message. Several thousand have seen your message as they drive by the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteer signs in their car or truck.
We have a few videos that we will send soon.
It does seem that the recognition you have requested from 2009 Nobel Prize Winner could be very significant. Most Nobel Peace Prize winners are good writers and some have given great speeches. We’ll ask Obama to consider delivering his response to your elegant appeal for the Reconciliation of Civil Hearts in the form of a speech.
Peace be with you inside your hearts. . .
. . . soon in your lands.
We love you,
Vigil with Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers, Olympia WA
Dear friends of Iraq Memorial to War at Olympia, W.A.
Thank you for all your hard work for peace in our hearts and the world.
The human face and voice of peace needs to be raised ABOVE the noise of war and politics.
Love and warmth from Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Hakim
On behalf of the youth in Our Journey to Smile
Friday evening vigil for Afghan youth
Dennis and sign
pat and mike
Afghan Peace Vigil for Nobel Peace Laureate President Obama
October 23, 2009 by
Filed under Journey Updates
Please watch Afghan youth raise their voice of peace and at their ongoing peace vigil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3VAq06TNGY
Text of Video
Bamiyan youth held a cultural event at Bamiyan Peace Park, attended by internationals and Afghan youth
The youth read peace poems, enacted a peace sketch, sang & played the flute for peace.
They read their message of peace ( http://ourjourneytosmile.com/blog ) for the Nobel Peace Prize Winner President Obama
We’re keeping a peace vigil at this Peace Park till the voice of peace is raised in Afghanistan & the world
Afghan youth peace volunteers, led by 13 year old Abdulai, keeping warm in their tent at night as their vigil continues till President Obama acknowledges their message of peace
Progress of our peace vigil
Life progresses principally when individuals struggle together for something worthwhile, especially when these individuals hardly know each other, but do so because they recognize the common human values that hold Mankind together.
Because of this kindred human spirit, otherwise described as love, we will not give up.
Below are the emails we’ve received from wonderful groups and individuals who are standing for peace too.
We are deeply grateful to each and every one of them. Thank you!!
Just wanted to say I admire what you’re doing and wish you and especially the children the best of luck and much happiness. I too look forward to a day of peace with no wars – ever.
Sincerely,
Laura
Dear Laura,
Thanks!! May our shared wishes gradually come true!
I’ll let the children know your kind wishes.
Peace!!!
Hakim
Hi Hakim,
Hope you don’t mind that I reposted this on my blog, Dandelion Salad.
Is this our Afghan moment of peace? 13 year old Afghan boy will keep peace vigil with other youth
Hopefully many around the world will be with you in spirit for peace in Afghanistan.
Have you sent this to President Obama? He needs to see this.
much love,
Lo
Dear Lo,
Our hope is to keep the day-and-night vigil at Bamiyan Peace Park from the 22nd of October onwards, while waiting for Obama to acknowledge the receipt of our letter; which we will send through the US Envoy in Bamiyan.
NOBODY is expecting this to work out ; if you have a way of raising publicity and sending the Afghan youth’s peace message ( which I’ll add to the post tomorrow ) to Obama, it would be deeply appreciated.
Love and Peace!
Hakim
It is time.
And beyond all word – we thank you.
I will be standing with you. Listening to you.
Can we broadcast the speech in real time here in the US?
Young people want to join you – standing.
We’ll do it in Washington D.C. – can you set it up so that the broadcast
could be heard and/or seen in real time here in United States?
There will be 20 or more at the vigil tomorrow afternoon.
Peace is our wish for all Afghan people.
Douglas Mackey
Website: iraqmemorialtolife.org
Dear Douglas,
We also cannot thank you enough!
We apologize that the technology in Afghanistan would not allow us to do real time broadcasting……
The event went well. There were originally 10 who covenanted to keep the vigil but 1 dropped out, so there are 9 of us. We are now keeping the vigil at the Peace Park till an acknowledgement comes from President Obama.
The 9 of us keeping the vigil have been talking about the ridicule, criticisms that we’ve heard and other worse scenarios that may arise. We are ready to face whatever comes.
We had no specific request except that the voice of peace be raised and heard in Afghanistan and the world, through his acknowledgement of our message of peace.
We will not give up here.
Struggling and standing with you,
Hakim in Bamiyan, Afghanistan
On behalf of all the Afghan youth with us
…will remember your cultural event on Thursday night with prayers.
Take care and cheers
LiLian
Praying!
Keep believing, keep hoping (: something we never take away from hearts that cry for peace.
Love
Liza
So, where does the power come from, to see the race to its end?
….From within! Eric Liddell
press on!
chiew wan
Best wishes for your vigil for peace! I hope you are wildly successful. I will keep you in my thoughts.
Susan
There are some in our city of Olympia in the state of Washington (not the Capital of Wash.D.C.) who stand in solidarity with you. We find ourselves unable to stop our government from attacking people around the world. It is not the common people that hate, it is in the hearts and minds of men in government and the military who want to play with big guns and have others bow down to them.
But it is not only those in our country, it is men all over the world who hunger for dominance of others. It is men in many of the governments of the world who can order the deaths of those whom they despise. Our government is no better or worse than many others in this regard.
And so we also stand in vigils for peace and are ignored, even by our neighbors who feel weak and helpless in the face of those giants. Our government officials have even ordered our own military to shoot civilian college students who were protesting the U.S. invasion of Vietnam. Much like the Chinese government ordered their military to shoot civilians in Tianamin Square for wanting a more democratic form of governance.
There are many of us around the world who want a more peaceful world and stand for those ideals in many ways. I will be so bold as to speak for them in saying we honor you and support you in your efforts.
“Peace is not a passive act. Peace is the courage to stand for compassion while staring hatred in the face.” T. Zander
tezzer
Dear Abdulai ( 13 year old Afghan boy keeping the vigil )
We have not heard from each other for a while; I know you are very busy with school and other things.
I really hope that you, your friends, and your family are all doing well.
It is my birthday on Saturday, and I remembered how you said you do not know your birthday.
So, I will wish you a happy birthday even though you are not sure when it is.
I wanted to tell you that I asked my classmates to pray for Afghanistan and the world on Peace Day.
Also, I read that you are keeping a peace vigil. It’s a really great thing and I wish to join you in speaking out about peace.
Please take care and God bless you.
Your friend,
Elisa ( 14 year old American girl )
peace vigil youth in their tent at night
Love you guys! Will watch video tomorrow when I can use another pc (mine is too slow). Just wanted to send congratulations and thank you for bravery. Will write again soon Kyle Christensen
We, an interested group in Singapore, are with you in your peace vigil. Everyone on this earth is entitled to peace..especially you in Afghanistan who have gone through so much hardship through no fault of yours. We are very glad that your voice of peace is being heard,at least by some of us now,,,and by more to come. Cecilia & friends