Peace rally marks first anniversary
PARRY SOUND - For the sake of having a peaceful world for future generations, local peace activist Wes Morris organized a peace rally with poetry, music and a discussion forum.
This year’s peace rally was held on March 20, the anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. It was one of 60 other peace rallies held that day across the country.
“I think it is a start,” said Shirley Smith about the annual event. “If we can build awareness, bring the young people out, and if we can get coverage. If we can join forces with others, like when we saw the peace marches all across the world, they’re drawing like minded people and realizing that they’re in the millions.”
About 40 people met in the Station Gallery and talked about issues that need to be addressed for the process of achieving peace.
The topics ranged from socialism, imperialism, capitalism, politics, religion and defence systems.
“If we achieve anything today I’d like you to email [Prime Minister] Paul Martin, the Ministry of Defense and the Honorable Bill Graham of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Mr. Morris. “Email him, tell him we don’t want to join the missile defense system. If I achieve that, I will be happy.”
Six people were on the panel with varied backgrounds from religious studies to a social-labour activist.
“Surely it is easier to have peace than war,” said Richard Thomas, who has run under the Green Party banner in several elections. “You have to do something to have war, you have to make war. For peace, all you have to do is be peaceful.”
Some of the ideas that came from the panel discussions were: Vote in the upcoming federal election for those who understand social issues and for those who do not support war; to have more women in politics; shopping responsibly by buying environmentally friendly products and buying Canadian made products when possible; not paying to watch violence in movies and using the media to help bring about a paradigm shift.
The panelists acknowledged that the changes would not happen right way, but as Mr. Thomas said: “Haste is the enemy of thought.”
The event ended due to a time constraint, not because the participants on the panel, or in the audience, were finished discussing the many ideas raised.
“It was interesting that there were so many ideas,” said participant Susan Telford. “I feel, that for an afternoon to talk about peace, it seems that there was sort of a sour ending to it. I thought that we could have overcome some of our differences that are based on our ego of wanting to be right about something and seeing beyond our individual sight and see, as a small group, to work towards real peace.”
The event started with Mr. Morris, Shelly Hazzard, and Katrina Fretwell reading their poetry on, among other things, nature, religion, war and capitalism. Nathan Chechock sang a cappella before the panel discussion began.
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