On this day in 1776, our country's forefathers declared independence from the tyranny of the British monarchy and launched this shining example of democracy. However, somewhere along the way, the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" has morphed into a society based on violence and a winner-take-all mentality. The history of our democracy is filled with one tragic period of war followed by another, with all-to-brief interludes to reload. When school children are taught about our nation's history, the focus is mainly on learning about our glorious wars. Isn't this telling our children that violence is the best, if not only, means to resolve our differences?

Certainly, if we look at the fact that the U.S. has by far the largest per capita incarceration rate in the world, one might conclude that a large portion of our population missed the part in school about how your pursuit of happiness cannot infringe on mine. But wait! That presumes that there is a teaching in school about how to live peacefully with each other! Some schools may have such a curriculum, but most do not. We teach are kids the three R's, but leave out the most important "R" - rightdoing.

So where should people learn a sense of right-and-wrong and how to be civil if not in school? Some people will learn this in their religious communities, but they are also likely to learn about "us vs. them" and the concepts of "just war" and punishment for sinning. Many will argue that children should learn how to get along from their parents. But what about children whose parents are abusive? Those children will learn how to bully to get their way or how to be submissive, and the cycle of violence continues.

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the violence. Several years ago, on the eve of the second invasion of Iraq, I pulled my head out of the sand and became painfully aware of the level to which violence has spread throughout our culture. I cannot go back to ignoring it, so I'm compelled to do something about it. This Independence Day, I renew my personal Declaration of Indepence from Violence, maintaining that all people are created equal and endowed with the unalienable right to live peacefully with neighbors, both domestic and foreign.


Signed,
Ted Nunn
Columbia, MD

LEGISLATION EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO INVEST IN AT-RISK YOUTH BEFORE THEY JOIN GANGS

The Issue: The United States, by far, incarcerates its residents at much greater rates than any other nation in the world. Incarceration costs in the U.S. have risen to $65 billion a year. African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities are especially over-represented among the prison population. Especially devastating to our communities and to our youth is gang violence: many of the crimes committed by gangs and gang members are reprehensible and cause irreparable harm not only to individual victims but to families and whole neighborhoods as well. While the perpetrators of these crimes must be punished, it is becoming clear that we must take a proactive approach and try to steer at-risk youth away from gangs and towards being successful, productive members of our communities before a crime is committed.

Congressman Robert “Bobby” Scott (VA) and Senators Robert Casey(PA) and Olympia Snowe(ME) have introduced H.R. 1064/ S. 435, the “Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support and Education Act” - a.k.a. the “Youth PROMISE Act” - to reduce crime before it happens by investing in research-based programs. The Youth PROMISE Act mobilizes community leaders and invests almost exclusively in prevention and intervention, as opposed to the standard approach, which is obviously not working, of waiting for a crime to occur and then putting the alleged criminals in jail.

Specifically, the Youth PROMISE Act allows communities facing the greatest youth gang and crime challenges to form a council to include representatives from law enforcement, court services, schools, social service organizations, health and mental health providers and community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations. These councils will then develop a comprehensive plan for implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies that fit the needs of the particular community. These strategies will target young people who are at-risk of becoming involved, or who are already involved in, gangs or the criminal justice system and redirect them toward productive and law-abiding alternatives.

To show your support for the Youth PROMISE act, go to http://bit.ly/Y085M on Change.org and let Congress know you think this legislation deserves their attention.

March 8, 2009

By Joe Maniscalco

Newark, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and about 34 other local governing bodies already support the idea - and now a group of Brooklynites is pushing hard for a New York City Council Resolution supporting the creation of the United States Department of Peace.

The bill in the U.S. Congress is known as HR 808, and among other things calls for a new cabinet post advising the president in ways to reduce domestic and international violence, the creation of a United States Peace Academy and teaching violence prevention & conflict resolution skills to all K to 12 students.

"We have plenty of money for wars but what have we done for non-violent confrontation?" says Howard Rosenberg, a Ft. Greene resident and member of New Yorkers for a Department of Peace.

Part of the Peace Alliance Campaign, members of New Yorkers for a Department of Peace are appealing directly to their Brooklyn neighbors to push passage of New York City Council Resolution 627.

That resolution is now sitting in the Cultural Affairs Committee waiting for a full New York City Council hearing. It has 15 co-sponsors. Councilmember Domenic Recchia, representing the 47th District, chairs the Cultural Affairs Committee.

"Anything that can help us to get what we need to keep peace and security throughout the world we have to be in favor of that," Recchia said.

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As John explains:

"These are times when we find ourselves compelled, rather than just willing, to go the extra mile (in this case, 2,400 miles) to demonstrate our commitment to bringing about the change that definitively gives peace its much needed chance."

Can you give John a ride for part of his journey?

He plans to leave Los Angeles or San Francisco on March 11-12, documenting his grassroots transcontinental journey 4 peace with CHALK4PEACE images on sidewalks across the U.S.

You can follow the Journey's progress here.

  With briefs stops in Las Vegas or Reno, Boulder, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh and on into D.C., John will present CHALK4PEACE to the Peace community at the Conference and revisit the original C4P sites throughout the Washington area.

As with any journey of this nature, this route may be subject to change due to weather.

Contact John if you can help transport him on a leg of his journey.

  John is also open to any and all meetings with educators, coordinators, and interested CHALKSTARS during this journey and invites you to arrange a time while he is in your vicinity to visit your artists and CHALK4PEACE location. Again, his cell phone is 248-720-9119.

Why would John go to this effort? As he explains,

"This Conference stands as the most significant gathering of progressive thought from a collection of visionary thinkers whose collective goal is to place peace on the table as a viable approach to conflict resolution and global communication."

To learn more about Chalk4Peace:

• visit: http://www.chalk4peace.org or


• email: chalk4peace@gmail.com

We join John in thanking you in advance for your encouragement, ingenuity and support of our efforts and the Peace Process.