Please place your comments on the respective post. This is the only way I can connect the dots, to answer your questions or address your concerns. Thank you
Martin Luther King April 4, 1968
Bobby Kennedy June 6, 1968
Che Guevara October 9, 1967
Not knowing much about any of these men before starting my book “Finding Home”, I was surprised to learn how much alike they were in their beliefs. With very limited knowledge, given my age when they died, my understanding of why their lives had to end was not something I could comprehend. Later in my life, I had the impression Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King were on the same side, but still not really knowing the details of their platform, as I was not one to follow news throughout my life. At the time, I was very young, around 7 years old, not able to handle listening to the news, covering my ears and closing my eyes when it began. Absolutely any talk of violence or strife could not be allowed into my sphere. This desire to hide from the violence in our world has continued to this day. It was quite a surprise to me to learn how similar their thinking was, when a couple of years ago I began to look into the lives of these men, as well as that of JFK.
The biggest surprise was learning about Che Guevara, as he was not even on my radar, knowing only that he fought for Cuba with Fidel Castro and died in a shack somewhere in the jungle. I did not even know where his death occurred or why.
Besides their deaths occurring in such violent ways, and within less than a year of each other, what did these three men have in common? I wonder if they had lived, would they have been able to find common ground and work together? That would have been a very powerful trio, one which would have led us to a more enlightened age I believe. They all wanted peace, and equality as they fought for justice in their own way. Martin Luther King, from the pulpit, Robert Kennedy, from the campaign trail as he ran for presidency, and Che Guevara with gun in hand as he travelled through the different countries in the world, fighting beside those he meant to free.
Many were against the methods of El Che, but we must all try to understand the difference of living in the countries being suppressed as compared to the the one doing the suppressing. Human rights out the window when it is business as usual for the foreign investors. There was not, nor is there now anything fair about the treatment of those who work for foreign companies. The resources plundered, the workers poisoned, often abused and paid a pittance for the hours of labour. Those who stand at the gates of North America should be respected for their long difficult journey to ask for our help, the demands not at all unreasonable considering the circumstances. Who among the working class in North America would tolerate such conditions, as have been forced on these people? So then why do we question their need for a better life, one which is not ruled by greed, our greed? If over the last century companies like the American Fruit Company had been fair in their treatment, not controlling of the people and the product, we would not be here today. We have to go back to the beginning to see the truth, it is written in the past, not in todays difficulties. In order to repair many lifetimes of this destructive behaviour, we must face ourselves in the mirror and see the path we took to get here as we are all responsible in some manner.
There is a saying “Vote with your feet”; in the big picture, we have not done that. We continue to buy at reduced rates without considering the consequences of our needs, or more accurately, our wants. I am seeing the consequences of those actions as I travel here. Quilty as the next person for purchases made over the years, I must also face my part in the construction of this world of poverty. It is time for a spiritual revolution, the guns no longer have a role in our quest for peace, this must be clear as we are witness to so many lives ending in violence of late. The war has come to our shores, fed by hate, anger and misunderstanding due to lack of knowing. The many standing on our borders should not be there, they should not be fleeing their homes searching for respite from the unending word war we have been in since Vietnam. Have you noticed, we only fight for the rights of those who live in countries rich in the resources we covet? That we supply the guns to feed the hate and anger, then swoop in to be the saviour? Yes maybe it’s time to take a good hard look at our principles as a nation. We have asked for this to happen because we did not pay enough attention to what was being said in the 60’s, and we have let slide the memories of those who fought so hard to hang onto the love and peaceful way of life we enjoyed back then.
It was a much simpler time, when our children played outside, enjoyed nature because it was part of their lives,. They weren’t afraid to walk the streets, the simple pleasures of playing tag and reading a book took precedence. Today playing violent games, watching violent tv shows and movies has become commonplace. We no longer notice the extreme violent acts against others, the gory details clearly displayed, numbing our senses over time. We cheer when the enemy dies a violent death by the hero’s hand, but ignore the series of events leading to that death and the injustices against them. The lines distinguishing right and wrong getting blurred, because we do not have all the information. We only commit our emotional reaction to the desired outcome, which gives us a sense of security. There is no glory in war, no winner, only destruction, grief resulting in more hate against those we do not understand. First we must listen, we must ask unanimously for the truth – but not our leaders version of it as we know it is not really honest.
I draw your attention to a comment left on my story “Gated Community”, by a man who fought in the Vietnam war as a young man. I have never talked intimately to anyone who has fought in a war until recently, but felt honoured to receive his wisdom on the subject. We agreed on so much including the idea, in order to support our troops, we should bring them home. The value of their lives cannot be underestimated. The loss of so many brave, good men and women, soldiers and civilians alike, lost in the maze that is war. To honour them, we should stop, try living in the peaceful world they gave their lives for.
Peace cannot last when attained through violence. I am also attaching the video he left on his comment of Matin Luther King’s speech, the points of which are as valid today as they were then. A peaceful man, he stood for equality and freedom to choose, something intended for all. Listening to this speech, it was not difficult for me to understand why his death occurred, but it makes me cry to remember such a beautiful man dying because he wanted peace. Can we not see the value of his words today and make an effort to honour his fight for a just and honorable world, one which includes everyone’s right to live a beautiful life? With violence increasing, I fail to see how the methods of our madness have been beneficial to date. Perhaps we should all stop, take a step back, and say “No more”!
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