Orlando Killings, Guns & War
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 27 Jun 2016
21 Jun 2016 – We grieve with the families of innocent victims in Orlando Florida. The horrific violence carried out Sunday June 12, 2016 against members of the LGBTQ community at the Pulse club by Omar Mateen is difficult to comprehend. How could anyone do such evil? Certainly, the availability of military style assault weapons in the U.S. contributes to such massive casualties –49 dead and 53 injured. But it doesn’t explain the source of such hate and violence. More is becoming known each day. Several news sources now quote statements made by the shooter, Omar Mateen, on Facebook in the early morning hours of the shooting. “You kill innocent women and children by doing US airstrikes..now taste the Islamic state vengeance.” http://abcnews.go.com/US/orlando-shooter-facebook-now-taste-isis-vengeance/story?id=39875518
In short, innocent lives were killed for killing innocent lives. An eye for an eye. A cycle of violence. Vengeance for vengeance. Killing and more killing without end. Solving the escalating killing of innocents will require more than banning military style assault weapons, though that, and universal background checks, would be a start. What about the innocent lives killed on the other end of official U.S. military assault weapons – weapons of war? Are innocent women and children killed abroad by U.S. airstrikes, drones, special ops, etc. of less value than innocent people killed at home in Orlando? Enough – here and there! There are reports that 4 million Muslims have been killed in U.S./NATO wars. 4 MILLION! How can we do such evil? https://www.transcend.org/tms/2015/04/unworthy-victims-western-wars-have-killed-four-million-muslims-since-1990/
Like any addict, be it an addiction to alcohol, drugs, violence, video games, consumerism, etc. it is hard for an addict to admit the addiction. The U.S. is a nation addicted to violence — guns, war, and global domination. Isn’t it time to stop the killing both at home and abroad? The U.S. needs a 12-step program to recovery; to help build a world with liberty, justice, and peace for all. In truth, we are one human family. Let’s show by example that more violence, more weapons, more war, more hate, is not the answer. Love is the answer. Love conquers hate. Let’s live aloha!.
Aloha! Not Hate, Weapons, War!
While the Hokule’a sailing canoe circles the globe with the message “Malama Honua” –Care for the Earth, the U.S. military is waging war on the earth – air, land, and sea, people, plants and animals. The U.S. military RIMPAC 2016 will involve 27 nations, 45 ships, 5 submarines, more than 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel in military actions in and around Hawaii from June 30 -Aug. 4, 2016.
The Range Control office at the military 133,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) located in the center of Hawaii Island has confirmed that Pohakuloa will be a target of live -fire for ground forces and aircraft participating in RIMPAC 2016. Pohakuloa (The Land of the night of Long Prayer) has been used as a bombing and live-fire target for more than 50 years, with millions of live-rounds fired annually. Pohakuloa is contaminated with a wide range of military toxins, including Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation. Continued bombing risks spreading the contamination downwind, endangering the lives of troops training there and residents and visitors alike . DU is particularly dangerous when small particles are inhaled and can cause cancer, birth defects and genetic damage.
- Mourn all victims of violence
- Reject war as a solution
- Defend civil liberties.
- Ground the Drones! Say No to War!
- Mourn all victims of violence
- Defend civil liberties
- Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
- Seek peace by peaceful means through justice in Hawai’i and around the world.
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Jul 1, 2016 – 771th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
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James Albertini is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment, and director of Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action – P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760. Phone (+ 808) 966-7622 Email: ja@malu-aina.org Website: http://www.malu-aina.org/
Go to Original – malu-aina.org
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