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US Peace Memorial Foundation |
World
Peace: A First Step
Commentary for the Special Issue on Peace, Conflict,
and War
Journal of
Sociology & Social Welfare, June,
2011
Michael D. Knox, PhD*
University
of South Florida and_ US Peace Memorial Foundation
NOTE: This article was updated August 2017. To view the original article
as a PDF, go to www.uspeacememorial.org/WorldPeace.pdf.
A first step in
achieving peace on earth must be the immediate cessation of war and threats of
war. Citizens of the United States are in a better position than others to make
this happen. We spend significant portions of our tax dollars, and borrow money
from foreign countries, to wage wars. We sell weapons and destabilize
governments. We prioritize funding for war over spending on education, medical
research, alternative energy sources, healthcare, housing and food for the
needy, a balanced budget and almost everything else that can have a positive
impact on this planetÕs quality of life.
The U.S. has a long history
of waging war. Our nation was
founded on war and continued as the U.S. Army decimated the indigenous people. The murderous behavior endures today as
we bomb poor people in underdeveloped countries in the Middle East and Africa. Since the end of World War II the U.S.
has bombed more than 25 countries, killing millions of people and maiming tens of
millions more. Over these 71 years, no other
country has killed and injured more people living outside of its borders. We
spend more on war, and have more soldiers in other countries, than any other
nation.
According to
staff of the Council on
Foreign Relations, in 2016, President
ObamaÕs forces dropped a total of at least 26,172 bombs. That was 3,028 more bombs than in
2015. Between 2009 and 2016, military and agencies under his authority killed, wounded, and made refugees of
people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, and
Syria. Many of those harmed in these seven
predominantly Muslim countries were children.
If
any other country, and its allies, had such a specific ethnic/religious
focus, the world would call it genocide. Every time we kill a daughter, son,
mother, father, grandparent or friend, we are creating enemies, some of whom
may eventually attack us. And when they do, our government will feel
justified in expanding U.S. aggression, thus perpetuating the cycle of creating
more enemies and the need for more war. Perhaps all of these
conflicts are sowing the seeds for World War III. Perhaps it has already begun.
War is glorified in
our culture. The U.S. honors its military and reinforces warrior behaviors with
monuments to war-time presidents, memorials to wars and those who have served
and died in wars, with medals, promotions, ceremonies, even vanity license
plates and discounts at Kmart¨ and Home Depot¨. Children are taught that
soldiers are heroes and role models. These activities and symbols are all part
of sustaining the culture of war. U.S. leaders continually reinforce this by
referring to those in the military as heroes.
One reason the U.S.
wages so many wars is that few citizens speak out publicly against them. Most
Americans remain silent while our military kills and wounds children, mothers,
and other civilians. In a representative government such as ours, with members
of the U.S. House of Representatives seeking election every two years, the
government will be responsive to widespread antiwar sentiment, just as it
eventually was to the civil rights movement. We have the power to take action. ItÕs a matter of changing our culture so that
more citizens feel comfortable speaking out.
If our goal is world
peace, then we must oppose military solutions including invasion, occupation,
production of weapons of mass destruction, use of weapons, torture, and / or
threats of war. Imagine the impact if one percent of the population marched in
the next antiwar rally. What if one percent of voters contacted their
representatives in Congress asking for an end to the current wars? Most people
now recognize those who fought for civil rights as heroes. What if we could
change our culture so that those who demand peace are also appreciated and not
considered unpatriotic, anti-military, or un-American?
There are few
indicators that American society values those who oppose war. As President John
F. Kennedy wrote, ÒWar will exist until that distant day when the conscientious
objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that a warrior does todayÓ
(Kennedy, n.d.). We can use simple behavioral
principles to modify our culture and increase the number of people who speak
out. We can encourage antiwar behavior, identify role models to emulate, reduce
negative consequences, and provide positive reinforcement.
The mission of the US
Peace Memorial Foundation is to demonstrate that advocating for an end to war,
or for peaceful solutions to international problems, is an honorable and courageous
activity. We will accomplish this cultural change through three mechanisms that
honor Americans who stand for peace:
1. Award an annual peace prize for antiwar work to
recognize and honor U.S. peace leaders as a reminder that our culture values
their work. Recent recipients are Ann Wright, Veterans
For Peace, Kathy Kelly, CODEPINK Women for Peace, Chelsea Manning, Medea Benjamin, Noam
Chomsky, Dennis Kucinich, and Cindy Sheehan.
2. Build the US Peace
Memorial dedicated to those who
have opposed war or proposed peaceful alternatives to national aggression (Knox
& Wagganer, 2009a). A national monument in Washington, DC will
recognize peace leadership by displaying strong antiwar
statements of famous Americans from
all walks of life. The monument will also include electronic documentation of
activities of thousands of other citizens who have taken public stands against
one or more U.S. wars. The memorial will provide teaching moments for visitors
that can help to change our culture by making Americans more aware of, and more
comfortable with, our rich history of antiwar activity.
3. Publish the US Peace Registry to recognize and honor role models for peace and to
document a broad spectrum of modern nonviolent antiwar behavior (Knox
& Wagganer, 2009b). This ongoing scholarly work helps current and
future generations understand how individuals and organizations have opposed
war and promoted peace. The knowledge generated will reinforce antiwar actions,
stimulate new discussion, reduce stigma, increase comfort levels, and perhaps
lead to greater citizen involvement in interventions for peace.
If you are interested
in world peace, your first obligation should be to demand that your own country
stop invading, occupying, and bombing other countries. There are many peaceful
alternatives to aggression and we must be willing to advocate for them. Please
join us as a Founding Member
of the US Peace Memorial Foundation. Help us recognize and honor those who have
had the courage to speak out. Significant contributions to peace on earth are
within our power.
References
Kennedy, John F. (n.d.). Letter to a Navy friend. A Thousand Days: John F.
Kennedy in the White House. Schlesinger, Arthur M. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1965, 88.
Knox, M. D., & Wagganer, A. M. (2009a). A
cultural shift toward peace: The need for a national symbol. Peace and
Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 15, 97-101. www.uspeacememorial.org/article.htm
Knox, M. D., & Wagganer, A. M. (2009b).
Honoring peace and antiwar behavior: The US Peace Registry. Peace Psychology,
Fall/Winter, 19-20. www.uspeacememorial.org/Article2.htm
Zenko, M. (2017, January 5).
How many bombs did the United States
drop in 2016?
Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-many-bombs-did-united-states-drop-2016
*Author Notes: Dr. Michael
D. Knox earned a Ph.D. in psychology in 1974 from The University of Michigan.
He is a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in the Department of Mental
Health Law and Policy, Department of Internal Medicine, and the Department of
Global Health at the University of South Florida, Tampa. Dr. Knox is Chair of
the US Peace Memorial Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, www.USPeaceMemorial.org. He can be contacted at Knox@USPeaceMemorial.org. Click here to see a YouTube video regarding his
vision for the US Peace Memorial.
*Disclaimer: The ideas
expressed in this commentary are the views of the author and do not represent
the views of any university or foundation.
US Peace Memorial Foundation, Inc. is a
tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity.
Donations to the
Foundation are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
Copyright 2011-2017, US Peace Memorial Foundation, Inc.