John Dear’s Declaration of Peace has inspired me. I know I sporadically update my little corner of the blogosphere with whatever has crossed my mind. But for the next two months or so it shall be a bit different. I will be writing about nothing but peace. Yes I shall now have a singular focus. I know John Dear’s work is focused largely on Iraq but I’m reaching in a slightly different direction that will hopefully end up at the same place as John Dear.

This is couldn’t have came at a more appropriate time. Tensions between Lebanon and Israel are running higher every day. The war in Iraq is not getting any better. Africa, the cradle of civilization, is being brutalized with genocide, famine and disease. North Korea and Iran are rattling their nuclear sabers. These are contentious times we live in. If we don’t act now to make the world a better place for all people we might not get another chance.

So there you have it. My plan up until September 21st is to write about peace as much as I am able. In fact I shall start right now.

If I have one thing that really irks more so than anything with the President it is this. On September 12th, 2001 George W. Bush, the President of the United States of America, was given a golden opportunity. In the aftermath of the terrorists attacks on the United States George Bush had the world’s support. He was tantalizingly close to making the world a better and more peaceful place. He had to make a simple choice. He had to choose between the paths of love and fear. He had to choose between inspiration and intimidation. He chose fear and intimidation.

The United States attacked Afghanistan to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaeda network of terrorists he led. It is almost 5 years later and we do not have Bin Laden and Al Qaeda is still planning and executing terrorist attacks. The Taliban, the organization that we took out of power is now slowing returning to prominence.

In March of 2003 we invaded Iraq because Saddam Hussein had connections to Al Qaeda and terrorism and he also had weapons of mass destruction, or so we were told. We were lied to. Hussein had neither ties to Al Qaeda or weapons of mass destruction. So after more than 2,500 American soldiers have been killed and as many as 100,000 Iraqis have been killed and we have spent almost 300 billion dollars what mission was accomplished? We have a shaky Iraqi government that wants us out. We have an Iraqi population that is growing more resentful of the American presence there by the day. Iraq has become a training ground for new terrorists.

The world that on September 12th stood behind the United States has largely abandoned us. They view us with suspicion and contempt. We are the thugs and bullies of the world.

We must change course it’s no longer a matter of if it’s a matter of how soon. If we continue down this path we never recover financially, politically or morally.