By Lorraine Glowczak
Between 12:15 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. at the Windham rotary this
coming Sunday, April 21, you will see signs of peace held by individuals who are
taking action with the intention and hope of moving toward a more unified
society – honoring all varieties of perceptions in a diplomatic manner.
The signs will include sentences that might say: “Peace
starts here”, “Peace Now” and “Let there be peace”. Last month, the signs
invoked honking horns from passersby in agreement that the world could move in
a more integrated direction.
This Sunday will be the second of a monthly Peace Vigil that
will continue to meet at the same time and place on the third Sunday of each
month. Anyone who wishes to join this group of peace activists are welcomed to
do so.
“As you know, the country is in a … (pausing to find the
right word)….transformative place,” is the term Jack Seery chose. He will be
one of the individuals you’ll see holding the signs this Sunday afternoon. “We
all have many opposing perspectives, which is healthy in a democratic culture.
But somehow, as a society, we have managed to steer off course, civility speaking.
This benefits no one. There are ways to support one another through
collaborative efforts without being so divisive. Peace is one way to unify us
and this is the purpose for this Peace Vigil.”
Seery explained how it all began. Five years ago, members of
the Unity Center for Spiritual Growth located on River Road in Windham
(formerly known as Unity Church of Greater Portland) began studying the likes
of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr as part of their “season of non-violence” examination.
“We read a series of books by Paul Chappell and
studied peace and non-violence activists, Gandhi and King,” Seery stated. “But
after five years of the academic study about peace, we realized it was a time
for action. We all agreed that we contemplated the issue enough. Instead, we
needed to act on what we learned.”
As a result, Unity has collaborated with other organizations
including Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, to bring in well-known speakers and
non-violent activists to the area. One such event was published in an article
written by The Windham Eagle Reporter, Elizabeth Richards, in March 2018 – that
of Peace Activist, Father John Dear, who spoke on nonviolence at Saint Joseph’s
College and at Unity.
“Peace activism is one step toward non-violent communication
and peace”, stated Seery
In an online article regarding King and Gandhi’s approach,
written by Walter Earl Fluker, it explains the importance of peaceful activism:
“In Montgomery, King realized the power of nonviolent
resistance to achieve his vision of community…..”
Fluker went on to state: “Before Montgomery, his [King’s] understanding
of nonviolence was confined to an abstract association of ideas and readings
from his intellectual pursuits, but in the midst of the struggle he came to understand
its power to effect change, both in society and within the votary him/herself.
It is also important to understand that nonviolent resistance as a viable
alternative for social change had been debated and attempted by the black
leadership long before King emerged as a proponent of the method. Initially,
the method of the movement which came to be called nonviolent resistance was
conceived in the hearts of the black people of Montgomery as "Christian
love."
King writes that:‘From
the beginning a basic philosophy guided the movement.... It was the Sermon on
the Mount rather than a doctrine of passive resistance that initially inspired
the Negroes of Montgomery to dignified social action. It was Jesus of Nazareth
that stirred the Negroes to protest with the creative weapon of love.’”
And, that’s the sole purpose (or perhaps the “soul” purpose)
of the efforts of the Unity members who studied non-violent and peaceful
approach to a chaotic society – a creative weapon of love and peace.
In terms of technicalities and to stand by their method of
peaceful action, members of Unity stated they have reached out to determine if
it was lawful to do what they deemed important. The Windham Eagle contacted
Windham Chief of Police to verify. “As long as they are not impeding the flow
of traffic, the individuals have the right to exercise their freedom of
speech.”
Legalities aside. “We have received a lot of honking horns
in support of what we are doing and our role in a peaceful approach,” Seery
said.
As Gandhi has famously been
quoted, “An eye for eye makes the whole world blind.” King’s response? “There
is another way.” Members of Unity may be following that other way.
If you are interested in joining
this small group of peace enthusiasts, you can either show this Sunday at the
rotary or, for more information, contact Seery by email at jseery53@gmail.com.
