I asked a Green acquaintance her advice on what to say to folks who claim that politics should be independent of the anti-war movement. She sent me some sound advice and the position on politics and the peace movement we should take as Greens:
You can not seperate politics from war. As long as people continue to support parties that support wars we will have them. As long as the parties prop up warriors as candidates we will have warriors as leaders.
We must challenge them on every level especially politically. The peace movement needs to have a political voice. People can choose whether or not to align their voice with those in politics who are in the peace movement. But to demand we turn our back on the Peace movement and stand silent is not a possibility.
Should we also not get involved with the environment, health care, etc..?
We must keep organizing as a Green. We must be seen. We must be seen being Green. That is how we build the Party. That is how we get candidates elected. That is how we will replace the warriors.
These folks [who claim political independence from the peace movement]may choose to stand alone. But that is a personal decision.
MLK said” there comes a time when silence is complicity”
We can not as a party be silent on the war, and we will not.
Well said.
Thank you, Echo.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 