Peace

For centuries, Christian Christmas was marked as a time for truces and peace talks. This Christmas in the U.S. is marked by the National Rifle Association trying to justify arming our elementary schools. 

The evil of violence corrupts the human mind. Fear of violence makes people violent in defensive posture. The physically abused as children become adult abusers.

True peace is not a standoff. True peace is the absence of threat or fear of violence. This is my sense of the very core of all humanist values. Without peace, the mind cannot grow to its full potential. It cannot open to the vast compassion and generosity of which the human mind is capable.

While many of us have glimpses of true personal peace when we develop our humanist practice, we are the privileged. The great majority of human beings lives in fear of violence and poverty. There is little peace to be found where there is ignorance and hunger. Isn't it our duty as the privileged to lead the way to universal peace through economic and social justice? Apparently, the NRA does not see it this way.

As a humanist, I will oppose any measures which will increase the potential for gun violence in my country. I will support those who work legislatively to stop gun escalation. And I will encourage all those who believe in humanist values to do the same loudly and clearly.