At this time when the rumblings of war grow ever
stronger, are we strong enough to stand for peace?
A few ruminations from the road,
Brandon



I recently completed walking the Via Francigena, a
pilgrim's path dating back to 800 AD. This 500 mile
section was a culmination of a dream for me to walk
from Canterbury, England to Rome.

If anything, walking alone along those country roads
gave me time for contemplation. Originally, I thought
this would be a walk for "peace", a rather altruistic
notion in this climate of fear in which we all now
live.

However, along the way, as I meditated on the issue of
peace, I was led to consider the reasons for lack of
peace.

Barring the occasional crazed tyrant of the times, I
believe it is simply"need" that precipitates actions
which cause war. I was continually reminded of this
along the way. As a "pilgrim" traveling with my home
upon my back for nearly thirty days, I was reminded of
the basic human needs which we as
Americans often take for granted.

When I arrived in a small village at 11:30 pm, after
walking nearly 50 km all day, I found the two hotels
there "complet", the lights of the town shut off, and
no place to sleep. As I sat shivering on the church
steps awaiting the town to reopen in the morning, I
thought of all those people of the world, including as
many as 32 million of my countrymen, who spend each
night in similar frigid discomfort.

Another day, as I walked 10 km or two hours between
villages in the hot sun without water, only to arrive
to a village with no restaurant, bar, cafe or public
fountain, I was reminded of the millions of others
throughout the world who must make a similar trek each
day to find drinkable water, then
often carry it home again upon their heads.

Other days, I would walk hours in search of food, only
to arrive anddiscover the one store in town closed,
with no restaurants to be seen. I felt in a very
visceral way the sufferings that millions of my fellow
Americans and others feel each and every night.

And after more than twenty days on this trail, as I
limped along shifting weight from one blister to the
other, perhaps in a small way I felt the suffering
that 41 million Americans must cope with each day
because they do not have or cannot afford health
insurance.

Walking throughout this eastern region of France, I
was perpetually reminded of the devastation of war.
Since the start of modern history, this volatile
region has been a stepping stone on the road of
conquest from the Vikings to the Gauls to the Romans
to the Napoleonic Wars to the World Wars. It is an
area where too many times blood has run like water.
Where entire villages were wiped out less than a
century ago, and where over 100,000 Americans died in
the coarse of one battle, one of the bloodiest in
World War I. In perspective, this is the equivalent of
nearly 30 World Trade Centers.

I, too, have known fear, especially as the tractor
trailers barreled along these two lane roads at 60-80
mph. All it takes, I reminded myself, is one moment of
inattention, and I will end up like one of the many
hedgehogs, rabbits or birds I passed, splayed across
the highway.

My point? If we, as the most powerful military nation
in the world, are to eliminate war or serve as the
guardian of our most treasured principles as a nation,
we need to lead by example. We need to assure that
those basic needs of our people and, in proxy, those
of the world are cared for. Until we make sure people
are warm, safe, fed, clothed, have medical care,
educated, and are assured basic human rights, there
will be war. When people are in dire need, or
otherwise find their backs against a wall with nothing
to lose, there will be chaos and war. And we as the
the mightiest empire,
unfortunately will often become the target.

With "might" must come "right-eousness". As a nation,
we must act with a true mind and a pure heart. This is
the imperative for our country's survival, as well as
the world's. It's not, as some might have us believe,
simply an issue of "you're either for us or against
us." History reminds us
it is never so simple or black and white.

Now is the time for politicians and for all of us to
act with conscience, without benefit or regard to
polls. To act, as my grandfather might have said,
"with gumption" and do the right thing, not
necessarily the most politically expedient one.
Instead of believing we can act alone without
consequence, it is time to truly be a world "leader"
and work with the United Nations, the EU, and
especially Third World countries to eliminate the root
cause of war, for these root causes are the true
"evil-doers"--not to simply attack Iraq.

Whether Christian, Jew or Muslim, it is time to turn
teachings into action and truly turn bombs into
plowshares. Only though this action will we earn the
respect and assure a future for our generations. Only
through these simple, concerted actions of conscience
can we, ourselves, live without fear, can look each
other in the eyes again, and can gaze with clear
conscience into the mirror each morning.

It is time to show true strength, honor and courage,
because the brave are among us all, awaiting a finer
destiny than simply a home in the suburbs or easy
retirement. For without this concerted action, all
else is in vain.

Finally, let me reassure you, this message is without
political bent or persuasion. It is simply what one
"pilgrim" perceives as a global imperative as we stand
on the brink of another war. It is a simple revelation
after these many days, miles and struggles on the
road.

For in many ways, we are all pilgrims, each on their
own path.

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