U.S. Peace Caravan

Below is a letter from Javier Sicilia, leader of the Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad  (Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity):

Dear Neighbor,

The Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity, MPJD sends greetings to you and your organization.

We are a movement that emerged last year in response to widespread violence in Mexico stemming from the policies of the war against drugs and drug cartels. The 60,000 deaths, the 10,000 disappearances, and the 160,000 internally displaced people during the past six years is a tragedy caused directly caused by failed security policies. Importantly, only 2% of all crimes committed in Mexico are investigated and solved.

We are dedicated to giving voice to the families of victims of this violence and to publicizing the real costs of this war. We have made it clear that the Mexican state must stop denying its responsibilities, which it does by criminalizing the victims of violence. Instead, it must accept that there are victims, and that it is the Mexican government’s responsibility to provide justice and reparations to them. With this in mind, we have asked for a change from the current security strategy to one focused on human security.

To these ends, the Movement has organized two “caravans” that have traversed the North and South of Mexico. These actions prompted meetings with the President and Legislature to seek policy alternatives to war. These experiences have allowed us to see first-hand the grave situation we face as a society.

As part of our quest for peace and justice, the Movement would like to extend to you a cordial invitation to be part of a new endeavor: the US Peace Caravan. This caravan will leave this August from San Diego, CA and arrive in Washington, DC in September.  This initiative seeks to promote dialogue with American civil society and its government regarding the following themes: the need to stop gun trafficking; the need to debate alternatives to drug prohibition; the need for better tools to combat money laundering; and the need to promote bilateral cooperation in human rights and human security in two priority areas: promotion of civil society and safety, as well as protection and safety for migrants.

The MPJD seeks the support of the diverse array of groups we believe would be interested in promoting and end to, or alternatives to, the aforementioned policies. We believe that the solutions must emerge from within civil society and from a regional dialogue. For these reasons, we invite you to be our counterpart in an exercise of civilian diplomacy that can return peace, justice and dignity to the victims of this war. We hope we will be able to count on your valuable participation as an ally and partner in this historic event.

Sincerely,

Javier Sicilia

Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad

To be a writer

In one of his books, probably Αναφορά στον Γκρέκο, Nikos Kazantzakis says something like, “To be a monk, you must love God to the point of absolute fanaticism; otherwise, your mind will break under the strain.”  I’ve often thought of those words—even though I may have the quote completely wrong, as I am relying on a long-held memory—but I have begun to suspect that, “To be a writer, you must love writing to the point of absolute fanaticism; otherwise, your mind will break under the strain.”

    I have many friends who are midwives, and through them I have come to know plenty of midwifery students as well.  One thing I learned about the students was that they fell into two categories: those who wanted to practice midwifery, and those who wanted to “be a midwife.”  The first group, by far the smallest, wanted to catch babies, and was made up of women totally dedicated to birth.  The second group consisted of women who liked the “midwifery lifestyle,” i.e. women’s circles, talking about herbs, wearing natural fiber clothing, and eating vegan—all fine things, which those who made up the first group were by and large also fond of, but there was no real passion for birth itself among the latter group.  Those who loved helping women give birth went on to practice midwifery, despite the pain, stress, bodily fluids, difficult hours, poor pay, and scorn of the mainstream obstetric establishment, while those who were just devoted to the trappings of being a midwife eventually went on to something else.

     There are plenty of people I know who want to “be a writer,” but few who actually love to write.  Eventually, the same shakeout occurs with would-be writers as happened with the midwifery students.  In the end, writing isn’t about having a career, being successful—or even publication.  It's like what the wonderful, uncompromising singer Julie Christmas says about music: "There are still people making music just to make sure it's done right." That's what we as writers should be doing.  It isn't about "being a writer." It's about writing.  The satisfaction comes from getting it right, from communicating something you believe is worthwhile.  As Krishna says in the Bhagavad-Gita:

     “Be intent on action,

     not on the fruits of action.”