What does it take to build a culture of nonviolence? All of us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Culture is built day in, day out, by the actions of millions of people. It\u2019s built of small things \u2014 like favorite foods or games we play or the movies we watch. It\u2019s built of large things \u2014 like military policy, holidays, values and beliefs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In September 2022, over 320,500 people (and more around the world) took a step out of the ordinary to challenge and transform the primacy of violence in our culture. During the ninth annual Campaign Nonviolence Action Days<\/a> (Sept. 21- Oct. 2), the expanding movement for a culture of peace and active nonviolence coordinated over 4,622 actions and events, working with more than a hundred partner groups across the United States and globally. From ending gun violence to abolishing nuclear weapons, the individuals and organizations involved connected the dots between their issues, forming a movement of movements that strives to transform all <\/em>forms of violence. This could be direct (fights, gun violence, domestic abuse) or systemic (racism, sexism, poverty) or environmental (toxins in the watershed, species extinction, climate crisis) or others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the Campaign Nonviolence Action Days, it\u2019s heartening to see people intentionally challenging and transforming all these forms of violence. Here are some specific examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some groups are creating alternative cultural practices, such as giving out awards<\/a> to groups and individuals for advancing Dr. Martin Luther King\u2019s vision of the “beloved community.” Or painting a giant peace mural<\/a> in a public park. In Hillsboro, Oregon, a group planted a peace pole<\/a> at a Habitat For Humanity site as a visible reminder of humanity\u2019s yearning for peace. Meanwhile, in Hawke\u2019s Bay, New Zealand, an impressive 43 peace poles<\/a> were put up in schools, community centers, city parks and faith centers. One man put nonviolence posters<\/a> on the side of his camper van as he drove across six states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another group held a peace and nonviolence music concert in Austin, Texas<\/a>. On Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace, and on Oct. 2, the International Day of Nonviolence, many cities and towns asked their public officials, city council or mayors to make proclamations. Others helped their faith groups host talks<\/a> or sermons on nonviolence, including 144 United Church of Christ congregations debunking Just War Theory from the pulpit on Just Peace Sunday. Still others offered peace<\/a> and nonviolence themed teach-ins<\/a> with school children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s easy to overlook the importance of actions like this. We assume that the default of our culture is benign, but it\u2019s not. It normalizes violence, injustice and abuse through \u201ca thousand nicks and cuts.\u201d It shows up in the violent \u201cheroes\u201d of cinema or the military salutes at sports games. It manifests as high rents, evictions and sweeps of unhoused encampments. It\u2019s embedded in low wages, unfair hiring practices and racial disparities. It causes gun violence, suicide, domestic abuse and much more. It seeps into policies like mass incarceration, immigration and military spending. The pervasiveness is shocking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n During the Action Days, activists revealed how commonplace extreme violence has become in our society. They used direct action to challenge the sale of automatic assault rifles at local gun shops in Portland, Oregon.<\/a> They protested the glossy war booths<\/a> at a major weapons and surveillance convention in National Harbor, Maryland. They held demonstrations at military bases in Knob Noster, Missouri<\/a> and Tucson, Arizona, and opposed nuclear weapons<\/a> at the United Nations in New York City. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
We assume that the default of our culture is benign, but it\u2019s not.<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n