The way to peace and justice is a way of peace and justice.
To show that nonviolent methods can work to maintain justice we
need to demonstrate
that they can transform violent institutions
and replace misguided leaders
so that justice can be established
with truly democratic institutions.
The dangers of genocidal wars
with weapons of mass destruction and steady
environmental deterioration
with diminishing resources while human population
is increasing
challenge this generation with a global emergency that we must
alleviate,
or else conditions will continue to get worse.
Most
people do not want violent change because it tends to make things
worse quickly
as others react with more violence.
Yet as Gandhi
and Dr. King showed,
we must be active in our nonviolent efforts
to make the needed
changes happen.
A few martyrs have been going to prison to protest
wars and weapons of mass destruction.
Yet the number of people
who have made a full-time commitment to working for these
goals
of peace and justice is still quite small,
though millions more
agree and protest in marches occasionally.
Placing one’s body
on the line and going to jail is not the only way to work for
peace,
but it is a dramatic witness and directly affects the expenses
of the offending government.
Most of all we need a change in consciousness.
Even a small
group that makes such sacrifices can influence many others
to
evaluate more closely the wrongs being protested.
Yet if people
who are opposed to wars and injustice continue to act only symbolically
while continuing to pay taxes to the government that is oppressing
us and the world,
then their net effect is actually supportive
of that regime.
If we truly want peace, we must stop paying for
war.
In the United States that means not paying federal income
tax,
half of which goes for weapons and the military.
With the
enormous debt of 37 trillion dollars it will not take much
more to push the U.S.
Government into a financial bankruptcy that
matches its moral bankruptcy.
Not paying federal income tax does
not mean going to jail,
because individuals have rarely been prosecuted
for that unless they cheat or lie.
Usually the Internal Revenue
Service tries to take the money from the person’s bank account,
assets,
or salary; but there are limits, and they are not allowed
to leave anyone destitute.
Thus being a tax resister in that way
is not compatible with being financially wealthy.
In my view the
best way is to live on a low income so that no tax is owed to
the government.
Those who make more than that can contribute the
excess to those in need
or non-profit organizations.
This is perfectly
legal and is the way of the saints.
Those who refuse to pay taxes and live on a limited income
usually find that they can do
so more frugally and efficiently
by living in community with other people.
In such peace communities
people can share their resources and have more interesting lives.
In the difficult times ahead with increasing emergencies such
communities with organic
gardens and orchards that are more self-sufficient
will also have much greater security.
Also people with assets
can benefit spiritually by helping others who are less fortunate.
Those who do go to prison can be supported by others on the outside
and be well taken care of after they get out of prison.
Some may
wish to travel to spread the message of peace as the early Buddhists,
Christians, and Sufis did.
By their presence on the streets in
front of government buildings or military installations
or in
churches, temples, mosques, and various civic organizations these
peacemakers
can help educate people to the changes we as a society
need to make.
People can work together on media productions
and
publish books and pamphlets to awaken others.
The articulate can run for office to educate voters of the
political reforms we need.
The Green Party has detailed platforms
with excellent positions on many issues.
Some may choose to run
in Democratic or even Republican primaries
to give voters in those
parties a better choice.
People can work for ranked choice voting
and proportional representation
so that voters can have better
choices in the elections.
Some may even sit-in at the polling
places to protest the unjust voting system
and awaken people to
the need for those reforms.
The Internet and other means of communication can be used to
spread the ideas of reform
such as a United Nations Democracy, a Global
Disarmament Treaty,
and a revised U. S. Constitution.
I believe we need to go beyond criticizing the problems and mistakes
to leading with a positive vision for a better future.
We can
be flexible in our strategy and tactics
and always persistent
in our principles and goals.
For example, if the small states
refuse to agree to a revised U. S. Constitution,
then perhaps large states such as California and New York could
secede
from the United States and establish nonviolent nations
that might be joined by other states.
Such secession would not
lead to civil war as long as we use only nonviolent strategies.
People need to realize that we have power.
When governmental leaders
of a corrupt political system abuse their authority,
then it is
our obligation to withdraw our support from their wrongs.
The
United States itself was formed by revolutionaries who refused
to pay taxes
to the British empire so that they could establish
their own democratic self-government.
In addition to people all over the world not cooperating with
governments
that refuse to disarm their weapons of mass destruction,
economic leverage
can be used by boycotting offensive corporations
that make weapons,
pollute the environment, or exploit workers
with inadequate wages.
In special circumstances strikes can be
employed to hold out for specific objectives.
More people may
realize that we can vote every day by how we work for justice
and spend our time as well as our money.
We can speak out with
our friends and those we meet in various situations.
I have also written the Nonviolent
Action Handbook as a guidebook for organizing
and carrying
out direct action.
The ways we can improve our personal lives
are described in The Art of Gentle
Living.
I am writing the series of volumes on The
Ethics of Civilization so that we can learn
from the history
of human behavior in politics, economics,
philosophy, literature,
and theater.
I hope that you will join our efforts to bring about the major
reforms
we need to establish peace and justice in the world.
Many
groups are working for these goals from global nongovernmental
organizations
to neighborhood meetings.
Choose the organization
you like best or form your own local group to educate
yourselves
and others while you work for peace and justice with liberty for
all.
Working together we can save the world
and pass on a better
place to our children and grandchildren.
This chapter has been published in the book
BEST FOR ALL: How We Can Save the World.
For information on ordering, please click here.
Global Emergency
Alleviating Poverty
Disarming Weapons of War
Creating Global Democracy
Reforming the US Constitution
Restoring Justice
Sustainable Economics
Freeing Communication
Spiritual Awakening
Nonviolent Strategies
Appendix:
Global Disarmament Treaty (first draft by Beck)
Constitution of the United Nations Democracy (first draft by Beck)
Constitution of the United States Revised (first draft by Beck)