An open letter to our friends

The following is a letter that we wrote way back in November 2002 partly in fun but serious as well. After writing it we thought it was a bit harsh and decided not to send it, thinking that it might offend those that couldn’t understand out intent, but given the insanity of the times and our desire to speak up for a better way, we can no longer hold back.

This is just a small letter to counteract the political propaganda that we have received from you and other of our friends disguised as humor. We love the humor and in no way is this, a request that you stop sending it. We enjoy knowing how others think, and we are open to appreciate and laugh at all points of view.

Both Fred and I could be considered, by many of our friends, to be “bleeding heart liberals” or “environmental wackos”. (Not to mention dreaded war protesters) We live a life style that could be considered “back to basics”. While we have electricity, television, phones and computers we are fully prepared to do with out, if the need arose. We have gardens and fruit trees and chop our own firewood for winter heat. We re-cycle and have a great love of nature (Tree huggers?) But most importantly we have good minds and are capable of discerning our own truth. We have a resistance to following the traditional path unless we can see that it is moving in the right direction.

From our point of view the world can be divided into two kinds of mind sets, those that are Conservatives (service to self) and those that are liberals (service to others.)

Those that are into service to self would most likely be people that think: My money, I earned it. (Why should I share with any one else) My country is the most powerful in the world. (What does it matter that we are the world’s biggest bully not to mention the biggest producers of pollution and weapons of mass destruction) My home, I paid for it. (And I will protect it with my gun) My family are the only people I need to love and protect. (It doesn’t matter that people in other places are oppressed, tortured or killed) My, My, My and Me, Me, Me. Most Conservatives, Republicans (and politicians from both parties) would fit in this category. (Patriotic pro-war types would fit here)

Those that are into service to others would most likely be people that think: Money, how best can I use it? This country, we have the best lifestyles and the most choices in the world. (Let’s create plenty for others as well.) Home, When the people around are happy, comfortable and fed there is no need to fear or protect. Family, are those we can relate to- not just those we are related to. Share what you have, Take care of the less fortunate. Protect the environment. Most Liberals, Democrats (and hippies) would fit in this category. (Patriotic anti-war types would fit here)

Fred and I would like to believe we would fit into the “service to others” mind set, even though we “belong” to no particular party or religious group. Our concern for the state of the world has led us to volunteer our time at the Peace and Justice Center in Chico. Our involvement there has been an adventure into activism. On Oct 6^th, we were part of 10,000 people at a Peace rally in Union Square SF. We were involved with about 500 people in a “sit in” in the local congressman’s office protesting the war. (20 protesters were arrested) Then on Oct 26^th we participated with 80,000 people at a Peace march in SF. One of the most important events we were close to, was a protest (we couldn’t go but we were able to help in our own way -- with a small donation) in Fort Benning, Georgia. 22 members from the Peace and Justice center in Chico joined with thousands of others to protest the training of assassins and to close down the “School of the Americas”. 6 nuns and about 90 other protesters were arrested. Very few of us are aware of what is going on in secret. Yes, Thousands of foreign military personnel are trained here in the good old USA in the art of human control, oppression and torture, then they go back to their own countries to murder, rape and kill for corporate profits.

(We have participated in several more, larger anti war and pro peace demonstrations since the above dates both in San Francisco and Sacramento)

It is very apparent to most of us that we are not living in the soft and easy times of the 50’s. It is no longer OK to accept what we are told (by our parents, friends or the government) with out question. We MUST think for ourselves and in order to do that we must have as much information (hopefully true) as we can possibly collect and process. So, please don’t consider this letter criticism of lifestyles or choices. Do consider it another point of view.

This was meant to be just a short note to let you know that all of your friends are not quiet, traditional, middle of the road, secure in their retirement, middle class, white bread conservatives.. Some of us are radical, non-traditional, over the edge, working for a better world, activists. All of us are just good friends who care about each other no matter where we are coming from, so keep sending the jokes, humor and political satire.

Have those bright lights of the 60.s and 70’s turned into the establishment that they resisted so much?

Instead of protesting the greed in the world are they now “cooking the books” so that they can hang on to their fancy cars and plastic life styles?

Wanted

Idealistic, committed to a cause, willing to change the world grown up over the hill hippies. You have been part of the establishment long enough. Your children are grown; you have paid off your student loans etc. NOW is the time to get back into life. Lay down your materialistic plastic and spiritually empty lifestyle. Pick up the banner right where you left it. The world is still waiting for you to change it.