About    Articles   McPhearson Report Aithiops

Veterans For Peace Military Families Speak Out United For Peace and Justice

Thank You and Happy New Year!
To the Broad Peace and Anti-War Movements
Michael T. McPhearson, January 1, 2010

Thank you for all the work you have done and your commitment to the cause of peace and justice. We have weathered a tough 12 months, and I thank you for your perseverance.

For many, the year began with expectations of change, for others it began with great cynicism. The economic slowdown pushed many of us from our paid organizing positions, diminishing the movements’ staff capacity, and domestic political realities diminished our presence in the streets. Pundits and critics claim the anti-war/peace movements have stalled and perhaps lost relevance. Some accuse us of being loyal to Democrats, or worse, more about being anti-Bush than for peace. Others declare us ineffective (Click here for more)

President Obama and the
Nobel Peace Prize

Seeing Beyond Ourselves
Taking Advantage of Contradictions

Michael T. McPhearson, October 13, 2009 

 

When I woke up to the news of President Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I was shocked and a bit disappointed. It seems the President was taken off guard himself. My reaction is typical of a peace activist who has been in struggle with the U.S. government under the Bush Administration and now with the Obama Administration to end many of the same policies. I have seen numerous statements from the anti-war/peace activist community condemning the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. I have seen few that step back and try to understand other perspectives and more important, discussing ways to use the fact that the President has won the prize as a tool to organize and pressure the Administration. 

 

It is Time for Us to Leave Both Afghanistan and Iraq
Facebook White House Wall Note
Michael T. McPhearson - October 7, 2009

President Obama,

I voted for you with great joy. I had confidence early in the race that you would win. I am happy that you did because I am excited to see our country elect a person who looks like me to the White House. I know that it gives many Black youth a new height of achievement to endeavor to reach. Just last Sunday I saw a Black toddler with a bib stating “A Future US President.” No longer is this a wishful or historic dream, but illustrated possibility by your election. You have opened the door for many other people including women. I must admit at 45 yrs old, your story has inspired me. :-)

The Peace Movement in This Period
(Now is the Time For Us To Do Our Best Work)

This was originally written to the UFPJ Steering Committee. It has been slightly changed to address the wider peace and anti-war movements.
Michael T. McPhearson - Veterans For Peace Executive Director and Co-Chair of UFPJ
8/04/2009
 

In a conversation I had with Bob Wing, founding co-chair of UFPJ, he pointed out to me that there is no longer a center of power to the left of President Obama. At least, that is the way I heard his comments. I think he is right, and that it helps explain the current political challenge facing the peace/anti-war movements in mobilizing allies in the wider social and economic justice struggles to resist the current wars and occupations.

The economy has pushed the average person into discomfort about their economic position, at best. Millions have lost their jobs, are underemployed or are awaiting the possibility of being evicted from their foreclosed homes. People are looking to government/the new Administration to solve these problems. Additionally, after eight years of struggle merely to defend the status quo, many organizations and people in economic and social justice struggles, are now engaging with Congress and the Administration, in order to move forward their individual issues, pushing the war to a second or third tier concern on their agendas. Make no mistake, the wars/occupations are still of great distress to people, but home comes first.


February 23, 2009

 To The Pentagon and Wall Street; We Must March

Michael T. McPhearson
Veterans For Peace, Executive Director
United For Peace and Justice, Co-Chair

The next 5 weeks are very important to the anti-war and peace movements. March 19th, the 6th Commemoration of the U.S. invasion of Iraq is less than four weeks away. On March 21st, two days later comes the March on the Pentagon mobilization and then April 4th, two weeks later is the Beyond War; A New Economy is Possible mobilization on Wall Street in New York City.  This is a lot of action in a short period of time. It is as it should be. There is much to protest and much to change.

 

 
 

 

January 2010

peace5.gif

 

To All the Activist of the Anti-War and Peace and Justice Movements:
November 11, 2008

G-20: Non-Violent Activist's Relationship to those Who Use Property Damage as a Tactic
 

A few thoughts on the importance of Military Families Speak Out

peace_hand.jpg

 

 

peace21.gif

 

 

January 2010