Congratulations to all the Kauai candidates who recently ran a peaceful election campaign.
And to Derek, Mason, Arryl, Luke, Ross, KipuKai, Arthur and Felicia: I encourage you to continue focusing on servant leadership, seeking the best and highest good for all on Kauai.
There is another matter I would like to address since the 100th anniversary of Veterans’ (Armistice) Day has just concluded, remembering all the 40 million military and civilian casualties from World War I.
Please consider a more balanced approach to honoring our veterans with honoring those civilians who work daily for peace and nonviolence.
My husband served in the military. We all agree that the military and law enforcement officers seek peace in our communities, but so do those women and men who consistently serve to de-escalate violence in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, businesses.
In 1793, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, first proposed the establishment of a national Department of Peace. Since then many have urged creation of a U.S. Department of Peace, which would serve communities as an umbrella to ensure that resources are available to educate people about ways to change from violence to nonviolence.
I see those efforts in place here on Kauai. However, more is needed to support those dedicated individuals whose goal is harmony and healing throughout our island, which can serve as a model for the rest of Kauai and the world.
The financial benefits of embracing peaceful communities is staggering, considering the cost of incarceration, and the Defense Department’s budget, the highest in the world. Imagine if every country eliminated their militaries like Costa Rica did, and instead put those billions of dollars into caring for the communities.
After World War II ended in a devastated Japan, a teacher and philosopher named Mr. Goi penned the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” which became the iconic phrase we see on Peace Poles all over Kauai, and the planet.
At a time when our military is proposing even more training exercises on Hawaii, I ask: “Why not more peacekeeping exercises on Kauai and the rest of our beloved state?”
So I propose that in 2019 when the next Veterans’ Day or even Memorial Day occurs, that the community begins to annually honor the military and many lay peacekeepers side by side, in parades and where we shop, work, pray.
This shift in consciousness will give humanity the opportunity to evolve to a more advanced form of nonviolent species.
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Terry Donovan Mansfield is a resident of Kapaa and co-founder and CEO of the Arizona Department of Peace Campaign.
