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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us December 11, 2004 Peace House doesn't endorse violence By Grady Boyd, Stuart O'Neill and Linda Richards The Peace House staff In a recent Guest Forum (Dec. 8), it was alleged that the staff of Peace House supported violence, vandalism and rioting at films and nonviolence trainings attended by the author Marty Barickman. Nothing could be further from the truth. Peace House has never endorsed vandalism; to the contrary, we ask that all participants in Peace House demonstrations adhere to a nonviolence code based on six principles outlined by Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Furthermore, we're working to create a world built on respect, honesty, cooperation and justice; not one where we perceive neighbors as enemies. Barickman's assertions that Peace House is trying to "turn Ashland into a hotbed of insurgency and have Falluja on our doorstep" are mystifying and outrageous considering the founding, mission and undertakings of Peace House. For 23 years, Peace House has been a community supported-center for nonviolence, education and action. Nonviolence and compassion are the core principles that guide our organization. Our mission is to explore ways in which people can live cooperatively with one another and with the earth in a culture based on nonviolence and to serve as an advocate for alternatives to violence on a personal, community and global scale. Dr. King said, "Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." It is this spirit which guides the work of Peace House. We practice nonviolence as a way of life, with the belief that if people understand the harm or injustice of their actions, they will transform and act rightly. Our emphasis is on building reconciliation between conflicting groups by encouraging understanding of the root causes of conflicts. We bring a wealth of educational events, lectures, films and workshops to open minds, facilitate understanding and create community dialogue. We teach nonviolence skills and serve as a resource center for emerging groups and citizens in Southern Oregon. In the Gandhian spirit of self-sufficiency, Peace House hosts Uncle Food's Diner, a weekly free meal serving the homeless and hungry for over 13 years. This summer, Peace House initiated an innovative garden-to-kitchen program that teaches organic gardening skills to children in Jackson County. Our counter-military recruitment program draws from connections with veterans, students, parents and teachers creating regional network that educates and offers alternatives to youth targeted for recruitment by the military. We provide literature on military recruitment in Spanish and English to counseling offices and have done our best to educate the community on the heightened pressure of military recruitment in Oregon. Additionally, responding to frequent appeals, we have started a Conscientious Objector center at Peace House to assist young people in demonstrating their moral and ethical opposition to war and violence. Peace House has always maintained that nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people, because nonviolence defeats injustice, not people. Our tradition of nonviolence, education and action is an act of love for our community. With mounting fear and uncertainty in our collective future, many people look to Peace House to be on the forefront of the movement for peace and justice. The time for action is now. Our children are counting on us. Another world is possible. Only together can we make it real. We invite the community to learn more about our mission and work by visiting our office at 543 S. Mountain Ave. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams