MARP PAGES Summer 2005

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Editorial, Summer 2005 issue of PAGES: "Looking Around Me" I tried to convince him to move on. I was "the police" and his group's permit to demonstrate at this spot — even nonviolently — had very few minutes left. We had to clear the square. "Move along!" I demanded. He looked at me kindly but suggested I clear the street of counter demonstrators so his group could leave when time was actually up. "Get moving!" I insisted. He resisted. I had never before walked in these shoes. My patience was wearing thin. The workshop leader asked us to switch roles — I became the one blocking the street. I did not like his attitude, but reached for humor to disarm him. I even smiled. He did not. "It is time to leave now!" I silently refused. Was he going to shove? But the leader was asking all of us, "How did it feel when you took on these two roles?" Those few moments of role-play set the stage as Doug Pritchard and Carol Rose told of the persistent and effective work of Christian Peacemaker Teams — currently with a group presence in four locations, Hebron, Iraq, Columbia and with native groups in Canada. The stories they told at this Charlotte seminar at the Mennonite Assembly show courage and endurance. Dangerous confrontations with violence lead team members to group prayer for renewed strength. I was struck by Carol's final words, "I am encouraged in this work. I like taking part in standing for the poor and oppressed. And I have hope. I honestly can see the time coming when the leaders of our world will choose against war for solving conflicts. Countering violence with more violence simply is not effective," insisted Carol. "I want to be part of this move toward peace." We left the workshop with Carol's hope lodged in our hearts — a hope that instructs us as we too work and speak for peace in our strangely troubled world. Jesus teaches us, "Show love to everyone — police included." — Helen L. Lapp Get the whole issue! (You'll need the FREE Adobe Reader software to open it.) Editorial Archives Spring 2005 Winter 2005 Fall 2004 Summer 2004 Spring 2004 Winter 2004 Fall 2003 Summer 2003 Spring 2003 Winter 2003 Fall 2002 Summer 2002 Spring 2002 Fall 2001 Summer 2001 Spring 2001 Winter 2001 Fall 2000 Spring 2000 Winter 2000 top Mennonite Association for Retired Persons 717-201-8391 ~ E-mail