An anniversary to celebrate: 95 years of FOR-USA

Today, December 31st, 2010, is the U.S. Fellowship of Reconciliation’s 95th birthday. I’m devoted to FOR’s rag-tag companions of strong, broken, zealous, tepid, troubled, and calming hearts. We try to fulfill Joan Baez’s definition: “nonviolence is just organized love.” We see what love will do in intolerable situations — within ourselves, our families, and our neighbors (whether they be down the street or across the world). We keep our hearts open and expanding when we’re tempted to hate or reject. And, we fail. Time and again, we fail. And, we keep at it. For 95 years, we’ve met with just enough success to keep together and inspired and working for Peace & Justice.

Basically, we operate on the assumption that if U.S. tax dollars can be used around the world to fund wars, keep people impoverished, and suppress dissent, then, by golly, our love and creativity can be used to do just the opposite around the world. If U.S. tax dollars don’t stop at the borders, then, our love will cross borders, too.

FOR campaigned for this past U.N. Decade for Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World — ending today. Let’s renew it in our hearts!

Read of FOR-USA’s history in Paul Dekar’s book, Creating the Beloved Community (available from FOR), and in the collection of Fellowship magazine articles about aspects of nonviolence, Peace Is the Way. Fellowship is FOR-USA’s quarterly journal that explores the tragedies of society and how the ways of Love and Peace and Justice heal people and neighborhoods and nations suffering these tragedies. I read Fellowship with hope renewed in the power of love to right wrongs. Fellowship reports news that rarely gets reported by mainstream media. Redefine what’s news and see what people are doing for Peace & Justice: read Fellowship magazine. It’s a $40 annual investment in real news and hope and inspiration and empowerment. Contact the Fellowship of Reconciliation: 845-358-4601; www.forusa.org; P.O. Box 271, Nyack, NY 10960; for@forusa.org.

This afternoon from 3-5 p.m., S.E. U.S. Peace activists will vigil at the gates of Kings Bay trident submarine base, St. Marys, Georgia, about 45 minutes away from the Geiger farm here on the northside of Jacksonville, Florida. My father, Al, and I will bring with us signs. My favorites are: “If Peace is subversive, in God’s name, what is war?” and “Put down the sword. — Jesus”.

Wendy Clarissa Geiger is a peace activist and FOR member living in Jacksonville, Florida.