Thank you, Alicia, for standing firm when firmness was needed, for working for consensus when consensus was appropriate, and for demonstrating the wisdom to know the difference. We wish you well as you continue your work on the Civil Rights Commission, the National Interfaith Alliance Board, and particularly as you enjoy more time enjoying your family. More than 120 people attended the October 16 reception in honor of Dr. Arun Gandhi at Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines. Passive violence is often based on religion, culture, economics or social stratification. We participate in passive violence everyday.
Passive violence fuels the fires of physical violence.
We must learn to cut off passive violence and this begins individually with each one of us. Dr. Gandhi said that politics has become dirty, critical and self-centered. Our challenge is to put pressure on politicians to move away from such approaches. We should be thinking about what is good for the world, not just America. He thinks the purpose of our military should be to help other nations rebuild, not just to fight and win wars.