On election night in 2008, people all across the world were joyful and celebrated both the election of our first African-American President and the coming end of George W. Bush’s failed presidency. With the election of President Obama, America clearly voted for change. The issue of race was also brought to center stage predominantly in a positive way. Many of us began to smile again with renewed hope and it seemed as if a soft and gentle spring breeze moved across the land.
However President Obama was greeted by an economic tsunami and the hot and destructive winds of war have continued blowing fiercely in the Middle East, raging in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Israel and Gaza exploded into horrific violence. Iraq simmered. While we remain hopeful that positive change will come and that President Obama and the new Congress will move America forward, we recognize that many of the problems are deep-seated and will require careful discernment, patience and systematic change.
Can we, the American people harness the winds of change and work constructively for our children's future? Will we begin to live up to the promise of America by honoring the U.S. Constitution? Can we achieve the long cherished goal of equality with freedom and justice for all? Will we insure freedom of speech, the right of assembly, habeas corpus and insist upon the unequviocal rennunication of torture?
We know what to do . We know how to do it. It is time to move past the fear and ignorance of the past eight years and work together work for the good of each other, our nation and our brothers and sisters, world wide. It is up to us.
This year’s conference will look at racism, the Middle East and social campaigns for non-violent transformation. Our keynote speakers include, Bruce R. Hare, Emeritus Professor from Syracuse University. He will be joined by Lawrence Davidson and Janet Amighi, members of Academics For Peace, who have traveled extensively in the Middle East and Joanne Sheehan of the War Resisters League.
The Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference has its' roots in Closing the School of the Americas/WHINSEC. Please view
No Running Water - Close the School of the Americas
Then kindly call and ask your representative to cosponsor H.R. 2567 which will help close the School of the Americas/WHINSEC.
The Congressional switchboard number is 202-224-3121. Thank you. John Amidon
For detailed information on our keynote speakers please go to our featured speakers section.
Workshops and lunch are included.
Please join us on August 14 and 15, 2009 in Fonda, NY.