Threatening the President, Endemic Violence and the Need for the Peace Movement

            A recent post on “Addicting Info” details yet another instance of right wing sympathizers threatening the life of the President of the United States. The threat took the form of a picture depicting the lynching of President Obama, with the message that this would be “the making of an American holiday. The post was quickly removed, but not before many people following the facebook group had the opportunity to post their approval, with some suggesting that those opposed should also be lynched.

            This is not the first facebook threat made against the President, with “The Christian Militia” claiming “the authority to shoot him”. In fact, threats against the President are despairingly common, as this list from Huffington Post makes clear. In fact, the President is the most threatened man in America, regardless of political party. OK but why am I talking about this on a Veterans For Peace blog?

            The willingness to utilize violence and threats of violence to get or attempt to get what is wanted helps explain American foreign policy. Our culture is saturated in images and accounts of violence both real and imaginary. We love to imagine an answer to whatever our “problem” is that arrives and kicks the ass of anyone standing in the way of what is right. Although we see now this is especially prevalent in the right wing, the left loved the imaginary story of “Billy Jack” and many a liberal student wore t-shirts or had posters of Che Guevara. Even the now beloved Nelson Mandela was willing to use violence to oppose those who were preventing progressive change.

            As veterans, VFP has the ability to act as an example of those who have moved beyond violence. We can demonstrate to the world that change is still possible without relying on violence. History is rich with examples of successful non-violent resistance – Martin Luther King Jr. is a great American example.

            We find ourselves advocating for a cause that is sometimes (perhaps even often) out of favor with many. We ourselves face threats and occasionally active violence. If we hope we can end violence as a national policy, first we must totally repudiate and forswear violence ourselves. It is tempting to fantasize about violent solution, but they do not work. That is why there is such a need for Veterans For Peace.

Mike Davis