I’ve talked to Dennis on the phone. But it’s been quite a while. He personally sent me a copy of this speech. Here’s what I have to say about it — an open letter. I hope he gets it.
Dennis:
As is true to form, your speech is breathtaking in its scope and packed with everything we need to know about what is wrong with America’s embrace of aggression and militarism.
Since I have nothing to lose, and you have everything to gain from my unsolicited critique, I’ll just give it to you straight with both barrels.
Like EVERYTHING I see coming out of articulate, recognized, widely-acclaimed, highly admired, and dedicated peace proponents like yourself, your message lacks TWO VITAL, GAME-CHANGING COMPONENTS . . .
- It doesn’t speak to the masses, the 200 million Americans we need to reach to turn things around.
-
It offers no decisive solution to the gravest threat in the history of the world — America’s out-of-control military and addiction to war.
It’s easy from the “inside” of the peace movement to think that our message is valid and powerful. It is valid in every respect, but unfortunately fails to persuade. It fails to even get noticed by the vast majority of Americans. The people we need to reach may not even know who Dennis Kucinich is, they’re so dumbed-down and brainwashed. They certainly don’t know who Gareth Porter or David Swanson are. So everything you well-meaning, informative, eloquent folks say . . . is preaching to the choir.
Why do we need these everyday Americans? Well, you said it yourself. While you were in Congress, you made proposals, you argued, you reasoned, you pleaded. What happened? You were brushed aside like dandruff. Then you were railroaded out of Congress.
I don’t know how you read this, but I know what the correct reading is . . .
THESE ASSHOLES WILL NEVER LISTEN! THEY WILL NEVER EMBRACE PEACE!
Therefore . . .
THEY MUST BE REPLACED! There has to be almost a clean sweep of Congress or the march to war and annihilation will continue.
THAT’S why we need 200 million people on our side. It’s that simple.
Are you offended yet? Are you still reading this?
SO . . . any speech, any strategy, any campaign on behalf of peace, which does not include, 1) a message for the masses, and 2) a decisive strategy for removing the warmongers from power … WILL FAIL. As long as the peace movement continues to delude itself about this, it will continue to go backwards.
I’m exhausted trying to get you to look at my Peace Dividend idea. Thank goodness, a brilliant, passionate activist just made the case for me. Here’s John R. Hall’s very recent article at The Greanville Post: http://www.greanvillepost.com/
Please read it. Think about it. I sincerely hope you want to talk more about this. I’m still available.
You have my number.
John Rachel
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