It has been awhile since I have written about things I see in the gay news and this just caught my eye as such a chance to use creative nonviolence to make a point. It would seem anti-gay activist and founder of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality’s Peter LaBarbera is going to take a shot at political office. He is running for Republican State Central Committeeman for the 13 Congressional District of Illinois. I admire his use of the democratic system by running and hope GLBT folks do the same. I would love to see Peter running against a gay or lesbian opponent.
Of course, part of his campaign platform is based on his opposition to equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and anyone else who doesn’t fit into his view of pro-family. I couldn’t help but think wow, this is such a great opportunity for some creative nonviolence in action. The possibilities of how to turn this into something more positive are endless. For starters, any actions taken needs to respect Mr. LaBarbera’s humanity regardless of how he sees us as GLBT citizens. Attacking the message is really all that’s needed here. Mr. LaBarbera does have children and I have no desire for those kids to see hurtful stuff in the news about their dad. It is not the kids’ fault their dad chooses to be so outspoken against GLBT folks.
At the end of the day, Peter and I share some of the same human values. We both care about family, security, spirituality, stability for our country, and many other things. Where we differ is on the strategies to meet those human needs. I personally don’t ever want to lose sight of this in others regardless if they are unable or unwilling to see it in me.
Back to my idea, I love the idea of turning his campaign into a pro-GLBT event. Here are some of my ideas of how to make it work:
- Let’s hold a LaBarberathon…..we could raise money for GLBT youth by collecting donations for everyday he stays in the race or how about we get people to donate $5 for every time he says “homosexual agenda” in a speech.
- We could do a silent protest of all his campaign events, press conferences and speeches while carrying signs with some of his more colorful quotes about GLBT folks and just refusing to talk (tribute to a Day of Silence). When people ask protesters to speak they can hand out cards that say why they are remaining silent. I think many would find that the mean-spirited things he has said about gays and lesbians don’t match up with the picture they know to be true from their GLBT friends, relatives, co-workers, etc. While he makes us out as monsters he also hurts and offends those with connections to the gay community. Bring his words into the light of day.
- We could also start a Political Action Committee and call it “Leatherman for LaBarbera” and collect money for his opponent.
Principles of Creative Nonviolence
- Creative Nonviolence acknowledges, repairs, and transforms the infinite relatedness and unity of all life.
- Injustice depends on either active or passive support (resulting from silence, indifference or fear). Violence is any personal, interpersonal, institutional or systemic act, attitude or policy that dehumanizes, diminishes or destroys. It thrives by passive or active support. Creative nonviolence is the process of transforming this support for injustice by mobilizing and unleashing nonviolent people power.
- Each of us has a piece of the truth and the un-truth. Creative Nonviolence is a process of acknowledging and revealing the pieces of truth and untruth on both sides in a conflict as the basis for a just and constructive solution. Creative Nonviolence seeks the truth rather than the conquest of one side over another.
- Creative Nonviolence is the process of transforming Us vs. Them thought and action.
- Creative nonviolence unifies rather than threatens; integrates rather than fragments and destroys; draws us closer rather than excluding and separating; and challenges all double standards.
- Creative Nonviolence recognizes that each of us has tendencies toward both violence and love. It maintains, as Alexander Solzhenitsyn put it, “The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” Each of us has only a piece of the truth, and therefore each of us possesses a piece of the un-truth. Creative nonviolence fails when it is arrogant or self-righteous, especially when it claims to be free of violence, or when it asserts that only others are violent.
- Creative Nonviolence is stronger than the Power of Violence, which is a destructive force designed to defeat and dominate others and that often seeks to separate “us” from “them.” Creative Nonviolence, for this reason, disputes the claim that violence establishes peace, justice and order in any just and lasting way.
- Creative Nonviolence pursues its goal, not with passivity or retaliation, but with creative engagement and loving resistance. It willingly faces the consequences of its engagement and resistance.
- Creative Nonviolence is nurtured and strengthened by community, relationship-building, ongoing education, and practice. It requires training and experience in love, courage, creativity, and relentless persistence. This includes examining and transforming the ways that violence and injustice has been consciously or unconsciously internalized.
- Creative Nonviolence is not a path toward an idealistic utopia but a process for envisioning, weaving, mending, and honoring the web of personal, interpersonal, social, global and ecological relationships. The spirit and methods of Creative Nonviolence are suited to this ongoing creation and re-creation of the world.
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