We are the Same, but Different 1988

We are the Same, but Different 1988, originally uploaded by artist_charleentouchette.

When I painted this 20 years ago, America was in the middle of the Cold War with nuclear missiles aimed and ready to strike the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.
Today, in 2008, we are again in the middle of an insane and unjustifiable war.
Women everywhere want to nurse their babies in peace.
How can we turn the world from war and do the hard work to achieve peace with justice?
Skeptics say peace is impossible and "hippie BS".
But Dr. King said, "We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say "We must not wage war." It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace."
It may feel overwhelming. Everything feels so dark. There is so much violence, so much hate, so much resentment, much of it warranted.
But remember, a tiny match can light a room. Light and love are much more powerful than darkness and hate.
The world's energy crisis is about a lot more than oil, gas and coal.
Think about how we, as human beings use, abuse, or nurture our life energy and the life energy of other human beings and life forms.
What if each of us used less non-renewable energy each day and simultaneously did something to increase the life energy we personally generate? If we change our relationship to energy from one of thoughtless consumers to conscious generators, we could transform the world and make peace with justice a reality.
Peace is not only the goal, it is also the way.