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Inner Art – August 2007
DennisKucinich: Raising America’s Consciousness for Peace
by James Anthony Ellis
Imagine a gathering of 300 people in an elegant and harmonious North County San Diego estate, designed according to Deepak Chopra’s philosophies. In every room, on grand display, a mostly vegetarian “Conscious Cuisine” which includes tzatziki, fruit, mini-cakes, tartlets and two types of hummus. Then an invocation is called forth that “the doves of peace (will) reach you and heal you.” Finally, a pristinely delivered song of hope: Somewhere over the Rainbow.
This may not be your typical presidential campaign brunch, but then again Dennis Kucinich is not your typical presidential candidate.
Hosted by a number of local progressive individuals and organizations and organized by Jeeni Criscenzo of Oceanside, the special fund raising brunch “Raising America’s Consciousness for Peace,” August 12, 2007 at the Chopra Center for Living, showcased U.S. Congressman and Democratic Presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich and his wife Elizabeth.
Strolling and mingling with those gathered and speaking formally for 15 minutes, Kucinich’s message was clear: The United States needs to change its political course quickly.
“We cannot afford to continue to use war as an instrument of power,” he said. “There is a new world ready to call forward. And that world is one where we achieve strength through peace. We need a president who understands and comprehends the world as one, not America above but an America among nations.”
The congressman––who has on separate occasions submitted legislation to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney and to establish a Department of Peace––outlined his “Strength Through Peace” campaign at the morning event. It focuses mainly on:
- Coming from an awareness of human unity and a world being interconnected.
- Reaching out and negotiating with other nations’ leaders directly.
- Adherence of international laws.
- The abolishment of nuclear weapons.
- The reduction of dependency on non-sustainable resources of energy.
- The establishment––through joined efforts with the global community––of environment-saving wind, solar and “green” technology.
- The protection of the U.S. Constitution, which “enshrines” the First Amendment.
- The return of the public’s basic civil liberties, as his “justice department will come knock down that Patriot Act."
- The responsibility we all share to find a place of peace inside ourselves that can create the world of peace on the outside.
Mistress of Ceremonies at the August 12 event was Southern California television personality Bree Walker. She believes Kucinich is the only hopeful candidate. “Dennis gives the essence of humanity versus corporatism, and that’s where we either meet the eve of destruction or we meet the moment of Nirvana,” Walker stated. Organizer Criscenzo was pleased with the results of the fund raiser. “These events energize people,” she said. “We realize that we are not alone in our dream for a new America. The kind of world that Dennis describes in his speech is in all of our hearts.”
Does Dennis Kucinich represent the new politics to come?
One can only hope … and pray.
For information, see www.socal4kucinich.com or e-mail jeeni@kucinich.us.