Momwe ndidakhalira Woyimira Mtendere ndi a David Swanson

Ndi David Swanson, World BEYOND War, July 12, 2020

Ndinalemba izi mu 2017.

Chidule cha izi ndi: Pazifukwa zina sindimakonda kuvomereza mabodza ndi zopanda pake kuchokera kwa anthu aulamuliro, ndipo zimandisiya ndikuwona nkhondo ngati chinthu choyipa kwambiri.

Mtundu wautali, poyankha zopempha zankhani yanu, ndi:

Pamene ndinali kudziphunzitsa ndekha momwe ndiyenera kulemba, pamene ndinali pafupi ndi 20 mpaka 25, ndinatulutsa (ndi kutaya kunja) mitundu yonse ya autobiographies. Ndinalemba zolemba zaulemerero. Ndinalankhula zabodza ndi anzanga. Ndimalembabe ndondomeko nthawi zonse munthu woyamba. Ndinalemba buku la ana m'zaka zaposachedwa zomwe zinali zongopeka koma zidaphatikizapo mwana wanga wamwamuna wamkulu ndi mchemwali wanga ndi mphwake monga zilembo. Koma sindinakhudze mbiri yakale kwa zaka zambiri kuposa momwe ndinkakhalire ndi moyo.

Ndapemphedwa kangapo kuti ndilembe mitu ya mabuku pa "momwe ndinakhalira wolimbikira mtendere." Nthawi zina, ndangopepesa ndikudandaula kuti sindingathe. Kwa buku limodzi lotchedwa Chifukwa Chiyani Mtendere, lokonzedwanso ndi Marc Guttman, ndinalemba chaputala chaching'ono kwambiri chotchedwa "Chifukwa Chiyani Ndili Wotsutsa Mtendere? Nchifukwa chiyani Inu simunayambe? "Mfundo yanga inali kwenikweni kufotokoza kukwiya kwanga komwe angafunikire kufotokoza ntchito kuti athetse chinthu choipitsitsa pa dziko lapansi, pamene anthu mamiliyoni ambiri omwe sakugwira ntchito kuti athetse iwo sakuyenera kupereka kufotokozera khalidwe lawo lolakwa.

Nthawi zambiri ndimalankhula m'magulu amtendere ndi makoleji ndi makonzedwe okhudza mtendere, ndipo nthawi zambiri ndimafunsidwa kuti ndakhala wotetezera mtendere, ndipo nthawi zonse ndimatsutsa funsoli, osati chifukwa yankho laling'ono kwambiri koma chifukwa ndi lalifupi kwambiri. Ndine wotetezera mtendere chifukwa misa-yopha ndi yoopsa. Kodi iwe ukutanthauza chiyani kuti iwe ndiwe wotetezera mtendere?

Malo angawa ndi osamvetseka pa zifukwa zingapo. Chifukwa chimodzi, ndine wokhulupirira wamphamvu pakufunikira kwa anthu ambiri opanga mtendere. Ngati tingaphunzirepo kanthu ponena za momwe anthu akhala olimbikitsa mtendere, ife bwino tikuyenera kuphunzira ndi kugwiritsa ntchito maphunzirowa. Chisokonezo changa cha momwe bungwe lamtendere limathera, kupatulapo nyukiliya yotsirizira, kutha kwa mgwirizano wamtendere kumatha pamene wogwira ntchito yamtendere womaliza atenga Alzheimer's. Ndipo ndithudi ndikuwopa kukhala wotsutsa mtendere. Ndipo ndithudi ndizochita misala ngati pali anthu ochita mtendere kwambiri kuposa ine, makamaka otsutsa nkhondo za Israeli omwe sali kwenikweni pa nkhondo za US pano. Koma ine sindimadzipeza ndekha pakati pa wamng'ono kwambiri mu chipinda. Gulu la mtendere la ku United States lidali lolamulidwa ndi anthu omwe adayamba kugwira nawo ntchito pa nkhondo ya US ku Vietnam. Ndinakhala wotetezera mtendere pa zifukwa zinanso, ngakhale atakopeka ndi okalamba kwambiri kuposa ineyo. Ngati gulu la mtendere la 1960s liwoneka lokoma kwa ine, kodi timapanga motani kuti lero ndi zokongola kwa iwo omwe sanabadwe? Funso lothandiza limeneli limayambira nthawi zambiri ndikufunitsitsa kufufuza nkhaniyi.

Chinthu china, ndine wokhulupirira wamphamvu mu mphamvu ya chilengedwe chowongolera anthu. Sindinabadwire kulankhula Chingerezi kapena kuganiza chilichonse chimene ndikuganiza tsopano. Ndinachokera ku chikhalidwe chozungulira ine. Komabe, nthawi zina ndakhala ndikuganiza kuti chirichonse chimene chinandipangitsa kukhala wolimbikira mtendere chinali mwa ine pa kubadwa ndipo sichikonda ena. Sindinachitepo nkhondo. Ndilibe Saulo panjira yopita ku Damasiko. Ndinali ndi ubwana wam'mudzi wakumidzi wa ku United States mofanana kwambiri ndi anzanga ndi anansi anga, ndipo palibe mmodzi wa iwo amene adatha kukhala amtendere - ine ndekha. Ndinatenga zinthu zomwe amauza mwana aliyense za kuyesera kuti dziko likhale malo abwino kwambiri. Ndinapeza makhalidwe a Carnegie Endowment for Peace, osakayikira, ngakhale sindinamvepo za bungwe limenelo, bungwe lomwe silingagwire ntchito yake. Koma idakhazikitsidwa kuti athetse nkhondo, ndiyeno kuti adziwe chinthu chachiwiri choipa kwambiri padziko lapansi ndikugwira ntchito kuthetseratu. Kodi njira ina iliyonse ingakhale yotani?

Koma anthu ambiri omwe amavomereza nane pazimenezi ndi owonetsa zachilengedwe. Ndipo ambiri a iwo samanyalanyaza nkhondo ndi usilikali monga chifukwa chachikulu cha chiwonongeko cha chilengedwe. Ndichoncho chifukwa chiyani? Kodi sindinakhale bwanji wotsutsa zachilengedwe? Kodi kayendetsedwe ka zachilengedwe kanakula motani mpaka panopa mphamvu yakupatulira kuti iwononge zonse koma tsoka lachilengedwe?

Ngati ndikukhala wotetezera mtendere ndikuwoneka bwino kwa ine, kodi ndikanatani kuti ndikwanitse mwana wanga? Ndipo ngati izo zikuwoneka zomveka kwa ine, bwanji izo zinanditengera ine mpaka ine nditakhala 33 kuti ndichite izo? Nanga bwanji ndikukumana ndi anthu nthawi zonse omwe angagwire ntchito ngati akatswiri ochita mtendere ngati wina atangowapatsa ntchitoyo? Heck, ndikulembera anthu tsopano kuti azigwira ntchito monga anthu olimbikitsa mtendere, koma pali olemba 100 omwe aliyense akulipidwa. Kodi si mbali ya yankho chifukwa chake gulu la mtendere liri lakale, anthu opuma pantchito ali ndi nthawi yogwira ntchito kwaulere? Ndipo sili gawo la funso la momwe ndinakhalira wamtetezi wamtendere kwenikweni funso la momwe ndinadziwira kuti wina akhoza kulipidwa, komanso momwe ndinathekera kukhala mmodzi mwa anthu ang'onoang'ono omwe amachita?

Kuyanjana kwanga ndi 1960s kunali mwezi wathunthu, monga ine ndinabadwa pa December 1, 1969, pamodzi ndi aphati anga, ku New York City, kwa makolo omwe anali a Church of Messiah mlaliki ndi wogwira ntchito ku tchalitchi ku Ridgefield , New Jersey, ndi amene anakumana ku Union Theological Seminary. Iwo adachoka ku mabanja okondwerera ku Wisconsin ndi Delaware, mwana yekhayo wa ana atatu kuti asamukire kutali ndi kwawo. Iwo adathandizira za ufulu wa anthu ndi ntchito zawo. Bambo anga anasankha kukhala ku Harlem, ngakhale kuti nthawi zina ankagula katundu wake kwa anthu amene anaba. Iwo anasiya mpingo kutchalitchi ndi mthupi, kuchoka kunja kwa nyumba yomwe inkayenda ndi ntchito, pamene ine ndi mlongo wanga tinali awiri. Tinasamukira ku tawuni yatsopano mumzinda wakumidzi, Washington, DC, yomwe idangomangidwanso monga woyendetsa, woyenda pansi, wotchedwa Reston, Virginia. Makolo anga adalowa mu mpingo wa Christian Science. Iwo adasankha Jesse Jackson. Iwo anadzipereka. Iwo amagwira ntchito pokhala makolo abwino koposa, ndikupambana ndikuganiza. Ndipo iwo ankagwira ntchito mwakhama kuti azipeza zofunika pamoyo, ndipo bambo anga atakhazikitsa malonda ogulitsa nyumba, ndipo amayi anga akulemba mapepala. Pambuyo pake, bambo anga adzakhala woyang'anira ndipo amayi anga alemba malipoti okhudza ogula nyumba zatsopano. Anakakamiza omanga kukonza zolakwa zambiri zomwe makampani amayamba kulembera m'makalata awo omwe anthu angayang'ane ndi wina aliyense osati bambo anga. Tsopano makolo anga amagwira ntchito ngati makochi a anthu omwe ali ndi vuto losokonezeka maganizo, limene bambo anga adzipeza kuti anali nalo moyo wake wonse.

Ndikudziwa kuti anthu ambiri amaganiza kuti Christian Science ndi yopenga. Sindinayambe ndakupiza, ndipo makolo anga adatsitsa zaka zambiri zapitazo. Nthawi yoyamba yomwe ndinamva za lingaliro lakuti atheism, ine ndinaganiza, "Chabwino, eya, ndithudi." Koma ngati inu muyesera kumvetsa za mulungu wamphamvuzonse wodalitsika ndi kukhalapo kwa choyipa, inu muyenera kuti mwina (1) ndikusiya kuti izi zisamveke bwino, monga momwe anthu ambiri amadziwira ndi chipembedzo china, nthawi zambiri amakana imfa, kukondwerera kubadwa kwa namwali, ndi kukhulupirira zinthu zamtundu uliwonse kuposa chiphunzitso cha Christian Science kuphatikizapo kuti wamphamvuzonse alenga nkhondo ndi njala ndi matenda, kapena (2) amanena kuti zoipa sizilipo, komanso kuti maso anu ayenera kukunyengani, monga momwe asayansi akuyesera kuchita, ndi zotsutsana zamtundu uliwonse, zopambana pang'ono, ndi zotsatira zoopsa, kapena ( 3) zoposa zaka zikwizikwi zapadziko lapansi zokhudzana ndi chiwonetsero cha chilengedwe chomwe sichisamala kwenikweni.

Izi ndizo phunziro kuchokera ku chitsanzo cha makolo anga, ndikuganiza: khalani olimba mtima koma owolowa manja, yesetsani kupanga dziko kukhala malo abwinoko, kunyamula ndi kuyamba pomwe mukufunikira, yesetsani kumvetsetsa zinthu zofunika kwambiri, khalani ndi maganizo abwino ndikuyesera khalani okondwa, ndipo khalani ndi chikondi kwa ana anu patsogolo pa zinthu zina (kuphatikizapo patsogolo pa Christian Science: gwiritsani ntchito chithandizo chamankhwala ngati mukufunikiradi, ndikuchilingalira monga mukufunikira).

Banja langa ndi abwenzi apamtima ndi achibale anga sanali achimuna kapena olimbikitsa mtendere, kapena ena ochita zionetsero. Koma chigawenga chinali ponseponse m'dera la DC komanso pa nkhani. Makolo a abwenzi anali kugwira ntchito kwa asilikali ndi a Veterans Administration ndi bungwe lomwe siliyenera kutchulidwa. Mwana wamkazi wa Oliver North anali ku sukulu yanga ya sekondale ku Herndon, ndipo adalowa m'kalasi kuti atichenjeze za vuto la Commie ku Nicaragua. Pambuyo pake tinamuyang'ana iye akuchitira umboni za zovuta zake pamaso pa Congress. Kumvetsa kwanga za zolakwikazo kunali kochepa kwambiri. Kukhumudwitsa kwake kwakukulu kunkawoneka ngati kukhala ndi ndalama zopanda malipiro podzitetezera kunyumba kwake ku Great Falls kumene abwenzi anga omwe anali ndi maphwando ozizira kwambiri ankakhala.

Pamene ndinali m'kalasi yachitatu, ine ndi mchimwene wanga tinayesedwa mu dongosolo la "luso lapamwamba" kapena GT, lomwe linali funso lalikulu loti tikhale ndi makolo abwino komanso osakhala osayankhula. Ndipotu sukulu itatipatsa mayesero, mlongo wanga adapita ndipo sindinatero. Kotero makolo anga anandipatsa wina kuti andipatse mayeso, ndipo ine ndinadutsa. Pa kalasi yachinayi tinakwera basi pa ola pamodzi ndi ana onse a GT a Reston. Kwachisanu ndichisanu ndi chimodzi, tinapita ku sukulu ya GT ku sukulu yatsopano ku mbali ina ya Reston. Ndinkakonda kukhala ndi anzanga a kusukulu ndi anzanga apamtima. Pa kalasi yachisanu ndi chiwiri tinapita ku sukulu yatsopano ya Reston, pamene abwenzi anga apita ku Herndon. Chaka chimenecho chinali, ndikuganiza, zonse zotsutsana ndi maphunziro abwino a sukulu 4-6, komanso malo osokoneza bongo kwa mwana wamng'ono. Kwa sukulu yachisanu ndi chitatu ndinayesa sukulu yapadera, ngakhale kuti inali yachikhristu ndipo ine sindinali. Icho sichinali chabwino. Choncho kusukulu ya sekondale ndinabwereranso ndi abwenzi anga ku Herndon.

Ponseponse maphunzirowa, mabuku athu a malemba anali ngati amitundu komanso amtundu wankhondo monga momwe zilili. Ndikuganiza kuti anali m'kalasi lachisanu kapena lachisanu ndi chimodzi omwe ana ena adachita pulogalamu ya talente yomwe inadziwika zaka zambiri pambuyo pake ndi Senator John McCain: "Bomba la bomba, bomba la ku Bomb Iran!" Kwa anzanga akusukulu, panalibe kutsutsidwa kapena osakondwera, osati kuti ndinamva. Panalibe zilembo zachikasu pamtengo kwa anthu osauka. Ndili ndi ntchito yanga yambiri kusukulu, kuphatikizapo malipoti omwe amalemekeza anthu monga George Rogers Clark. Koma ndi nkhani ya anthu ovutika ndi nkhondo omwe ndinalemba, ndi British Redcoats ngati ochita zoipa, ndi zina zomwe zikuphatikizapo kupha mbumba ya banja, ndikukumbukira ndikupempha ndemanga kuchokera kwa mphunzitsi wanga wachisanu kuti ndikhale wolemba.

Chimene ndinkafuna kuti ndikhale mwinamwake wokonza mapulani kapena mapulani a tauni, wokonza Reston wabwino, woyambitsa nyumba yemwe sakanamanga. Koma sindinaganizirepo pang'ono zomwe ndiyenera kukhala. Ndinali ndi lingaliro lochepa kuti ana ndi akulu anali ofanana mitundu ndi kuti tsiku lina ine ndidzakhala wina. Ngakhale kuti ndinapita kusukulu ku umodzi mwa zigawo zapamwamba kwambiri m'dzikolo, ndimaganiza kuti zambiri mwazo zinali manyowa. Maphunziro anga apamwamba anatsika mosavuta pamene ndinali kusukulu ya sekondale. Zophweka zinandipweteka. Maphunziro a AP (maphunziro apamwamba) adandipweteka ndikusowa ntchito yambiri kusiyana ndi ineyo. Ndinkakonda maseŵera, koma ndinali wamng'ono kwambiri kuti ndisapikisane pazinthu zambiri, kupatula kumudzi komwe ndikukwera masewera kumene ndingasankhe malinga ndi mbiri osati maonekedwe. Sindinatsirize kukula mpaka nditatha sukulu ya sekondale, yomwe ndinatsiriza ku 17 mu 1987.

Kuzindikira kwanga pazaka izi za kupanga nkhondo za ku US ndi kuyambitsa ndi kulimbikitsa anthu ku Latin America kunali kosavomerezeka. Ndinamvetsetsa kuti kuli Cold War, ndipo Soviet Union kukhala malo owopsya okhalamo, koma a Russia omwe ndimamvetsa kuti ali ngati inu ndi ine, ndipo Cold War yokha idzakhala chakudya (ndi chomwe Sting adanena mu nyimbo yake Anthu a ku Russia). Ndinawona kanema wa Gandhi. Ndikuganiza kuti ndimadziwa kuti Henry Thoreau anakana kubweza misonkho. Ndipo ine ndithudi ndinkamvetsa kuti mu makumi asanu ndi limodzi anthu ozizira ankatsutsa nkhondo ndipo anali wolondola. Ndinadziwa Bulu Lofiira la Kulimbika. Ndinadziŵa kuti nkhondo inali yoopsa. Koma ndinalibe lingaliro la zomwe zinalepheretsa kutha kwa nkhondo zambiri.

Ndili ndi zifukwa zilizonse - kubereka koyambirira kapena zovuta zowonongeka - zinthu zingapo zofunika mudekha langa. Chimodzi chinali kumvetsetsa kwa ana ambiri padziko lonse kuti chiwawa ndi choipa. Enanso inali yowopsya yofuna kusasinthasintha ndi kulemekeza kwathunthu ulamuliro. Kotero, ngati chiwawa chinali choipa kwa ana, zinali zoipa kwa maboma. Ndipo, zokhudzana ndi izi, ndinali ndi kudzikuza kapena kudzidalira kwathunthu kumatha kwanga kukwanitsa kulingalira zinthu, ngakhale makhalidwe abwino. Pamwamba pa mndandandanda wanga wa maonekedwe anali oona mtima. Adakali okongola pamwamba apo.

Nkhondo sinabwere zambiri. Pa televizioni izo zinasonyezedwa mkati MASH. Nthaŵi ina tinali ndi mlendo anabwera kudzatithamangitsa kunja kwa tauni komwe ankafuna makamaka kupita ku Naval Academy ku Annapolis. Kotero, ife tinamutenga iye, ndipo iye ankakonda izo. Tsiku linali litalowa dzuwa. Sitimayo inali kunja. Chitsulo cha USS Maine anadzikuza ngati chiwonetsero chachinyengo, ngakhale kuti sindinadziwe chomwe chinali. Ndinangodziwa kuti ndikuyendera malo okongola, okondweretsa kumene amapangidwira kwambiri pophunzitsa anthu kuti aphedwe. Ndinayamba kudwala ndipo ndinkagona pansi.

Chomwe chinali ndi zotsatira zazikulu kwambiri, ndikuganiza, ndikuganiza za ndondomeko yachilendo, ndikupita kwinakwake. Ndinali ndi mphunzitsi wa Chilatini wotchedwa Mrs. Sleeper yemwe anali pafupi zaka 180 ndipo ankakhoza kuphunzitsa Kilatini kwa kavalo. Gulu lake linali lodzaza ndi kuseka, chizindikiro chochokera kwa iye ngati kukankha chiguduli ngati tinayiwala mlanduwu, ndi machenjezo akuti "tempus is fugitting!" Iye anatenga gulu lathu ku Italy kwa milungu ingapo yachinyamata. Ife tonse tinakhala ndi wophunzira wa ku Italy ndi banja lawo ndikupita ku sukulu ya sekondale ya ku Italy. Kukhala kanthawi kwinakwake ndi chinenero china, ndipo kuyang'ana mmbuyo kumalo ako omwe kuchokera kunja kumayenera kukhala gawo la maphunziro onse. Palibe chofunika kwambiri, ndikuganiza. Mapulogalamu osinthana a ophunzira amapindula ndi thandizo limene tingapeze.

Ine ndi mkazi wanga tiri ndi ana aamuna awiri, pafupifupi 12, pafupifupi 4. Wamng'ono wapanga makina oganiza omwe amachitcha kuti nexter. Mukusankha, ponyani mabatani ena, ndipo imakuuzani zomwe muyenera kuchita. Zimathandiza kwambiri tsiku lonse. Mwinamwake ndikadaphunzira kusukulu ya sekondale, ndimayenera kukhala ndi nexter. Sindinadziwe kuti ndichite chiyani kenako. Kotero, ine ndinabwerera ku Italy kwa chaka chonse chokhala wophunzira kusinthanitsa kudzera mu Rotary Club. Apanso, chochitikacho chinali chamtengo wapatali. Ndinapangabe anzanga a ku Italy, ndipo ndabwereranso kangapo. Ndinapanganso mabwenzi ndi amerika omwe anaikidwa kumeneko pamsasa wa asilikali omwe kukula kwawo kwandibwereranso zaka zotsutsa. Ndinadumphira sukulu, ndipo amatha kudumpha asilikali aliwonse mumzinda wokhala ndi mtendere wamtendere, ndipo timapita ku Alps. Mnzanga wina wa ku Italy, yemwe sindinawonepo kuyambira nthawi imeneyo, anali panthawi yophunzira zomangamanga ku Venice, ndipo ndimayimiranso. Nditabwerera ku US ndinapempha kuti ndipite ku sukulu ya zomangamanga.

Panthawi imeneyo (1988) amzanga ambiri adachoka pamakilomita aŵiri apamwamba akuphunzira zotsatira za kumwa mowa kwambiri. Ena anali atathamangira kale ku koleji. Ena omwe adapeza maphunziro abwino kusekondale ankaphunzira mwakhama. Mmodzi anali kuyembekezera kulowa usilikali. Palibe amene adakopeka ndi ndondomeko ya kayendetsedwe ka mtendere ya mabiliyoni-dollar yomwe inalibe.

Ndinachita sukulu ya zomangamanga ku Charlotte, North Carolina, ndipo chaka ndi theka ndikuganiza ku Pratt Institute ku Brooklyn, New York. Zakale zinali ndi sukulu yabwino kwambiri. Yachiwiriyo inali kutali kwambiri ndi malo ochititsa chidwi. Koma chidwi changa chinapita ku kuwerenga, monga kale. Ndinawerenga mabuku, filosofi, ndakatulo, mbiri. Ndinkanyalanyaza luso lokonza zamakhalidwe abwino, zomwe sizikanatheka kuti nyumba iliyonse ikhale yolimba. Ndinasiya, ndinasamukira ku Manhattan, ndipo ndinadziphunzitsa ndekha zomwe ndinayamba kuti ndikhale maphunziro apamwamba sans maphunziro, othandizidwa ndi makolo anga. The First Gulf War zinachitika panthawiyi, ndipo ndinalowa nawo maumboni kunja kwa United Nations popanda kuganizira nkhaniyi. Izo zinkawoneka ngati chinthu choyenera, chitukuko choti uchite. Ine ndinalibe lingaliro la zomwe munthu angachite kupyola izo. Patapita kanthawi ndinasamukira ku Alexandria, Virginia. Ndipo pamene ndinkataya malingaliro, ndinayambiranso zomwe ndinachita kale: Ndinapita ku Italy.

Choyamba ndinabwerera ku New York City ndipo ndinatenga maphunziro a mwezi umodzi ndikuphunzitsa Chingerezi ngati chinenero chachiwiri kwa akuluakulu. Ndili ndi kalata yochipatala kuchokera ku yunivesite ya Cambridge, yomwe sindinafikepo pamoyo wanga. Imeneyi inali mwezi wokondweretsa kwambiri omwe anakhala ndi aphunzitsi ndi a Chingerezi ochokera kudziko lonse lapansi. Pasanapite nthawi ine ndinali ku Roma ndikugogoda pazitseko za sukulu za Chingerezi. Izi zinalipo kale ku EU. Kuti ndipeze ntchito, sindinasowe kuchita chilichonse chimene A European sakanakhoza kuchita. Sindinkayenera kukhala ndi visa kuti ndikakhaleko, osati ndi khungu loyera komanso pasipoti ya US isanafike-nkhondo. Ndinangoyenera kuyankhulana popanda kuoneka wamanyazi kapena wamanjenje. Izo zinanditengera ine kuyesera kochepa.

Pambuyo pake, ndinapeza kuti ndikhoza kukhala ndi anthu ogona nawo, kugwira ntchito nthawi yayitali kapena pang'ono, ndikudzipereka ndikuwerenga ndi kulemba m'Chingelezi ndi Chitaliyana. Chomwe chimandidzetsa kumbuyo kwathu, kubwerera ku Reston, sichinali, ndikuganiza, chosowa cholowera ku chinthu china chofunikira kwambiri monga kusowa kosakhala mlendo. Monga momwe ndimakonda ndikukondabe Europe, monga momwe ndimakonda ndi kukonda Amalia, monga mndandanda womwe ndimatha kuchita zinthu zomwe ndimakhulupirira zikuchitika bwino kusiyana ndi pano, monga momwe ndinapangidwira kulankhula mosalankhula, komanso monga Ndinapindula kwambiri ndi anzanga ochokera ku Ethiopia ndi Eritrea omwe ankazunzidwa kwambiri ndi apolisi, ndinali wodalirika ku Italy nthawi zonse.

Izi zinandipatsa kumvetsetsa za moyo wa anthu othawa kwawo komanso othawa kwawo, monga momwe ophunzira osinthira kusukulu yanga (komanso kukhala wophunzira wosinthana nawo kunja) adachita. Kuchitidwa ngati 13 wazaka zakubadwa pamene ndinali 18, ndi 15 wazaka zakubadwa pamene ndinali 20, chifukwa chakuti ndinayang'ana monga choncho, anandipatsa tsankho pang'ono. Ndinakhumudwa ndi anthu ena a ku America ku Brooklyn omwe ndimakhulupirira kuti sindinachitepo nkhanza zothandizira. Mipukutu ya ma buku ndi masewero amene ndinawerenga, komabe, ndiyo njira yoyamba kutsegulira maso anga kuzinthu zambiri, kuphatikizapo anthu ambiri padziko lapansi amene adapeza zinthu zoipitsitsa kusiyana ndi zomwe ndinali nazo.

Ziyenera kuti zinali zosachedwa 1993 pamene ndinali kubwerera ku Virginia. Makolo anga ankafuna malo m'dzikolo kumanga nyumba ndikusamukira. Utopia yakhala yosakanikirana. Reston wakhala akupanga zida zankhondo, makampani a makompyuta, ndi makondomu amtunda apamwamba, ndi sitimayi ya Metro yomwe imamangidwira kwina kulikonse, monga momwe adanenera kwa zaka makumi awiri. Ndinapempha malo a Charlottesville. Ndinkafuna kuphunzira zafilosofi ndi Richard Rorty yemwe ankaphunzitsa ku yunivesite ya Virginia. Makolo anga anagula malo pafupi nawo. Ndinabwereka nyumba pafupi. Anandipatsa ine kudula mitengo, kumanga mipanda, kusunthira dothi, ndi zina zotero, ndipo ndinasainira kalasi ku UVa kupyolera sukulu yopitiliza maphunziro.

Ine ndinalibe Bachelor's degree, koma ine ndinali ndi aprofesa akuvomerezeka kuti apite makalasi omaliza sukulu mu filosofi. Nditangotenga mokwanira, ndinalandira chivomerezo chawo kulemba chiphunzitso ndikusankha digiri ya Master mufilosofi. Ndinapeza ntchito yambiri yolimbikitsa kwambiri. Umenewu unali sukulu yoyamba sukulu zaka zingapo zomwe ndimapeza kuti zimakondweretsa kwambiri, osati zonyansa. Ndinangotamanda Code ya Ulemu, yomwe inakukhulupirirani kuti musanyengedwe. Koma ndinapezanso zinthu zambiri zomwe tinaphunzira kuti zikhale bunk kwambiri. Ngakhale maphunziro omwe ankafuna kukhala othandiza, sizinkawoneka kuti ndi cholinga chodziwitsa chinthu chabwino kwambiri chokhalira ndi njira yabwino yolankhulirana, kapena kuyanjanitsa, zomwe anthu anali kuchita kale. Ndinalemba chiphunzitso changa pa ziphunzitso za chilango chophwanya malamulo, ndikukana ambiri a iwo ngati osayenera.

Nditachita dipatimenti ya Master, ndipo Rorty adasamukira kwinakwake, ndipo palibe chomwe chinandichititsa chidwi, ndinapempha kusamukira ku nyumba yotsatira ndikuchita PhD ku Dipatimenti ya Chingerezi. N'zomvetsa chisoni kuti dipatimenti imeneyi yandidziwitsa kuti choyamba ndikufunika a Master mu Chingerezi, chomwe panalibe njira yopitira popanda kutenga Bachelor's first.

Zabwino, maphunziro apamwamba. Zinali zabwino kukudziwani.

Pamene ndinali kuphunzira pa UVa ndinagwira ntchito ku laibulale komanso m'masitolo ndi m'malesitilanti. Tsopano ine ndinayang'ana ntchito yowonjezera yambiri ndipo ndinakhazikika papoti la nyuzipepala. Zinalipira kwambiri, ndipo ndinapeza kuti ndine oteroki kwa olemba, koma inali njira yopezera ntchito polemba mawu. Ndisananene za ntchitoyi, ndiyenera kutchula zochitika zina ziwiri pa nthawiyi: chiwonetsero ndi chikondi.

Pa UVa Ndinkakhala nawo m'bungwe lokangana, zomwe zinandichititsa kukhala omasuka ndi kuyankhula pagulu. Ndinagwilanso nawo ntchito yowathandiza anthu kuti aziphika chakudya cha UVa komanso kutaya zigawenga kuti zilipire malipilo. Izi zinandichititsa kuti ndizikhala ndi ndalama zothandizira anthu padziko lonse, kuphatikizapo omwe amagwira ntchito ku ACORN, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Sindinayambe ndondomeko ya malipiro amoyo ku UVa. Ndangomva za izo, ndipo ndinalowa nawo nthawi yomweyo. Ngati pangakhale pulogalamu yothetsa nkhondo, sindikanakayikirapo, koma panalibe.

Komanso panthawiyi, ndinamunamizira kuti ndine wolakwa. Chifukwa chakuti makolo anga anandithandiza kupeza alangizi komanso akatswiri ndi zinthu zina, ndinatha kuchepetsa kuwonongeka. Chotsatira chachikulu, ndikuganiza, chifukwa cha ine ndikudziwa kwambiri za zopanda chilungamo zomwe anthu ambiri amachitira chifukwa cha zolakwa zopanda chilungamo. Ndithudi zochitikazo zinakhudza zosankha zanga zomwe ndiyenera kuzichita monga mtolankhani wa nyuzipepala, kumene ndinayamba kuganizira za kusokonezeka kwa chilungamo. Chotsatira china chotheka chikhoza kukhala chothandizira kuti ndisachoke ku zojambulajambula. Simungathe kunena zabodza zabodza popanda anthu akukhulupirira kuti munachitadi. Zomwe zimandipweteka kwambiri pamoyo wanga nthawi zonse zakhala zosatheka kuti ndisakhulupirire. Inu simungathe kutchula mlandu wonyenga wa chigawenga popanda anthu kukhulupirira kuti mukujambula malo ophatikizira osonyeza kuti zonsezi ndi zabodza kwa aliyense. Nchifukwa chiyani mumalowa muchitsiru chonchi? Ndipo ngati simungathe kutchula nkhani yofunika ku nkhani yanu, simungathe kulembera mbiri.

Ine ndinanena chinachake chokhudza chikondi, sichoncho ine? Ngakhale kuti ndinkakhala wamanyazi nthawi zonse ndi atsikana, ndinkatha kukhala ndi abwenzi aakazi a nthawi yayitali komanso a nthawi yayitali nthawi ndi kuyambira kusekondale. Pamene ndinali pa UVa ndinaphunzira za intaneti, ngati chida chofufuzira, monga nkhani yolankhulirana, monga nsanja yosindikizira, monga chida chothandizira, komanso ngati malo ochezera. Ndinakumana ndi akazi angapo pa intaneti ndiyeno popanda. Mmodzi wa iwo, Anna, ankakhala ku North Carolina. Anali woyenera kulankhula pa intaneti komanso pa foni. Ankafuna kukomana payekha, mpaka tsiku la 1997 adandiimbira foni usiku kuti adziwombera ku Charlottesville ndipo adanditcha ine madzulo onse. Tinakhala usiku wonse ndikupita kumapiri m'mawa. Kenako tinayamba kuyendetsa maola anayi, mmodzi wa ife kapena wina, mlungu uliwonse. Pambuyo pake anasamukira. Mu 1999 tinakwatira. Chinthu chabwino kwambiri chomwe ndachichita mpaka pano.

Tinasamukira ku Orange, ku Virginia, kukagwira ntchito ku Culpeper. Kenaka ndinayamba ntchito ku DC pamalo otchedwa Bureau of National Affairs ndipo ndinayamba kuyenda tsiku ndi tsiku. Ndinkalandira ntchito kumeneko kulembera makalata awiri, imodzi ya mgwirizano wa ntchito ndi wina kwa "oyang'anira magulu a anthu." Ndinalonjezedwa kuti sindidzalembera antchito kapena mgwirizano. Ndipotu, ndinafunikila kutenga nkhani imodzimodziyo, monga chigamulo cha National Labor Relations Board, ndikufotokozera za momwe mungakhalire mgwirizano komanso momwe mungagwiritsire ntchito antchito anu. Ine ndinakana kuchita izo. Ndasiya. Ine ndinali ndi mkazi tsopano ndi ntchito yake yomwe. Ndinali ndi ngongole. Ndinalibe chiyembekezo chogwira ntchito.

Ndinagwira ntchito pang'onopang'ono ndikugogoda pakhomo kuti ndipulumutse Chesapeake Bay. Tsiku loyamba ine ndikulemba mtundu wina. Tsiku lachiwiri ndinayamwa. Ndi ntchito yomwe ndimakhulupirira kuti ichitike. Koma zedi zinkakhala kukoka. Ndinkalephera kugwira ntchito ndi woyang'anira ndikukonzekera ine, kapena ntchito yomwe ndinkatsutsa makhalidwe abwino, kapena ntchito yomwe siinanditsutse. Nchiyani chomwe ine ndingakhoze kuchita mu dziko? Apa ndi pamene ACORN analowa, ndi chitsanzo chimene ndatsatira kuyambira pakugwira ntchito anthu osachepera 500 mailosi kutali ndi ine.

ACORN adakhalapo kwa zaka makumi ambiri osakhala naye payekha, munthu wina kudziko lonse kulemba zofalitsa ndi kusindikiza ndi atolankhani, kuphunzitsa ochita zankhanza polankhula ndi makamera a TV, kuyika maofesi, olemba-olemba, olemba C-Span kuti afotokoze chifukwa chomwe anthu ogulitsa chakudya samadziwira bwino zomwe zili zabwino kwa antchito kusiyana ndi antchito. Ndinatenga ntchitoyi. Anna anatenga ntchito ya DC. Tinasamukira ku Cheverly, Maryland. Ndipo ndinakhala wopanikizika. ACORN anali ntchito, osati ntchito. Zinali zonse-ndipo ndinali zonse.

Koma nthawi zina zinkawoneka ngati tikutsatira sitepe imodzi ndi awiri kumbuyo. Tidapereka malipiro osachepera a m'deralo kapena malamulo osungira ngongole, ndipo ovomerezeka adzawanyengerera pamtanda. Ife timadutsa malamulo a boma, ndipo iwo amasamukira ku Congress. Pamene 9 / 11 inkachitika, kusakhwima kwanga ndi naiveté zinali zodabwitsa. Pamene aliyense wogwira ntchito zapakhomo nthawi yomweyo amadziwa kuti palibe chomwe chikanatha kuchitidwa, kuti malipiro ochepa sakanakhala oyenera kubwezeretsedwa monga momwe adakonzedwera, ndi zina zotero, ine ndiweruzidwa ngati ndingathe kuona malingaliro kapena kugwirizana. Nchifukwa chiyani anthu ayenera kupeza ndalama zochepa chifukwa ndege zina zimatha kupanga ndege? Zikuoneka kuti ichi chinali lingaliro la nkhondo. Ndipo pamene ndewu za nkhondo zinayamba kumenyana ine ndinali atawombera. Nchiyani mu dziko? Kodi si 9 / 11 yomwe inatsimikizira kuti zopanda nkhondo zankhondo zilibe phindu kuteteza aliyense ku chirichonse?

Nkhondo za Bush-Cheney zitayamba, ndinapita kumatsutsano onse, koma ntchito yanga inali nkhani zapakhomo ku ACORN. Kapena mpaka pamene ndinatenga ntchito yachiwiri yochitira Dennis Kucinich kwa Purezidenti 2004. Pulogalamu ya pulezidenti ndi ntchito 24 / 7, monga ACORN. Ndinagwira ntchito zonsezi kwa miyezi ingapo ndisanayambe kuchoka ku Kucinich ndekha. Panthawi imeneyi, anzanga ogwira ntchito ku dipatimenti yopanga mauthenga amandidziwitsa kuti (1) pulogalamuyi inali mulu woopsa wa kumenyana ndi kusagonjetsa, ndipo (2) ine tsopano ndikuyang'anira monga " Mlembi. "Komabe, ndikukhala ndikuyamika chifukwa cha kubweretsedwa, ndinakulira ndikuyamikira, ndikupitirizabe, wodzitcha, yemwe ndimamupeza kuti ndiwopseza kugwira nawo ntchito, ndipo ndinangotenga nthawi yopuma, ndikudya dawati langa, ndikusamba mopanda nthawi, mpaka ine sindingakhoze kuchita kenanso chifukwa cha chiyembekezo chopanda chiyembekezo.

Patapita zaka ACORN anawonongedwa mochuluka ndi chinyengo chachinyengo. Ndinkalakalaka ndikanali komweko, osati chifukwa ndinali ndi ndondomeko yopulumutsa ACORN, koma ndikungofuna kuti ndiyese.

Kusuta kwa Purezidenti ndi ntchito yanga yoyamba yamtendere. Tinakambirana za mtendere, nkhondo, mtendere, malonda, mtendere, chithandizo chamankhwala, nkhondo, ndi mtendere. Ndiyeno izo zatha. Ndili ndi ntchito ya AFL-CIO kuyang'anira bungwe lawo la zolemba zolemba ntchito, makamaka mabungwe ogwirira ntchito. Ndiyeno ine ndiri ndi ntchito kwa gulu lotchedwa Democrats.com kuyesera kuimitsa bizinesi yoyipa mu Congress pa bankruptcies. Sindinakhalepo wotsutsa a Democrats kapena a Republican, koma ndinkamuthandiza Dennis, ndipo ndinaganiza kuti ndingathe kuthandiza gulu lomwe likufuna kuti a Democrats akhale abwino. Ndili ndi anzanga ambiri amene ndimawalemekeza kwambiri omwe amakhulupirira zomwe zikuchitika mpaka lero, pamene ndikupeza kuti zotsutsana ndi maphunziro ndizokhazikika.

Mu May 2005, ndinapempha Democrats.com kuti ndiyese kuyesa kuthetsa nkhondo, potsatira zomwe ndinauzidwa kuti ndiyenera kuchita zinthu zosavuta ngati kuyesa kupusitsa George W. Bush. Tinayamba kupanga gulu lotchedwa Aftering Street ndikukakamiza anthu kuti adziwe nkhani yotchedwa Downing Street Memo kapena a Downing Street Minutes ku US media monga umboni wotsutsika wakuti Bush ndi gulu lachinyengo adanamizira nkhondo ya Iraq. Tinagwira ntchito ndi a Democrats ku Congress omwe tinkayesa kuti adzathetsa nkhondo ndikupusitsa pulezidenti ndi wotsatilazidindo ngati apatsidwa zikuluzikulu mu 2006. Ndinagwira ntchito limodzi ndi magulu ambiri amtendere pa nthawiyi, kuphatikizapo United kwa Peace and Justice, ndipo ndinayesayesa kusokoneza mtendere wotsutsana ndi chinyengo komanso mosiyana.

Mu 2006, mavoti ochokapo akuti mademokrasi anagonjetsa zazikulu mu Congress ndi udindo wothetsa nkhondo ku Iraq. Bwerani Januwale, Rahm Emanuel adanena Washington Post iwo angapitirize nkhondo kuti apite "motsutsa" izo kachiwiri mu 2008. Ndi 2007, Democrats anali atasowa chidwi chawo ndi mtendere ndikupita ku zomwe zinkawoneka ngati ine panthawi yosankha mademokrasi ambiri ngati mapeto pawokha. Cholinga changa chinali chitatha nkhondo iliyonse ndi lingaliro la kuyamba nthawi ina.

Pa Tsiku la Zombo la 2005, ndikuyembekezera mwana wathu woyamba, ndipo ndi ine ndikutha kugwira ntchito ndi intaneti kulikonse, tinabwerera ku Charlottesville. Tinapanga ndalama zambiri pogulitsa nyumba yomwe tinagula ku Maryland kuposa momwe ndinagwirira ntchito. Tinaligwiritsa ntchito kulipira theka la nyumba ku Charlottesville kuti tikulimbanabe ndi theka la.

Ndinakhala wotsutsa mtendere nthawi zonse. Ndinalowa m'bungwe la chipani cha mtendere apa. Ndinagwirizanitsa mitundu yonse yamagulu ndi magulu a dziko lonse. Ndinapita kukayankhula ndikutsutsa. Ine ndinakhala mu Capitol Hill. Ndinapita kumsika ku Bush ku Texas. Ndinalemba nkhani zachinyengo. Ndinalemba mabuku. Ndinapita kundende. Ndinamanga mawebusaiti a mabungwe amtendere. Ndinapitiriza kukonza maulendo. Ndinayankhula pazitsulo. Ndinkakangana ndi oyang'anira nkhondo. Ndinafunsa mafunso. Ndinkakhala m'mabwalo. Ndinapita ku madera akumenyana. Ndinaphunzira kuchita zinthu mwamtendere, wakale komanso wamakono. Ndipo ndinayamba kufunsa funso kulikonse kumene ndinapitako: Kodi munakhala bwanji wotsutsa mtendere?

Kodi ine? Kodi pali zitsanzo zomwe zingapezeke mu nkhani yanga ndi zina? Kodi china chake pamwambapa chikuthandizira kufotokoza? Tsopano ndimagwira ntchito ya RootsAction.org, yomwe idapangidwa kuti izikhala ngati malo achitetezo pa intaneti omwe angathandizire zinthu zonse kupita patsogolo kuphatikiza mtendere. Ndipo ndimagwira ntchito ngati director of World Beyond War, yomwe ndidaiyambitsa ngati bungwe lokakamiza padziko lonse lapansi kuti likhale ndi maphunziro abwino komanso zachitetezo zomwe cholinga chake ndi kuthetsa machitidwe omwe amathandizira nkhondo. Tsopano ndikulemba mabuku otsutsana ndi zifukwa zonse zankhondo, kutsutsa kukonda dziko lako, ndikulimbikitsa zida zopanda chiwawa. Ndasiya kulemba kuti ofalitsa azisindikiza okha, kuti ndikasindikize ndikasindikiza buku ndekha, mpaka pano ndikutsata wofalitsa wamkulu ngakhale ndikudziwa kuti zidzafunika kusintha ngati tradeoff kuti ifikire anthu ambiri.

Kodi ndili pano chifukwa ndimakonda kulemba ndikulankhula ndikukangana ndikumagwira ntchito yabwino padziko lapansi, komanso chifukwa cha ngozi zambiri zandibzala mu kayendetsedwe ka mtendere mu 2003, ndipo chifukwa ndapeza njira yoti ndisachoke, komanso chifukwa cha intaneti anakula ndipo wakhala - osachepera mpaka pano - salowerera ndale? Kodi ndili pano chifukwa cha majini anga? Ndimapasa anga ndi munthu wamkulu koma si wotsutsa mtendere. Mwana wake wamkazi ndi wotsutsa zachilengedwe ngakhale. Kodi ndili pano chifukwa cha ubwana wanga, chifukwa ndinali ndi chikondi komanso chithandizo chambiri? Chabwino, anthu ambiri akhala ndi izi, ndipo ambiri a iwo akuchita zinthu zazikulu, koma kaŵirikaŵiri sizimangirira mtendere.

Mukandifunsa lero chifukwa chomwe ndikusankhira izi patsogolo, yankho langa ndilo vuto lothetsa nkhondo monga zanenedwa patsamba la World Beyond War ndi m'mabuku anga. Koma ngati mukufunsa momwe ndinalowa mu gigi iyi osati chinthu china, ndikungodalira kuti ena amndime yapitayi awunikiranso. Chowonadi ndi chakuti sindingagwire ntchito moyang'aniridwa ndi woyang'anira, sindingagulitse ma widget, sindingasinthidwe, sindingagwire ntchito iliyonse yomwe ikuwoneka kuti yaphimbidwa ndi china chilichonse, sindikuwoneka kuti ndikulemba mabuku omwe amalipira komanso kulemba maimelo, ndi ntchito za kukana nkhondo ndi zida zogulitsa sizikuwoneka kuti zili ndi anthu okwanira - ndipo nthawi zina, m'malo ake ena, zimawoneka kuti zilibe aliyense - akugwira ntchito.

Anthu amandifunsa momwe ndimapitira, momwe ndimakhalira wokondwa, chifukwa chiyani sindimasiya. Icho chiri chosavuta kwambiri, ndipo ine nthawi zambiri sindimayisaka. Ndimagwira ntchito mwamtendere chifukwa nthawi zina timapambana ndipo nthawi zina timataya koma tili ndi udindo woyesa, yesetsani, yesetsani, komanso chifukwa kuyesera kumakhala kosangalatsa komanso kokwaniritsa kuposa china chilichonse.