Breaking with tradition this month, we invited men to our meeting for an inspiring movie about the civil war that dominated Liberia from Christmas Eve of 1989 to 2003. To center our minds for the experience to come, Terra Harmatuk read a poem by Liberian poet, Miatta Kawinzi, which begins, “They call it history…”
We settled in with bowls of popcorn to watch the acclaimed documentary, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” which chronicles the work of Leymah Gbowee during the Liberian civil war in which some 200,000 people died. She galvanized Muslim, Christian and women of diverse faiths from across her country in 2002 to demand peace. Knowing full well that they could be beaten or killed, these women – housewives, fishmongers and farmers –took to the streets wearing simple white T-shirts and using the tactics of peaceful protest. Their story is one of incredible courage and success.
After the movie and a break to refill our popcorn bowls, we all returned, eager to discuss this inspiring film. Tanya introduced our moderator, Diane Swords. Diane has been active in opposition to war and in support of non-violent conflict resolution since participating in demonstrations against the Viet Nam war as a college student. As a school teacher, she developed programs of conflict resolution for the classroom. She directed the local chapter of Peace Action (then the Nuclear Weapons Freeze) for 12 years. In 2007 Diane received her Ph.D. in Social Science with certificates in conflict resolution and women’s studies. She continues activism, especially for nuclear abolition, with Peace Action and the Peace Council, while teaching at Syracuse University in the Intergroup Dialogue Program.
Diane began by referring to her friend, a Kenyan woman who is working on her Ph.D. at Syracuse University and who was close to the Liberian struggle. The friend worked in United Nations peace-building projects and helped Leymah Gbowee develop her leadership abilities. Diane asked her friend if the women’s movement occurred at the same time as the resolution of the Liberian civil war and was simply a parallel event, or if the women’s movement can be considered a cause of the end of the conflict. The friend assured Diane that there was definitely a cause-and-effect connection between the women’s movement and the end of the war.
Because Diane is not an expert on the Liberian conflict or the current political situation there, she was not able to answer any questions brought up by the movie. However, she did discuss issues of non-violence that arise in the United States. Gene Sharp, Professor Emeritus of political science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and founder of the Albert Einstein Institution, penned the following definition:
“Nonviolent action is a technique by which people who reject passivity and submission, and who see struggle as essential, can wage their conflict without violence. Nonviolent action is not an attempt to avoid or ignore conflict. It is one response to the problem of how to act effectively in politics, especially how to wield powers effectively.”
As an example of successful non-violent action close to home, Diane cited the struggle to prevent the re-licensing of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, which is leaking radioactive tritium into the ground water and possibly the Connecticut River. One of the main organizers of that non-violent struggle, Randy Kehler, started the town meetings in New England for the Nuclear Freeze, and founded the main organization that is opposing Vermont Yankee. He has said, “Every time I see and hear people, especially younger people, express feelings of hopelessness and despair about the current state of the world, it strengthens my resolve to try, in whatever way I can, to introduce them to the fundamentally hopeful history and practice of ‘active nonviolence.’ I wish to demonstrate that positive, nonviolent change in our lives and in the world is not only an urgent necessity but humanly possible.”
Julienne Oldfield, who had just returned from a Washington, D.C., march against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, commented that the movie puts our own anti-war efforts to shame.
Betsy Wiggins told us that Liberian President Charles Taylor’s videographer was the only one who recorded the ceremony of Leymah Gbowee handing the women’s proclamation demanding peace to the only woman in Taylor’s administration, as the president looked on. As a result of doing this, the videographer was fired, and took all of his films with him. He eventually handed these unique films to the documentary’s producers, making this fine film possible.
Kathy Mezzo said that she doesn’t see a difference between the violence of war and the violence that cities like Syracuse experience on our own streets. Kathy would like to see this movie shown in every high school in Syracuse, to show girls that they can be empowered to make change; that they don’t have to put up with disrespectful or aggressive behavior. Diane Swords referred to the efforts of Mothers Against Gun Violence to defuse and reduce street violence in Syracuse. Renee-Noelle Felice told us that “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” will be shown at ArtRage.
Joy Pople said that the Truth and Reconciliation Committee in Liberia has recently issued a report. Wrongs were reported, discussed, acknowledged and recompensed. The process is not complete but is moving forward. Joy repeated Kathy’s suggestion and wondered how we could get the movie shown in the area high schools. Daryl Files responded that she and members of the A-OK! Acts of Kindness Weekend committee would be meeting with the Social Studies department heads of Syracuse City Schools on Tuesday, and would be sure to bring this up!
Peter Swords pointed out that the Liberian women had to defy universal stereotypes. Men tell angry women that they are crazy or stupid. These women gave one another permission to be angry, to speak out, and to take action. This movie contradicts sexism and shows that women have rights and that we need to listen to their leadership.
Grace Flusche and Judy Antoine commented about the re-culturization of the Liberian boy soldiers. These children were victims too, purposely addicted to drugs to induce them to inflict terror, rape and death. Grace and Judy recommended the book Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ismael Beah, who was a Sierra Leone child soldier from ages 13 to 15, addicted to killing.
Hal Garman asked how we can stop the flow of weapons into cities like Syracuse. He has volunteered with organizations on the South Side for eight years, and knows that guns are readily available. Helen Hudson said a CNN report revealed that the police sell confiscated guns at gun shows, either for better weapons for the police department or for funds to finance the department. These guns are resold and soon appear back on the streets.
Betty Lamb commented on the negotiators at the Liberian peace talks. For many of the warlords, this was a vacation and they had no incentive to conclude the talks.
Jim Wiggins discussed the connection between racism and the war on drugs. Drugs are tolerated when they keep “them” in their place. And when police confiscate drug money, it helps to finance the police department.
Diane suggested that we visit www.aeinstein.org. The Albert Einstein Institution is a nonprofit organization advancing the study and use of strategic nonviolent action in conflicts throughout the world.
Helen Hudson closed our meeting with a prayer written by Bai T. Moore, a poet, novelist, promoter of Liberian culture, and statesman, “An Elder’s Prayer.”