Each of the great social achievements of recent decades has come about not because of government proclamations, but because people organized, made demands, and made it good politics for governments to respond. It is the political will of the people that makes and sustains the political will of governments.

This quote from former Executive Director of UNICEF, James Grant, reflects the spirit behind my recent visit to Maine's District One Congressman, Tom Allen. As Congressional District One Team Leader for the Maine campaign for the Department of Peace and Non Violence bill now pending in both the House and the Senate, H.R. 3760 and S. 1756, I wanted to accurately capture the Congressman's position on the bill. As the Maine campaign gathers momentum, it is important that the citizenry of the State of Maine is not only aware of the bill, but that it is aware of the position that our Maine Representatives and Senators are taking in regards to this bill.

I began my meeting with Congressman Allen by reading the speech by Congressman Dennis Kucinich when he reintroduced the bill to the floor of the House on September 14 of this year. Kucinich began his brief floor speech by saying:

From our deepest silence. From that place within each of us that knows peace. From our heart of hearts, which connects us to the world and to the heart of the world. We know that fear leads to violence. That violence leads to war. That war leads to total destruction. Yet, we do not want to fear. We do not want violence. We do not want war. We want peace. . .

I chose to read this floor speech because in its entirety I believe it reflects a growing conviction of the citizens of this country that asks that the laws of this nation be more closely aligned with the hearts of this nation. I believe it represents the original spirit of our nation's Constitution that allows the citizenry of this nation to "organize, make demands, and make it good politics for its government to respond". I believe that in today's turbulent times, it is the citizenry itself that has the good, as well as the common, sense to see what steps should be taken today to ensure a peaceful future for our children tomorrow. I believe in the power of the people to demand a paradigm shift in the way that our nation does business both at home and abroad, and that is the duty of our Congress people to respond to this demand.

This landmark Bill establishes a cabinet level Department of Peace that has the primary function of researching, articulating and facilitating nonviolent solutions to domestic and international conflicts. The Department will focus on peaceful conflict resolutions, the prevention of violence, and the promotion of justice and democratic principles to expand human rights. The bill is comprehensive in nature and addresses issues of both domestic and international significance. Presently, there are 61 members who are co-sponsoring this bill in the House and two Senators in the Senate. Senator Dayton of Minnesota introduced this legislation for the first time to the floor of the Senate this fall.

Congressman Allen is not presently co-sponsoring this legislation. Based upon both the meeting I had with Congressman Allen as well as a letter he recently wrote to me, his position can be summarized in the following manner:

Congressman Allen shares grave concern "with the current Administration's rush to war, diplomatic failures, and disdain for international institutions." He believes in the laudable goals of H.R. 3760 but feels it can be better accomplished through "changes in policy and in policy-makers, through elections, rather than bureaucratic reshuffling." He also expresses that "in the long-term, our government can best continue to work to end conflicts and promote peace around the world through organizations like the United Nations and other non-governmental organizations." He states that he is favorable to the Bill's proposal to establish an Academy of Peace designed to be a sister academy to the existing military academies. Although Congressman Allen believes that this Bill is "well-intentioned", and that "the goals of teaching non-violence and conflict resolution must be top priorities in our society", he suggests that this would be more effectively done at the community level in schools, religious institutions and other local organizations. In Congressman Allen's words, he has not shut the door completely on this bill and is willing to continue to consider its merits. As of today, however, we cannot count Congressman Allen as one of the growing members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to co-sponsor this legislation.

Because I was aware of Congressman Allen's position on this bill before I met with him, I was neither surprised nor disappointed in his response. It was not my mission to change his mind but, rather, to accurately capture and then communicate his position on this legislation. As a member of a growing group of Maine citizens who believes that this bill is a timely and appropriate response to governmental leadership in the 21st century, it is my mission to continue to organize the voice of the people favorable to this Bill so that it is the Maine people themselves who effect a change in Congressman Allen's position.

If you have not done so, please read the bill thoroughly. You may do so online at: mainedop.org. If you are compelled to work for the realization of a cabinet level Department of Peace and Non Violence in our federal government, and if you are called to, in Dennis Kucinich's words, "choose courage over fear . . . hope over despair…by announc[ing] our desire for a new America. And a new world. . .", then join us in organizing the State of Maine to push our Congressmen and Senators to support this bill in both the House and the Senate.

Shelley Schweizer
District One Team Leader for the
Maine Campaign for a Department of Peace and Non Violence
sschweizer@mainedop.org