Warriors for Peace

We are conditioned to think a warrior is someone who uses brute force and violence to fight others, but fighting can be done with love.  Fighting for civil rights and equality can bring about peace. There are many peaceful warriors who are fighting for love, unity, and peace.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is the President of the Repairers of the Breach, a movement he started in 2015 aiming to uplift "our deepest moral and constitutional values to redeem the heart and soul of our country.” Through their work, Barber and his movement strive to guide our nation in implementing a “moral public policy agenda that fully addresses the needs of over 140 million poor and low-income people in America.”

Barber works to eliminate poverty in the United States. He says a component to ending poverty is restoring the middle class so they can have enough to meet their needs. Barber believes that when you strengthen the middle class, the poverty level will also be lifted.

According to their website, The Poor People’s Campaign “is a growing national movement organized to challenge the interlocking issues of systemic racism, systemic poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism.”

Barber sees racism and classism as twin pillars of oppression. He says poverty affects all people, regardless of race, which he writes about in his latest book, White Poverty, How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy. Over 800 people die each day from poverty. According to Barber, when poverty is eliminated and everyone has enough, this leads to a better, freer, and happier society.  I think that makes good sense.

Barber leads  Poor People Marches which include everyone from rabbis to Native American chiefs, to trans women.  They talk about what they have faced, about their own issues with poverty, and they tell their stories.

Barber, in an interview, was asked his views on transpeople. He responded, when one of my congregation members came out as a transwoman, I saw her as Sister Sophia, the woman that God created her to be.

Barber sees Jesus as an activist of his time.  Jesus protested the control of the Roman government which was trying to have power over the Jewish people. According to Barber, being a follower of Jesus is being an activist for love and peace.

Barber has received threats against him and his family. He has taken measures to protect his family, but he says if he is going to die, he would rather go out fighting for justice.

Another example of a warrior for love and peace is Mildred Lisette who left all her material possessions behind when she was in her forties. Her family expected her to marry and have children. Instead, she advocated for peace.

Mildred, who adopted the name “Peace Pilgrim,” spent 28 years walking across America seven times speaking with others about peace and non-violence. She carried only a toothbrush with her. She considered herself a spiritual activist and spoke at many colleges and universities.

In these discussions she talked about how we've been conditioned to believe that war is the only way to bring peace and to liberate. Peace Pilgrim said the way for peace and liberation is not through war, but through loving others and non-judgment.

Rock stars Queen and Adam Lambert are also warriors for peace and love. Shortly after Freddie Mercury's death, Queen’s lead guitarist Brian May said all that really matters is love. Now, their new front singer Adam Lambert carries on Freddy’s legacy of love.

Their song “We Are the Champions” is all about how we are all champions no matter our background or story. Queen and Adam Lambert bring joy and happiness to the millions of fans who watch and sing along with them.

Adam does this, not only for Queen, but also as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He started the non-profit Feel Something Foundation in 2019, which helps charities “that are moving the needle for communities of all ages and backgrounds.” These organizations impact the LGBTQ+ community in areas of education and the arts; homelessness; suicide prevention; and mental health.”

Dolly Parton is also an LGBTQ+ advocate and a warrior for love and peace. She loves people for who they are and believes it's not her place to judge others. She’s a huge supporter of women's rights, which she showed through her role and creating the theme song for the movie 9 to 5. Her co-stars, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, are also human and LGBTQ+ rights activists.

I love the song and video What The World Needs Now performed by Broadway for Orlando.  The recording followed the Pulse Nightclub shooting. 100 percent of the proceeds from the record benefit the LGBTQ+ Community Center of Central Florida. I urge you to click on the link above and hear that powerful song.

The world needs love–not just for some but for everyone. This is a message we all need to hear and spread. We are the warriors this world needs!