Although our advancing weaponry and technology might lessen the need for many soldiers fighting on the ground, it has not lessened civilian misery. During these conflicts, a constant has been civilian suffering. Why can’t it be the first state to affirm a commitment to work for peace and remember all the men, women and children who suffer and die in military conflict?” asked Representative Jennifer Stewart (Democrat, District 59, Pawtucket) “Teaching United States history means grappling with the concept of total war and engaging with the numerous wars in which the United States has been involved. “Rhode Island is the only state in the United States that has Victory Day. Does military spending at our current pace really make us safer? Nearly one in seven children in America are living in poverty, which is a real danger to Americans’ well-being.” Senator Tiara MackĪ third bill, related to holidays and days of special observance ( H5452/ S1017) would change the name of the holiday on the second Monday of August from Victory Day to Peace and Remembrance Day. Funds for the expansion of our nuclear arsenal means less money to address poverty, less toward education, and desperately needed housing and health care. “More broadly, there seems to be growing interest and greater awareness that to improve quality of life in this country we need to move away from our massive military spending. We are glad to have the support of General Treasurer Diossa’s office,” said Senator Tiara Mack (Democrat, District 6, Providence). “This pension identification legislation is fairly simple, designed to get this sense of where our investments are and how they are performing. This legislation, say Just Peace RI, has the support of General Treasurer James Diossa. Watt added, “We need to think about what is the practicality of our nuclear expansion at a time our priority should be nuclear abolition.”Īnother piece of legislation promoted by Just Peace RI ( H6312/ S0865) would require the state investment commission to identify pension fund investments in military weapon manufacturers, whether held directly or indirectly. What the Golden Rule said was, ‘We are not telling you what to think, but we are saying, in the most dramatic way we can, that there is a need to think.’“ We were guided to the right approach: an appeal to decency and fair play. That’s what we are all brought up to do, isn’t it? The human experience is to stand for a principle, is it not? It was the idea that was important. The only unusual thing is that it should be thought unusual to stand up for principles.

Our hardships were minor, our suffering did not amount to much. “ The Golden Rule did not change the course of history,” said Watt. Robert Watt, a Just Peace RI organizer, cited fellow veteran and Quaker, Albert Bigelow, the original captain of the Golden Rule Peace Boat back in 1958: The bills include a resolution welcoming the Golden Rule Peace Boat ( H6173/ S0674), a “historical icon and a symbol that continues to sail as a testament to its message of peace.” The Golden Rule is scheduled to visit Narragansett Bay, resting at India Point Park, then at Rockwell Park in Bristol Harbor, June 11 to June 13.

Victory day in ri