[South Asia Citizens Wire | April 23, 2003]
LOVE WITH NO BOUNDARIES
In these dark days of war and in the light of anti-war movement, we, the Sex workers of Kerala, are bringing out our position on war and anti-war movement. We feel there are some subtle differences to be debated upon for a better understanding of positions and the quality of peace we achieve.
Antiwar does not just mean anti-imperialism;
It is not by burning effigies and flags that we defeat imperialism;
Donít burn something that others revere.
We defeat imperialism not by war or hatred,
But by winning the hearts back of those who support it.
War and hate are the weapons or language of imperialism;
We canít wield or defend with it.
The powerful always wins in the war with forces;
Donít defeat but win them over with non-violence and love.
Antiwar means not supporting armies in our own country;
Antiwar means not supplying human power to form armies in the nations we live;
Antiwar means agitating for the reduction of budget of defense expenditure;
Antiwar means protesting against our own government when it goes to war;
Antiwar means not feeling proud when our country explodes a nuclear device;
Antiwar means feeling miserable when they invent a new weapon;
Antiwar does mean declaring defeat even before the start of war;
Antiwar does mean declaring that we will never defend even if attacked.
Antiwar means being an international citizen;
Antiwar means traveling to other countries and knowing them;
Antiwar means loving your neighbors as yourself;
Antiwar means recognizing the friend in others;
Antiwar means serving others without discrimination;
Antiwar means love between equals;
Antiwar means being free of communal and racial hatred;
Antiwar means vowing never to use arms against anyone;
Antiwar means acts of bravery without arms;
Antiwar means limiting our own privileges;
Antiwar means defending the right of others;
Antiwar means anti-discrimination;
Antiwar means ending all stigmas;
Antiwar also means being antinational.
Know that you are of the same species;
Know that you are one of human species with a series of identities;
Know that all identities other than human are mirages;
Know that being man, woman, transgender or intersex is incidental;
Know that there are no strangers who oppress, but we oppress each other;
Know that love is the only medicine to cure the disease of war;
Know that a smile can bring a smile on the face of a stranger;
Know that any act of hate is the real enemy because imperialism thrives on it;
No strategy other than love and trust can win the movement against war.
Donít suppress but explore and unravel the beauty of sexuality;
Know the mystery of existence and exult in it.
Humility does not mean submission;
Submission in any form is servitude.
There is none superior or inferior to you;
Know that there are no god men or women;
Spirituality means making others feel equal to you;
Spirituality also means being one with the universe.
Excellence does not mean superiority;
Life means unlimited possibilities.
Differences do not mean strangeness;
it is like eyes and ears, abilities to bring qualities.
Differences do not mean strangeness but varieties of solutions.
Differences do not mean strangeness but revelation of possibilities.
Differences do mean that we all are unique and special, so precious.
Donít die for a cause but live for it and let others live for it.
Survival of our species remains with survival of other species;
Survival of the fittest means helping other species to survive.
Antiwar means not being anti-women;
Antiwar means not being anti-tribal;
Antiwar means not being anti-black;
Antiwar means not being anti-sexual minorities;
Antiwar means ending discriminatory laws in all countries.
Antiwar means not writing inflammatory articles in newspapers;
Antiwar means not preaching violence from podiums;
Antiwar means not spreading rumors against anyone;
Antiwar means ending the culture of violence in cinemas and dramas;
Antiwar means no visas and passports;
Antiwar also means reducing the number of laws and jails.
Antiwar means preserving other species;
Antiwar means limiting our own species;
Antiwar means knowing that there is nothing special being human;
Antiwar means knowing that we, humans are only complex not apex in evolution;
Antiwar means loving the rivers and mountains;
Antiwar means preserving the ecology we live in;
Antiwar means knowing that we belong to earth first;
Antiwar means not owning but sharing the world with others.
Antiwar also means not being anti to anything, not even war.
SEXWORKERS FORUM KERALA,
PTPN-E31, PTP NAGAR PO,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
KERALA, INDIA-695038, TEL: +91 471 2368142, 2369498
E-mail: swfk@asianetindia.com
www.firmkerala.org
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