Mr. President: when mankind works with as much determination and sacrifice to make peace as war, there will be peace. As Ben Franklin advised, “There has never been a good war or a bad peace.”
Franklin understood that peace is more than just the absence of war; like love it is more than just the absence of hate — they are both active pursuits.
Militarily the United States is the most powerful land in the world; if we cannot find the courage to ever turn the other cheek, no one else will either. We have made enough mistakes in pursuing war; it is now time to risk peace.
“War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.” — John F. Kennedy
Sam Osborne
West Branch
