Can We Have a Peaceful Revolution?

In 1776, the founding fathers of America waged the Revolutionary War to gain independence from the British monarchy. Indeed, founding father Ben Franklin said something to the effect that we need a revolution every 200 years, because all governments become stale and corrupt after 200 years. The French then followed with their own revolutionary war.

Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela proved that you can have a non-violent revolution, at least when the people have convinced the rulers that they have the power to shut down the government and economy, and that the outcome from refusing to step aside would be even worse.

Is a non-violent revolution better than a violent one? Of course it is. Many lives may be spared, countless scars avoided, and untold emotional suffering prevented.

In addition, some wise person once said that you shouldn't tear down something unless you can replace it with something better.

And for those Americans who want to stay in this country, trashing the place in which we and our grandkids are going to be living for generations is not very smart.

Cindy Sheehan has said that “nonviolent civil disobedience is the way we have to go” to end the war.

9/11 activist Jimmy Walter says "NON-Violence is the only way!"

Is Revolution Inevitable?

The government has angered the majority of Americans with its lies, brutality and indifference to human suffering at home or abroad. Yet the empire is hell-bent on carrying out its plans for global domination devised by the Project for a New American Century and others before Bush took office.

And while impeachment and criminal indictments would be the normal avenue for ridding the country of leaders who do not follow the constitution or the rule of law, congress closed ranks years ago to protect the criminals, and is not likely to allow impeachment proceedings to go forward.

However, the imperial alliance doesn't have the means necessary to crush dissent at this point. In fact, millions of brave Americans are raising their voices now more than ever, even in the face of increasing repression and censorship.

And when they drew up their imperial plans, they did not count on the power of the Internet to spread truth. Even if they shut down the web based upon some imaginary necessity, they cannot re-enslave minds once liberated.

The stubborness of the imperial rulers and their refusal to change course is crashing into the rising awareness, anger, outrage and courage of the public, like two tectonic plates grinding together.

Revolution is inevitable. The only question is whether it will be violent or non-violent.

But is a Peaceful Revolution Possible?

I don't know. On the one hand, the crazy warmongers are gearing up right now for full-scale wars against Syria and Iran, and covert operations have already begun in both countries. And Saudi Arabia and Venezuela are on the radar as future targets for invasion.

Despite Bush's plummeting poll numbers, and the CIA leak, torture, and WMD disinformation scandals, the guys in charge of our country are going pedal-to-the-metal to launch us into a further series of imperial wars of aggression.

Furthermore, the U.S. mainstream media refuses to cover the real stories, such as 9/11, which would take the wind out of the sails of the war ship.

On the other hand, the time is ripe for change. The U.S. is running a huge deficit, is overextended militarily, and has lost credibility in the world.

The powers-that-be are clearly following the old adage that "the best defense is a strong offense". They are desperately trying to play a strong offense (starting new wars, cracking down on civil liberties, killing whistleblowers, and maybe planning new false flag operations) in order to play defense (avoiding impeachment, indictments, guilty verdicts for war crimes, and exposure of the unholy alliances they have formed with the ruling elites of other countries and with established criminal organizations).

But a sizeable portion of the public is catching on to at least the basic dihonesty of the leaders, trust in the administration is plummeting -- even in wartime -- and ever-increasing numbers of people are reading websites that are exposing their real game.

The public is finally waking up, and the momentum has shifted away from the bad guys.

So How is A Peaceful Revolution Carried Out?

Obviously, some wimpy, rose-colored-glasses strategy is not going to work against the ruthless criminals who run our country, or their media lapdogs. Any strategy must be realistic, taking away the sources of power that fund the criminal enterprises and illegal wars.

Certainly, the actions of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., might be instructive. Their sit-ins and other non-violent acts of civil disobedience impaired the ability of the repressive regimes to function, and drew outrage from around the world.

Boycotting all corporations -- whether defense, media, or otherwise -- that support the barbarians would also be helpful. And while I have not researched the legality of non-payment of taxes, IF non-payment is in fact legal, that might also be a good way to cut off funding of further imperial mischief.

But, unfortunately, I don't have many of the answers. There are people with far more wisdom, creativity and experience than me who would have a better idea of how to win a peaceful revolution. I urge them to step up to the plate.

And I urge you to use every ounce of wisdom, creativity and strength you have, and all of your passion to avoid a bloody mess for you and your family, to create and implement a successful non-violent revolution.

Legal Disclaimer (the small print):

I am NOT calling for the overthrow of the government. In fact, I am calling for the reinstatement of our government. I am calling for an end to lawless dictatorship and a return to the rule of law. Rather than trying to subvert the constitution, I am calling for its enforcement. Do you disagree with these goals? If so, then YOU are anti-American.

I am not, in short, using the word "revolution" to mean overthrowing the government. Rather, I am using it in the original meaning of that word: to "come around again" to the ideals upon which America was founded.

Martin Luther King Jr. did not try to overthrow the government: he tried to promote justice and strengthen the government by promoting a non-violent alternative to Malcolm X. I am trying my best to be a peacemaker and to help avoid bloodshed. I am trying to prevent a civil war in this country, not start one. I am trying to prevent illegal acts, not incite them. I am a peaceful man.

The best way to avoid all types of revolution would be for the government to start following the rule of law. I passionately hope it will do so.