Willie Nelson

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Michael Okray sings his version of “A Peaceful Solution” to support a text based video composed entirely of quotations.

In case you miss some of the lyrics he added, here are a few that struck me as important additions.

“They think they own our lives…

“They took our freedom and sold it…”

These lyrics are delivered as Michael Okray picks up the tempo, volume and dynamics of his singing and guitar playing. He certainly knows how to punch up the parts to emphasize these points of importance.

The quotations Michael Okray uses in this video come from people throughout history.

It becomes apparent that some of the most respected people in history have advocated peace. Peace advocates come from all areas of the social spectrum.

What of those who work against peace?

We find those who profit from war and those who have been duped into believing the warmonger’s lies working against peace.

Those who truly profit from war are few. If those who have been duped could see the truth, then peace would prevail. This has always been a very sad paradox.

Those who stand to profit most from peace, those who loose the most from war, are those who stand in harms way risking life and health. These very people prove to be the most difficult to sway towards a peaceful resolution.

On one hand it could be encouraging to see all that humans have accomplished in stepping away from base animal instincts and natural limits. On the other hand it often seems we have done little but increase our mutual pain and suffering.

Once again it is the ones who suffer and die in the greatest numbers that seem the most resistant to meaningful change in our social-political systems. It is these people who violently resist pacifist sentiments who visit the most violence upon themselves.

How are we to approach those who work against peace?

We can only work peacefully. We may advocate peace and we can demonstrate peace. We cannot force others to our point of view with intimidation and violence.

We must control our social-political systems to isolate those who display psychopathic tendencies from sharing their madness with the rest of us. We must especially avoid psychopaths from coming to social-political power.

This seems to be one of the most difficult problems for people to solve. Those who wish to live peaceful lives must discover the means to protect themselves from remorseless people without a conscious.

That should be the role of our law and justice system. We have seen the law and justice system turned against people of peace. Here we have one more thing to change.

We must come to grips with our situation before the situation crushes us in its grip. Human history holds enough examples of stupid violence for all of time. While we fight amongst ourselves we tear down the world around us.

The environmental crisis is real. Regardless of their causes, we have issues to address and solve as a people.

Please, let us solve our problems peacefully. Michael Okray asks you, Willie Nelson asks you and those of us here at the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute ask you.

We cannot leave peace for another generation to solve, they may not have the time.

* * * * * Artist’s Statement * * * * *

Peace is a funny little thing. Looking at the average day it can be kind of hard to see. But sometimes, when you need sit back, there it is smack dab in front of you.

Sometimes it hides during the golden days but tries to show itself during times of war and desperation. That seems to be the time when advocators (us) come out, fighting for peace. Little ironic, ain’t it?

One of the worst things peace can be used for is as an excuse. But countries (especially the good ole US of A) use as that all too often. For some reason it seems to go almost like, “Hey we need to bring peace to this poor little country-let’s bomb ‘em!”

But if you want some real peace irony how about this: peace starting fights. These damn presidential nominees are saying that they are here to bring peace, but when a supporter of that candidate meets up with someone who is against them, Something’s gonna be happening, and it’s not peace.

We all seem to want the peace, but we’re ripping each other’s heads off because we all have different ideas on how to reach the some outcome. Why?

Personally think it’s because we’re all too damn stubborn and self centered to see things from any other viewpoint besides our own. As humans we’re selective. We consciously or subconsciously avoid what we don’t want to hear.

I know-I’ve caught myself red-handed quite a few times. So, how are we going to peaceify the world? That’s the ten thousand dollar question. I don’t have a clue who is doing what is best in the long run.

But if I we’re to give any advice to someone (not that I’m in a very good position to do that, but hey, as long as you’re reading) it would be to find someone who seems to have the right idea and use them as a guideline. But, do not mimic them.

That’s a surefire way to screw yourself. Just find inspiration. A man who can turn the other cheek, a woman who can compliment her enemies, a friend who is always there, a teacher that won’t give up, or, if all else fails, any small child who still sees the world through innocent eyes. They can surprise the hell out of you when they see what all the wise men overlook.

Help end world hunger…and build your vocabulary. For every right answer they donate twenty grains of rice to people living in hungry countries.
http://www.freerice.com/index.php

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