Today I watched a video of police attacking innocent peaceful travellers on their way to a field near Stonehenge in 1985 called Battle of Beanfield at this link https://youtu.be/V1doyDQDZtc . I hadn’t seen this before as I was also living in a community of peaceful earth-loving people with no access to news at the time when I was living overseas. I still do not like to watch violent films for entertainment, especially the gruesome news reports these days.

As a Quaker we have a Testimony to Peace and one of our advices #31 from Advices and queries reads:

We are called to live ‘in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars’. Do you faithfully maintain our testimony that war and the preparation for war are inconsistent with the spirit of Christ? Search out whatever in your own way of life may contain the seeds of war. Stand firm in our testimony, even when others commit or prepare to commit acts of violence, yet always remember that they too are children of God.

#32 : Bring into God’s light those emotions, attitudes and prejudices in yourself which lie at the root of destructive conflict, acknowledging your need for forgiveness and grace. In what ways are you involved in the work of reconciliation between individuals, groups and nations?

#33: Are you alert to practices here and throughout the world which discriminate against people on the basis of who or what they are or because of their beliefs? Bear witness to the humanity of all people, including those who break society’s conventions or its laws. Try to discern new growing points in social and economic life. Seek to understand the causes of injustice. social unrest and fear. Are you working to bring about a just and compassionate society which allows everyone to develop their capacities and fosters the desire to serve?

This video shows just one of many violent attacks perpetrated globally by the state controlled armies and police on innocent people who were as far as I could see not responding with violence. I wonder and hope that if we all took more responsibility for how we think and feel, wake up and become more conscious beings then our world could be a better place. Without dealing with it first and foremost within ourselves in our own lifestyle we cannot change the world – we have to BE THE CHANGE and action comes as a consequence. 

We have to love and accept ourselves and from that space we can love others and connect with the universal energy that permeates everything.