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I Disagree!

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 Dear Friends,                                   I Disagree!
“I disagree with you completely. Isis would never agree to dialogue if we dropped food, clothing, medicines, and tents to them. They are a terrorist group. Don’t you understand who they are? Not in a  million chances would your idea work. I think you’re crazy.”  A gal responded emotionally, when I asked for their comments to my sharing. I was a bit taken back by it.
 So as soon as she finished before I could respond an African American fellow student girl responded with tears and choking up not being able to finish her thoughts, “I disagreed with her very strongly. Violence never works. Nonviolence is the only way….”
 Here I am in one of the 7 talks I gave at Verdugo Hills public High School.  This is at least the 4th year I have given talks here. This one on “Isis, Peace, and Nonviolence” I got by far the most emotional response I ever had. Always other years I shared about my 7 years with CPT in Colombia where I always got positive responses, but never as strong as this one. My sense was even though it seemed a very new idea to everyone. Most students left the room feeling this makes sense.
 One student that stopped me in the hall on my last day and said, “I really appreciate your sharing, thank you for coming; I told my mom she said nonviolence is the way. I think this guy has something.” I am very encouraged that she felt it important enough to share with her mom, and that her mom agreed with me. I find it very hopeful as more and more Americans are seeing war is not working and getting worse and just mushrooming.
Another said I am going to make copies of your flyer which summarizes your talk and give them out at my church.
 Thank you for your financial and prayer support that has enabled this trip to happen and be so effective so far.
May things be going smoothly and with shalom in yours days, Jim
 PS. attached is the flyer I gave out. On the 2nd page is the summary of my talk.




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