Under the baobab: Put down the guns, brothers and sisters. Give peace a chance

Somehow during my four score years on earth, I have managed to be in other countries when my country has been at war. In the late 1960s I was visiting France, Spain and North Africa while up to a half million American troops were fighting in Vietnam.

By then it had become an unpopular war in the U.S. but people, particularly young people, overseas were very critical of our country. Vietnam ended tragically for the American commitment. More than 50,000 U.S. troops and millions of Vietnamese died. Today the U.S. is one of Vietnam’s primary export trading partners.

I was serving as a Fulbright Fellow in South Africa when the U.S. invaded Iraq searching for elusive “weapons of mass destruction.” During the effort Saddam Hussein’s regime was toppled and the country was left in a shambles.

I was asked to present a play to the Capetown diplomatic community explaining our country’s motivations from a personal perspective. It was called “9/11: A Day in the Life of a People.” We performed the play each year on the anniversary of the 9/11 attack, including at the National Constitution Center. We had much of the world’s sympathy when we invaded Afghanistan in 2001. It was seen as retaliation for the World Trade Center attack. Not much sympathy when we invaded Iraq, which was not involved in the September 2001 attack.

I am writing this ides-of-March column from Berlin as our country initiates war against Iran. On the first day, a likely U.S. military error resulted in the tragic bombing of Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school and reportedly at least 165 deaths, mostly children.

It is ironic that I am working on a film in a country, which is symbolic of aggressive wars from the last century. Germany under the Nazis attacked, invaded and militarily brutalized weak countries all over the world. Their hubris led to their downfall, but not before 60-75 million people perished. Six million Jewish people and millions more from groups targeted by the Nazis were killed in the Holocaust. It was the bloodiest war in history.

The German people learned the lesson — aggressive wars against seemingly weaker nations do not work. Everywhere I go people ask why Americans have not learned this as well. The nuclear standoff during the Cold War led to a nervous peace, built on fear of potential retaliation and annihilation. If we are to survive, we must construct a peace built on love and concern for others, all others.

Despite what some people say, the United States is not admired for military might, economic power or Disneyland. Rather it is because as the oldest sustained democracy, we have been a beacon of hope. Our ancestors struggled to build a community based on the belief that we the People, ALL the people, “endowed by their creator with inalienable rights … life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” are entitled to a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Put down the guns, brothers and sisters, and the drones and the rockets. Let us open our arms to each other. Open our minds to the possibility of peace. Give it a chance. Embrace the children; don’t bomb them.

Other happenings

This is Oscar weekend. Our Centre County neighbor, Delroy Lindo, has been nominated for best supporting actor for his role in “Sinners.” Of course it is an honor to be nominated. In Delroy’s case it would be a veneration bestowed for a life of distinguished work in the craft.

Congratulations to Connor Hill, 17-year-old State College Delta High School senior, who earned the $250,000 top prize at Regeneron Science Talent Search, which “recognizes science and math research conducted by young scientists across the U.S.” Competition sponsor Society for Science honored Hill and his achievement at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Congratulations, Penn State wrestling and ice hockey.

Charles Dumas is a lifelong political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. Congress in 2012. He is a Lions Paw honoree. He lives in State College with his wife and partner of over 50 years.