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		Points of View Robert Brown June 2, 2002 Guest Column © 2002 Robert Brown Published with Permission Photos © 2002 Keweenaw Now

Letter to Editor:

By Robert Brown, founding member, Copper Country Peace Alliance

Editor's Note: Robert Brown, a founding member, with his wife Viola Brown, of the Copper Country Peace Alliance (CCPA), wrote this letter in response to an editorial that appeared in The Daily Mining Gazette on Saturday, June 1, 2002, the same day as the most recent CCPA "Walk for Peace." Brown also read the letter aloud to the members of the group during the walk.* (See note below.)

HOUGHTON -- Here is a translation of a remark by Hermann Goering, Adolf Hitler's Deputy:

"Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter, in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.

"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to do the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.".

Bob Brown of Houghton reads the letter published here to fellow Copper Country Peace Alliance members during the "Walk for Peace" on Sat., June 1, 2002, in Hancock. Also pictured are Sue Ellen Kingsley, center, and Merle Kindred, both of Hancock. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

We hear talk about Iraq, Iran and North Korea being the Axis of Evil. India and Pakistan fight a war of words which soon may become far more than words. Israel and Palestine mobilize with words and fight with deadly weapons. Goering was quite correct in his analysis.

Can we, the United States of America, replace killing and war with love and peace as the future of our children -- as the salvation of the world? We, all of us here in this nation, hold the future in our hands. The words of the leaders in our government can determine war or peace. Let our leaders know how you feel.

*Note: Read the Daily Mining Gazette editorial, "Now that's a protest theme -- and a half."

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