William Thomas 1440 N Street N.W. Apt. 410 Washington, D.C. 20005 Charles Litekey 1408 G Street S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 November 14, 1988 Dear Charles: At times I feel somewhat misunderstood, but was pleased with the opportunity to talk to you on the phone a couple of weeks ago. Surely these are trying times, but the refiner's fire tests the metal. My prayer is that, by focusing energy toward under- standing, a strong bond with Truth will be forged. There are a small number of us who believe that Truth is stronger than lies, and that those who are acting as our adversaries rely most heavily on lies. By focusing our energies in Peace (Lafayette) Park we hope that eventually a bond with Truth will persuade liars to repent. One would have to search long to find a group of more fiercely individualistic people than those of use who frequent the Park with a degree of focus, however there are several issues on which we all agree: 1. Every human being, regardless of political or economic persuasion, is worthy of love. 2. Nuclear weapons represent the greatest potential for death ever devised, and the most profound evil ever performed by humanity. 3. The United States and the Soviet Union are two disparate organizations with a combined nuclear arsenal equivalent to four tons of TNT for every man, woman and child on the crust of the earth. 4. While we love Americans as people, we think that the nuclear arsenal of the United States proves that this nation is an organization prepared to extinguish all life on Earth in an attempt to insure its political and economic existence. 5. We also agree that it is not possible for us to serve our God of life while contributing to or participating in an organization that considers the potential elimination of life from the planet to be a viable option under any conceivable combination of circumstances. 6. Therefore we have all decided to devote our lives to the promotion of Peace on Earth. Perhaps you're familiar with the theory that we all know the Truth, and would recognize it once we've stripped away all the falsehood that we've added to it. It is in this vein that I search for understanding. By the articulation of my perceptions others are become able to define for me the extent to which my perceptions of reality differ for their own, thereby enabling us all to approach closer to understanding the reality we share. I hope you may find the time to consider some of my perceptions, and correct me where they differ form your own. To my mind the Earth is a big ball of dirt hurtling through space. I believe that the Earth was created by God. I believe that the Earth is functioning precisely as God intended it to function, and, at least in that sense, it is perfect. I further believe that the Earth is composed of a finite number of elements, and that those elements join in various combinations to form every thing in nature. Rocks, trees, and elephants are merely combinations of these elements. To my understanding each of our bodies contains traces of every one of these elements. To me these elements, this Earth, are reality, and reality is very important. In my mind I draw a firm distinction between the Earth and the world. As I see it, the world is not reality, nor is it perfect. Rather, the world is a construct built upon the Earth. It is built of human ideas coupled with humanity's ability to manipulate the elements. For example humanity got the idea for a wheel, and crafted certain elements to form one. The idea of the axle coupled two wheels. The ideas of drive shafts, internal combustion engines, and the manipulative forces of metallurgy combined with axles and wheels to produce automobiles. Today much of the world believes automobiles to be indispensable. The example I have just given is one of technological ideas. It seems apparent that EVERY thing in the world evolves through a similar process. Consider chipped stone spearheads, arrows, guns, and nuclear weapons. I consider nuclear weapons to be a problem. But there are ideas other than technical ones which I also consider to be big problems. I consider war to be a problem. Fundamental to war are political ideas. Essential to political ideas are national boundaries. Having walked across continents, searching for those lines on the map, I'm convinced that national boundaries are a figment of human imagination. In reality, however, nuclear weapons are thought to protect national boundaries. There are economic ideas. Communism and Capitalism are examples. These ideas exist without regard for the reality of the Earth. It is widely believed that money, which is also a human idea, is very important. Many Capitalists and many Communists believe that nuclear weapons can protect dollars from rubles, or vice-versa. Religious ideas are another important body upon which the world is founded. Many noted thinkers of the world and a lot of other people have the idea that war can protect Islam from secular Zionism, Judaism from secular Nazism, or Christianity from materialism. I still think the Earth is perfect so I must conclude that crazy ideas can really mess up a perfect reality. If words have any meaning there is only one Truth, only one reality. Although we are each presently perceiving reality from different perspectives, there is a difference between a perspective of reality and reality. I do not believe that violence can ever bring peace. Only through patient and honest communication will we ever be able to realize stronger unity and a more objective picture of reality. Nor does it seem likely that true peace will ever be achieved by engineering a tranquil domestic scene. A comfortable home-life, surrounded by "family" and friends is, by definition, comfortable, but "comfort" is not "peace." In fact, assuming that I am correct in assuming that nuclear weapons are a manifestation of efforts to protect economic systems, the pursuit of "comfort" may well be the fundamental root of conflict. Often I am disappointed that less focused "family" (I put that word in quotes because I perceive only the Human Family -- assuming we came from Adam and Eve we're all brothers and sisters in that sense, assuming we all came from the same one celled protozoan then we're brothers and sisters in that sense -- and consider subdivisions of that Family as nothing more than founda- tions for fear, greed and prejudice) members can sometimes wheedle the more focused from the path of Truth and peace and down the highway of "comfort" and "security". Probably an ancient situation, one which even Jesus may have referenced. Yet we mustn't lose hope. One day, having put family, lands, and possessions behind us, we will find no need to worry about what we shall eat, where we shall live, or how we will be clothed. We will stop worrying about tomorrow, focus on the evils of today, and the evil will desolve into good. Hope you can visit us in the Park sometime. Your friend,