Category Archives: sonnets

Rigoberta Menchu Tum was born Into poverty in Guatemala, Indian. From having to work in the fields as a child, She moved to Mexico when the governing classes tried And confiscated Indian lands. “Massacres Were normal.” The Indians fled to fight. Rancour Ruled, her family murdered intentionally – The “blind brutalization of the whole society.”*Continue reading “1992 – Rigoberta Menchu Tum”

Suu Kyi’s international life and beliefs attest To her Buddhist values – truth and loving kindness,* Denouncing Burma’s – Myanmar’s – military leads Who profited on drugs, corruption and greed. The people saw those lies but were powerless, Thousands driven in massacres – to death, no less. Her father, advocating democracy, was assassinated. She grewContinue reading “1991 – Aung San Suu Kyi – 2”

Free from fear, she spoke and stood Up to Burma’s military junta, But failed in her efforts for democracy and peace, Thwarted by corruption and military hatred. If Peace could be brought there, one would Have to compromise and also release This woman – whose crimes were, well, to bate Greedy fascists, sit silent, watchingContinue reading “1991 – Aung San Suu Kyi”

Gorbachev’s fortunes were always in a state of thaw. His background in agriculture had pleased Communist pollsters, But his acceptance of widening freedoms he saw Flowing in the Baltic States and across their borders Resulted in his losing his grip on the Soviet Union, itself. From ‘Man of the Year’ and the Committee’s choice, toContinue reading “1990 – Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev – 2”

Gorbachev studied law in Moscow and became Politically active early in life.  His reward Was progressively gaining power and influence.  His fame Grew as he travelled for the Communist party – toward A restless Eastern Europe.  As the USSR collapsed, He had risen to power at a moment he’d not let lapse: He saw theContinue reading “1990 – Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev”

The 14th Daila Lama, Buddhist, a farmer’s son, Won for resisting the use of violence in Tibet’s struggle To regain its liberty from China after their defeat: his humble, Non-militant stance in attempted negotiations proved Unsuccessful, leading to, well, both disapproval And derision, awards and questions:  Can a strategy Of non-violence succeed when purposeful moralContinue reading “1989 – The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso”

Since 1956, U.N. peace operations were stationed At precise conflict points. This award was made Honoring a half-million in 53 nations. Negotiation And persuasion quieted conflicts where ceasefires were laid But formal peace treaties were not yet concluded. The role of this work was to ‘actively protect’ – to subdue The tensions of those withContinue reading “1988 – The United Nations Peacekeeping Forces”

Oscar Arias Sanchez, then President of Costa Rica Received this award for his work in generating a treaty Designed to build Peace between five Central American nations. Lack of freedom, poverty, insecurity and repression Were part of the lives of over 25 million in this area. Conflict gave way to a more open and trustingContinue reading “1987 – Oscar Arias Sanchez”

Elie Wiesel was sent with his family to die By the Germans, in the Holocaust of Hitler’s intolerance. From Wiesel’s liberation onward, his clarion cry Was always to prevent ‘contributory negligence:’* He became a writer and wrote of the camp’s atrocities, Not simply to witness man’s barbarous treatment of man, But to awake in allContinue reading “1986 – Elie Wiesel”

As nations developed nuclear weapons while saying This ‘helped’ their security, others who knew were laying A scientific and medical foundation to speak the truth To power, destroy the ‘false hope’ messaging and ruse: Few can scientifically fathom the scope of destruction, Either by human limits or obfuscation.* This organization began jointly between American andContinue reading “1985 – International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War”