HELIOLITH

In researching the Black Panther Party, I came across a website dedicated to illustrating the positive history of the political group. I found a quote on pacifism that resonates meaningfully, especially in the weeks before an election that threatens to reelect a war-minded leader. Huey P. Newton:

“The Peace Movement is extremely important, more important than I thought it was two years ago. The reason I place so much more emphasis on the Peace Movement is that I now see that if peace were to come about, it would revolutionize the basic economic composition of the country.”

Newton’s connection between the economy and the military applies equally well to the US government today as it did then. The same people who execute the war profit from it. It is unbelievable that no legislation has been pushed through to prevent people who have a financial interest in escalating violence and warfare from having any say in military decisions. Either you sacrifice your position of power in the decision-making process, or you sacrifice your shares in a weapons manufacturer.