Democracy

Yesterday, I joined a friend and many other members of the Brandywine Peace Community, (see www.brandywinepeace.com), in a vigil for peace at Lockheed Martin, the world's largest weapons corporation, in King of Prussia. The vigil and ceremony to remember those who died at Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended with a nonviolent civil disobedience action during which my friend was arrested with 13 others and taken to jail for a brief stay. As the protesters crossed the line to enact a die-in, the police remained calm, patient and gentle, carrying out their duties as required by law while allowing those about to be arrested to carry out their duties as required by conscience. This was truly democracy - giving all the right to act as they must.