“On earth, peace” was the hope of the angels, but practical peacemakers must get the snowball started. Two efforts are noteworthy. Dr. Robert W. Smith, dean of the College of Public Affairs and Education at University of Illinois Springfield, has called for a National Conference on Restoring Civility in American Politics. He suggests the home of Lincoln is a good place to bring in eminent speakers on civility, and experts on political division. The role of academia and media in preserving dialogue and democracy could be considered. Smith asks for ideas to be sent to cpae@uis.edu. Another initiative is the call by 1,000 faith leaders around the globe for a Christmas truce in the war in Ukraine. “Negotiation is not a euphemism for capitulation, nor is it a rationalization of Putin’s aggression,” said Medea Benjamin, one of the movement’s leaders. “It is simply a recognition that the end of this war cannot be achieved by more war.” President Volodymyr Zelensky’s historic visit to the United States in this season of hope will be a good occasion to begin planning for peace. –Fletcher Farrar, editor
This article appears in Sweeping crime law in the spotlight.
