Lighting Luminaries on New Year's Eve

‘There is a principle

which is pure, placed in the human mind,

which in different places and ages

hath had different names.

It is, however, pure and proceeds from God.

It is deep and inward,

confined to no forms of religion nor excluded from any,

where the heart stands in perfect sincerity,

In whomever this takes root and grows,

of what nation so ever, they become brethren in the best sense of the expression.’

From the essays of John Woolman

A salute to soldiers and innocent children, women and men who have fallen victim to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A salute to and support of all Service women and men returning with physical and mental injuries. A support for the courageous women and men who continue to serve in these far away lands. A hope and prayer for the New Year that we as a humanity resolve our problems, our conflicts with conscious communication, with sensitivity to cultural, religious and social differences and build the foundation of tolerance, understanding and acceptance. A hope and prayer for a world beyond war.

To this we pledge a commitment to begin to raise the consciousness of this ill-fated war and begin an honest dialogue amongst ourselves by lighting luminaries on the eve of the New Year 2007. We will attempt to inspire other high school youth to do the same in adjoining communities, throughout the state of California and the Nation at large. This we hope will enable a surge of consciousness to all the peoples and we pray for a peaceful solution. We want to send this message of peace to all the parties who are contributing to death and destruction.

We are one humanity, born of a Mother’s womb and death comes to all of us. Let wisdom prevail and guide us.