Island Breath: The Kauai Peace & Freedom Convention Hall

SUBJECT: KAUAI WAR MEMORIAL RENAMED

SOURCE: JONATHAN JAY jonathan@dakauai.com

POSTED: 2 FEBRUARY 2007 - 7:00am HST

Let's rededicate Lihue convention hall to peace

photo of the dedication at the Kauai "War Memorial Convention Hall" in Lihue.

by Jonathan Jay on 2 February 2007

Last weekend there was a well-intended rolling anti-IRAQ war protest around the island. I did not attend for a couple of reasons: a) My best analysis suggests they are protesting the wrong war - heavy and sustained multi-state air-strikes against IRAN are likely to begin within these next two months b) It's just not my style. I do not like protesting. I like dialog. I like action, concrete action.

As luck would have it, I happened to be at the "War Memorial Convention Hall" for a Health and Wellness Expo. How ironic. This is what I saw there carved in stone:

THIS CONVENTION HALL IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TO ALL THE VETERANS OF KAUA'I
TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY
OF THEIR GALLANT AND DEVOTED EFFORTS
TO BRING PEACE AND FREEDOM
TO ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD

Not bad, I thought. A solid sentiment that most folks - whether supporters of our present conflicts around the world, or those ethically opposed to imperial expansion - could probably all agree on. You will note that no where in this dedication is the word "War". Not there. Anywhere. I began to wonder, why was this place called the "War Memorial Convention Hall" ? Why wasn't it called the "Peace and Freedom Memorial Convention Hall", or the "Peace and Freedom Hall" for short.? How had this building become misnamed?

I think a better way to honor the original intent of the building's dedicators, and those who have devoted their gallant efforts and placed their lives on the line would be to re-dedicate the Memorial Hall to it's original purpose; Peace and Freedom. Who wants to memorialize war anyway?

War is terrible. Instead of focusing on the fighting, let's focus on what's worth fighting for, Peace and Freedom. Not just for one nation, but for all peoples of the world. Truly, this is an honorable goal. Easy to say, hard to do - but certainly worth striving to live up to. Will changing the name of this building bring the troops home? No. But surely, stopping the memorialization of war is one good step toward a better way of life.

I humbly ask that all readers of this letter who agree this County Facility should be 'respectfully re-dedicated', please contact the the County, and start a whisper campaign to rename this building. Just say YES to PEACE & FREEDOM! In fact, if you like, you can make the change yourself, right now! Say it out loud or in your head: "PEACE & FREEDOM CONVENTION HALL." See you there soon!

[Editor's Note: We fully agree, "Peace & Freedom Hall" is what we'll call it from now on. It should be added that the demonstration on Saturday was nationwide and focussed not only on ending the war in Iraq, but also on keeping it from escalating into Iran. Nearly two hundred letters were signed by paticipants and sent to our federal representatives and George Bush to move towards Middle East peace for both countries. A petition was circulated as well carrying the same sentiment. You can download it by clicking on the link below.]

Anti-war petition and letter writing station in front of Hanapepe Library on 27 January 2007

see also
Island Breath: Peace Petition for Iraq & Iran
Island Breath: War with Iran
Island Breath: Bush seeking the Rapture