http://www.modbee.com/2010/10/10/1377855/center-touts-peace-for-40-years.html
Modesto activists press for amity and social justice
By Lisa Millegan Renner - lrenner@modbee.com
Oct. 11, 2010
It began as a draft counseling service for young men who were trying
to avoid service in the Vietnam War.
When the war ended, the group took up other causes, such as safe
energy, the environment and conflicts in Latin America and Iraq.
Still going strong, the Modesto Peace/Life Center celebrated its 40th
anniversary at a picnic in August. Operating on a bare-bones budget
of $20,000 and managed by volunteers, the group maintains a small
office on 13th Street. About 3,000 people subscribe to its monthly
newspaper, Stanislaus Connections, and about 150 people remain active members.
Its many activities include an annual social justice youth leadership
conference, a peace essay contest, an annual Martin Luther King Jr.
Day commemoration, a monthly song circle, a summer peace camp and an
annual concert by folk singer John McCutcheon.
That it's lasted this long is mainly because of a small group of core
supporters that has stuck with it through thick and thin.
From the beginning, the Peace/Life Center was not an easy sell in
conservative Modesto.
"It was not well-accepted in the community," said longtime member
Sandy Semple, 71. "It was never popular."
Members recall being called traitors during some of their anti-war
protests. Some community members resented the organization trying to
convince people to stay out of Vietnam. More recently, some residents
cursed and threw things at the group members when they were
demonstrating in town during the early days of the Iraq war in 2003.
Things are different now. Peace vigils against military presence in
Iraq have more supporters. It's a different situation since President
Barack Obama declared an end to combat operations in August.
"The number of people who yell at us is a fraction of the people who
wave," said longtime member Dan Onorato, 65.
Making peace heard
Onorato said he's proud of the part the Peace/Life Center played in
the international movement to limit nuclear weapons and successfully
helping to prevent a proposed nuclear power facility east of
Waterford. He also feels good about the group's efforts to halt U.S.
military interventions in Latin America.
"We helped shut off funding for U.S. aggression in Central America,"
Onorato said.
But Jim Costello, 62, said the Peace/Life Center's work is important
even when its efforts aren't successful. Military actions continue to
go on despite the efforts of peace activists around the world.
"You do what you think is right," he said. "If you're looking for
good results all the time, you'll be disappointed."
Ken Schroeder, 62, said the center is an important public witness to
show that there are some people in Modesto who believe peace and
social justice issues are important. Plus, it provides a place for
like-minded people to gather.
"The Peace/Life Center became a community for me," he said. "A lot of
my closest friends developed in it."
However, Onorato worries about the future. The group lacks members
ages 25 to 40, and he wonders who will take over the group when he
and the rest of the older generation step down.
Whether or not the group lasts another 40 years, members hope that
the younger generation will find its own way to make the world a more
peaceful place. Mike and Jana Chiavetta, who are in their early 50s,
are doing their best to reach teens through methods like their annual
social justice youth leadership conference.
"We're interested in helping young people become interested in
peace," Chiavetta said.
--
Bee staff writer Lisa Millegan Renner can be reached at
lrenner@modbee.com or 578-2313
.
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