The anti-war demonstration held yesterday at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology defied normal conventions of a typical peace rally. Instead of chants, billboards and signs, the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra helped convey the theme of music’s power over war, with the event’s intention to ‘orchestrate the new peace.’
The orchestra’s conductor, Jonathan James, explained how the first piece, Beethoven’s ‘Overture to Egmont,’ captured ‘a dramatic struggle that led to Count Egmont’s public execution and the Dutch retaliation his death inspired.’
The orchestra also performed Richard Strauss’ ‘Metamorphesen,’ which James explained ‘expressed Strauss’ deep sense of loss and remorse after World War Two, both for himself and for Germany’s decimated cultural life.’
Winston Langley, professor of International Relations at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, followed the performance by discussing the disparities among Americans, and their progression to sentiments of war.
‘I am white, you are black, and therefore you must acknowledge my royalty,’ he said. ‘I am Christian, you are poor, and therefore you must acknowledge my superiority. These are the attitudes that breed war because they deny equal claims to socioeconomic well-being.’
He explained the common theme of why America is a more belligerent society than most others.
‘War is a vital part of our history; therefore Americans have a necessity for war and justify the need for war since it has happened in the past,’ he said. ‘What people don’t seem to understand is that all belong to a common homeland, Earth.’
He concluded by arguing the ideal of democracy, that ‘the government has the right to offer preference to citizens that are Americans over citizens that are Iraqi.’
‘If we are all citizens, what difference should it make?’ he said. ‘Let those who lead us to war pay politically.’
Randall Forsberg, director of the Institute for Defense and Disarmament Studies and co-founder of the Global Action to Prevent War, argued for the obliteration of nuclear weapons. She said the problem should be resolved ‘politically, not violently.’
‘There are 10,600 nukes in the U.S. as of today, and in 10 years, there will be over 12,000,’ she said. ‘Do we really want weapons of mass destruction to be growing at that fast a rate? Destroying [Iraq] will not solve the problem, but rather infuriate other countries and put America’s position even more in jeopardy.’
Forsberg outlined her practical steps to solving regional conflicts peacefully, including strengthening support for human rights and expanding the membership of the United Nations.
Sixty-four-year-old Reita Weiss said she came to the rally to understand the meaning of the ‘global realities’ of war.
‘I’ve seen war before,’ she said, ‘but this is the most dangerous time in our history.’
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