Joint Statement Calls For Peace During Easter

A media conference was held at the Hamilton Cathedral by Canon Calvert Prentis, Bishop Nicholas Dill, Imam Saleem Talbot, retired Regiment Captain Wendell Hollis, and Glenn Fubler “in response to the local cycle of violence and the unprecedented level of global brutality.”

A spokesperson said, “Given the challenging circumstances globally, we, diverse members of our community, named below – on our personal behalf, join over this period of Easter to offer our reflections. This Christian milestone provides us a reminder of the potential of even a single candle on the darkest night.

“The gloom currently filling global media includes:

• “International engagement taking the form of massive illegal military attacks rather than the deployment of diplomacy.

• “The violations of international laws and norms; trashing the ballast of civilized society.

• “Callous disregard for the lives of ordinary people, notably children; normalizing incredible levels of cruelty, rather than a reverence for life.

“Locally we are experiencing a worrying cycle of violence, which recently resulted in the fifth murder since last August, undermining reverence for life.

“The year 1968 was another period of significant gloom, globally. In the midst of the United States War against Vietnam, Martin Luther King Jr – who had campaigned for peace with clergy and laity concerned – was assassinated on April 4th. Two months later, Robert F Kennedy, who was another campaigner for peace, was also assassinated on June 5, 1968.

“The spirits of these two icons remain as beacons, still pointing the way forward. In a book published following his death, MLK left us a draft roadmap for current generations titled ‘Where Do We Go from Here; Chaos or Community.’ Of course, chaos is dominating the current global ethos.

“Community is a requisite for peace, which flows from a paradigm of reverence for life. In the Easter story, Jesus demonstrated community by washing the feet of the disciples. MLK’s servant leadership proved key in sustaining an exemplary community over a year during the Montgomery bus boycott.

“Exactly one year before his death, on April 4, 1967, King delivered a seminal speech, formally declaring his opposition to the U.S. war on Vietnam. He called for a revolution of values, encouraging his country to become a human-centered society rather than a thing-centered one. In other words, King was calling for community, resonating with the spirit of Jesus’ example in the Upper Room.

“At our best, Bermudians have a legacy of fostering a sense of community, as exemplified by our renown as naturally hospitable. Of course, we know we have much more work to do in that regard.

“As we reflect during this Easter period, highlighting these considerations would hopefully promote dialogue throughout our island which would foster community. Reminded that we don’t have to fight the darkness, but allow our light to shine, we all have a role to play in transforming chaos and nurturing community. Doing so not only benefits Bermuda, but it potentially serves to inspire other members of our human family.

“A media conference at the Hamilton Cathedral included Canon Calvert Prentis, Bishop Nicholas Dill, Imam Saleem Talbot, retired Regiment Captain Wendell Hollis, and Glenn Fubler.

“This in response to the local cycle of violence and the unprecedented level of global brutality, ignoring diplomacy and international law. Those assembled represented a diverse group of residents who – during Easter Week – are inviting the entire island to collaborate in fostering peace at home and abroad.

“A joint statement capturing the details of this call was provided.”

Glenn Fubler said, “Today, we have a peace tree – a potted Olivewood – the species we’ve planted across Bermuda over the last decade in response to the local cycle of violence.

“Given the current global madness, today we are widening this campaign to address the planet. Residents are invited to visit this site near the bell at the Cathedral from now through Easter Monday to pause and reflect on the need for peace from a personal, family, community, and global perspective.”

Canon Calvert Prentis said, “We are all witnesses of the impact of policies involving war as the first option, live-streamed by global media. You will note that around this peace tree are artifacts to symbolize the reality that children are being brutally killed. Appreciating the sanctity of every life, we remember the more than 150 primary school girls who were killed on February 28th – the surprise attack precipitating this latest war.”

Bishop Dill said, “We join in the lead up to Easter to reflect on the meaning of the season. This includes the realization of the redemptive power of suffering and to encourage all of us to access the restorative capacity of forgiveness.

“We invite resident, families, and visitors to stop by this site of the peace tree at the Cathedral and pause and reflect to foster peace within ourselves, our community, and our world.”

Wendell Hollis said, “The globe is facing unprecedented circumstance, especially for the level of disdain for international laws and norms post WWII. Of course, this is devastating the lives of civilians and the infrastructure of civil society. More than 500 schools have been damaged in Iran in the month of that war crime, as well as more than 300 medical centres.

“We are all called to raise our voices, along with the people of conscience from around the globe, to affirm to the powers that be that we stand for the sanctity of all lives, noting MLK’s reminder that ‘injustice to anyone is an injustice to everyone.’”

Saleem Talbot said, “Bermuda is at a crossroads because the globe is at a crossroads. This is evident in the circumstances of some of our young people and those in many of the older generations. It is especially evident in the warmongering evident in so many places, especially in the Middle East. There is no attempt to hide the disdain for the lives of so many, especially the Muslim, African descent, Arab, and other non-white populations of the world.

“In Bermuda, since we are so small, we have an opportunity to nurture an authentic community in which there is a reverence for the lives of everyone, thereby providing a global example of how people can work and live together in peace with dignity and justice regardless of race, religion, or wealth.”

The spokesperson said, “Additional names of those supporting the joint statement include Aaron Crichlow, Alfred Esdaille, Alex Scott, Charles Gosling, Dennis Lister, Dianna Kempe, Ellen-Kate Horton, Janet Kemp, Joan Dillas-Wright, Leonard Santucci, and Roy Wright.”

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