To my dear Article 9 loving Japanese friends -

I wish you well in your efforts to keep your Japanese and my United States governments from completely killing that beautiful Article 9 wisdom that resides in your constitution.

In these days around the August 6th and 9th -- 64th anniversary of the nuclear vaporization of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I am powerfully moved to see Article 9, metaphorically, as having risen like a Phoenix out of Hiroshima's and Nagasaki's radioactive ashes and the awful death and destruction that was World War II. I see Article 9 as most all humanity's cry for an end to that vulgar obscenity called war. I see Article 9 as the world's most profound "rule of law" that replaces those barbaric "rules of war" that nation-states have worshiped almost from the beginning of so-called civilization.

Thus I cry for you in Japan, in whose constitution Article 9 resides, to find ways to powerfully launch your government on a new path - one that recognizes Article 9's planet-wide significance as a model for the entire world. Please insist that your government proudly proclaim to the world that Article 9 is its badge of honor, and with that badge -- demonstrate first-class international leadership in multitudes of non-violent, non-military means for conflict resolution and -- the "prevention" of wars and global warming - as its contributions for world peace and justice.

Even though this world is in fearful shape [economically, global-warmingly, and militarily] there are a few hopeful rays feebly in the horizon. For example, you in Japan will be having an election on August 30th in which you might be able to elect a new government that is less inclined to want to kill Article 9.

President Obama in his spring 2009 European visit indicated that he wishes to work toward the elimination of nuclear weapons from Planet Earth. Recent events in US-North Korean relations opens a tiny window of hope that possibly the USA might reorient is posture toward North Korea from one of military threats to that more like South Korea's former president Kim Dae Jung's "Sunshine Policy" - one of reaching out to North Korea in dialogue rather than with a military fist. We might even hopefully imagine that the USA and North Korea could, with dominantly bi-lateral talks -- work out a "peace treaty" to end the 56 year Korean War truce. These possibilities might also help to reorient Japan's posture toward North Korea.

None of the above will easily come to fruition, especially in view of the absolute dominance of "mountains of special interest money" that has essentially destroyed "democracy in America." The Obama group, however, still brings a tiny smell of hope to replace the stench of that hopeless Bush gang's reign.

Allow me to end this note, my dear Japanese Article 9 loving friends, with a quote from "The Talmud" -- words that enable me to lift my head a tiny bit.

"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it."

We are not free to abandon Article 9 !!!

Chuck Overby, A9S-USA