I'll take every Friday as a no-gas, no-driving day, and end at least one-seventh of my slavery to gasoline.

What Would Gandhi Do?

was sitting in the smallest room in my house, minding my own business, and reading about how George Bush insists that we must win his war in Iraq, and a funny question came to my mind: Why haven't we, the people, stopped this war yet?

Isn't it clear to most of us that Mr. B & Co. lied about every reason we invaded this small, poor country? Hasn't it been proven in court, with "Scooter-Bobble-Heads" rolling, that there were massive delusional creations foisted on us by this "fictitious administration" to justify this, our first full-fledged corporate invasion, the Bush/Halliburton War?

So my next thought — a question really — had to do with a new bracelet idea: WWGD? or, What would Gandhi do? I've been performing around town this year as Mahatma Gandhi, steeping myself in his work, his life and his writings, so it made a lot of sense that I'd ask myself this introspective question while in my personal "library."

Gandhi made moves of strategic depth so often based in placing himself in the maelstrom of self-responsibility for an issue. In other words, he repeatedly took responsibility for his contribution to the problem, and by changing himself and changing his own life, he was the solution!

Then, he'd plead his case to the masses and invite them to join him. Brilliantly simple, really, but an incredibly powerful strategy.

His grandson, Arun Gandhi, tells the story of his mother and father fasting while feeding the kids because they took responsibility for their children's misbehavior and did a heartfelt, nonviolent penance for their role in contributing to the bad character of their own children. Arun said these were the most profound and lasting lessons of his life.

As I left my little room, I wondered: OK, how am I contributing to this war continuing? What are my parts in keeping this horrible war machine in motion?

My complicity in this war comes from my self-centered car habits. Here's my list:

• Oil. Gasoline. Overdependence on cars. Absolute insistence that I get to go wherever I want to, whenever I wish, with no regard for the hurt it contributes to other people's lives or to the environment. Total selfishness. Total disregard for the suffering and deaths of innocent Iraqi children, women, elders and our own soldiers in exchange for oil.

• Slavery to gasoline. I realized that I am a slave. Moreover, to speak up against this war would jeopardize this addictive gasoline lifestyle: I can't afford to stop this insane war — I need the gas!

What would Gandhi do? He'd stop the injustice within his own life first and then invite others to join him.

My solution, therefore, is to have at least one day a week where I don't do two things: purchase gas and drive my car alone, if humanly possible.

I decided to do this on Fridays and thus call them "Freedom Fridays." I'll take every Friday as a no-gas, no-driving alone day, and end at least one-seventh of my slavery to gasoline.

A small step, to be sure. Maybe a stupid idea. But Gandhi got rid of unjust personal ID papers by holding a barbecue and torching them. He thwarted the Brits and their salt monopoly by hiking with a few thousand folks to pick up some sea salt in his bare hands. He got 350 million Indian citizens to stay home and pray, thus not cooperating with the British rulers, employers and landlords. Take a day off for prayer and fasting, and create a general strike!

Maybe Freedom Fridays will catch on. I invite you to join me. E-mail me at CoachDon@DonMcAvinchey.com and tell me you're with me in this.

I'm also taking a page from Mr. Gandhi's personal practices. I'll be making my Freedom Fridays days of prayer and fasting for as long as this war continues, as my penance for my complicity in this illegal and unjust war, and for the killing of so many innocents.

I'd like to think that Gandhi would be smiling on me as I embark on my Freedom Fridays journey. "Be the change you seek in the world," he said. I know I can't just keep doing what I've been doing and expect things to change. So every Friday, at least, I'll change my patterns of contributing to this war. This may be a small step, but if we each commit to a small step, we'll make great headway on this journey of stopping this illegal war, and we'll help end our slavery together!





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		I'll take every Friday as a no-gas, no-driving day, and end at least one-seventh of my slavery to gasoline. What Would Gandhi Do? was sitting in the smallest room in my house, minding my own business, and reading about how George Bush insists that we must win his war in Iraq, and a funny question came to my mind: Why haven't we, the people, stopped this war yet? Isn't it clear to most of us that Mr. B & Co. lied about every reason we invaded this small, poor country? Hasn't it been proven in court, with "Scooter-Bobble-Heads" rolling, that there were massive delusional creations foisted on us by this "fictitious administration" to justify this, our first full-fledged corporate invasion, the Bush/Halliburton War? So my next thought — a question really — had to do with a new bracelet idea: WWGD? or, What would Gandhi do? I've been performing around town this year as Mahatma Gandhi, steeping myself in his work, his life and his writings, so it made a lot of sense that I'd ask myself this introspective question while in my personal "library." Gandhi made moves of strategic depth so often based in placing himself in the maelstrom of self-responsibility for an issue. In other words, he repeatedly took responsibility for his contribution to the problem, and by changing himself and changing his own life, he was the solution! Then, he'd plead his case to the masses and invite them to join him. Brilliantly simple, really, but an incredibly powerful strategy. His grandson, Arun Gandhi, tells the story of his mother and father fasting while feeding the kids because they took responsibility for their children's misbehavior and did a heartfelt, nonviolent penance for their role in contributing to the bad character of their own children. Arun said these were the most profound and lasting lessons of his life. As I left my little room, I wondered: OK, how am I contributing to this war continuing? What are my parts in keeping this horrible war machine in motion? My complicity in this war comes from my self-centered car habits. Here's my list: • Oil. Gasoline. Overdependence on cars. Absolute insistence that I get to go wherever I want to, whenever I wish, with no regard for the hurt it contributes to other people's lives or to the environment. Total selfishness. Total disregard for the suffering and deaths of innocent Iraqi children, women, elders and our own soldiers in exchange for oil. • Slavery to gasoline. I realized that I am a slave. Moreover, to speak up against this war would jeopardize this addictive gasoline lifestyle: I can't afford to stop this insane war — I need the gas! What would Gandhi do? He'd stop the injustice within his own life first and then invite others to join him. My solution, therefore, is to have at least one day a week where I don't do two things: purchase gas and drive my car alone, if humanly possible. I decided to do this on Fridays and thus call them "Freedom Fridays." I'll take every Friday as a no-gas, no-driving alone day, and end at least one-seventh of my slavery to gasoline. A small step, to be sure. Maybe a stupid idea. But Gandhi got rid of unjust personal ID papers by holding a barbecue and torching them. He thwarted the Brits and their salt monopoly by hiking with a few thousand folks to pick up some sea salt in his bare hands. He got 350 million Indian citizens to stay home and pray, thus not cooperating with the British rulers, employers and landlords. Take a day off for prayer and fasting, and create a general strike! Maybe Freedom Fridays will catch on. I invite you to join me. E-mail me at CoachDon@DonMcAvinchey.com and tell me you're with me in this. I'm also taking a page from Mr. Gandhi's personal practices. I'll be making my Freedom Fridays days of prayer and fasting for as long as this war continues, as my penance for my complicity in this illegal and unjust war, and for the killing of so many innocents. I'd like to think that Gandhi would be smiling on me as I embark on my Freedom Fridays journey. "Be the change you seek in the world," he said. I know I can't just keep doing what I've been doing and expect things to change. So every Friday, at least, I'll change my patterns of contributing to this war. This may be a small step, but if we each commit to a small step, we'll make great headway on this journey of stopping this illegal war, and we'll help end our slavery together!