(rough draft)
It started as an idea at approximately 10:25AM PST on January 19th, 2009 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day). Reflecting on the reverend's life and accomplishments, I decided to hold a moment of silence in his honor. As per my usual, I over-analyzed this simple act. I wondered how Dr. King would react if he were to look down and see millions of people honoring him.

He would probably rather people remember and work toward his goals of non-violence. I thought back on previous moments of silence I have been a part of to honor such great leaders and to honor and give gratitude to our veterans.

I remembered a Veterans Day from a number of years ago, when I worked in an office. The typical buzz of phone conversations and small meetings hummed over the cubicles, when a voice came over the loudspeakers calling to our attention that it was Veterans Day and that we were about to commence in a moment of silence to honor those who served our country so proudly. The office became silent (with an unanswered phone ringing in the distance, seeming to emphasize the silence even more). I felt a powerful mixture of pride, sorrow, and hope flow through the room. These emotions echoed in me as I thought of my Grandfather and other veterans who sacrificed so much, and asked for so little. Pride for what they did, sorrow for what they went through, and the hope their determined spirits have given us. The moment was very powerful for me. However, as with most annual events, the power of it faded slowly into oblivion within a week or two.

At this point I started putting my thoughts together:
1) In order for a moment of silence to make continuing impact, we need to hold them much more often.
2) The more people who participate in the moment of silence, the more powerful it will feel for everyone. With the constantly busy, noisy lives we have made for ourselves who would not feel moved by a moment when people, TVs, radios, etc were all silent?
3) To truly honor MLK, Gandhi, and sooo so many more who fought long and hard, and sacfriced there lives for us to live in a better world, our message must do more than just honor these people. The message must focus on their goal! A world with less violence. A world where conflicts are not resolved with weapons, but rather through discussion, respect, and a commitment to understand.

And hence, Silence for Non-Violence was born.. (for more, see our request)

(This story will continue, as our story continues...)