Raving Dove serves as an online literary journal dedicated to sharing thought-provoking writing, photography, and art from around the world that opposes the use of violence as conflict resolution, and embraces the intrinsic themes of peace and human rights. Raving Dove is published online three times each year. It enriches the reader by way of exceptional, meaningful literature and art, and communicates the artistic, humanitarian insights of the contributing writers, photographers, and artists through worldwide visibility on the Internet.
Raving Dove is a nonpartisan, nonsectarian endeavor.
The Catalyst
In the words of political scientist and author David Friedman, "The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations."
Not quite. In looking at this comprehensive listing of world conflicts, there are quite a few nations--large and small--who have flexed their muscles over the centuries. But why?
Civilization appears to be in a stage of arrested development. Parents teach children to solve differences with mental dexterity instead of physical aggression, yet that same discipline doesn't apply to nations. Not all of them. Individual murder is condemned, yet the mass murder of innocents, in war, is defiantly acceptable.
Perhaps it's the abbreviated information we receive that results in a CliffNotes compassion in otherwise civilized communities. After all, war is a concept far removed from our daily cappuccinos, kids' soccer games and peaceful hikes in the mountains. When we dig a vegetable garden in the spring, we don't strike a cluster bomb by accident and lose a leg. When we make an emergency trip to the hospital, we're not hit with a round of bullets because we took the wrong road. And when we tuck our children in at night, we don't muffle their ears with headsets to drown out the bombs.
It's within our ability to evolve, but only if humanity speaks out. Nobody should have to endure gunfire, missiles, land mines and cluster bombs right outside their kitchens and on their children's playgrounds. Limbs, lives, loved ones and little ones should never be shrugged off as necessary collateral damage.
One day this thing called war will be part of our tragic past, not the blueprint for our future. A new stance will take hold, borne of a determination to solve differences and instill freedoms not with the use of horrific slaughter, but by profound thought and civilized action.
Won't you share your creative angst and humanitarian visions with us?
Jo-Ann Moss, Editor
Raving Dove
About the Editor
Jo-Ann Moss has been a writer, editor, and webmaster for over 25 years. She is a strong advocate for the advancement of human rights without resorting to violence, and hopes that one day her children and grandchildren can enjoy a more peaceful world. She resides in Oregon with her family.
Chronology
July 2004: Writers Against War is launched online.
February 2006: Writers Against War is changed to Raving Dove to reflect a more introspective philosophy.
May 2006: Raving Dove, Inc. is formed, and 501c3 nonprofit status is pursued for fundraising purposes.
Early February, 2007: Nonprofit approval is received from the IRS; Raving Dove is classified under humanities, and represents a nonpartisan, nonsectarian literary endeavor with a humanitarian, anti-violence theme.
January 2008: Raving Dove is ranked #1 for poetry in an online journal in the Preditors and Editors Readers' Poll.
March 2008:
• Raving Dove® is officially registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
