Viewpoints
Words By Kathy Handel
Kathy worked for 40 years in public education as a teacher and guidance counselor.
Thirty-one years of that time was spent in Richland School District Two employed
as a high school guidance counselor.
After retirement she continued her passion for empowering others and her concern
for peace. She was one of the founding members of the Faith Coalition on Gun
Violence and currently serves as its chairperson.
Continuing her actions to promote peace, she completed the training to become a
volunteer workshop facilitator for AVP (Alternatives to Violence Program). AVP is a
national and international organization that is about creating peaceful lives and
peaceful communities. Started over 30 years ago after a riot at Attica prison, a group
of Quakers created AVP and it’s signature eighteen-hour workshop that differs from
other conflict resolution programs because it has a spiritual base and total
experiential format. Currently she is chairperson for AVP-SC.
A member of Washington United Methodist Church for 35+ years, she serves as an
occasional Sunday school teacher and member of the Missions Committee. Other
memberships include the League of Women Voters, 35 years with the same
“Women’s Group” who meet twice a month for dinner, and two book clubs.
FCGV Newsletter
Faith Coalition on Gun Violence has members from the following Faith Organizations:
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AME
Baptist
Catholic
Episcopalian
Lutheran
Methodist
Presbyterian
Quaker
Unitarian Universalist
"If all people would practice the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you" we can not imagine any better form and foundation
for the end of war, a spiritual solution to the economic problem, and the
establishment of a universal and everlasting Kingdom of justice and peace on
earth for all mankind. (From the website of Universal House of Justice of Baha'i Faith):
Baha'i World Faith:
"Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself."
(Baha'u'llah, Tablets, p. 71)
Buddhism:
"Hurt not others with that which pains yourself or in ways that you yourself would
find hurtful. One should seek for others the happiness one desires for one's self"
(Udana-Varqa, 5:18)
Christianity:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
(Luke 6:31)
Confucianism:
"Do not unto others what you would not have them do unto you."
(Analects, 15:23)
Hinduism:
"This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others that which would cause pain if done unto you."
(Mahabharata 5:1517)
Islam:
"Not one of you is a believer until he desires for another that which he desires for himself."
(Muhammad, 40 Hadith of an-Nawawi 13)
Judaism:
"What is hateful to you, DO NOT to your fellow man. That is the law: all the rest is commentary."
(Talmud, Shabbat 31a)
"Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD."
(Moses, Leviticus 19:18)
Native American:
"Do not kill or injure your neighbor, for it is not him that you injure, you injure yourself.
But do good to him, therefore add to his days of happiness as you add to your own. Do not
wrong or hate your neighbor, for it is not him that you wrong, you wrong yourself. But love him,
for The Great Spirit (Moneto) loves him also as he loves you."
(Shawnee)
Sikh:
"Precious like jewels are the minds of all. To hurt them is not at all good. If thou desirest
thy Beloved, then hurt thou not anyone's heart."
(Guru Aranj Devji 259, Guru Granth Sahib)
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