Walking through the headlines: Today So Far

With all the headlines that we can only read from afar, I recently found myself thinking about a monk, strolling around Kitsap County.

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for Feb. 28, 2022.

Drivers in North Kitsap County have long been familiar with a figure strolling along the side of the road — a Buddhist monk. As common as the scenes of shopping centers and drive-thrus in this area, is the monk who embarks on "Peace Walks" from his monastery on Bainbridge Island to the Bangor Trident military base. He, and others, have made this journey at least once a year, for many years. At a brisk stride, a person can walk this trip in about seven-ish hours. But they are in no hurry. Every step aims to convey a range of messages, chiefly among them: get rid of the nukes.

Bangor holds a considerable share of the nation's nuclear weapons. Therefore, its gates have been targeted by protests for decades, drawing in Catholic peace activists from Tacoma to non-violent supporters from Poulsbo, and others. Those protests have happened since the Cold War. But things have recently heated up with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Putin has escalated things even further by placing Russia's nuclear forces on high alert this weekend.

The Puget Sound region has a third of the United States' nuclear weapons — about 720 warheads at Bangor alone. It's these weapons that come under consideration when it comes to nuclear deterrence. So far, the U.S. has not matched Putin's nuclear posture. However, emergency management officials across the Northwest are at heightened levels of readiness for a radiological event. Whether it comes from radiation kicked up from the Chernobyl site that Russian forces have overtaken, or worse.

RELATED: Microsoft president describes the digital assault on Ukraine

Meanwhile, remember how I said you should watch out for online misinformation and disinformation? Well, Facebook just uncovered Russian "covert influence operations" targeting Ukraine. From a viewer's perspective, fake accounts appeared to be very real news organizations and people. The general goal of the operation was to weaken trust in the Ukrainian government and society. Sound familiar? The same thing has been happening to us, in the U.S., over the past few years. Russia really likes to target us.

Other headlines you may have seen while doom scrolling through recent news is that there are talks happening in neighboring Belarus, with some hope of negotiating a cease fire. Russia is getting hit hard with sanctions and its economy has suffered since the invasion. Ukrainians are fleeing to other neighboring countries as refugees.

RELATED: Seattleites rally in support of Ukraine

With all the headlines that we can only read from afar, I recently found myself thinking about that monk strolling around Kitsap. His name is Rev. Senji Kanaeda. He is often seen chanting the phrase "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" and striking a small drum with each step. It's all a form of meditation. And he's not always alone; others join in. While there is a message behind the Peace Walks, the overall goal is humble — alleviate some suffering through a walk, hoping that passersby feel something "comfortable or good." I know I shouldn't say this as a journalist, but I took some time to put the headlines aside this weekend, and found myself going for a walk. Sometimes it's OK to take a break, and be pummeled by the Northwest rain instead.

AS SEEN ON KUOW

Eva Solorio (left) and her mom, Ana Iglesias, on Eva's 15th birthday. Eva is wearing a traditional dress from her mom’s home state, Jalisco, Mexico. She relates her story of developing an eating disorder, and the support she found among family, in the latest edition of RadioActive. (Courtesy of Eva Solorio)

DID YOU KNOW?

One of two museums dedicated to the United States' Buffalo Soldiers is right here in Washington state. The museum opened its doors in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood in 2012.

The Buffalo Soldiers were all-Black infantry regiments formed in the wake of the Civil War. While they are commonly associated with the late 1800s (and that Bob Marley song), these regiments were active for decades, up through WWII and the Korean War before the military was integrated. Washington had one such regiment — the 25th Infantry Regiment — based locally in 1909, which accounted for one-third of Seattle's Black population at that time. Their involvement in military maneuvers near American Lake in the early 1900s helped lead to the formation of Fort Lewis.

The Tacoma museum offers some great virtual options, and is open a couple days a week, or by appointment.

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