Why has the monks’ ‘Walk for Peace’ drawn so many? It’s more about us than them | Opinion
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Monks' Walk for Peace draws national attention and large public gatherings.
- Monks offer a healing, nonpartisan touch amid deep political polarization.
- Destination of the walk is Washington, D.C., symbolizing national unity and return.
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As the Buddhist monks’ “Walk for Peace” arrives in Raleigh they have drawn vast numbers of people to witness their journey by gathering along their route and following them through social media.
Why have so many been captivated as the monks in saffron robes proceed on a three-month trek from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C.?
One explanation is that the monks offer a healing, nonpartisan point of connection for a nation riven by political polarization.
But this is not a kumbaya moment. The nation is split, though increasingly unevenly, over the political divisions exploited and exacerbated by President Donald Trump. An American Research Group poll released on Wednesday shows Trump’s approval rating at the lowest point of his second term, with 35 percent approving and 63 percent disapproving.
Trump’s slump is largely driven by unhappiness with the economy, but it also reflects an exhaustion with his bullying of our allies, his baseless prosecution of those who offend him, his using the presidency to enrich himself and his family and the police-state actions of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
Into this bitter, cruel moment, when many Americans feel the nation is abandoning its ideals and betraying its friends, these peace-loving monks come like a spiritual balm for those exhausted by Trump and Trumpism. They are showing that one way to “insure domestic tranquility” is through individuals seeking inner peace and, we might infer, voting accordingly.
It is no accident that the destination of this “Walk for Peace” is the nation’s capital. And it is not a coincidence that the message is being carried by monks whose spiritual traditions come from other lands. Just as people in Minnesota have rallied to protect immigrants, so many are drawn to support these monks who represent the diversity, vibrancy and goodness of America. In their long walk, they seek to bring the nation back to itself.
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This story was originally published January 24, 2026 at 4:30 AM.