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Cindy Sheehan in Crawford, TXDear Friends, When I first heard that Cindy Sheehan had camped out in front of President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, it reminded me of another woman who sat down in the front of a bus because she was tired and had had enough. Then I thought, here is yet another painful example in our world today. We are tired of young men and women around the world dying needlessly, without purpose, and leading to escalating violence between nations, in our country, in our communities, in our schools. Women from around the country are uniting in Texas. It is time to ask ourselves why we are not using the knowledge and methods we already have to resolve conflict in nonviolent ways! We have not yet invested in organizing the wealth of information and resources we currently have and creating the structure to do so. It is time to do this. The focus of a cabinet level Department of Peace is the nonviolent resolution of conflict internationally and domestically. What would a Department of Peace be doing? How might it make a difference? We would be working within our government, the Iraqi government and governments of other concerned countries - with professionals trained in alternative dispute resolution, mediation, truth and reconciliation. We would call upon those who have worked in community building successfully around the world. We asked Louise Diamond, founder of The Peace Company, and co-founder with Ambassador John McDonald of the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, if she were part of a peace team right now what would be possible? Louise responded: "Our approach to peace building is threefold: She also indicated: We would look at needs and programs in Iraq, in this country and in partner countries and facilitate understanding and agreement on a peaceful direction. These discussions would be based on the premise that the cornerstone of freedom is the opportunity for all voices to be heard and for all people to have the opportunity to make a difference. Through dialogue and with the willingness of leadership to hear the voices of the people to create respectful and open-ended dialogue, we would resolve conflict. President Bush recently called for a conflict response team in our government. We encourage that dialogue. Our troops need our support. Let us quickly move in the direction of providing them with training in de-escalation of conflict, nonviolent communication, how to effectively manage potentially violent situations, and more! In the documentary "Gunner Palace", the closing scenes are of interviews with U.S. soldiers in Iraq commenting on how killing has not proven to be an effective solution in the past and that it is no different today. It is time for all of us, individually and as a group, to speak up in conscience as part of the new politics of hope. It is time to focus on creating a world that will work for everyone. Thank you Cindy Sheehan for your willingness to demonstrate how one person can make a significant difference on behalf of the common good. We are grateful to be part of the dialogue. Please support the much-needed Department of Peace! In the Spirit of Peace, Dot Dot Maver, Executive Director
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The Dark Side of the Force
Hate is just one of a set of "negative" emotions, along with fear, rage, despair, and others, that we experience in the course of our journey down life's path. It is difficult for a peace activist to recognize and accept these emotions in oneself, but only thus can they be utilized to advantage rather than acted out blindly. Please see A Parable of Two Trees for development of this concept.
"Blue in a Red State"
Re: HATE
...Like it or not hate serves the function of those who create it, which is cry out for justice...
This is wonderfully penetrating. We are all propeace at the core. The fear and hatred we exhibit are merely cries of painful disconnection from that. Our challenge is to meet fear and hatred with compassion, with an understanding of the pain they represent. At this moment in humanity's evolution, this is very difficult for all but the most saintly among us. But seeing what is at play, as you have so clearly articulated, helps us to begin to overcome the difficulty.
Hate is not of good or God!!
Hate of any kind, only creates more hate. It's not so easy to
forgive, but is the only way to make real progress for peace.
We will make no progress,if we don't open our hearts to understand
others, and thier point of view. Hatred will keep the world killing.
the Peace Department will teach these principles.
Love and respect others,and listen to what they have to say. Then
ask them to listen to what you have to say. With respect people
have a better chance to come to resolutions.
Let's face it, we need to "Think", for oursilves, not just indoctronation of religions, family or goverment rhetoric.
our minds have been brainwashed for a long time. Most of what we believe,we have never truly thought about. It's been past down to
us, generation after generation. Excepted without thought.
HATE
I beg to differ that hate is wrong for everybody, HATE is a shield, used by FEAR to harden the heart, yet it is also a shield which reflects the depth of that fear, a mirror which begs both the afflicted, those who care about he/r and society to take notice of the injustice which fostered that fear.
Hate for some is the only way they have been taught to heal, that it only places a scab over the wounds and allows those wounds to fester and harm others is the responsibility of all.
Therefore hate is very propeace, in that if one defines and heals the reasons for hate, peace will be the natural outcome of ones efforts. Like it or not hate serves the function of those who create it, which is cry out for justice, that they only understand the justice which they are allowed to see is a product of the social system that allows this to be.
“Nature is the Path to Peace.â€Â
©Bruce Larson*Moore
http://global-luvolution.blogspot.com
Re: Definately Be Careful
Well said. Certainly then it is even wrong to hate and disparage those we do not think highly of, no?
I've met Cindy. I looked into her eyes as she read her daughter's poem aloud. I shook her hand. She's definitely a human being, with all the inherent virtues and flaws. Certainly there is something propeace in her message with which we can find common ground.
Check this out: http://www.propeace.net/node/401
Peace to you,
Jason.
Definately Be Careful
I'm afraid Cindy Sheehan isn't who she tries to portray herself as.
Be careful who you embrace to promote your propeace ideoligy.I would like to see peace prevail but I find it hard to believe that someone who promotes and speaks anti-sematic and pro-communist beliefs champions the same cause . Mrs. Sheehan and her sponsors are anti-sematic and anti-democracy which is equivelant with a form of hate.
Hate is not propeace .Hate is wrong for everybody .
Bee*Careful
"President Bush recently called for a conflict response team in our government."
Pro*Peace,
Be careful to not allow your convictions to be deluded, "Conflict Response" is treating the disease, not the symptom. A sustained dialog of peace, for peace always, is what those who desire to maintain the power structure as-is, where-is, most fear and will resist to the bitter end.