Personal Price for Peace

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by elizabethbelhadj on August 5, 2009 at 5:49pm

I think its not what bad has been done, more, what good can be done.

Permalink Reply by Douglas 'Ou-ee-ii-jay-ii' Jack on August 6, 2009 at 5:28am

Dear Joe Michael Solomon,

I appreciate your title LOSS AS A MOTIVATOR FOR PEACE and hope the following response can give folks tools to explore and communicate their motivations dialectically step-by-step.

I'm 56 so I remember fellow Canadian high school students wanting to join the US army and fight in Vietnam. What were the influences which convinced you to join the army and then voyage to Vietnam? Since Vietnam many millions of youth and adults have been convinced by media propaganda to join American, Canadian and other armies to fight in various wars (Laos, Cambodia, Israel etc), . Much of Canadian media is dominated by the same economic interests who live culture or eco - antagonistic lives and profit from war. Over 50% of the North American economy is tied to armaments and war.

Still today the media propaganda machine only a few years after Afghanistan and Iraq is turning its attention to Iran. Both left and right propaganda develop cases against various domestic and foreign adversaries, till our minds stereotype our perceived adversaries and our hearts fill with anger.

SATYAGRAHA
The lesson I hope we will learn as a people is that whenever we feel this anger, we will reach out as Mohandas Gandhi did in his time with respect and kindness to the communities of people related to the object of emnity and them to interpret the religious, cultural, ethnic or government practices which are upsetting us

Youth (usually men) of fighting age can lead this inquiry. In the Americas (often far from conflict), we can ask members of various communities or religions, if they might comment for our benefit on "What are the best intentions for these acts ?" Considering predominant antipathy by Christians, Jews, Hindus and others against Moslems, local mosques can be one place to begin, if these are our concerns.

First of all, we begin to build familiarity with people we might not have met before. Secondly, we give opportunities for two sided dialogue on issues which concern us as well as the people we are engaging. Third, in the same way as foreign armament industries lay the foundation for war and conflict, so do our exogenous spending habits and expatriate community funds fuel war. Fourth, by engaging this dialogue locally, we can lay the foundation for lasting peace.

'DEBATE' (French = 'de' = 'undo' + 'bate' = 'the fight')

I work with an easy dialectic technique called 'Both-Sides-Now, Equal-Time-Recorded-Dialogues' by which those in collaborative research or in conflict resolution, give opportunity for the other to formally record dialogues with equal time given to both parties. In cases where complexity can benefit from researched and experienced thinkers, we can bring together opposing 'expert' views to speak together and illuminate our understandings.

Dialectic rights should be the first step in situations of emnity, but as well can be used at any time even in the middle of conflict zones. All governments, workplaces, schools, institutions, community-media and homes should be required to provide members / citizens / users the formal right and means to dialectic engagement. There are methods of grouping interests so that stakeholder groups (founders, parents, workers, suppliers, consumers etc) are asked to consider and coalesce their voices progressively in order to engage other stakeholder groups formally.

I have mediated sessions which usually require 90 minutes or 45 minutes of speaking time for both parties mixed in variable alternating segments. The role of a mediator is only to turn on the recording (audio and / or video) machine, provide refreshments (water), notepads, pens and to arrange transcription (speech recognition software does most of this) and distribution of copies. Participants can handle this themselves without a mediator as well.

Once various forms of recorded dialogues are available then they may be made available to colleagues and communities as well as to media. Dialectic rights as well means the right to publish recordings in appropriate media. Among families and other groupings a dialogue review might be confidential but for communities and other public bodies, the right to public disclosure through broadcast media (print, radio, TV, internet etc) provides a medium for all stakeholders to develop understandings together.

This right to publish is more powerful than weapons of war. If groups anywhere in the world including for example the 'Taliban' (Pashto = 'one who is seeking or student') are given the right and the responsibility to speak their truths dialectically, then they or others would be shamed by refusing.

A series of dialogues allow complex issues to treat details step by step. During a series-debate it is expected that speakers will commit themselves to reasonable retribution, contribution, disengagement etc. It is only at a point when one party refuses to formally dialogue, publish and respond that; governments would have the obligations to engage first in economic disengagement and then if necessary consequences, police, soldiers and armaments. There is not a sincere believer of any economy, affiliation, faith or belief in the world who would refuse an opportunity for published dialogue.

We can create peace through insistence for dialectic rights everywhere,

Permalink Reply by Douglas 'Ou-ee-ii-jay-ii' Jack on August 6, 2009 at 6:21pm

DISCOURSE THAT COMES FROM DIVERSITY

Diversity is an important concept at all levels (family to international) for releasing our creativity and productivity. Your international experience is precious for integrating the strengths of our larger humanity. We see in three dimensions by composing the different 2-D images from our right and left eyes and therefore can move about in the 3-D world.

Often mainstream institutionally dominated 'science', views of 'evolution' and economic 'progress' growing from our colonial heritage, when not well researched carry unconscious cultural prejudices which turn us against our heritage and ourselves in the same way that we are recruited to fight domestically and around the world. This is a deep part of our heritage which has turned us from our 'indigenous' (Latin = 'self-generating') heritage. As an example of prejudices consider your feelings since youth about 'witches' (means 'women' who have knowledge of healing and plants, childbirthing etc), 'druids' (Gaelic = 'wisdom of the oak or tree'), barbarians (L = 'unintelligible speakers'), 'wild' ('having will'), 'forest' ('outdoors') etc.

When one studies more about our universal 'indigenous' heritage, one finds many socio-economic and governance tools that celebrate diversity. We've been told the opposite as our 'exogenous' (Latin = 'other-generated')societies from depleted ecologies attempt to extract resources and colonize remaining indigenous regions and spread the unresearched prejudice of conquerors.
Did you know that (?);
- the largest cities of '1491' (read book by Charles C. Mann) were in the Americas?
- the 3-D food, material and service productivity of the oak, butternut, cherry, peach etc multi-level mixed orchards of the Americas (and similar Orchard productivity by indigenous peoples everywhere) is 100 times more productive than
2-D 'agriculture' (Latin = 'field') ? Celtic peoples of Europe ('Druid' means 'Wisdom of the oak or tree') cultivated this productivity before Roman invasion and destruction as well as circle process, clan governance, progressive ownership accounting etc (see following).
- Council, Consensus and 'Caucussing' (Iroquois = 'grouping of like-interests') processes among indigenous peoples allowed for people to recognise commonality but as well culture diversity in small and large groupings.
- String Shell (Wampum, Esnoguay, Kayoni, Seewan, Quipu etc) Accounting Systems provided comprehensive recognition for diverse domestic and community labours in Production Societies thus allowing for communication and progressive ownership (apprentice to elder) across the Americas, throughout the Pacific and with records of these artifacts on every continent. Domestic and community-service based accounting in multi-family clustered dwellings (Longhouses or apartment-like as well as Pueblo or townhouse-like) allowed these individuals to fully participate in community ownership and governance. These participatory accounting and ownership systems are akin to the progressive ownership of the Keiretsu (Toyota etc) of Japan, Chaebol of Korea, Associative Economics of Europe and Participatory Industries everywhere.
- Dialectic resolution was an integral parr of indigenous societies around the world with the oratory of differing perspectives being celebrated around communal meeting areas.
- Indigenous relational economy having predated both, integrated aspects of both left (social) and right (capital) 'isms' in a sustainable culture which lasted hundreds of thousands of years if not millions, without destroying the earth's eco-sphere. It is only since the introduction of agriculture, the domestication of animals, the cutting and burning of abundant indigenous orchards that; in the scarcity and oppression (deserts of the middle-east, North Africa, China, India etc) created, human-kind has lived in continual turmoil and war as ecology after ecology is colonized and destroyed. This is exactly opposite from what we were 'taught' in compulsory schools that "the 'invention' of agriculture was the greatest 'revolution' mankind has known" and has led us down the false 'industrial' path which is further destroying our ecological capacity on earth. Human kind lives in a huge military mindset, self-imposed ignorance alienated from ourselves.
- It is the bereaved, homeless and unemployed who instinctively understand the illusion of our system and refuse to participate in the lack of human relations and resulting ecological destruction. Perhaps this is why you have created an economy that matters. Are you working with any forms of a Human Resource Catalogue for your client capacities? Have you implemented any forms of progressive ownership and governance through Time-based Accounting for client contributionss? Have you implemented recorded equal-time dialogues for research and conflict resolution? Have you read about Asset-Based-Community-Development ABCD?

Permalink Reply by Douglas 'Ou-ee-ii-jay-ii' Jack on August 7, 2009 at 8:49am

The homes sound wonderful in providing needed services for folks who need a new start. I travelled by hitch-hiking during the 1970s about 100,000 miles and spent much time in poorer quarters, under bridges, in host houses, hostels, slept in igloos and with friends I was travelling with or would meet. I met a lot of street folk as fellow travellers. In my own experience many of these folks didn't feel comfortable in isolated nuclear family settings and preferred as many connections as they could, yet social-services would try to make them independent without understanding the kinds of structured interdependence they could probably thrive at.

As well I have a diploma in Special Education when I worked in residential and group-home housing for handicapped folks who were labelled as intellectually handicapped. I've still never met such a 'handicap' (?) after decades. I didn't enjoy the institutional organisation that the organisation used as it kept us from understanding or valorizing the gifts of the people I was with, Perhaps your organisation is able to valorise and connect the gifts of the people who come through your doors. Our system kept folks as clients and staff as staff, ignored diverse gifts and devalorized family relations.

I've become enamoured with Asset-Based-Community-Development (John McKnight) for the ability to develop community ('com' = 'together' + 'munus' = 'gift or service'). I continue today with family and friends with differences. Your desire below from Wednesday was to help 100,000,000. I believe now that this is only possible with indigenous methods such as Time-based accounting, Catalogues of Human Resources, multi-family or multi-dwelling planning through self-organising practice. But I'm interested in your methods. Please tell me more about the structures, practices and routines you have set up.

Permalink Reply by Joe Michael Solomon on August 8, 2009 at 7:26pm

Always!!!! * smile* I support the troops the way we ern't and work for and with the local Veterans groups and the VA::: and thank you fo your words. Let me know more. How did all of that effect your peace effort?... If you like

Greatfully

Joe

Permalink Reply by Joe Michael Solomon on August 8, 2009 at 7:44pm

Please keep writing and please as you talk and let all that come out find your next move as when we all do what we can ... just a little it is unreasonable to think it won't be a better world

Joe Michael

Permalink Reply by Douglas 'Ou-ee-ii-jay-ii' Jack on August 8, 2009 at 7:53pm

Hi DK,
Thanks for your "crazy" words. If everyone at a point of crisis or upon being asked by their governments to work in armaments or to fight were "to ask questions exactly to those people I wouldn't meet or talk at all" to, then peace would be established very quickly in the world. It is the avoidance and segregation of the other from equal speaking procedures that maintains war, nothing else. If people and government put our energies and collective finances into formal dialogues and debate, we would need "0" weapons almost immediately. War is only a cowardly way of avoiding the truth.

Permalink Reply by Joe Michael Solomon on August 8, 2009 at 8:34pm

I am crazy and troubled and envolved and committed and busy! at what i do. I do hope that your direction finds a worthy place to be put and your Briilence is understood by many!

Permalink Reply by Joe Michael Solomon on August 8, 2009 at 8:36pm

DK Keep writting you'll find a simpler direction. I Know your personal pain and however you express it is OK!

Permalink Reply by Joe Michael Solomon on August 9, 2009 at 12:17am

DK We must find a better way to communicate then war. Douglass communicates on a level that is not understood by everyone! Long term paytience, Ecconomic reality, and diplomacy can and will change the world. Agreed not without an occasional flairup from the crazies but we have to hope and find a way long term to make it more valuable not to fight!

Permalink Reply by Joe Michael Solomon on August 9, 2009 at 12:30am

I hope you stay open to the posibility of peace.. Hopefully we can evolve!! your cats aside!! my ctas cuddle when I'm not around and stay sparate looking for affection when i am. Maybe you should make your cats feel safe and or wait for the next generation and not leave them wild!

Joe michael

Permalink Reply by Joe Michael Solomon on August 9, 2009 at 12:31am

I seen all the fighting and l killing that i can handel so i will hope for peac for both of us!

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