9 Steps to Peace for Obama in the New Year

9 Steps to Peace for Obama in the New Year
2 January 2009

by Deepak Chopra, Tikkun, 1 Jan 2009.

The following is a memo to Barack Obama from Deepak Chopra:

Deepak Chopra
PEACE

You have been elected by the first anti-war constituency since 1952, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected after promising to end the Korean War. But ending a war isn’t the same as bringing peace. America has been on a war footing since the day after Pearl Harbor, 67 years ago. We spend more on our military than the next 16 countries combined. If you have a vision of change that goes to the heart of this country’s deep problems, ending our dependence on war is far more important than ending our dependency on foreign oil.

The most immediate changes are economic. Unless it can make as much money as war, peace doesn’t stand a chance. Since aerospace and military technologies remain the United States’ most destructive export, fostering wars around the world, what steps can we take to reverse that trend and build a peace-based economy?

1. Scale out arms dealing and make it illegal by the year 2020.

2. Write into every defense contract a requirement for a peacetime project.

3. Subsidize conversion of military companies to peaceful uses with tax incentives and direct funding.

4. Convert military bases to housing for the poor.

5. Phase out all foreign military bases.

6. Require military personnel to devote part of their time to rebuilding infrastructure.

7. Call a moratorium on future weapons technologies.

8. Reduce armaments like destroyers and submarines that have no use against terrorism and were intended to defend against a superpower enemy that no longer exists.

9. Fully fund social services and take the balance out of the defense and homeland security budgets.

These are just the beginning. We don’t lack creativity in coping with change. Without a conversion of our present war economy to a peace economy, the high profits of the military-industrial complex ensures that it will never end.

Do these nine steps seem unrealistic or fanciful? In various ways, other countries have adopted similar measures. The former Soviet army is occupied with farming and other peaceful work, for example. But comparisons are rather pointless, since only the United States is burdened with such a massive reliance on defense spending. Ultimately, empire follows the dollar. As a society, we want peace, and we want to be seen as a nation that promotes peace. For either ideal to come true, you as president must back up your vision of change with economic reality. So far, that hasn’t happened under any of your predecessors. All hopes are pinned on you.

Deepak Chopra is acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest leaders in the field of mind-body medicine. He is the author of over 50 books, including Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment and Ageless Body, Timeless Mind.

Source: IMAGINEPEACE.com

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Comment by Perri Gorrara on January 3, 2009 at 11:00pm: Thank you, Deepak,
Could we start a world-wide petition supporting your ideas? Barack Obama needs to know how widespread the feelings are. We need to develop sustainable, peaceful societies on our planet.

Comment by Lorrie on January 3, 2009 at 10:47pm: I agree with most of what Mr. Chopra has written except for a couple of points (4, 7 & 8). It does not promote peace to leave a country defenseless - this only calls upon the jackals to destroy and feed upon it. Russia is not spending its time in peaceful pursuits as evidenced by Putin's moves in extending his own power and his involvement with Saddam Hussein. The U.S. needs to keep enough military to be able to defend itself and enough innovation to keep up with military threats against it. However, these points aside, if the U.S. were to use even a fraction of the massive amounts of money it puts into its military war machine into providing food, clothing, shelter and education to those in the world unable to obtain it (including people in its own country) so that people can become self-sufficient with the requirement that they use these tools to become self-sufficient, that alone would cause a positive ripple of profound proportions in a world filled with hate, prejudice, apathy, fear, etc. The U.S.'s welfare system is a small example that just giving people money isn't enough and can instead create a lack of motivation and a sense of entitlement. Instead, people need to be given the opportunity and encouragement to become self-sufficient in providing for themselves. In addition, I think people need to be encouraged, by law if necessary, to spend a percentage of their time in community service to others - to start integrating 'help thy neighbor' into the daily life of THIS generation so that it will become just an part of every day life for future generations. It is through positive steps such as these, I believe, that peace will occur as a byproduct - when you fill your heart with caring for each other, there is little room let for hatred.

Comment by Ben Nuttall-Smith on January 3, 2009 at 10:41pm: The impossible we do right away; miracles take a little longer. I hope the American people and the world will keep faith in President Obama when the going gets rough, when we are asked to make sacrifices, when we are asked to forgive our enemies, when we are asked to look out for the little guy. I'm sure that if Mr Obama had his way, h'd make it all happen tomorrow. But there is no simple solution. We must all do our very best to help a new leader lead the way. Understanding, Good will, sincere concern for those around us, Flexibility. The list of bywords is endless. Let's all do our best to spread love and understanding. Peace. Shalom. Assalamu alaikum Walaikum assalam. Ben.

Comment by Meeting point...Europe!!! on January 3, 2009 at 10:11pm: Yes!!! PEACE FROM EUROPE!!!

Comment by Jerry Yellin on January 3, 2009 at 9:35pm: We have to stop talking about Peace which is the opposite of War and begin speaking about Harmony with Nature, with all that surrounds us, to begin living in Unity with all of Humanity. Seeing color and religion and borders as personnel ideologies will continue to bring conflict. In truth the white people have destroyed or enslaved Red and Black people in the past in the name of religion and domination. If we continue on our current path we can destroy our Planet. But where do we start if not with ourselves?

Comment by Gordon David on January 3, 2009 at 9:25pm: No pressure is there?
It is unlikely that Obama will be able to do everything that the people of planet Earth wish for him to complete.
He is a man, not a Superman, he has no magic powers ( well not that I'm aware of) I'm sure that he will try his very best to perform on the world stage, but he is not the 2nd coming. I fear that far too much is expected from Obama, and that people's expectations must be lowered, as was said many years ago "ROME WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY" Cheers....

Comment by Clicia Pavan on January 3, 2009 at 9:14pm: I believe that all change cause an impact. Time will tell us whether positive or negative.
Perhaps this is a departure articulated by the American, who need to leave the serious economic crisis, which takes you through the difficult time, this factor caused by the irresponsibility of a crazy leader, who made the war a point of instability and military dishonor. The death of an innocent flag and unsafe blood manchou the values of freedom, that incontida, passed the limits. Democracy was mortally wounded and needs a strong impetus to survive, in which case Obama is president certo.para wear the shirt of the American investor. Moreover, the world sees a black man take the power, that is innovative and has gone to history, which nobody can forget it. If ele.honrar race, raise the hope of equality, and have won the respect and credibility in the world. If you can not administer or govern well, we have a regression, which could profoundly undermine the balance of our planet. We can not be pessimistic. Let us believe that we evolved, winning barriers, knocking down walls that blind to justice. Before God,. We are brothers and we must learn to believe in the union, who moved the balance of power fé.do and the true amor.Mas we will not find that he alone can do that, I think everyone has to do its share this planet earth, it begins at home, in our family, if we live in peace, if cultivate the goodness in our day to day, oh yes the world will hope
Do not criticize the new President, he was wrong, he must first get its individual --- The United States is experiencing a crisis
This will be the biggest challenge of the new President, get your country
We are all equal, despite differences because we are children of the same Father-God
Clicia Pavan
------------------
Penso que toda mudança causa um impacto. O tempo nos dirá se positiva, ou negativa.
Talvez esta seja uma saída articulada pelo americano, que precisa sair da crise economica grave, que o leva a passar por momentos dificilimos, fator este causado pela irresponsabilidade de um dirigente maluco, que fez da guerra um ponto de instabilidade e desonra militar. A morte de inocentes não segura uma bandeira e o sangue derramado manchou os valores da liberdade, que, incontida, passou dos limites. A democracia foi ferida mortalmente e precisa de um impulso forte para sobreviver; neste caso, Obama é o presidente certo.para vestir a camisa do investidor americano. Por outro lado, o mundo vê um negro assumir o poder; isto já é inovador e já passou para a história,o que ninguém poderá esquecer-se. Se ele.honrar sua raça, elevará a esperança de igualdade, e terá conquistado o respeito e a credibilidade do mundo. Se não conseguir administrar, ou governar bem, teremos uma regressão, que poderá abalar profundamente o equilibrio de nosso planeta. Não podemos ficar pessimistas. Vamos acreditar que estamos evoluindo, vencendo barreiras, derrubando muros que cegam a justiça. Diante de Deus,.somos irmãos e temos que aprender a crer na união, que fundamenta a balança da fé.do poder e do verdadeiro amor.Mas não vamos achar que ele sozinho poderá fazer isso,penso que cada um tem que fazer a sua parte nesse planeta terra, isso começa em casa, na nossa familia,se vivemos a Paz, se cultivamos a bondade no nosso dia a dia, ai sim o mundo terá esperança
Não critiquem o novo Presidente, ele mal chegou,primeiro ele tem que arrumar a sua cada---Os Estados Unidos esta vivendo uma crise
Esse será o maior desafio do novo Presidente,arrumar seu país
Somos todos iguais,pois apesar das diferenças somos filhos do mesmo Pai-Deus
Clicia Pavan

Comment by Janice Bakow on January 3, 2009 at 9:06pm: Barack Obama based his campaign on "change" and his acceptance speech as the "President-Elect" emphasized "we did it!" The understanding of our connectedness of Being in the Universe and a collective voice of all concerned Beings through One Being would make an impact and a reflection for Barack Obama in his consciousness and his acceptance speech. If "we," all lovers of Peace, co-signed Deepak Chopra's memo and Spiritual energy were the foundation and catalysut for change, the memo could represent many voices channeled thourgh One. May I humbly ask to have my name added to Mr. Chopra's memo. Thank you for the opportunity to make Peace a Reality! Thank God for connecting our hearts to manifest through One Being!

Comment by Hideki Vigil on January 3, 2009 at 9:01pm: Tengo esperanza en la capacidad de reflexion de hombre... pero tengo mas esperanza en la capacidad de generar dar y recibir amor. Paz para el hombre.. libertad para el espiritu!

Comment by amit agarwal on January 3, 2009 at 8:33pm: thx for sharing.morever Mr Obama i think should spread spirituality in his country.lot of problems can be solved by making people spiritual by heart.
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