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 Lena-Marie Broman on January 3, 2009 at 8:24pm: Dear Dr Chopra and everybody else!

As I am sitting here in Sweden I so much want the same as You all! I think the 9 suggestions to Mr Obama are highly recommended - and I am not only looking at the question from a political angle... as BOTH a "spiritual soul-worker" and a well-educated woman I can see those hard questions are and must be in focus during coming years. (I am a theologican as well as a peace and warstudies-educated, but I also have a so called "near-death experience" in the background which has convinced me that there is MUCH more around us than we ever can imagine...) Well - I have great hopes when it comes to Mr Obama, and I think - feels - that he has an awareness of what he is doing and also a vision of his own when it comes to bring Peace and Light for all of us! It will be very exciting to see what will happen in the near future! And - not to forget - it is up to everyone of US too... we have to start from within.

Whish You All a wonderful 2009!

Lena-Marie

Comment by Jean on January 3, 2009 at 7:59pm: Thanks to all who are contributing to this very meaningful and heartfelt message.

Namasté,

Jean

Comment by osaid on January 3, 2009 at 7:49pm: o

Comment by Lucy R on January 3, 2009 at 7:43pm

hopefully Obama sees and acts on Deepak's message quickly

Motivation, Inspiration
Daily Song

Comment by martine on January 3, 2009 at 7:41pm: http://prixreportage-drupal.web3.rue89.com/ voiture sans pétrole
Si j'avais pu, j'aurai financer ce mec là.

Comment by Fuensanta on January 3, 2009 at 6:55pm: Peace in the Earth...
from Mallorca
Fuensanta

Comment by Matt Love on January 3, 2009 at 6:49pm: Does anybody remember how Kennedy campaigned to the right of Eisenhower, saying it was soft on the commies on Vietnam? How he supported the military overthrow of the government in Brazil? How he pointed missles at the Soviet Union, triggering the Cuban missile crisis? The legend of Kennedy was created in Dallas. Obama is entering office as a legend - basically an empty suit, tricked out as a legend. Our work is cut out for us as much as it was during Bush II. It may be harder because he is being sold as one of us, and people will make excuses for him, just as they did with Bill Clinton, who accomplished evil Reagan wasn't able to do - NAFTA, media consolidation, deregulation, workfare, etc. We all know about Clinton now, we must educate outselves to the reality of Obama. And we should become familiar with the reality of Kennedy too, if people think he's the gold standard.

Comment by Marianne Gunther on January 3, 2009 at 6:45pm: "and into plow shears turn our swords, nations shall learn war no more..."

Comment by Genevieve on January 3, 2009 at 6:41pm: Thank Goddess for courage.

Barak Obama needs our prayers and solid intentions for peace EVERY SINGLE DAY. Let's all keep sending them.

Comment by cookie romano on January 3, 2009 at 6:27pm: Let us embrace the power of hope that the stepping stones to real peace for the world will be put down by Mr. Obama.