How can we use our resources, our time, our energy, our common visions, and moreover, our will to invent peace during a time when our country stands on the brink of war? By peace I don’t mean pacifism or turning the other cheek. What I’m talking about is a dynamic, pro-active process wherein we address the conditions that lead to war early enough to prevent future wars from happening. Did you know that as you read these words there are 36 wars being waged around the world?
War goes against the one of the most fundamental tenets of the Judeo-Christian ethic and other world religions: “Thou shalt not kill.” The most important question facing humanity today is, how do we transform the conditions and beliefs that have us choose to kill?
The next critical question is: How can I be a part of this -- what role can I play in inventing peace? It is time for each of us to seek the answer.
We must assert the same diligence in preventing war as we have in preparing for it. This is so for regular people and those at the helms of power. We must seek viable alternatives to violence so that the use of force becomes our last option, not our first. This is not to suggest that we should leave ourselves unprotected. Even Gandhi didn’t recommend doing that. But there is a mid-point we are not