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Taking war off the table.

February 6, 2003 admin

War in a sense is a very rational thing. It fits into the concepts we have about life, where, in additional to whatever objective reality we perceive, we also live in a giant idea. War is included in the idea we now hold — when “justified,” war is the answer.

After Colin Powell's speech to the Security Council I was reflecting on what might be if war weren't on the table. It's challenging, and maybe impossible, where there are people who operate outside a willingness to negotiate. What do we do with a Saddam Hussein?

My daughter wrote a parenting book that's a guide to negotiation as an alternative to force, which is war translated to the parent/child relationship. (Watch for a PBS special this spring, “Great Parents, Great Kids,” starring Dr. Dana Chidekel, author of “Parents in Charge.”) If force is not in your parental toolbox, you develop other ways.

What's the translation of this to the world scene? We know the adage, “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” If what we have is war, it's the club we wave. Today, with Iraq possibly defying U.N. orders, the question on the table is whether they've crossed the line to where we should wield it.

We aren't discussing the presumption that war is the answer if that line is crossed — if Iraq is bad enough, we are “justified.” But, if it were not a done deal that war was an option, the way human intelligence works is it becomes creative. Who knows what the answer would be, but I want to make a case for taking preemptive war off the table, and then calling the world to gather round.

I heard social commentator Max Lerner, years ago, tell a story I never forgot. He was walking down Broadway, in New York City, when he passed a store with a sign in the window which said, “If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?” Lerner stopped and reflected on this, looking for the right answer — until he realized it was the wrong question. The sign he might reflect on today might ask, “Has Iraq violated its agreements egregiously enough for us to go to war?” It may be that that is the wrong question.

Here is a very poignant piece on waging war, written in the wake of the shuttle disaster, by my good friend, listmember Bob Bates [bobbates7@earthlink.net], who founded and presides over Inner-City Arts, a nationally renowned arts program for inner-city kids in L.A.:

February 4, 2003

Subject: Do we really need to do this?

The tragedy of the space shuttle, Columbia, brings into our hearts the loss of seven amazing men and women.

They knew the dangers of their work and embraced the risks of the mission — we will miss them dearly.

As the bombs fall in Iraq, will you miss the thousands of innocent children and families who we will kill — whose faces we have never seen on television or in the news papers — thousands who will never grow to maturity as our seven astronauts did — lives that have never been touched by us till now?

You now know so much about the lives of the seven astronauts who died in space — will you ever know anything about the thousands of innocent human beings that we are about to destroy to free the world from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein?

How would you feel knowing that you were about to die under a blanket of our bombs and invading soldiers?

We mourn the lives of the seven, will we mourn the lives of the thousands?

Do we really need to do this?

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Crop Circles

Conversation about DECEMBER MONTHLY REPORT

February 5, 2003 admin

These are in Previous Comments posted in DECEMBER MONTHLY REPORT

From: Yvonne Garcia [yvonneg@tampabay.rr.com] [If you want to optimize traffic to a site, Yvonne is a genius….ST]

I started listening to your tapes, and couldn't go to sleep and had to jump out of bed to start reading the “Green Dragon”….I am very excited right now about life….about the Universe Story….I found these few sentences which I think say it all:
“You can understand, now, what I mean when I say we need to remember the universe. We need to study the cosmic story, the Earth story, the human story, until we know it in its essential forms. A person who does not the know the story of the universe is not yet living up to human destiny. But this knowing is not only cerebral…”
So, to me, joining with others to celebrate and remember the universe seems to be one of the most important things we can do. Most of my life I have been on some spiritual path, but this Universe Story is something that has opened me up in a way that nothing else has. I have practiced, meditated, prayed, fasted, studied, breathed, surrendered to God a million times, years of therapy, tai chi, yoga, you name it, but I was a person who did not know the story of the universe — my worldview was still a Newtonian one: human is king, nature is here to serve the human.
I am going to create a page about “The Universe is a Green Dragon,” and then point folks to your page where you have your tapes and online readings. For folks like me, who are very auditory in nature, the listening is fantastic.

From Walter Starck [ggolden@bigpond.net.au] [read our “featured conversation“]

The questions about the crop circles are good ones and thought provoking. I would be happy to contribute to such a discussion. Participation should be by invitation or application, with a website presenting an edited annotated version of the most interesting threads.
The circles offer a fulcurm to possibly shift the whole mass of current perception. Energy, the environment, psychotropics, etc., are but a piecemeal approach, as a shift in thinking about any one of them still leaves the rest untouched. If the circles are indeed a communication from a highly developed non-human consciousness, recognition of that would open the door to rethink much much more.
“The Hidden Form” has arrived. The more one learns of the circles the deeper the whole thing becomes. Although sophisticated geometry is apparent at first sight, it is awesome what more detailed geometric examination has revealed. Trying to attribute this to natural forces or hoaxers is like attributing the images on the ceiling of the Sistine Chappel to the growth of mould or to kids with spray cans. [Walter is talking about a slim volume by Nick Kollestrom, which is the best thing that's been published on the geometry of the circles. If you have any comprehension about such things, you will love this book. The geometry is so staggering that it will be incomprehensible to you that the world isn't in awe….ST]

From: Fred Rebomtcha

I would like to offer my services to your continued endeavors in discovering the NATURE and SUBSTANCE of the circles. I am not sure what or how you could use my skills and talents, but if there is anything that you have in mind, please feel free and comfortable to ask. I have been a business man for many years and if the request is out of my purview of skills or time that I am able to contribute, I will be honest about it. But, I have been told I am very smart and very well read, so who knows, I thought I should just put it out there.
I do agree, we are living in very interesting times, and I am certain that I am here to make an impact on this world. Subtle or not, crop circles are an aspect of that impact, I can feel it.

From: Jim Dreaver [Jdreaver@aol.com]

Much of what you said about the circles was new to me and just made me shake my head and say to myself, in amazement, 'Wow….,' even more. Truly a mystery. This does indeed sound like your Grail quest, finding a way to link the circles with the salvation of our spiraling, out of control world.

From: LGenutis@aol.com [LGenutis@aol.com]

Two weeks ago I received a message in the form of a very clear non-gender voice that first almost shouted my name to get my attention. After I asked, “What are you?,” it simply said, “Suzanne in the Internet.” I entered “suzanne” in Google, but was not successful in finding anything I could relate to.
So what do you know, the day before last I get an email from a friend of mine who was commenting on that Sci/Fi miniseries, “Taken.” Our conversations meandered into crop circles, where he mentioned that he's not so sure all of them are hoaxed — and this coming from a mainstream, conservative M.D. He was so excited that I entered in “crop circles” in Google, only to find your website after checking out other sites that came up before yours. But the most fascinating thing that sets yours apart from others is that it addresses the crop circle phenomena on a much wider scale. In short, I've reached my destination. I've spent a good part of the day reviewing the contents of your site and I feel as if I'm home again.
P.S. There are many of us out here. Homeless, isolated — in need of some kind of connection. I would be deeply appreciative if you could please include “suzanne” as a keyword in Google. May the Force be with you.
Linda to Suzanne — a few days later
There's no doubt in my mind that some “higher intelligence” directed me to your website. I knew I needed to backtrack last week and carefully read over more of the information that I missed the first time round. The first thing I did was read over your speech that you gave to that conference which I thought was very moving and inspiring — I cried! Thanks for adding this information to your website because it allowed me to know more about your background.
Also, after reading Yvonne Garcia's comments about Brian Swimme's tapes, I knew I also needed to listen to your audio version of “The Universe is a Green Dragon.” And I'm so glad I did! In fact, once I got started, I couldn't stop! I ended up staying up the entire night listening to your reading and your very insightful and helpful reflections on the ideas. I'm looking forward to getting the book to read along with listening again. There's a gold mine of information to digest and reflect on — your audio of this book adds to the magic of its astounding revelations! I feel as if I've just embarked on a wonderful, enchanted journey that's going to take me to places I've never been before! Just when I thought that I'd read everything I really needed to know, after hearing you I realize I've only just begun. Thank you so much.
Suzanne To Linda
That universe story of Brian's would be an elevation for humanity if it were understood. It is so beautiful. And Brian is charismatic. So what to do?????? The crop circles are about getting humanity's mind open, and the universe story is what it can open to.
Linda to Suzanne
TheConversation.org is now my designated “receiving place” that I check in on everyday. Your insightful comments on writings you include have illuminated me even more about how tilted and biased the mainstream media has been, especially over the past few months.
It's clear that the media has chosen to remain obsequious to the present tyrannical administration. Thank goodness for the alternative press that has the ability to see through whatever rubbish the mainstream media throws out at us and extract the truth.
An example of how our government and the media have too much control over what and when information is allowed to be revealed to the public is today's news article called Osama's Cell Phone Switcheroo. [“Osama bin Laden escaped capture in Afghanistan, fooling sophisticated American satellites, by simply having an aide carry his satellite phone in a different direction.”] It boggles my mind that the public was not informed months ago. Could it be because it focuses on Bin Laden and not Saddam? What is the connection between our current oil drenched administration and the Bin Laden family? And does this have anything to do with the lackadaisical search for Bin Laden? Ohhhh — I could go on and on.
I read over the conversation with Walter Starck (again) this morning — what a great way to start the day! I think the conversation you had with him about crop circles, when you were first introducing yourselves to each other, is one of the best parts of your site. In fact, I would go so far to say that it wasn't until I read over this page that I became conscious of the fact that crop circles are much, much more than I had previously thought. I was very impressed that a scientist thinks, “They may derive from another consciousness interacting with us.” Walter Starck impresses me as highly intelligent and spiritually evolved. I found it exhilarating to read your conversation and I felt honored and privileged to have this material available. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!!!
Also, I saw “Signs” a couple of nights ago — I found it very disappointing. At least it aroused the general public's interest in this phenomenon. I also was disappointed that Colin Andrews got his five minutes of fame by making the announcement that 80% of all crop circles are hoaxes. Who cares if he adds that 20% “are however genuine” — by then the damage was done. Andrews has zipped from one end of the spectrum to the other. Perhaps he feels there is a bigger market amongst skeptics who will buy what ever books he writes. I find all of this appalling.
Suzanne to Linda
“Signs” got crop circles on the map — valuable even though it was a bad movie. The scene among the researchers is murky. Hard to figure why some of them become so bizarre, as in that 20% story. There are stories about threats to families by government agencies. And of course there are egos in play. Saying 80% got Colin publicity that he couldn't have gotten from the 20% story — the negative makes news.
Linda to Suzanne
I'm very much aware that you are supposed to be corresponding/dialoguing with key individuals who will have an impact on our collective consciousness in very positive ways as a result of their connection to your message. You have been chosen to do this. Those “key individuals” are people who can influence and change public opinion. This monumental task that has been set before you lesser mortals would find overwhelming. I can't say that I envy you for this job but, nevertheless, you are the right person to carry out this blessed and sacred task.
I also have been “called” — I'm playing it by ear as far as where I'm to go next. I think I've been sent to you to assist you in your mission — someway, somehow — large or small. And, my goodness, what a GLORIOUS mission it is!!! May the Force be with you.

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World Press

How are we against the war? Let me count the ways.

February 2, 2003 admin 32 Comments

It is fascinating and heartwarming to see how much protest is coming from all quarters (and how much of the reporting on it I pick up from the British press). Thanks to listmember Rick Ingrasci for this.

“Anti-war poets force scrapping of White House symposium” The Guardian January 30, 2003
The White House yesterday confirmed that it had cancelled a poetry symposium after a number of American poets threatened to turn the event into an anti-war protest.
The February 12 symposium on Poetry and the American Voice, which was meant to focus on the works of Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman, was one of a number of literary gatherings organised by the first lady, Laura Bush.
When Washington-based poet Sam Hamill received an invitation to the event, he said he was “overcome by a kind of nausea” and refused to attend. Then he decided to email fellow poets, asking them to compose anti-war works and urging anyone attending the symposium to read works of protest.
Explaining the cancellation, Noelia Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for Mrs Bush, said: “While Mrs Bush respects the right of all Americans to express their opinions, she, too, has opinions, and believes it would be inappropriate to turn a literary event into a political forum.” A former librarian, the first lady has made teaching and early childhood development her signature issues. Her series of White House symposiums to salute America's authors have been lively affairs, featuring discussions about literature and its impact on society. No future date for the poetry event has been announced.
Mr Hamill, a co-founder of Copper Canyon Press, set up a website in a bid to turn February 12 into Poetry Against the War day. He said that he had received poems or personal statements from more than 2,000 poets during the last week, and plans to present an anthology of the poems to the White House.
In an open letter on the site, Mr Hamill explained: “I believe the only legitimate response to such a morally bankrupt and unconscionable idea is to reconstitute a Poets Against the War movement like the one organised to speak out against the war in Vietnam.” Contributors have included WS Merwin, Galway Kinnell, Ursula K Le Guin, Adrienne Rich and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. “I'm putting in 18-hour days. I'm 60 and I'm tired, but it's pretty wonderful,” said Mr Hamill.
Marilyn Nelson, Connecticut's poet laureate, said that she had accepted the White House invitation, and had planned to wear a specially-commissioned silk scarf with peace signs. “I had decided to go because I felt my presence would promote peace,” she said.
Mr Hamill's more forthright form of protest, however, may have tipped the balance for White House planners. He told the Seattle Times: “What idiot thought Sam Hamill would be a good candidate for Laura Bush's tea party? Someone's going to get fired over this.”
His is not the only protest in verse. Canadian poet Todd Swift took only one week to compile an ebook, 100 Poets Against the War, which he released on Monday to mark the report by weapons inspectors to the UN Security Council. “We're trying to create something that is like the Vietnam war protest,” said Mr Swift, speaking from his home in Paris. He said he was amazed by how quickly the collection had spread around the world. “About 25 of the poets in the collection are from the UK or Ireland, and we are adding John Kinsella and a few others this weekend to the revised version, which will be released next Monday to meet Mr Blair on his return from Bush's ranch,” he added. Contributors to the ebook include George Murray, Ethan Gilsdorf and Maggie Helwig.

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