Re: Breaking the Cycles of Vengeance

I've always said that I don't have all of the answers but there are people who 
do. We
need a dialogue addressing your good and  tough question.

One thought. Any approach that allows diverse groups of people to see one 
another as
human beings rather than ogres is to bring them together in our homes, schools,
workplaces, etc. -- that is exchanges, variations of S-L, CS, etc..

Simultanously policy and structural changes must occur that help rather than 
injure,
harm, kill or deprive the other. For example, we cannot cotinue to support 
dictators
like the former Shah of Iran, Marcos, Pinochet and a host of others who hurt 
their
people just because they claim to be anti-communist. Nor can we sell our 
national soul
for money, e.g., we are the number one seller of arms and small arms.

More importantly what are your thoughts on this question?

Dan

Sonja Milbourn wrote:

> Hello, Dan, Paul, and all...
>
> Both of you addressed quite eloquently what many of us believe...that taking 
>the
> 'traditional' Rambo route towards 'justice' is not the way to handle this 
>current
> crisis.
> I certainly share your belief that all of us need take actions to better 
>understand
> one another's cultures; yet, I'm deeply troubled by the fact that the people 
>who
> allegedly committed these atrocities lived and worked among us for many
> years...Their families were integrated into our American neighborhoods, 
>schools,
> community life. If they did not see a 'different' side of our people that 
>altered
> their perspective...what will it take to  bridge the gap between what people 
>hold
> fast in the way of hate and malice ...and peace?
>
> Sonja Milbourn
> Butler County Community College
> El Dorado, Kansas
> ......................................................
>
> Daniel Leviton wrote:
>
> > Excellent. Says what needs to be said. The political times and actions are
> > nearly as scary as the acts they purport to prevent.
> >
> > The great majority of terrorist acts will be prevented only when the 
>motivation
> > to commit such acts is removed. Unless we deal with the basic questions 
>that you
> > have mentioned: Why do others hate us, and what are their grievances, the 
>threat
> > will always be great. Those girievances need to be acknowledged and 
>addressed.
> >
> > Of course we all want the individuals and their supporting groups brought to
> > justice? But war -- against the people of Afghanistan? We should  be sending
> > those poor souls food not bombs. So my hope is that we use the scalpel 
>rather
> > than the bomb in bringing Bin Laden and his associates to justice.
> >
> > Implications for S-L? It has the potential to bring people together to 
>eliminate
> > negative labels and stereotypes that are predictive of aggression and 
>hostility.
> > It is difficult to hate an Arab, Muslim, Jew, Black, or White if you work or
> > learn with him or her. For the past 29 years, one of the goals of our S-L
> > program, both at the University of Maryland and at around 15 other colleges 
>and
> > universities has been to increase social cohesiveness and prospects for 
>world
> > peace (see www.inform.umd.edu/AHDP).
> >
> > Your article should be read by all.
> > Dan
> >
> > --
> > Dr. Daniel Leviton
> > Director, The Adult Health & Development Program
> > Professor, Community & Public Health
> > Center on Aging
> > College of Health & Human Performance
> > University of Maryland
> > College Park, MD 20742-2611
> > Phone: (301) 405-2528; Fax: (301) 445-1546
>
> --
> *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
> Sonja Milbourn
> Butler County Community College
> Center for Independent Study, Instructor
> http://www2.southwind.net/~smilbour/bio.html
> Office: 316.322.3395
> *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

--
Dr. Daniel Leviton
Director, The Adult Health & Development Program
Professor, Community & Public Health
Center on Aging
College of Health & Human Performance
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-2611
Phone: (301) 405-2528; Fax: (301) 445-1546