The Modern Peace Movement: 'Peace is Practical' - Conference Report from Department of Peace

[GlobalPunditOrg]

Would love to hear what people think of this idea and the potential it has to replace so many already overlapping government bodies - please have a read, rate and comment at the site if u don't mind, too!


The Modern Peace Movement: 'Peace is Practical' Conference Report

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/270696

[JustDee]

Thanks for sharing this. Read, 'voted up' and sharing with my small network of online acquaintances/friends.

[GlobalPunditOrg]

thanks muchly - look forward to hearing what people think of HR808 generally

[JustDee]

I've read the bill, it reads nicely - certainly conceptually a wonderful idea. A couple issues I had as I read it were first that some of the sub-departments/roles seem a bit "contrived/redundant". (not that I'm any expert so please take all comments with a grain of salt). Second, while the concept is great, the bill is long on vague conceptualization and notions of "peace" - but quite thin on exactly what ACTIONS or steps would be taken by such a department. However - I suppose the challenge is first CREATING the department and then developing such action plans.

This bit is just great:

(10) We are in a new millennium, and the time has come to review age-old challenges with new thinking wherein we can conceive of peace as not simply being the absence of violence, but the active presence of the capacity for a higher evolution of the human awareness, of respect, trust, and integrity; wherein we all may tap the infinite capabilities of humanity to transform consciousness and conditions which impel or compel violence at a personal, group, or national level toward developing a new understanding of, and a commitment to, compassion and love, in order to create a `shining city on a hill', the light of which is the light of nations.

But it doesn't read like a call to action - it reads like a paragraph from some philosophy book. Again, my biggest question would be (if considering the bill as a stand alone point of reference for all information on the topic) where is the outline of the intent of actions that this new department must be formed to be in charge of? What is the impetus beyond the very well known (and cliche) notion that we are nation of peace? Those are just my thoughts...

Anyway, I wish the bill much luck in passing - however, I do not have much hope it will - or that if it does, it will be looked at as anything more than a token representation of a "noble" concept - much like peace (the ideal) has been treated in this country since its formation.