East and West Embrace { tentatively }

NEW YORK, Jul 16 (IPS) – “Despite opposition from some hardline factions in Iran, the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has responded positively to a proposal by the United States that it open a U.S. Interests Section in Tehran — its first formal diplomatic presence since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.”

WASHINGTON (CNN) — “The Bush administration has decided to break with previous policy by sending one of its most senior diplomats to engage Iran’s top nuclear official, the White House announced Wednesday.”

So…

Will anything of substance happen?

Will a war be averted?

~~~~~~~~~

I’m always more positive about world events then the events themselves may seem to warrant. I have an abiding faith in the future of humanity. I feel that the slow climb our human family has made—from the savannas of Africa, to the lush kingdoms of Babylonia, to the riotous global adventuring from the 15th to the 17th Century, to the bleeding and war-torn world we now have—this laborious climb is too important for a few human leaders or a few thousand bombs to stop.

I’ll pray for the leaders gathering in Switzerland and I’ll keep this quote in mind:

“A world federal system, ruling the whole earth and exercising unchallengeable authority over its unimaginably vast resources, blending and embodying the ideals of both the East and the West, liberated from the curse of war and its miseries, and bent on the exploitation of all the available sources of energy on the surface of the planet, a system in which Force is made the servant of Justice, whose life is sustained by its universal recognition of one God and by its allegiance to one common Revelation—such is the goal towards which humanity, impelled by the unifying forces of life, is moving.”
Shoghí Effendí , The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 204

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What Are We Fighting For ?

From Yes! Magazine:

“The number of terrorist attacks throughout the world has increased steadily since 2003.”

The Iraq War began in 2003…

That article from Yes! Magazine also talks about more appropriate methods of dealing with international criminals.

There are even well-developed plans for completely non-violent defense of an entire country:

SELF-RELIANT DEFENSE: Without Bankruptcy or War
Download the .pdf

And, for your “everyday” attempts at nonviolence:

198 Methods of Nonviolent Action
Download the .pdf

Plus, here’s a spiritual quote to ponder:

“The darkness of superstitions and imitations came and took its place, binding the world of humanity in the chains and fetters of ignorance. Enmity arose among men, increasing to such an extent that nation strove against nation in hatred and violence. War has been a religious and political human heritage.

“Now it is enough! We must investigate reality. We must put away these superstitions. It is a self-evident truth that all humanity is the creation of God. All are His servants and under His protection. All are recipients of His bestowals. God is kind to all His servants. At most it is this: that some are ignorant; they must be educated in order that they may become intelligent. Some are immature as children; they must be aided and assisted in order that they may become mature. Some are sick and ailing; they must be healed. But the suffering patient must not be tested by false treatment. The child must not be warped and hindered in its development. The ignorant must not be restricted by censure and criticism. We must look for the real, true remedy.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 39

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