Penpa D wrote: I know exactly what you mean! No matter what cause you are fighting for, if you picked up a gun or bomb and any violent method - I think it creates another victim that will pick up another gun to justify the act and the cycle never ends. Made me think of quotes I remembered from a Tibetan freedom activist named Tenzin Tsundue with whom I went to school with. "I am a staunch believer in Non-Violence. In Violence, the tension lasts temporarily causing harm to the self, the other and the surrounding. For example in an outburst of Violence involving a killing, one dies but only once. In Non-Violence however, there is no at-a-go shot to take. It is a process, in prevailing the Truth, and while on the journey, the practitioner suffers, dying everyday. This is a difficult path, and there is no shortcut available. That is why when people give up they take up Violence as a last resort." "We are willing to die, but we are not willing to kill" posted 6/10/2009 at 1:30 PM

Megan K wrote: Piece 2 - Thank you for sharing this story and I can't imagine the courage it took for your friend to tell it to you and your family. I love how PeaceJam really instills that Peace Penpa wrote: is a difficult path, and there is no shortcut available. However, sometimes the motive for peace has the ability to be covered by a path of violence. As a Christian, I agree whole heartedly that we are called to love our neighbor (Mt 5:44) as well as obey the 10 commandments. However, currently I am re-reading Blue LIke Jazzby Donald Miller and he challenged my belief that I too am incapable of killing. It is easy to say without hesitation that PIece 2 wrote: “No, there is never justification to kill.” and never could I do something like that, but in reality how can we honestly make that separate between ourselves and people who do kill. After protesting a visit from Bush in Seattle, Miller and his friend catch a glimpse of the news and see images from the Congo. His friend asks "Do you think you could do something like that Don? ...Are you capable of murder or rape or any of the stuff that is happening?" Just as we all would easily say, Don answers "No." However as many of PeaceJam's Laureate chapters teach us (and the rest of history), there are people all over the world performing horrendous acts of violence against others, all of whom don't deserve to die. So, where did the violence come from? Where did the people in the Congo who were on the TV get their anger and passion to kill? Don's friend's answer is the real shocker "I just want to know what makes those guys over there any different from you and me. They are human. We are human. Why are we better than them, you know?" Of course the dilemma is by saying that you would kill you are admitting that you are capable of evil. But saying, as we often do, that I could never kill, then as Miller says we would be suggesting that we are better evolved than some of the men in Congo...or anywhere else killing and violence occurs. Doing bad things is easy. Living a life of peace is hard. But are the peaceful ones better then those who kill? Are we better then your friend who thought he was doing the right thing by helping the oppressed? We have to remember that each day is a difficult fight for peace, one with the rest of humanity, the Earth as well as within ourselves. posted 6/10/2009 at 3:52 PM

Penpa D wrote: Yet nothing justifies killing not even in a name of helping the oppressed. The oppressed was once an oppressor and it will keep happening until someone breaks the cycle. No matter how difficult it is...we have to stop the cycle. Because US did it to Iraq doesn't justify what is happening in Congo right. Both are wrong. I never agreed with anyone who as if ( they are the first one to say), say "but look at what you are doing?" Really? That justifies your action cause I did it? Am I your role model? Do you live by my rule every inch of your existence? It's just an excuse, a blame, a defense and nothing else. I come from an oppressed land of Tibet and we have been fighting non violent for the last 50 years, we don't know whether it is working or not but I have never thought violence is the answer and despite 1.2 million Tibetans dead today, I can truly say I don't hold any hatred against Chinese People. posted 6/10/2009 at 5:52 PM

Piece 2 wrote: Thank you both for your perspectives, greatly appreciate the dialog. The one "nuggett" of wisdom that has always helped me is the reality that we only control one thing in our lives and that is ourselves. After you let that sink in, just know that the only thing you will ever, or have ever, really "controlled" is your actions and reactions in a given moment. Once you know that as your truth, life becomes very black and white, simple, and yes, peaceful. The reality is we can't control the actions of others. So, both "piece" and peace are individual choices we make, or don't make, in each moment. Here are two quotes that I think hammer the point home: 49th Verse Tao Te Ching: Those who are good he treats with goodness. Those who are bad he also treats with goodnees because the nature of his being is good. He is kind to the kind. He is also kind to the unkind because the nature of his being is kindness. "The non-violent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them a new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage that they did not know they had. Finally it reaches the opponent and so stirs his conscience that reconciliation becomes reality. - Martin Luther King, Jr. "piece" posted 6/10/2009 at 6:30 PM

Penpa D wrote: The one "nuggett" of wisdom that has always helped me is the reality that we only control one thing in our lives and that is ourselves. After you let that sink in, just know that the only thing you will ever, or have ever, really "controlled" is your actions and reactions in a given moment. Once you know that as your truth, life becomes very black and white, simple, and yes, peaceful. 100% agree! posted 6/10/2009 at 11:13 PM