quantumgrandma stories

Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote: "Those who make peaceful change impossible make violent revolution inevitable." Likewise, those who practice peace make peaceful revolution possible. An ecology of peace consists of an educated population maintaining a culture of frugality. International laws providing increased equality globally is an important element of an ecology of peace. Restriction on abuses, particularly of third world countries, would result; as would increasing opportunities for restoration and reclamation.
Nonviolence is the equalizing element of an ecology of peace. It is sharing responsibility, respectfully, trusting and supporting while maintaining honesty and accountability. It is practicing non-threatening behavior, including responsible parenting and seeking negotiation and fairness within economic partnership.
Conflict resolution is necessary to the success of an ecology of peace for many reasons; one being the basic principle of the strength and stability within diversity. We need and benefit from each other. Embracing our differences and disagreements enlarges our perimeters and possibilities.
Conflict resolution competencies are valued skills in an ecology of peace. Training and education in these areas should be as commonplace as getting a driver’s license. The citizenry at large would proudly develop these skills in a culture of peace.
Tolerance and diversity are beneficial elements of an ecology of peace. Within tolerance is an understanding and patience that leaves room for us to experience the diverse wonders of unexplored cultures not our own. Peace education would enlighten future generations of alternatives to violence from an early age and throughout life. The system of war we live in, practices an "educational process" throughout our lives in the form of propaganda; peace education is the reverse and much more.
Justice is a key element in an ecology of peace. It is truly "for all" and not just for a select wealthy and powerful. A global wide justice for all is necessary to realize the rewards of peace on earth.
To attain a culture of peace, it is necessary to admit necessity of making specific arguments, citing specific examples of the concrete benefits of peace. Thus far, the peace movement has not been near as specific or pervasive as the culture of war and must become so. Principled negotiation, practiced in an ecology of peace, acknowledges positions on both sides of an argument and works to determine their true interests. Though it may require a dogged determination to reach complete agreement, the avoidance of militant conflict justifies the effort.
Nongovernmental initiatives comprise a committed portion of the ecology of peace. Organizations determined to be heard and felt have sprang up across the planet, working toward peace and sustainability beyond national or economic borders. Vegetarianism is a natural attribute of an ecology of peace. Recognizing the benefits of feeding more people on a plant based diet, and the resulting decreased environmental impact of supplying a meat based diet for millions, is crucial to a balanced ecology. An ecology of peace would also benefit from a renewed relationship with other species.
Citizen based defense is possible in an ecology of peace. People looking out for one another as a neighbors and an extended family network would reinforce the sense of community, rather than depending on the police to "protect and serve them". Environmental sustainability defines an ecology of peace with the global realization of sustainable agriculture; food and agricultural systems that are ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just and humane.
Human rights law enforcement is an integral part of an ecology of peace. All major issues are linked to human rights, therefore the understanding of equal treatment for all and an acceptance that every person has a responsibility to protect each individual on this earth, would be the law. Controlling overpopulation is necessary to an ecology of peace. Education about and birth control are crucial to our future on this planet. Eradication of poverty and minimizing disease is dependent upon controlling population growth.
Controlling overconsumption is a way to maintain an ecology of peace. To take only what we need and use it wisely as our ancestors once did, is a way to restore and balance the results of our immediate gratification greed. Americans need to be re-conditioned to be responsible consumers.
Disarmament would mean ridding the world of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and creating genuine security for future generations. An ecology of peace requires these conditions.
Promoting forgiveness strengthens an ecology of peace. Energy once expended on the anxieties of conflict can be channeled into creating peaceful and sustainable conditions for all. Only when we have peace within, can we deliver it outwardly.
Changing social norms is the norm in an ecology of peace, as is evidenced by the cultural shifts seen since the sixties. Sexism, racism and ageism are being discarded in favor of a mutually satisfying blended culture.

Ethel was in her early forties when her rancher husband asked for a divorce. Following the dissolution of their childless marriage she returned to her home of origin. After a difficult employment search, she eventually found a job working in a slaughterhouse. It paid better than most other potential jobs, so offered her the opportunity to be financially independent.

Ethel’s brother was my significant other. He and I once visited her after she had been working at the slaughterhouse for a few years. She expressed her amazement at our vegetarian lifestyle and bragged that she eats beef that’s never been cold. In response to my quizzical look, she said that after hitting a cow with a stun gun, she would quickly slit its throat, then immediately cut the hide parallel to its spine and remove a piece of the flesh known as filet mignon. After slicing it into a few pieces, she threw it into a steamer for a few minutes and ate the fresh meat with her coworkers.

Ethel’s eyes sparkled with conceit as she relayed the story about being so well positioned that she could eat the freshest best cut of beef. I asked her if it bothered her to spend her days killing such large peaceful sentient beings. She laughed and said, "No, it’s what they were put here for."

A few years later, Ethel shot herself in the head. She had been drinking more and more and becoming increasingly depressed. She was engaged in a telephone conversation with her brother when he heard her roommate say, "Put that gun down." He then heard a gunshot and a deathly silence, followed by her roommate’s distant screams. Ethel had done to herself what she had been doing to cows all day long for six years.

I have thought of Ethel many times over the years and her involvement in the animal death industry and its affects on those involved. Capital death for people or animals requires that someone carry out the deed on behalf of others - usually behind closed doors. A soldier who stands in defense of his/her nation is honored for their courage, but a slaughter house worker or a nurse who injects a lethal drug cocktail into someone’s veins remains hidden from view. Why is that?