"The Resolutionary" is a newsletter for people committed to improving their quality of life through sharing insights, tools and resources for conversations that build communities of agreement and resolution. STEWART LEVINE, Esq., RESOLUTIONARY What follows are a number of things that have come across my screen over the past month or so. I hope they give you pause for thoughtfulness over the next few days. I will be back to you before the year ends with a template for New Years Resolutions and some inspirational messages. I'm off to a friends for dinner, the Washington National Cathedral, and Philadelphia. I send my best for safe travels, a smooth holiday, and balance for the New Year. My prayer is that the collective knowing that what we are doing is unsustainable will wake us up and lead us back to balance before we implode. And none of us knows how close or far away that point is. Namaste, Stewart ******************************************************************** 1. "THE BOOK OF AGREEMENT" - MORE PRACTICAL THAN "GETTING TO YES!" ********************************************************************** 1. "THE BOOK OF AGREEMENT" - MORE PRACTICAL THAN "GETTING TO YES!" For years, when asked about the difference between my work, and the classic "Getting to Yes" I would say that although "Getting to Yes" is a wonderful book that expounds on many very important principles it does not give you the conversational steps that lead to agreement, and my work is about giving people "conversational competence." As you might imagine I am very pleased to report that in the first review of "The Book of Agreement" it was call more practical than the classic. Specifically it was said that: "With less focus on the purely psychological aspects of reaching agreement than 'Getting to Yes' Levine's becomes a much more pragmatic approach." Perdido, Leadership With A Conscience, Fall 2002 Review of "The Book of Agreement" For more information and to order "The Book of Agreement" please go to www.ResolutionWorks.org ******************************************************************** 2. SEVENTEEN REASONS NOT TO INVADE IRAQ We are all likely spending a great deal of time reflecting on the Iraq situation. Thanks to Cheryl Connor, a progressive lawyer and law teacher from Boston for sending the seventeen reasons from the Dallas Peace Center. Good food for thought regardless of your politics or views of the situation. 1. Iraq poses no clear and present danger to other countries, especially the U.S., as there is no evidence of plans to invade another country or use weapons of mass destruction. 2. Iraq poses less of a threat to the world than at any time in the last decade, according to a 2002 CIA report. 3. An invasion will make it easier, not harder, for al Qaeda to recruit terrorists, leading to an increase in terrorism in the U.S. and around the world. 4. An invasion gives Hussein a reason to use his full arsenal of weapons against attackers and nearby countries because he would have nothing to lose. 5. No link has been established between Iraq and the al Qaeda terrorist network. 6. An invasion could inflame a region where international tensions are already high. 7. An unprovoked attack by one country against another is an unnecessary and immoral act that blatantly disrespects national sovereignty and security. 8. The massive civilian casualties likely to occur in an invasion would unite the world against the U.S. in a globally-interrelated age in which isolation is foolish. 9. The hundreds of billions of dollars required for an invasion and 10. Worldwide opposition to an invasion could further damage the U.S. 11. "Regime change" is not an acceptable reason for an invasion. 12. Experts estimate that Iraq is still 3 to 5 years away from developing even a short-range nuclear weapon that would endanger its neighbors. 13. A pre-emptive strike would lend justification to other nations, to attack their perceived enemies. 14. An invasion in defiance of the United Nations would snub the legitimacy of the only world body equipped to mediate international conflicts. 15. A unilateral Iraq invasion and subsequent invasions of other 16. Polls show that most Americans oppose a unilateral invasion. 17. Wars and acts of terrorism precipitated by an Iraq invasion could last for decades in an endless cycle of hatred and revenge. Dallas Peace Center admin@dallaspeacecenter.org ************************* 3. BOB DYLAN This 1963 Dylan song is quite prescient. It is equally powerful today as it was 40 years ago. To me it illustrates that as far as we've come we may have just made a big circle. My prayer is that in the face of the potential for mass destruction we have learned that war does not provide any permanent solution - it only punctuates the lack of communication. Thank you Ann Matranga. With God on Our Side - Bob Dylan, 1963 Oh my name it is nothin' Oh the Spanish-American Oh the First World War, boys When the Second World War I've learned to hate Russians But now we got weapons In a many dark hour So now as I'm leavin' ******************************************************************** 4. PROBLEMS and POLLUTION Many years ago I was on a flight reading a book about power by John Kenneth Galbraith. My seat mate looked at the book and said "that's a heavy book!" I spontaneously said "I'm a heavy guy!" Often I wish it wasn't that way, and even though I can be just as light as I am heavy I'm starting to accept what seems to be true at this moment in time. I have always believed that creating problems, bickering, arguing and conflict was a form of planetary pollution. The following language from "The Power of Now" confirms my suspicion. I think the following passage has value because it makes each of us responsible for our own lives - responsible for creating it, and responsible for changing it. The second passage states the Buddhist truth that life is full of suffering, and that the only way out is to accept this truth and to realize that we perpetuate the suffering as long as we hold on to the egocentric idea that we have control. Paradoxical - YES. Both the truth - absolutely. "The acceptance of suffering is a journey into death. Facing deep pain, allowing it to be, taking your attention into it, is to enter death consciously. When you have died this death, you realize there is no death - and there is nothing to fear. Only the ego dies. Imagine a ray of sunlight that has forgotten it is an inseparable part of the sun and deludes itself into believing it has to fight for survival and create and cling to an identity other than the sun. Would the death of this delusion not be incredibly liberating. Do you want an easy death? Would you rather die without pain, without agony? Then die to the past every moment, and let the light of your presence shine away the heavy, time-bound self you thought of as "you." Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now ********************************************************************** 5. MINDFULNESS AND MEDIATION ********************************************************************* 6. FAITH AND AUDACITY More and more I find it true that it's not about what's external - it's about conquering ourselves! Faith and Audacity "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." --Sir Edmund Hillary To really achieve something, you need not only faith, but also audacity. You have to believe with all your heart that what you want is possible. And it is. Anything we believe is possible can be accomplished. Plus, you have to believe that you yourself are capable of fulfilling what you want. That is the part of faith. But this is not enough. You also need audacity. You need to dare to achieve the things you really want. Many people let fear bury their talents and thwart their desires. They are, in effect, defeated by themselves. Millionaires not only believe in themselves, they also dare to succeed. www.milleagles.com ********************************************************************** 7. ROBERT BLY Call and Answer Tell me why it is we don't lift our voices these days I say to myself: "Go on, cry. What's the sense Of being an adult and having no voice? Cry out! Some masters say our life lasts only seven days. We will have to call especially loud to reach If we don't lift our voices, we allow others--who are Robert, how come you've listened to the great criers - Robert Bly, Fall 2002
8. NAMASTE Namaste is a Hindu word that acknowledges the inestimable value of each individual. It is often used to greet and honor others. Translation: "As I honor and acknowledge the Spirit within myself so do I acknowledge and honor the Spirit within you. The extended meaning of the word has been written as: "I honor the place in you in which the universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is of love, of truth, of light, and of peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are one. ********************************************************************* I STILL HAVE SOME SPACE AVAILABLE FOR THE FEB 1, 2 SEMINAR IN WASHINGTON, DC. PLEASE EMAIL STEWART@RESOLUTIONWORKS.ORG FOR DETAILS. ********************************************************************* STEWART LEVINE, Esq., RESOLUTIONARY |
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