No! Not the Israeli-Palestinian Thing Unless, What Now?
Issue 41
Today, fellow conscious politics practitioner, I will assume the voice of a could-be, conscious POTUS responding to what we Americans have forever-referred to as The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict — at a Rose Garden presser. Starting now! Will you join me?
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“Hello and thank you for coming. I am happy to announce today that America is deploying its considerable military, human, and financial resources to continue its role as brokers of peace in the Middle East but in a new way. We have begun to convene and co-lead a brand new coalition of the conscious — a coalition of governments, NGO’s, and peace activists worldwide — who share our belief that peace can only come from focusing upon and cultivating peace. Tomorrow our growing coalition will present a formal plan for an immediate ceasefire to all violence within Israel’s borders and every inch of the territories it currently occupies.
“With the ceasefire in place, our peace proposal is in two parts, which I will outline for you now. Part one is to rapidly build the world’s first — not last — physical, temporary, Worldwide Peace Headquarters enclave in Israel proper, away from any large cities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will coordinate construction of the site with our coalition partners. Those who have been asked to put down their weapons as part of the ceasefire as well as any and all people in Israel or its occupied territories will be invited and encouraged to apply for jobs constructing and/or otherwise staffing the enclave beginning almost immediately.
“Part two of our proposal is who will be at the first Worldwide Peace Headquarters and what will they do? The first thing to know is that this enclave will focus on convening people and organizations from within three distinct constituencies:
• Israel and its occupied territories
• the broader region we call the Middle East
• other war zones/”hot spots” elsewhere on the planet (.e.g, Kashmir; South China Sea)
“Peace-curious tourists worldwide will be welcomed to the site.
“As I speak, a team of highly-seasoned, professional organizers from within our expanding coalition are developing the processes, procedures, and logistics for the first Worldwide Peace Headquarters, the general outline of which is:
Established, Active, Professional Organizations
“Three pavilions will house established, active, professional peace-building organizations of all sizes and scopes, one for each of the identified constituencies. They will be on-site to introduce themselves and their work, to educate and train, and to demonstrate the work they do in real time with real stakeholders (e.g., Palestinians and Israelis). They will share healing stories of peace-building that have resulted from their work, wherever they do it and whomever they serve.
Professional Librarians/Educators/Classroom
“A team of professional librarians and educators will maintain a peace library as well as a dynamic, open classroom in the enclave. A robust roster of peace-building classes and workshops will be curated by them and on tap all day every day and broadcast worldwide.
Seats at the Table(s)
“The enclave will feature row upon row and cluster upon cluster of tables and chairs of all shapes and sizes throughout the enclave — in each pavilion and beyond — available 24/7 for everything from informal conversations to professionally moderated ones to break-out groups from classes and workshops.
…storytelling like the one about the woman who became friends with her husband’s murderer. How did that happen? What is the breadth and depth of the experience of transformation from hate to love, from war to peace?
Media Center
“A fully-staffed, fully-wired media center will coordinate the credentialing and rotation of journalists from all over the world. They will facilitate and support the work of professional and citizen journalists and manage a production studio. There will be a dedicated stage for storytelling like the one about the woman who became friends with her husband’s murderer. How did that happen? What is the breadth and depth of the experience of transformation from hate to love, from war to peace? The media center will also livestream from the various pavilions and generally facilitate the ongoing sharing of stories and information worldwide.
Tourist Center
“The Tourist Center will coordinate the inflow and outflow of tourists including managing bookings for on-site stays. They will also conduct tours within the enclave — with a particular emphasis on tours for students from grade school through college.
Elected Officeholders and Candidates for Office
“A pavilion containing current, elected officeholders, members of their staffs as well as current or soon-to-be candidates for public office from each of the identified constituencies will be invited to have a presence at the enclave. Participation of those with specific experience and interest in peace-building will be prioritized.
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“The Headquarters will also include a dining pavilion, a medical center, security, an amphitheater/stage, a non-denominational temple/prayer area, living quarters, and a fitness/recreation pavilion. On opening day, an 18-month clock will start and while nobody knows where we will be at the end of 18 months, I promise you it will be a far different place than where we are today with regard to war and peace in the Middle East and beyond.
“My fellow Americans, it was a first when you elected me last fall on a platform of conscious politics and this is one example of its natural outcome. Conscious politics practitioners know to focus our attention on what we want to create. As trite as it may sound, you have vested me with the awesome power and responsibility to do my part to encourage America to find new ways to lead, not dominate; to learn, not preach. The current eruption of violence in Israel and its occupied territories provides the inspiration to convene this first Worldwide Peace Headquarters. May we hold fast to and be guided by our commitment to compassion, the heart of conscious politics.
“Thank you for your time. I’m happy to take your questions.”
NOTE: I hope you’ll join me on Tuesday for this month’s Spiritual Workout for Politics & Current Events. It’s the live, interactive, version of this newsletter and it will be great to see you there. I can’t say it’s the largest event on the worldwide web, but it certainly is a juicy one.
Subscribers, CLICK the button and attend as my guest using coupon code SWP518.
Beautiful vision. Very similar to Robert Mueller’s vision for the University for Peace in Costa Rica. Move Upeace to Israel and you have your description made real. Just not quite as formalized.
Great post.
Oh... if we could only wave that magic wand and have YOU be president instead. Wonderful mockup here. It has been said that those who don't have the skills (yet) to communicate verbally, communicate with weapons and physical war.