| Disharmony
has "many faces"-- the range is from
war or genocide to community and domestic
violence and includes conflict
of any sort. Tie diversity amongst peoples is
the nature of humankind.
Reactions to this diversity occur
in the form of what we can call "differences,"
which is anything
perceptual or conceptual which
can divide peoples. The movement to embrace a
way to survive our
reactions to the diversity dates
back to the beginnings of what has been called
"civilization."
However, resolving these perceptions
of "us and them" has become more and
more complicated in
our ever increasing mechanized
world. Our ability to survive harmoniously has
become more and
more difficult.
The effort to create a world in
a culture of peace in the midst of diversity and
in the midst of
differences marks the beginning
of what has been called "peace psychology."
However, the issue is
not within the purview of psychology
alone--because the overall and underlying concern
is in regard
to humanity as a whole and to
the survival of the human race. Peace, therefore,
becomes not just the
absence of war, nor even the resolution
of conflicts, but the presence of qualities, values,
and
approaches in human relationships
that build greater harmony. This harmony occurs
through the
generation of acceptance and understanding
of diversity and understanding ways to share the
resources, both those which are
seen (e.g., minerals), and those which are not
seen (e.g., values). It
also involves ways of creating
more understanding toward the resolution of differences
which would
interfere with our abilities to
understand our natural diversity.
A preventive approach to disharmony
or conflict is essential; that is, any and all
differences which
intervene in relation to conflict
resolution and peacebuilding. It is this dimension,
often hidden from
view, that makes peace on any
level possible. This spiritual dimension has been
and is essential to all
religions and humanistic endeavors
of all forms. It is always compassionate. In addition,
it is slowly
being recognized as the only way
to survive and thrive into the 21st century.
Caregivers of all kinds, be they
medical, psychological, administrative or financial,
all over the globe
are beginning to recognize that
without a vision--a concern for humanity--the
issue of material
survival is not possible. Without
this concern, without this orientation, there
is no strength to
overcome difficulties. There is
no place to give both inside or externally in
the world in order to get
beyond the difficulties at hand.
Helping people in any way as an "attitude"
and as an "action" is a
unifying force globally. Therefore
we are all members of a supportive community regardless
of our
expertise.
We, invite all of our colleagues
who are concerned and committed to helping others
to come forth
and generate a new commitment
to this purpose. For further information, please
contact: Steve
Handwerker, Ph.D., D.Div., 7300
W. Camino Real, Suite 229, Boca Raton, FL 33433;
e-mail:
peacewk@peacewk.org; phone: (561)447-6700.
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