perspectives

Reconsidering LEADERSHIP from Gandhi's Perspective

In recent years, with our 24-hour news cycle and the advances in social media, all of us have witnessed disappointing leadership behavior on many fronts. For some, lives have been deeply impacted by it. It does seem we are overdue for an overhaul of the standard of conduct for leaders at all levels of business, government, and society. The twenty-first century brought with it a reality that has changed the whole landscape of leadership --- regardless of our position or status, we all have opportunities to lead every day by our example. Technology has also made it possible for leadership to be as local as our cell phones and as far-reaching as technology will take us around the world. With all the issues needing our attention, opting out really isn't a responsible option, is it? To create a better world, it is clear we all own our part of it. 

So, how do we begin to renew, revitalize, and recommit ourselves to standards of conduct as leaders in our own right --- so we are ready to respond to the needs and challenges of this new time --- as well as to the people within our spans of influence in the marketplaces, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities where we live and work?

In considering this question, I immediately thought about Gandhi as a great study and role model. He believed in self-examination and analysis of one's behavior and actions. He did it often. In a cherished book, A Higher Standard of Leadership: Lessons from the Life of Gandhi (Berrett-Koehler 1997), the author Keshavan Nair writes about Gandhi:

"Gandhi demonstrated that personal reflection was a practical endeavor... He analyzed his actions in the weeklies he edited...and in his correspondence with colleagues. None of these time-consuming activities diminished the amount of work he put in; indeed, they sustained him. It is not necessary for us to emulate Gandhi's level of reflection, but we can benefit from the direction he set for himself. ...Disciplined reflection does not take time away from work; it sustains the spirit and increases the intensity and quality of work."

Ongoing Self-REFLECTION IDEA:
We all have to find our own ways to renew ourselves. I share one of mine with you...

In several places in my home, I have small framed signs with one of Gandhi's messages strategically placed to catch my eye during the day, "My life is my message." It is interesting how those five words have shaped so many days --- so many actions --- so many decisions. They place the question of rightness to every action and decision. It is humbling on many days to realize that my humanness has kept me from living up to this proclamation in the way I wished I had.

The Story Behind GANDHI's Words
The story goes like this...
Gandhi remained silent one day a week. He was traveling on a train on the one day a week when he did not speak. When the train made a stop, a journalist rushed up to his window, screaming out to him, "Do you have a message for me to take back to my people." Gandhi scrawled a few words on a piece of paper and put them up in the window... "My life is my message."

 

Over the years I've thought about the commitment this self-imposed standard demands. I've imagined each of us measuring our behavior by it every day with a new kind of consciousness about all we do --- we could change the world in short order, don't you think? How many things would be different throughout the world? Think about it.

In my book, Putting Our Differences to Work, I recount Gandhi's warning to us about the traits that are the most perilous to humanity. We could reverse the realities he warned us about with a collective change in how we think, behave, and operate and by measuring our behavior and actions against the higher standard of leadership he established. Think of it...below I've restated Gandhi's warnings in the affirmative as QUALITIES. Imagine the impact of each of us living up to these QUALITIES:

• Wealth with Work
• Pleasure with Conscience
• Science with Humanity
• Knowledge with Character
• Politics with Principle
• Commerce with Morality
• Worship with Sacrifice

How does your life contribute to fulfilling these virtues?
I leave you as I reconsider this question myself.

Warm regards...

Debbe
 

Debbe Kennedy
founder, Global Dialogue Center
author, Putting Our Differences to Work

Putting Our Differences to Work
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership and High Performance
** 2010 Axiom Business Book Award Winner  **
Bronze for HR/Employee Training

ORDER a copy at AMAZON.COM

 

Dear President Obama: Considering MORE War

Dear President Obama,

It is the eve before your Afghanistan Policy Speech. Like millions of other Americans that supported your election and have put faith in your leadership judgment, I remain hopeful. However, I am saddened about what is to become a new phase of US aggression, if press reports are correct. We didn't elect you to be a new "war president," and I agree with many others that you will wear this mantle, if you proceed as it appears you are planning to do with an expansion of the war, risking more lives of America's men and women --- forever changing the lives of their families. President Eisenhower made it clear, "...War never solved anything."

I also know we are not the only ones bracing ourselves for the delivery of your policy message. The whole world is watching. Many of them, who have believed in your leadership and continue to look to you to deliver on your promise of change are waiting. I can't help imagining the Afghan people --- mothers and fathers --- children old enough to understand whatever rumors are meeting them --- worried and scared at reality that the US once again is staging to show its military might, destroying more of their homeland and killing more of their innocent men, women and children. Collateral damage we have rarely even acknowledged in this war.

Why? There must be a better solution than more WAR.

Last night, I read a passage from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I wish you could read before you deliver your message from the podium at West Point about expansion of the War:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
(A Time to Break Silence, April 1967)

"A true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order and say of war: 'This way of settling differences in not just.' This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice and love. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.

America, the richest and most powerful nation in the world, can well lead the way in this revolution of values. There is nothing, except a tragic death wish, to prevent us from reordering our priorities, so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war. There is nothing to keep us from molding a recalcitrant status quo with bruised hands until we have fashioned it into a brotherhood.

This kind of positive revolution of values is our best defense... War is not the answer..." 

I remain grateful for not personally knowing the experience of WAR in my lifetime... However, I admit I'm also haunted by a message left by someone with a credible opinion, Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler, well-known as America's MOST decorated soldier. He told us...

"WAR is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in life."

With great hope we await your message. Bring our troops home, save lives, save money we don't have, and STOP THE MADNESS of WAR. These are my greatest hopes. Please do the hard, more courageous act of doing what is RIGHT for our country, our troops, and for the world.

Respectfully,

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
founder, president, and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies
author, Putting Our Differences to Work:
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership, and High Performance

PHOTO CREDITS: An Afghan man looks on as he stands at a bus stop in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi)

Learning from Gandhi

In several places in my home, I have small framed signs with one of Gandhi's messages strategically placed to catch my eye during the day, "My life is my message." It is interesting how those five words have shaped so many days --- so many actions --- so many decisions. They place the question of rightness to every action and decision. It is humbling on many days to realize that my humanness has kept me from living up to this proclamation in the way I wished I had.

GANDHI's Message
The story goes like this:
Gandhi remained silent one day a week. He was traveling on a train on the one day a week when he did not speak. A journalist came up to his window, screaming out to him, "Do you have a message for me to take back to my people." Gandhi scrawled a few words on a piece of paper and put them up in the window... "My life is my message."

Over the years as I've thought alot about the commitment this message takes, I realize that if each of measured our behavior by it every day with a new kind of consciousness about all we do, we could change the world in short order, don't you think? How many things would be different throughout the world? Think of it.

In my book, Putting Our Differences to Work, recount Gandhi's warning to us about the personal traits that are the most perilous to humanity. Imagine how we could change the realities today by changing and measuring our behavior and actions. I also introduce Five Distinctive Qualities of Leadership and propose each of us add them to our portfolio. The one that seems to embrace all the others is "make mutualism the final arbiter" for all actions and decisions (e.g., behavior, products, services, profit-making) measured by just six powerful words:

Everyone benefits; no one is harmed.

With this conscious shift in our thinking and actions, we could reverse those personal traits that caused Gandhi worry. Think of it...

• Wealth with Work
• Pleasure with Conscience
• Science with Humanity
• Knowledge with Character
• Politics with Principle
• Commerce with Morality
• Worship with Sacrifice

How does your life stack up and contribute to these virtues?
I leave you as I ponder this question myself.

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
founder, Global Dialogue Center
author, Putting Our Differences to Work

new book!
Putting Our Differences to Work
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership and High Performance
by Debbe Kennedy ▪ Berrett-Koehler ▪ 2008 – Hardcover
ORDER a copy at AMAZON.COM

Putting Our Differences to Work was selected as as among
"the very top business books" for review in August, 2008.
Read it!

Also available in DIGITAL DOWNLOAD at Berrett-Koehler

President-Elect Obama: Together we are changing!

It would be hard to deny that this hasn't been a week of great promise for our Nation and the world. For one clear reason...we had the shared experience of electing a new President with the whole world watching and cheering with us --- a President for all of us with a family that mirrors our diverse and inclusion ideals in the US. Even with all the uncertainty and harsh realities of our economic meltdown, having a new President-elect Barack Obama with a mandate and a vision of a new direction for our country has left me elated. Having a beauitful, young First Family-elect with Michelle, Malia, and Sasha (and the new puppy) is a boost for a country --- a relief from years of what seemed at times to be overcome with the utter darkness of war, greed, division, injustice, disrespect of our neighbors and neglect.

Even if you cast your vote differently, what we know for sure is that what we're doing hasn't worked. We need a fresh new approach and through the millions of votes by United States citizens, we boldly opened the way for a new beginning. 

It has been a week that I never imagined that I would see in my lifetime and I am so grateful to have had my family experience a sense of unity across the US that we just have not seen on this level in my memory. There have been signs since election night that we are coming together. Emails have flown in to congratulate the U.S. on this incredible achievement and mandate for change. For example, check out these "love notes" from blues to reds each reaching out to make peace.

I was especially moved by the Time magazine article. The first paragraph said it all. "Some princes are born in palaces. Some are born in mangers. But a few are born in the imagination, out of scraps of history and hope. Barack Obama never talks about how people see him: I'm not the one making history, he said every chance he got. You are. Yet as he looked out Tuesday night through the bulletproof glass, in a park named for a Civil War general, he had to see the truth on people's faces. We are the ones we've been waiting for, he liked to say, but people were waiting for him, waiting for someone to finish what a King began."

...and we have a new song from Will.I.am. It's a New Day debut on Oprah.

I end this week deeply grateful for this new day. May we work to ensure that by putting our differences to work, we live up to the promise of our actions this week.

Your thoughts?

Best...

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
author and founder, President and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies

New Book! Putting Our Differences to Work
Learn more: www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com
Berrett-Koehler - BK Business

 

Obama: Fired UP and Ready to GO!

Tonight there seems to be an almost silent calm. Even the spammers aren't spamming. It's like we are collectively holding our breath. There is sense of our nation and our global neighbors being in a kind of unity. If the World Could Vote and Bridges for Obama demonstrate this phenomenon.

Our collective hopes seem to be coming together even in small ways. Today I was walking down the street and I met the smile of a Latino restaurant worker taking a break outside. I said, "One more day!" and then we traded thumbs up and beamed each other a big grin, knowing we were engaged in the same promise.

Before I cast my VOTE tomorrow in person at my polling place, I decided to write down my thoughts on why I am VOTING for Barack Obama to be our President. From a leadership standpoint within this long two years, I say "ditto" to the brilliance, vision, and approach to governing and other specifics that Colin Powell outlined when he announced his endorsement of Senator Obama. I also couldn't say it better than Fareed Zakaria in his compelling endorsement. Beyond these specifics, I also believe what we've witnessed and experienced from Senator Obama in the last two years is the most telling in how he plans to govern our country at this critical time in history.

Here is a summary of my observations about Barack Obama:

1. He proved that his "community organizer" experience mattered. He built a magnificent team and  highly innovative approach to his very disciplined campaign that has engaged our nation and the world in ways we could have never imagined. I love thinking about having a President again that can learn from their experiences and apply their knowledge to complex problems, using innovation and brainpower to redefine what has been done before.

2. He led an inclusive campaign inviting us all in, building a sense of unity among us, and stretching our own limitations to reach for goals higher than any party affiliation. I want our president to care and respect all people. We've got to move beyond dividing our country and the world with hurtful labels and exclusion.

3. He has been steady, clear, and unruffled by the constant stream of "McCain Palin" mud, challenging them at each turn with bigger ideas and focused attention. "You don't need to boo; just vote!" he told us.

On the other hand, John McCain seemed to sell out and it was both sad and disappointing from a man with a distinguished career of service. His mean-spirited, angry, disorganized, dishonorable, and dishonest campaign didn't reflect the temperament and qualities I believe we need in a President for the twenty-first century. We need new language --- "fighting" is not the strategy that will heal the world. Without discounting Sarah Palin's accomplishments in Alaska, McCain's choice of her for Vice President of the United States of America has proven by her own behavior and actions to be a choice that would put our country at risk because of her lack of readiness for this level of office. I admit she is a good campaigner, but I don't personally believe this translates to qualifications for Vice President and President of the United States when our country is in crisis and war. This was clearly a reflection on Senator's McCain poor judgment.

Tonight  Senator Obama in his final campaign rally before 100,000 people in Virginia, reminded us that we are less than 24 hours away from voting in the change we need.

May God grant us the will to live up to "Yes, WE CAN!".

I am fired up! ...and ready to go!

MOST OF ALL...VOTE!

Politics of Hope, Original Oil by Sally K. Green - www.sallykgreen.com

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
author and founder, President and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies

New Book! Putting Our Differences to Work
Learn more: www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com
Berrett-Koehler - BK Business

 

BE the CHANGE

I'm sad as I watch the tearing down vs. the lifting up in the political process. I'm know much of it is part of what we have allowed to be "customary" in our politics, but it doesn't make it right. I can't believe what we have watched the last few days as Sarah Palin has stood at the podium at McCain's campaign rallies. The hate-filled words she says against Senator Obama, with a syrupy smile, do not cover-up the racial overtones and inferences --- and the visible hostility and harrassment it is creating. As a governor of a state in the United States or any other goverment official, it must be a violation of their oath of office. At the very minimum, it is dangerous and it is not becoming to any leader to set such an example for others. How shameful for all the young people that are watching. It lacks basic decency, respect, and humanity. It is heart-breaking to see the "pitbull" in sheep's clothing" from a woman, especially when so many worked so hard to make the possibility happen.

It is a time for leadership. Being the change you want to see in the world asks more of us. It means stepping out of our comfort...for some, stepping out of indifference...for others, stepping out of silence. There is no time for mocking each other or scorning one another. This time requires not just hovering to take in...but also doing what you can to bring your own personal Light to a troubled world. It means exericising your right to vote to a whole new direction. It means standing up and moving out together.

This morning I again came across a poem of Rumi's that I had humbly adapted from another translation long ago. It is a call to action for us all.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Come out from under your fear, you so
   so fond of hiding and running away.
Don't cover your face.
The world is reeling,
Its heart so sick,
And you are one who can serve
   as an influence for good.
Don't hide the candle of your clarity.
Be with people.
Lead the way.
Be a teacher of souls by example.

---Rumi
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Put your mark on this time in history. The world needs you! Do your part.

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
founder, Global Dialogue Center
author, Putting Our Differences to Work:
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership, and High Performance
Learn more... www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com
Blog... www.globaldialoguecenter.blogs.com/differences

First Presidential Debate: Obama

With our country screaming for our attention on every front and the world looking to us for leadership, the long awaited First Presidential Debate between Barack Obama and John McCain was a top priority for this Friday night at my house. Seeing them side by side affirmed for me that we need fresh new thinking and a whole new style of problem-solving and approach to the presidency.

Even Pat Buchanan described McCain's style as mean, contemptuous, angry and a tough character. Other descriptors of McCain's body language were hunched, "look 'em in the eye," snarly --- yet, he never found the "big leadership" moment to give Barack Obama the courtesy of looking at him. McCain came across as rude and disrespectful --- Enough! We can't afford another "rough around the edges" president not at this time in history with so much at stake and so many relationships to repair around the world.

In contrast, Obama brought a whole new approach and leadership command of issues --- a fresh, visionary leadership strength that we've not seen in a long time in this country. He is emerging to a new height as the Change We Need to lead our country!

So tonight I celebrate Barack Obama debuting a beautiful new original oil painting (24x30) by Sally K. Green, Bay Area Artist. Learn more at www.sallykgreen.com.

Reflections the day after the night before...

• Grading the First Debate - Time
• Canadian Perspective - Toronto Star
• The First Debate: A Win for Obama - New York Times
• Sharp Jabs Mark Debate - Kansas City Star
• European Perspective - BBC

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
author and founder, President and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies

New Book! Putting Our Differences to Work (June 2008)
Learn more: www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com 
Berrett-Koehler - BK Business

GOP POLITICS: A Dissenting View Palin's Introduction

I think it started with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani's speech last night at the GOP convention. I found his vicious words and blood-thirsty mockery more disturbing than at other times. I wanted to yell, "ENOUGH!"

Watching and listening to the display that followed said a great deal about him, McCain, Palin --- and all we've all become as a nation living under the "Karl Rove Playbook" of hate and fear and intentional culture wars and mean-spirited attacks on others for political gain. Even seeing Sarah Palin come on stage, looking sweet and beautiful, then transforming into a "smiling snake" with venom spewing out at key moments in her introduction to the nation with thousands cheering the distortions, the put-downs and the sarcasm of personal attack---another "wolf in sheep's clothing" in a female form.

Based on the morning headlines, hailing the "success" of GOP convention program last night, I am in the minority in my view. Of Palin, the headlines read, "She hit the ball out of the ballpark..."

What I know for sure is ...

• we can't heal a nation with these techniques.
• we can't lead in the world modeling this kind of leadership behavior.
• we can't be a beacon of peace with leaders stooping to this level of rhetoric.
• we can't teach our children by setting the example we witnessed last night.
• we can't repair our standing the world with this kind of thinking and behavior.

Funny, as I watched, I remembered a young friend, age 8, a purple belt with green stripe in Karate, who mentored me by teaching me his daily mantra:

Watch your thoughts, for they become your words.
Watch your words, for they become your actions.
Watch your actions, for they become your habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

I have personally worked to advance and support women and think of myself as a pioneering women executive. This morning women have been saying, "She's just like me!" She's just like us!"  Isn't this what we swallowed when we chose George W. Bush --- a real regular guy and look at the devastation we are left with as he exits.

Somehow, in my vision for who would breakthrough the glass ceiling, my hope was for a women of substance, one mastered in the human dimensions of change; someone with knowledge and know-how about all the issues and pressing  problems we face. A woman willing to respect and protect women's rights that so many worked and sacrificed to achieve. A leader who's behavior is above reproach; a beacon of strength, integrity, and goodness.

Sarah Palin doesn't fit this bill and I recognize she is not just like me.

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
author and founder, President and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies

New Book! Putting Our Differences to Work (June 2008)
Learn more: www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com
Berrett-Koehler - BK Business

BIG, BOLD LEADERS: Learning from our politics

There has been plenty of second-guessing, ridicule, and cynicism from political critics and media show hosts about Barack Obama's "results achieved" in Europe last week. It has been interesting to see so many (a large number of them men) wearing the "mask of envy" as they work to minimize and insult an achievement that is not one they personally carry in their portfolios. (Photo: Associated Press - JC Hong)

It's hard, regardless of your political preference, to overlook the facts that Barack Obama gave us images and diplomacy that reached around the world that we've not seen in many years. He took a risk and he delivered. The pictures brought hope and promise to the future when our minds and hearts have only been filled with hate, greed, war, violence, death, destruction, poor leadership, and the demolition of the United States reputation in every region of the world. Smiling hopeful faces. Waving of American flags (not burning flags). People showing up in the tens of thousands to take a look at one of our potential leaders of the free world, showing interest and respect for the new and different.

My question is... Shouldn't we all be so proud as Americans that one of our American family took a bold leadership step successfully --- a risky move perhaps --- but demonstrated his capacity for positive influence, on behalf of all of us, that America wants to regain our friends in the world?
His performance didn't even need to be perfect in every way to trump contemporary examples of leadership we've all seen in the last near decade. The talk of Obama being "presumptuous" is absurd. Why should we be afraid to watch one of our potential presidential candidates doing his best in this way-too-long job interview? Why should he shrink to the level of the norm in politics when he is putting his heart into being our best choice? When have you landed a job by acting like your competition?

It was even more shameful to see a senior statesman like John McCain, with a laughing smirk, thrash Obama every day with half-truths, put-downs, negative ads, and out-right lies from the "straight-talk express" in a concerted effort to diminish Obama's results...all for his political gain. I admit it, the United States of America deserves a leader with more generosity and self-assurance than we witnessed in John McCain's actions and behavior. Can you imagine McCain using these same techniques as a President, when we desperately need a leader of our nation who can get along with others, has a respectful manner not in words, but in his actions to skillfully negotiate and positively influence strategic outcomes that will impact all our lives?

What seems in short supply are BIG LEADERS --- ones that can find joy in other's achievements. The only one I witnessed was George H.W. Bush, Sr. (Reuters) who in a moment of BIG LEADERSHIP, spoke the truth in words about Obama European trip --- the truth that was written on many other faces of those too small to admit it.

When George H.W. Bush, Sr. was asked by the media whether, as a former head of state who has a sensitivity about protocol, had any thoughts about the appropriateness of Obama's events in Europe, the former 41st President replied with a genuine smiling face, "A little jealous, is all."

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts."
--- Abraham Lincoln

This is what I want to belief is possible...there is magic in believing we can create a better world than we know today...together. What do you think?

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
author and founder, President and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies

New Book! Putting Our Differences to Work (June 2008)
Learn more: www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com
Berrett-Koehler - BK Business

Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING's Wisdom for TIME OF WAR

IN COMMEMORATION of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Legacy
Young Martin
Original Oil Painting by Bay Area artist, Sally K. Green
www.sallykgreen.com, see leaders with a lasting impression

At this moment in our history, we have experienced a week where the realities of an escalating war are suddenly confronting our consciousness. Its truth is coming at us directly from governmental actions, in what appears an abuse of power, most likely covert plans and rumors of a deeper level of war, killing and destruction. It is as if Dr. Martin Luther King is speaking to us across time. He seems to be tapping us on the shoulder to remember for reasons that may be more important now than ever before in our lifetime.

Take in his wisdom...challenge yourself to step up to be part of creating that tipping point where all of us change our misdirected course, demanding that our country live up to its values. Peace doesn't come from war. War begets war. Hatred and violence multiplies hatred and violence. We must ask...
How can MORE KILLING hold the answers we seek?

CONSIDER DR. KING's WISDOM...

OUR ROLE IN PEACE
"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love. Where evil men would seek to perpetuate an unjust status quo, good men must seek to bring into being a real order of justice."

LESSONS FROM WAR
"...The only change came from America, as we increased our troops commitments in support of governments which were singularly corrupt, inept, and without popular support. All the while, the people read our leaflets and received regular promises of peace and democracy and land reform.  Now they languish under our bombs and consider us...not the real enemy. They move sadly and apathetically as we herd them off the land of their fathers into concentration camps where minimal social needs are rarely met. They know that they must move or be destroyed by our bombs, and they go, primarily women and children and the aged. They watch as we poison their water, as we kill a million acres of their crops, and they wander into the hospitals with at least twenty casualties from American fire power to one ["enemy-inflicted"] injury. They wander into the towns and see thousands of children homeless, without clothes, running in packs on the streets like animals. They see the children selling their sisters to our soldiers, soliciting for their mothers."

ISN'T WINNING MORE ABOUT RULE OF LOVE not War?
"The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows. One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. How much longer must we play at deadly war games before we need the plaintive pleas of the unnumbered dead and maimed of past wars?''

"Our freedom was not won a century ago, it is not won today; but some small part of it is in our hands... If we assume that life is worth living and that man has a right to survival, then we must find an alternative to war. In a day when vehicles hurtle through outer space and guided ballistic missiles carve highways of death through the stratosphere, no nation can claim victory in war."

BOOK REFERENCES and ARCHIVAL VIDEO of Dr. King's Wisdom
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Words of Martin Luther King Jr. and The Trumpet of Conscience
Selected by Coretta Scott King

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Visit to Grace Cathedral in 1965
Story and video of his message

What difference will you make to move us to the rule of love?
How will history record our response?

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
author and founder, President and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies

New Book! Putting Our Differences to Work (June 2008)
Learn more: www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com