perspectives

Personal Responsibility: Changing the World

Reflective Audio Program:
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:
It's Role in Creating a Better World
...a virtual online dialogue with nine Berrett-Koehler Authors

News Flashes...
St. Valentine's Day 02/14/09
Afghanistan: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Staff Sgt. Marc J. Small, 29, of Collegeville, Pa., died Feb. 12 at Faramuz, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion...

Iraq: U.S. Confirmed Deaths
Reported Deaths: 4243  |  Confirmed Deaths: 4242   |   Pending Confirmation: 1
DoD Identifies Army Casualties (4 of 4) --- Pfc. Jonathan R. Roberge, 22, of Leominster, Mass...died Feb. 9 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle.

Source: http://icasualties.org/ Thank you!

The news today in Afghanistan and Iraq and places around the world paralyzes the mind with disbelief.

Oh, I want so much to be a part of changing this world, don't you?

Leaving just a little imprint on creating a world that works for everyone.
If we just thought more about each other;
About people we don't know or can't see.
If we just became a little more conscious and aware
About what is happening around us every day;
Across the world and in neighborhoods we can't even imagine.
If we listened more; objected more; paid attention more;
Spent more time thinking through the implications of our actions
and behavior day to day, choosing what's most right for a better world.
If we took time to be informed and to teach others.
If we were committed to loving our neighbors...

What difference could these small changes make?

It overwhelms me sometimes---I feel helpless and worried.
The small acts of one person seem so insignificant when
you look on at the mess we are in --- a mess we all collectively
shared in creating...


Then I recall this story...

The Starfish Story
by Loren Eiseley

"I awoke early, as I often did, just before sunrise to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As I moved through the misty dawn, I focused on a faint, far away motion. I saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin.

As I approached, I sadly realized that the youth was not dancing to the bay, but rather bending to sift through the debris left by the night's tide, stopping now and then to pick up a starfish and then standing, to heave it back into the sea. I asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. "When the sun rises, they will die, unless I throw them back to the sea."

As the youth explained, I surveyed the vast expanse of beach, stretching in both directions beyond my sight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the youth's plan became clear to me and I countered, "But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference."

The youth paused briefly to consider my words, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to me he simply said, "I made a difference to that one."

I left the boy and went home, deep in thought of what the boy had said. I returned to the beach and spent the rest of the day helping the boy throw starfish in to the sea."

What small difference will you make today? tomorrow?

Debbe

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

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

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

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

IRAQ: Violence abated? It depends on your...

On CNN, I just heard a whole segment on how violence had been abated in Iraq.

I suppose this depends on one's definition of violence. 37 US/UK/Other Soldiers died this month in first 27 days. 505 Iraqi Security Forces and Civilians died so far this month. ...and these are just the ones reported.

The story below is buried in today's news on the back page somewhere. Perhaps you missed hearing that people like you and me, on their way to work, were killed. According to U.S. officials, US warning bullets ricocheted and might have killed at least two or three people and they weren't terriorists. I guess these excuses suggest that these deaths don't count as violence either:

Shootings at US roadblocks Kill 5 Iraqis

By LORI HINNANT
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD (AP) -- U.S. troops fired on vehicles at checkpoints in Baghdad and northern Iraq, killing a child and at least four other people, the military command said Tuesday. It also said it was checking a report an American patrol shot at civilian cars near a Baghdad bridge, killing two Iraqis.

Roadblock shootings have consistently fed anti-U.S. sentiment among many Iraqis since the arrival of American forces in 2003. U.S. troops have been hit by suicide car bombs numerous times since 2003 and act quickly to protect themselves when a driver ignores orders to stop.

Also Tuesday, two American soldiers were killed in an explosion in Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. They were the first U.S. combat deaths reported in five days.

The roadblock shooting in Baghdad took place Tuesday morning in a northern neighborhood known to be a Shiite militia stronghold as a minibus driver picked up employees of the Rasheed bank, Iraqi police said.

U.S. troops fired warning shots when the bus reached the checkpoint and tried to drive through, killing as many as four passengers, including three women, police and hospital officials said.

"As I understand it, some of the warning fire ricocheted and may have killed two to three individuals," said Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, a U.S. military spokesman.

What do you think?

What counts as violence today?

It makes my heart hurt.

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com
http://www.debbekennedy.com

WAR & PEACE: Taking a Second Look at Ourselves

I've been short on perspectives lately. Oh, I don't mean I'm short on opinions. We all have plenty of those, but watching the war, destruction, senseless killing, and rumors of more has left me numb. Listening to news that you know is propaganda, half-truths, outright lies, or never told at all leaves me feeling we've all been duped for longer than we know. Perhaps, things have been this way all along, but I've chosen or been influenced to see the good that is there; to dream a bigger dream. I also realize that perhaps this is what life is for --- a laboratory of living and experiencing that leads to being confronted with your own values in the face of injustice and other sorrows.

What has become so real to me since the beginning of the IRAQ War, and other misjudgments, injustices, long-term failed leadership, and broken systems that have been revealed since, is that we as a nation, and has people, need to take a second look at ourselves and what we've allowed ourselves to become.

As I've written before, for reasons I cannot explain, I have always been drawn to old books. The books I like are not necessarily classics, but instead ones that someone wrote from the heart about life and lessons learned in their time. There is something comforting about discovering that people before us struggled too. They lived and experienced, leaving us with their wisdom.

In a book written nearly 60 years ago, Take a Second Look at Yourself by John Homer Miller, he shares a poem about three monkeys talking about us humans:

Three monkeys sat
In a coconut tree,
Discussing things as
They're said to be

Said one to the others,
"Now listen you two;
There's a certain rumor
That can't be true,

That man descends
From our noble race.
The very idea!
It's a dire disgrace.

No monkey ever
Deserted his wife,
Starved her baby,
And ruined her life.

And you've never known
A mother monk
To leave her babies
With others to bunk.

And another thing
You'll never see,
A monk build a fence
Around a coconut tree

And let the cocoanuts
Go to waste,
Forbidding all the other
Monks a taste.

Here's another thing
A monk won't do---
Go out at night
And get in a stew.

Or use a gun
Or club or knife
To take some other
Monkey's life.

Yes, man descends---
The ornery cuss---
But Brother, he didn't
Descend from us."

--Author Unknown

What do you see in taking a second look at yourself and our nation?
I welcome your insights.

Debbe Kennedy
Founder of the Global Dialogue Center

Come visit us ... www.globaldialoguecenter.com

LEADERSHIP OF PEACE

The language of a leader is very different than that of a person intent on "eye-for-an-eye" violence and war. Recently, I re-read a piece on Gandhi's leadership and his use of dialogue with people that brought thousands along with him. "For Mahatma Gandhi, The Dandi March was not just  a non-violent weapon of struggle. It was also a means of dialogue and communication with people along the route," writes Madhu Dandavate in his article, "Gandhi's dialogue with a Nation."

On their way to Dandi, Gandhi and his satyagrahis halted for night rest at various villages. He used this interlude to speak to the satyagrahis, the residents of the villages and accompanying journalists about the background of the Salt Satyagraha and wider issues of national importance. He treated the Dandi March as an educative process. He continued this dialogue with the people during all the 25 days of the march. Thrilled by the march, several journalists sent elaborate reports every day. These were well displayed by newspapers and journals. Thus what Gandhi said during the Dandi March became a dialogue with the nation. On their way to Dandi, Gandhi and his satyagrahis halted for night rest at various villages. He used this interlude to speak to the satyagrahis, the residents of the villages and accompanying journalists about the background of the Salt Satyagraha and wider issues of national importance. He treated the Dandi March as an educative process. He continued this dialogue with the people during all the 25 days of the march. Thrilled by the march, several journalists sent elaborate reports every day. These were well displayed by newspapers and journals. Thus what Gandhi said during the Dandi March became a dialogue with the nation."

THE LEADER'S LANGUAGE AND ACTIONS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE:
Symbolic gestures of kindness do wonders for the spirit of in all of us. Why do the world's most powerful leaders today seem to miss this fundamental human need. Seeing our leaders touch one life---express care for others---- has a rippling influence on everyone. Kindness casts a broad net of influence.

Compassion, caring and communication don't take strategies, handlers, poll forecasts. As the deaths continue to mount --- soliders dying --- while our leaders seem to be scratching their heads, going about their lives while others grieve the losses they have caused. I keep remembering how our leaders have not even had the decency to talk with a mother that has suffered the loss of her son or daughter at times during this war. It seems the least a president could do, especially when his two daughters have not yet enlisted to fight in his "noble cause."

What the Iraq War mothers feel isn't new...

“It was the mothers who suffered to bring these boys into the world, who cared for them in sickness and health, and it was our flesh and blood that enriched the foreign soil. Can you picture the anxiety of these mothers watching at the door for the postman every day for the little letter that was to come from her boy, and the agony and suspense when those letters stopped, and then only to be replaced with a telegram from Washington informing her that her boy was wounded or missing or dead?”
----Mathilda Burling
Testimony before House Committee on Military Affairs, 1928

Oh, the memorable contrast in another president:

"My fellow Americans, let us take that first step. Let us...step back from the shadow of war and seek out the way of peace. And if that journey is a thousand miles, or even more, let history record that we in this land at this time, took the first step." --- President John K. Kennedy

"Imagine all the people, living for today...
...You may say I'm a dreamer, but I am not the only one.

Perhaps someday you'll join us and the the world will live as one."

Debbe Kennedy

Founder, Global Dialogue Center

new book!
Putting Our Differences to Work:
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership and High Performance
by Debbe Kennedy ▪ Berrett-Koehler ▪ Spring 2008 – Hardcover
Foreword by Joel A. Barker, futurist, filmmaker and author
Paradigms: The Business of Discovering the Future

IRAQ, BUSH and LINCOLN: Lies, Truth and Leadership

What is in the consciousness of a man that can come on the world stage and speak for 17 minutes in lies, half-truths and language designed to hoodwink anyone listening. It was disheartening to listen to President BUSH's address to the American people about the IRAQ WAR. He has never been truthful, but like a "father" in a dysfunctional family, the co-dependent daughter keeps thinking, "This time, perhaps he'll change." Not a sign of it last night.

Aren't you tired of living with the vision of a self-proclaimed "war president" and all its negative implications and fear generating political tactics at others' expense?

I listened to the General David Petraeus' testimony this week on C-SPAN and it was not what one would have expect from the commanding officer in Iraq --- a clear report with RESULTS against PLAN with a clear strategy forward and defined NEXT STEPS. He is obviously been politically abused as a shield for BUSH's sham. The pain on his face showed. His honesty when called upon to give it helped one see he was doing as ordered. However, what we heard from BUSH took the IRAQ WAR propaganda coming out of the White House to new levels of sham and shame. It was clear that BUSH's speech writer cherry-picked half sentences and words taken out of context to create a deceptive picture of the TRUTH in IRAQ and its implications.

A New York Times Editorial, No Exit, No Strategy, described it well:

"This was the week in which Americans hoped they would get straight talk and clear thinking on Iraq. What they got was two exhausting days of Congressional testimony by the American military commander, hours of news conferences and interviews, clouds of cut-to-order statistics and a speech from the Oval Office — and none of it either straight or clear.

The White House insisted that President Bush had consulted intensively with his generals and adapted to changing circumstances. But no amount of smoke could obscure the truth: Mr. Bush has no strategy to end his disastrous war and no strategy for containing the chaos he unleashed.

Last night’s speech could have been given any day in the last four years — and was delivered a half-dozen times already. Despite Mr. Bush’s claim that he was offering a way for all Americans to “come together” on Iraq, he offered the same divisive policies — repackaged this time with the Orwellian slogan “return on success.”

The sad part is that as Chris Matthews said last night, the goal of the speech was to hoodwink at least of 1/3 of the American public with his speech to keep this his war going, because it paralyzes the Congress to move beyond his VETO power. How did we ever allow our country to be run by such incompetence and corrupt lust for power as we continue to witness? Last night as I listened, it seems Mr. Bush has lost it --- no one in a right mind could without conscious get up on the world stage and deliver that speech full of lies. It was almost embarrassing to listen, imagining the world was listening. Chris Matthews summed it up nicely saying something close to this (forgive me Chris for not quoting directly): Our soldiers are not fighting for the Iraqis; they are not fighting to protect the American people; they are fighting to sustain BUSH's failed policy.

CASUALTIES THE HEAVIER BURDEN ON OUR NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS
The heavier burden we all share is that allowing this war to continue under false pretenses rests on our collective conscience. How can anyone support BUSH's failure policy. While the "The Surge" was going on and Mr. BUSH was on vacation, along with the IRAQ political leaders and NO MEASURABLE RESULTS was achieved --- 649 US (608) and Coalition (41) soldiers died and 3890 US wounded and maimed --- and 11806 Iraq Security Forces and Civilian Deaths resulted ---- and these are just the ones devoted volunteers can piece together from DOD reports. Source: Iraq Coalition Casualties

______________________________________________

IRAQ BODY COUNT
See a comprehensive indepth analysis at the UK-based IRAQ BODY COUNT. As they quote at the top of their site from General Tommy Franks, "We don't do body counts." It was founded in 2003 by volunteers in the UK and US, who felt a responsibility to ensure that the human consequences of our military intervention in Iraq were not neglected. The service they provide is remarkable. They list three ways to contribute. Learn how you can help.
_______________________________________________   

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Reflections from a War-Time President
In a old book that fell into my path written during WWII written by John Homer Miller (Take a Look at Yourself), it shares two stories about President LINCOLN. I ran across it by-chance this morning. It was comforting in a way to know that LEADERSHIP did exist. With what we've had to watch in our political leaders in recent years, one gets concerned that you never did see things rightly. President LINCOLN obviously ran his presidency with a different approach and thinking about his enemies:

"During the War between the States an elderly lady rebuked Lincoln for speaking kinds words for the South. 'Why do you speak well of your enemies,' she demanded, 'rather than destroy them?' 'Why Madam,' replied Lincoln, 'do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?'"

"Near the close of the Civil War some wounded soldiers of the Confederacy were kept prisoners at City Point. Among themselves they discussed bitterly the man whom they believed had brought on the war of rebellion. One day, Mr. Lincoln came to City Point. He went among the soldiers of the Northern army and did not forget the Rebel soldiers being cared for in the ward near by. After Lincoln had departed, one of the Rebel soldiers sat up in bed exclaiming, 'Is that the kind of man we have been fighting against for four years? Why, he even recognized a Rebel and treated him as well as any of his own. If God spares my life I will never again raise my arms against the United States Government."

What do you see in the contrast between LINCOLN and BUSH in these anecdotes?

How are you working to stop IRAQ WAR?

Debbe Kennedy
Founder of the Global Dialogue Center

Come visit us ... www.globaldialoguecenter.com

9-11 COMMEMORATION:A time for self-examination

IN COMMEMORATION of all the man-made tragedies in the world.

In America, the bells will toll all over this land in commemoration of 9/11. With all the tragedies, anguish and loss since then in every region of the world --- most caused or at least, worsened indirectly by man's own lack of leadership, greed, ineffectiveness, will for power, lust for war or inhuman treatment of their brothers and sisters or disregard and disrespect for living creatures that inhabit this planet, it is hard to just think of our tragedy. One would think that 9/11 would have led us to be more caring and thoughtful of others, but the deaths, disregard, disrespect of human life we have caused as a nation since that horrific day doesn't speak well of lessons learned. Instead we continue to:

• point fingers
• call people degrading names and make fun of them
• allow our dedicated service men and women to be abused by leadership failures
• kill and maim innocents without proper respect and care

...and never stop to examine the root cause of all the hatred felt for our country around the world. It's not our freedom people abhor, is it really? Or is it our behavior and actions --- our contemptuous approach? Our demands on others, while we ravage others' resources, break laws and violate trust of our neighbors, creating a breeding ground for the world's disgust of our policies and practices.

This day for the sake of lives lost calls for self-examination, don't you think?

First, we must start with the long-awaited "Report on the Iraq War" by General Petraeus on Monday. I know the Iraq War has nothing to do with 9/11 --- but this is why today was such a sham. It was disrespectful to the tragedy of 9/11 and its aftermath to listen to another bunch of gobbledygook no one would understand --- obviously prepared to deceive and deflect any real accountability. At this senior executive level of "reporting" if it were done in a business, it demand measuring RESULTS against PLAN. There was little one could decipher as RESULTS reported. There was what I learned in management school was called X=GOOD statements flying around all day long. They appeared to really tell us nothing different than we were told last time, which was NOTHING.

I think I heard something at one point fly out of General Petraeus' mouth that sounded a lot like "deaths are down 55%  --- 55% of WHAT and SINCE WHEN and WHERE?  Throwing out numbers that don't add up and connect to nothing does not inform the American public, nor justify the human treasure lost and $450,472,654,000 + cost of the IRAQ WAR. This kind of reporting from the TOP BRASS surprised me actually. I expected more. They are the ones that taught us HOPE is not a METHOD; EFFORT is not a RESULT. One is left feeling duped. 

The American People have spoken;
unfortunately, no one is listening. Why do we accept this?

When the tragedies of the world trouble me, like they do with the passing of this symbolic day of remembrance of all tragedies, I find strength in voices that echo from the great sages of history---from the role models who inspired change in individuals and the world in ways that endure. Today, I heard three of their voices calling out to me...

Nelson Mandela spoke to me. The memory of his courageous journey told in Long Walk to Freedom remains with me. "I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. ...For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. The true test of devotion to freedom is just beginning," he reminded me.

I also came across a page where I had written a quote from Paramahansa Yogananda that a friend shared with me some time ago. He reminded me to stoke the embers inside, because there remains much work to do. “To be alive is to be on fire with purpose, to move forward with undaunted determination toward a goal. Many people think great things but do not act on them. However it is the activity that creates the greatness.” The Life of Paramahansa Yogananda

But what difference can I make? There are days when I worry that my work, my actions and passions are not enough. I see so much need. I feel so inadequate, don't you. Today is a reminder. However, Mandela and Yogananda had me thinking and feeling a sense of urgency about what I've been called to do. As I walked by my bookshelf this this morning in quiet desperation, a little book of Gandhi's wisdom caught my eye. I opened it at random and he spoke again,

"Good travels at a snail's pace. Those who want to do good are not selfish, they are not in a hurry, they know that to impregnate people with good requires a long time. ...The trial of one's conviction is just beginning. Greatness in contribution requires action. Doing the good requires selflessness and patience."

Let this day be a day of commemoration for all human tragedy, not just our own. May we leave it with a sense of personal responsibility to create a better world than we know today, one action, one behavior, one person at a time.

The great sages are speaking to you in the distance?? Listen.

Debbe Kennedy
Founder of the Global Dialogue Center

Come visit us ... www.globaldialoguecenter.com

Double Stardards? Consequences for Breach of RULES

The breach of standards that resulted in nuclear warheads being mistakeningly flown over the U.S. appears once again to demonstrate how out of control the administration of our country has become.

It certainly raises a few questions to consider.

What do you think?

Background:
An Air Force B-52 bomber carrying six cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads flew across the central United States last week after the nuclear weapons were mistakenly attached to the airplane's wing, defense officials said today.

"Essentially, this is an issue of a departure from our very exacting standards," said Lt. Col. Edward Thomas, an Air Force spokesman at the Pentagon, who declined to confirm that nuclear warheads were involved. "The Air Force maintains the highest standards of safety and precision, so any deviation from these well-established munitions procedures is very serious and we are responding swiftly."

The incident, first reported by the Military Times newspapers, which reportedly prompted the senior leaders were prompted to relieve a munitions squadron commander of his duties. Other airmen have been barred from performing duties related to munitions pending the outcome of the investigation. Source: Washington Post

SERIOUS QUESTIONS:

1. US Example for Other Countries
Haven't you heard lots from BUSH blaming others' carelessness and the urgent need to halt proliferation of nuclear weapons in regard to their countries building them?  We already have them. US has one of biggest bunches of them I believe. Why is it okay for us to have them and be careless? Where is the leadership here?

2. Commander relieved of his duties for the breach of standards.
If a "breach of standards" of a serious nature deserves consequences of being removed from one's command, why have BUSH and his administration --- after long lists across domestic and foreign fronts of careless, reckless "breaches of standards" with sweeping implications, illegal activities and the deaths of tens of thousands and millions displaced from their homeland --- not resulted in them being relieved of their commands?

Do we have double standards? What's your thinking?

I would love to know what you think and any other questions you think this situation raises.

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies
www.globaldialoguecenter.com