PEACE AND HARMONY IN 2007 AND BEYOND: PART 2

THE FIRST PATHWAY

Common concepts appear among the writings of the three authors previously cited, and my goal is to summarize these for you, a formidable task, to put it mildly. My intention, however, is not to do the impossible – to tell their stories in a few words – but to tantalize you to study their works. More importantly, my hope is to point toward new directions for human thought that are essential and vital if human societies are to find bases to join forces in working toward a productive prognosis rather than the destructive future that seems all too likely to befall all of us if we continue on our present course.

No single concept has permeated world history so frequently and decisively as “I’m right, you’re wrong,” the ultimate statement of EXCLUSIVITY. This proclamation has caused many attempts for a few people to dominate a group, society, company, country or culture. (I’m living now in a microcosm of community warfare – the reason I’ve not posted anything for over three months.) During world conquest, untold cases of genocide, and many-fold more cases of suffering, destruction, and this waste has permeated history. This human tendency has been so significant that it even constitutes one of the most effective methods of human population control, a chilling thought. An example of the scope of such travesties, only one of countless possibilities, is a century in which the greatest numbers of people were killed by warfare than any other century. Estimates are that 300 million people were killed, half of them non-combatant women and children. Perspective comes from comparing this number to the recently achieved population of the United States – the same nine-digit number. Many, many more were injured, raped, and psychologically scarred permanently.

If people want to believe that human beings are getting better and better, it would be comforting if this was a long-past century, but the stark fact is it was the 20th century; and to make matters worse, the 21st has not started any better. The word, EXCLUSIVITY, haunts us. A person, country or culture may even proclaim that it is commanded by God to eliminate inferior people and, as conquerors, to enlarge their own wealth, territory, and power. Painfully clear, however, is that the getting power only leads to passion for more.

The opposite word is found in one wording or another in our troika authors’ books is INCLUSIVITY, the first of our three “I” words. One the surprising features of vigorously growing cities and regions cited by Florida is inclusive of bohemian, gays and lesbians, and artists because this population style is one of the magnets that attracts creative people. He even refers to PROACTIVELY INCLUSIVE efforts by economic development organizations.

Taussig also lists inclusive environments as found typically in the progressive churches he visited and studied to the extent that quotations of more than one holy writ may be used in worship services, multi-faith discussions are common, and sessions on scientific topics may be a part of their programs.

Wilbur inclusively recognizes and actively incorporates leaders from all world religions into his organizations and activities.

If a cursory comparison of the number of progressive churches listed in Taussig’s 1000 is made with Florida’s list of American high-creativity, economically strong cities, a correlation begins to appear. Although this correlation needs more study to be conclusive, the likelihood of this hypothesis being valid is high enough to warrant testing; we can at least begin thinking along those lines since they could be quite significant. That is, if religious groups are going to minister in the most highly productive cities, if creative people are going to be attracted to cities, churches, and jobs, all parts of our society will likely need to also address the style issues of tolerance, talent, and technology. And let it be clearly understood; these people will do much to set the pace and direction for America’s future. We need more of them and will want them to be in this country rather than running off elsewhere in the world, the latter concept being Florida’s important idea.

Similarly, we will need to attract these people with another pathway discussed in my next posting.