NONVIOLENCE: A CHOICE
Yes, nonviolence is a choice. Violence exists in the world, but how do we respond to it? Can we overcome it? Is it taught, or is it an innate characteristic of certain individuals? These were some of the questions explored during the April 6th conference on Peace in Oregon.
But as we planned for the conference, we didn't want just to explore the topic; we wanted to present some concrete examples and practices that could be used in everyday life to address personally stressful and internationally alarming situations. We realized there are many such circumstances in our lives.
It seems that every generation is presented with the task of maintaining peaceful relations in its own area of the world. Each generation's struggle seems to have a broader scope. From tribal fighting, humanity's struggles have escalated to World Wars. Yet at the same time we are also expanding our
ability to accept others. Whereas anyone outside one's immediate family might have been considered an enemy in ancient times, now any individual within our racial, national, or religious realm is considered "one of us." This is a good beginning, but obviously we have further to go. In today's world the big issues seem to be religion, politics, and gender. These are issues bigger than the family, clan, and ethnicity. We are up to the next level.
To start off the day's event, Ms. Melinda Bullen of the "Diversity Resource Center" welcomed the audience to Mount Hood Community College, and then Rose Ann Kennet, the "Trio-SSS" academic advisor, introduced Christine Edwards as emcee. After going over the schedule for the day Christine invited her husband, Randolph, to share in the recitation of a poem asking those present to reflect on how peace might be accomplished. She then asked attendees to put their wishes for peace on a map of the world created by a member of the student government entitled "A World Without Violence."
"All Nations Drum", a Native American intertribal group, was next on the program. They shared two drumming sessions to focus attendees' thoughts and bring them into harmony based on a spirit of healing. One of the members of the group also gave a testimony of the experiences of his parents' generation, in the era of Native American boarding schools, which brought listeners to tears.
Ms. Claudia Al-Amin co-chair of WFWP's Cascade chapter, gave the keynote speech based upon the tenets of "The Initiatory Way to Peace: Through the Awakening Consciousness" promoted by the International Sufi School for Peace and Service in conjunction with her own personal experiences.
Following the Keynote Speech, Gary and Nancy Spanovich, Directors of the Wholistic Peace Institute, moderated a student panel discussion on peace and non-violence. Two Mt. Hood Community College students, two Jesuit volunteers, one from Villanova University and one from John Carroll University; and one student from Portland Community College discussed their views on the following four questions:
Who has inspired you to live a nonviolent life?
What are the building blocks of nonviolence?
How do you find peace in your life?
Is peace possible in the world?
Mr. Spanovich, with his extensive work with Nobel Peace Laureates, added numerous anecdotal comments that enlivened the presentation. All of the students provided thoughtful and thought-provoking insights. One of the panelists arrived late having come from a dialysis session just prior to the event. Many of the thoughts he shared had a particular sense of urgency having grappled with the effects of his illness upon his young life.
To end the early morning session, Ms. Naomi Etta sang a heartfelt rendition of "That's What Friends are For" by Burt Bacharach and Carole Sager.
After a short break, the second morning sessions began: Dances of Universal Peace presented by Michael Sheehan and Inner Peace introduced by Miyuki Pollman.
Dances of Universal Peace, which began with one circle in San Francisco in the late 1960's and are based on the vision of Sufi teacher and Zen master Samuel Lewis, have spread to hundreds of circles in more than sixty countries today. As 'moving meditations' they are meant to renew our spirits, make inter-personal connections, and help us find internal peace by singing songs and sacred phrases from the world's wisdom traditions.
In her presentation on Inner Peace, Ms. Miyuki Pollman introduced methods and exercises to balance one's energy. She has studied Donna Eden's Energy Medicine, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Ho'oponopono, Body Talk, and Flower Essence Therapy. Based on that knowledge, she demonstrated how a person's energy flows through the body and how doing simple exercises can make corrections and improvements in a person's life. She also introduced some techniques for releasing emotional stress through balancing one's energy by touching the meridian points on the body
During the lunch break guests were free to browse among the presentation tables. One was manned by the West Columbia Gorge Rotary Club, which offers Peace fellowships; another with information on Marylhurst University the offered a Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Mediation; a Women's Federation for World Peace book table; and one devoted to ecological resources. From 11:30 to 1:00 there was also a pop-up library run by the college, displaying books appropriate to the occasion.
Adjacent to the tables, a series of banners displaying various Nobel peace laureates lined the space near the windows, delineating the life journeys and philosophies of those men and women. On the opposite wall a beautiful art exhibit of works by Raziah Roushan was on display.
After lunch there were four more sessions. Ms. Sarah Aimone instructed people in a number of mindfulness techniques and led participants in simple yoga exercises that could be performed even in a busy work situation at one's desk. She reminded people of the importance of taking breaks and interrupting repetitive tasks.
Ms. Rachel Hestmark presented a very personal testimony of her journey as a human trafficking survivor who now has children of her own, and shared how she had arrived at a place of healing and peace in relationship to her parents and siblings. Now, practicing the discoveries that have brought her peace within her family, Rachael is working as a community advocate to prevent the kinds of abuse she experienced as a teenager.
Ms. Melinda Bullen presented on "Unconscious Bias." Participants in her session went through exercises that brought attention to their associations in such a way as to observe patterns that had been unconscious. She also shared one video combining stereotypes and actual reality juxtaposed against each other, and encouraged participants to explore the feelings that were triggered. Attendees were given presentation handouts that included links to internet resources to use in bias self-testing and to strive for more conscious behavior. By becoming aware of our unconscious attitudes, she explained, we can begin to consciously address our assumptions in order to respond and act in ways that are more humane and thoughtful.
To end the day Dr. Fred Sly Ph.D., Program Director for the Oregon Prison Project, gave a presentation on Nonviolent Communication, a method created by Marshal B. Rosenberg Ph.D., a Portland, Oregon resident. Fred's personal research in psychology focuses on the power of empathy in reducing violence and trauma in our lives and is the basis of the curriculum used in Oregon prisons today. He shared examples of the profound changes he observed in prisoners (even one murderer), after having studied and experienced the effects of Nonviolent Communication.
By using role-playing with a partner to practice alternative ways of speaking, Nonviolent Communication develops practical skills in creating a vocabulary that can help people interact peacefully. Fred enacted a number of scenarios with a before and after approach and then invited volunteers from the audience to participate.
By dramatically changing one's approach to communication, language can strengthen relationships, build trust, prevent conflicts, and even heal pain. By 'role-play' practice individuals can learn alternative ways of communicating and expand the range of responses available to them in times of stress. After the presentation, there was an extended and lively question and answer period.
Participants of the conference certainly left enlightened and uplifted by the personal stories of building peace as well as empowered with practical tools to build peace in their own communities and inspire others to make the choice of nonviolence.
