Eupan - Good for All - www.eupan.net

". . .the intention of Memorial Day is to honor all who died in America’s wars, not to celebrate militarism or bless war. . . .  Instead [of] letting the holiday be co-opted to perpetuate militarism, let us resolutely focus on honoring those who have given their lives in our nation’s conflicts. . . . .  This Memorial Day is an opportunity to consider: given the cost in these precious lives, we must find a better way, not just repeat the past again and again. War--and those whose lives are snuffed out or haunted by it--gives us every indication that we have not yet explored or employed our best intellectual, spiritual and material resources for preventing or addressing conflicts." Thanks to John Frankin Hay (see full article) . Toward eupan ~ ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d.

The Powerball $600 million lottery just "ended" (actually, no winners have yet been confirmed, thought he winning numbers have been selected.) I happened to be online to several news-sources, to read the comments within minutes of the winning numbers being posted.  Numerous persons commented, "I didn't win." Others commented, "I won!  I won!" - clearly they did not.  A few posted they wish they would have bought a pizza instead - and several commented that they wished the winners luck and hoped they would share the winnings. I don't get people who "buy" into lotteries. [I've read numerous sociological or economic studies on those who do "play" so I do "get it" in some way, even while I still do not comprehend it.] For one, the only genuine and guaranteed way in life, as shaped by years of experience worldwide, to reap any harvest or gain on any achievement is to sow & work and then reap ...

  I'm not always comfortable with what I have read from the blog I am linking to - but this single link shares insight I can't access since I am not fluent with Modern Hebrew.  In a speech, translated by Richard Silverstein, Warsaw Ghetto Survivor, Chavka Fulman-Raban shares her views on the need to transform our world towards tolerance and peace. From Silverstein:  "On Yom Ha-Shoah, one of the few remaining living survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto, Chavka Fulman-Raban, delivered a fierce denunciation of evil and injustice, including the Israeli Occupation.  Her speech was offered to guests at the ceremony of Beit Lohamey Ha-Getaot (the Ghetto-Fighters House)." Her words include: Rebel against racism and violence and hatred of those who are different.  Against inequality, economic gaps, poverty, greed and corruption. Strengthen humanistic education and values of ethics and justice.  These too are [a form of] rebellion against alcoholism among our y...

I teach a course on antisemitism, the Holocaust (Shoah) and the history of genocide. Every class session, I tell learners the quote by Yehuda Bauer:  “Do not be a perpetrator. Do not be a bystander. Do not be a victim.” Every class session I give them the Marty Michelson version - with it's supplemental inversion! “Do not be a perpetrator. Do not be a bystander. Do not be a victim.  Be a rescuer!  Be an upstander!  Be a peacemaker!" Not being a perpetrator is important  . . . and we must also actively be peacemakers! Not being a bystander is important . . . and we must also actively stand-up for others! Not being a victim is important . . . and we must also be people who rescue victims and victimizers! I end the final hours of the course each semester with the moral courage and vision of communal life embodied in the village of LeChambon sur Lignon. presented in the book by Phillip Hallie, Lest Innocent Blood be Shed .  I show portions of...

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Friday called for more intense dialogue between religious leaders, particularly Muslims, as he tries to recalibrate relations between the world’s two largest religious groups. Speaking in the Vatican’s majestic Sala Regia, the Argentine pontiff said that part of his mission is to connect “all people, in such a way that everyone can see in the other not an enemy, not a rival, but a brother or sister.” May the religious leaders of the World - and their followers, see each other as fellow humans, brothers and sisters in humanity, for fruitful futures for all the children of the world. More at this link . Additional perspectives, in a separate piece, available here . Toward eupan ~ ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d.

I highly recommend this short blog entry about Sister Helen Prejean on the Death Penalty . The quick read highlights how persons who espouse religious belief should be the difference makers in society. Persons who claim a higher moral standard than others should demonstrate that in the actions and advocacy of their life! Toward eupan ~ ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d.

Peace must come in many places in the world.   Indeed, our hope is for peace in all the world. Rev. Stephen Sizer , who advocates for issues of peace in Israel & Palestine has shared this letter from a prominent Christian in Palestine - calling for U.S. President Barack Obama to help reshape peace in Palestine. President Obama will be visiting Israel and Palestine in March 2013. I call on you to write to Obama and tell him that if he is coming to engage Israelis and Palestinians in talks that will lead to a just peace, he is then welcome. Otherwise tell Obama to stay home. Tell Obama that the world will be watching his upcoming visit and people all over our planet will look to his visit with hope and expectation. Tell him not to disappoint humanity by carrying on U.S. politics in the Middle East as usual. Tell Obama when he visits us here to stand by the values that he reiterates in almost every speech: freedom, independence, equality, and justice ...

I know very little about the Iranian cartoonist who created this image. The image has captured my thoughts. "Leaders to war, followers to peace"  by Mana Neyestani As presented by the cartoonist, the flags represent Israel and Iran.  I post the cartoon here, though, not as a political commentary on either nation.  I think we could place the flag of many separate nations on the podiums and the cartoon would still work!  That fact intrigues me. The speakers at each podium are images of each other - truly undifferentiated.  They are the same person - despite the flag on their podium - lambasting the same words, though no words appear in their respective speech-balloons!  Their words do not matter - only the "shape" of their speech is important - "bombs" of impending destruction.   We can not see the face of those who exchange flowers - only that they reach out, hidden from view - trying to reach the other.  Their hands do not reac...

It's too bad we've trivialized "Valentine" to baby-faced-winged-cherubs of myth - when a factual human of history is at the heart of today's historical core. The real historic person, the Saint - of St. Valentine's day -  lived as a peacemaker, embodying love for others demonstrated in allegiance with his Christian piety & care.  The Saint lived to embody relational, reciprocal love between humans that stood in opposition to warfare, violence, enemies, empires or allegiance to nationalistic overlords. "Not much is known about St. Valentine. He lived in the third century, was a priest in Rome, and was martyred in the final years of the Emperor Claudius II’s reign. Stories about Valentine have him ministering in various ways to persecuted Christians. But the story that best expresses what the saint stands for has it that he secretly married dozens of young Christian couples during a time when Claudius had forbidden male youths from ...

The Eupan Global Initiative is not a theological community.  And yet, many who participate bring religious perspectives to the work of extending the good for the all.  I, Marty Michelson, certainly embrace Biblical and Justice and Jesus and Peacemaking perspectives in my shared advocacy toward eupan ! Religious identity shapes social and political perspectives. I comment on this as I share an article that presents an interview with Megan Phelps-Roper - a family member of Fred Phelps and his particular vision/version of belief embodied in the sadly famous, Westboro Baptist Church.   Megan was raised with a vision/version of Christian religion that was intolerant, legalistic and hate-filled.  She had to come to discern that and reject it - as she explores what it means to "treat people right."  She wants to emerge from her current journey "with a better understanding of the world and how I fit into it,and how I can be an influence for good.”  I...

Delightfully cute - peppered with keen insight! "What if there really are two paths?  I want to be on the one that leads to awesome!" Let's encourage the Whole World to Dance! Toward eupan ~ ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d.

Featuring the The Marquette University Center for Peacemaking . It is always good to have resource connections with other peace-making initiatives - and areas for learning and growth.  The Marquette University Center for Peacemaking "empowers the university and the wider community to explore together the necessary skills to become informed, spiritually-centered, nonviolent peacemakers. Rooted in the Ignatian charism, the center fosters an awakening to the holistic relationship of scholarship, spirituality, nonviolent living, and the active struggle for peace and justice." From their website - are numerous other links to religious based peace-making initiatives . And . . . Featuring the McMaster University Center for Peace Studies .   The Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster grew from the shared concern of scholars and physicians at McMaster about the dangers of the Cold War. This collaboration initially led to the introduction o...

A friend and person I admire has posted insights on Martin Luther King, Jr. - Ghandi - and God - shaping the Common Good.   The author John Franklin Hay is Associate Faculty, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue University Indiana) in addition to being a Civic Community Leader & Christian Pastor. Among many other items, he notes: By and large,today’s leaders cannot lead toward common ground because they do not believe it exists and they do not believe it exists because they cannot believe or see beyond their own conceptions of God.  And: As we continue to make a secular assessment and take a non-religious approach to address terrorism, we foment it. Today’s most significant conflicts are religiously-based. When American leadership comes to deeply understand, truly respect, and act with high regard for the religion of Islam, Islamic fundamentalist-sourced terrorism will begin to be dried up. Gandhi and King, I...

There are a number of ways that any person can develop skill, knowledge, & experience in work associated with peace-making.  Many Universities are developing study programs in Peace, and there are many co-related degrees that could be earned by peacemakers - programs in International Studies, Economics, Sociology, Religion, and Psychology would have overlapping concerns with peacemaking work. For persons looking for a unique approach to peacemaking studies where pursuing a Graduate Degree is not possible - there are a few options. I have commented on my praise for Rotary Peace Fellow programs in the past.  This can be part of an earned Master's Degree - or - a shorter term Professional Certificate from Chulalongkorn University from 3 months of intensive study in Southeast Asia. I've recently learned of this program, led by SIT (formerly, the School for International Training) and their Graduate Work program possibilities include the SIT Graduate Institute ....

René Wadlow is a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a representative to the United Nations, Geneva, of the Association of World Citizens. He authored a great piece for Fellowship of Reconciliation which gives a history of Interfaith (Inter-religious) Dialogue. It ends with these words:   Since 1893, interfaith discussions have increased, but many of the issues have remained the same: how to make religious thought relevant to the social-economic-political issues of the day. Can religious organizations play a useful role in the resolution of violent conflicts? It is important to build on past efforts, but many challenges remain. These challenges call for responses from a wide range of people and groups, motivated by good will to break down barriers and to reconcile women and men within the world community.  Toward eupan ~ ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d.