Archive for March, 2011
Report of premeditated murders by U.S. army personnel against Afghan civilians
Rolling Stone magazine has just published a piece describing acts of recreational murder committed by members of a U.S. army platoon against Afghan civilians. A very difficult article to read but an issue that must not be ignored. The link is here.
Does a female perspective equate to peace?
So here we are again, faced with the question, “Does a female perspective in the government lean towards peace when contemplating military action?” In class we have reflected on whether men are more violent than women. We have also looked at peace movements as related to gender. Going back to the question I posed, I […]
Why Bother?
A friend of mine is a firm believer in the theory that it is impossible to achieve peace, so there’s no point in trying. I wholeheartedly disagree with every part of that statement, and believe that if we begin to believe as she does, we begin to travel down a dangerous road. Whether or not […]
Where is the inner peace?
I am just finishing my last midterm and I finally find myself in a “peaceful” state…but not for long. I stumbled upon a seemingly important definition of peace earlier this semester. Peace is defined as an absence of mental stress or anxiety. Even though I have just finished copious amounts of studying, tests and papers, I am still busy writing this blog, […]
Gaddafi’s Access to Mustard Gas Potential Hazard to Libyans
The preparations for U.S. and European military interventions in Libya has raised questions of a potential response from Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi. Information of a Libyan government owned garage, stockpiling some 10 tons of mustard gas, has added onto the fear of the Libyan people that their leader and current oppressor could use the caustic […]
Peace Education and Global Understanding
One topic we recently addressed in Intro to Peace Studies is: If we are able to educate for peace, what is the best way to do so? Here are some important follow-up questions that were raised in class: Is educating for peace any better than educating for war? After all, both are kinds of socialization. […]
Education: A Lesson in Violence
“Bullycide,” a term that has only recently entered the national vocabulary, describes an individual who commits suicide after being tormented and bullied. The spike in “bullycides” in the recent year has forced the nation to quit playing the “see no evil” card and open its eyes to the trauma our students experience every day. Our […]
Eliminate bullying and Create Peace
Can Education Bring Peace? The question almost sounds leading. If education cannot bring peace then what can? As a child I was bullied in elementary and middle school. The experience of being bullied was traumatic to my childhood. I was constantly made fun of because of my size, height, and skin completion. I spent elementary […]
Education is Peace
Education is, in one word, peace. This comment is sure to garner disagreement, but the basic premise is one that is defensible. If I know what peace is, and I am educated in the ways to go about achieving it, then peace is within my grasp. If, however, I am unable or unwilling to […]
Educate to Re-Socialize
While there may be some inherent differences between men and women, ultimately the way we act is due to the way this society has been socialized. To change the way we socialize we must educate children from the beginning for peace. I completely disagree with Sally Thomas’s “Killer Instinct”. While it observes the tendencies for […]