Commentaries

Imagine A World

by Len Ellis

Where the rights of all people are respected

and disputes are settled by the rule of law for

the common good.

Where all people have food, shelter and access to medical care, and children are born into and raised

by healthy families and communities.

Where literacy and education for all are accomplished facts.

Where economic practices create well-being for all, including communities and the environment.

Where beauty, the arts, and media inspire the best in people.

Where the benefits of science and technology enhance all circles of life.

Where tolerance and appreciation of diverse beliefs is the rule,

Where spiritual practice is encouraged, and reverence for life fostered.

Where the earth in all her natural beauty is treasured,

and her resources utilized sustainably, for this and future generations.

This is a world at PEACE,

and PEACE BEGINS WITH ME

Peace Begins With Me!

by Len Ellis

July 4, 2024  

As summer begins and we celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, I find myself questioning the meaning. Many people see the Fourth of July as a holiday, a day off from work, barbeques, etc, and of course fireworks, yet when I put the day in perspective by using the formal name - Independence Day - I must ask myself, am I really independent? July 4, 1776 was a remarkable day in history, a significant shift in consciousness to the need for freedom. As well, I ask myself, am I truly free?

We start out in life dependent on our parents or caretakers. We must conform to their standards, to their values. If we were blessed, they taught us to be free thinkers, to figure things out for ourselves, to exercise our independence, and we only saw their control when we needed protection. If not, we were held captive to what they wanted. Unless we questioned those values, we simply followed what they said, perhaps even today in our adult life. Is this independence? I think not, as those caretakers are still having a degree of control of our life.

In our adult life, we are pressed to conform to “the norm”, and if we are truly independent and free, we will politely nod and continue on our path. I know in my own life there are times when I do give up a piece of my freedom to conform and compromise, for a false peace of mind.

Where I find I lose my independence, however, is when I hold resentments or judgments toward others. Indeed, in holding on to any resentment, my life is then shaped and controlled by my feelings about that situation, about that person or group. Until I am able to find compassion and forgiveness, I will continue to be a prisoner of the feelings I am holding on to. It’s not the other person or group controlling me, they probably have no idea of what I am holding on to, it is totally and absolutely ME who is preventing my own freedom!

So let me begin right here, right now, with me. What I want most is to be free of the compulsions that keep me from living in peace with myself. When I can do this, I can then live in peace with my friends, my neighbors, with the earth, and yes, even with my so-called enemies. I have a deep desire for freedom, and to be free, I have to be honest about my feelings, not hide or stuff them, and commit to resolving whatever situation comes up, appearing as conflict.

And yes, life has conflicts and disappointments, so how can I be free when these come up? To live truly free, I must first acknowledge these, then with compassion, love those who might not be loving me. By doing so, I will no longer be dependent on how others act towards me, I will be free. By loving those we are in conflict with, whether it be right here right now, or from years ago, can we win our freedom, heal ourselves, and raise our level of consciousness.

Today, we can make the choice to hold on to the hurt and anger and resentment, or forgive and release it, thereby freeing ourselves. Yes, many times this will go against the conditioning we have received, and the choice may not be easy. It takes real courage to make those choices, yet I know once we experience the freedom these choices bring, we will be inspired to continue, we will find immense joy and happiness.

I will enjoy the festivities this Independence Day, as I hope you will. At the same time, I invite you to join me in looking at the ties that bind us, because independence and freedom, just like peace, begins with ME!

Promoting A Culture Of Peace

by Len Ellis

July 15, 2024 

We live in a culture of violence.  Violence is so prevalent, like water to the fish in the sea, we aren't even aware that it surrounds us, conditions us.  We are so accustomed to violence that we mistakenly believe it is a natural state of being.  Being submerged in violence has dulled and numbed our sensitivity to our own humanity; our concept of what it means to be human has been impaired.  And like any other belief, until it is challenged, until we become aware to another way of being, until we awaken to what is our natural loving, nonviolent state, it continues.  The most recent example, the tragic assassination attempt on former President Trump, has hopefully  raised our awareness,  spurring deeper, lasting conversations resulting in action of how to change it.

Truth is, most people long for a state of peace, a deep desire to live without fear for our lives, our health, and our emotional well-being.  Yes, we need challenges to grow, but living with healthy challenges is far different than living in fear.  But a culture of peace cannot be legislated or dictated, demanded or decreed; it will not manifest overnight.  It requires the commitment of the whole of society and must emerge from the grass-roots level, seeding peace and nonviolence in the everyday dialogue and behavior of all people, which in turn, results in cultural action.  By envisioning a cultural of peace and nonviolence, people develop values for a way of life that will guide individual actions.    

Learning to be nonviolent is a way of living, a process that begins with 'me' and ripples out into the larger world, demonstrating that people, organizations and governments can move the world pro-actively toward peace.  We must speak out against violence and injustice wherever it shows up, we must raise our voices, we must practice and actively demonstrate kindness, cooperation, respect,   We must BE the change we want to see in this world.  Peace begins with ME.

Love your neighbor, or some variation thereof, is a principle taught by most religions and spiritual paths.  The ancients recognized the need for people to work together, to build for the future, to cooperate and respect each other for a greater cause.  In the mid nineteenth century, D'Toqueville came to the United States from France to see what made America great.  What he saw was that people of all classes, of all walks of life, came together to help each other.  This is what brings people together, what creates a community, what tears down the walls of division and negative thoughts and hatred.   Bottom line is that if we want to “Make America Great Again” then we must actively practice and be role models for these concepts.

Gandhi-King Principles of Nonviolence

“At the center of nonviolence is the principle of love”. -M L King Jr.

- Nonviolence means to honor the inherent worth of every human being.  We naturally seek to understand each other, build friendship and community.

- Nonviolence means believing that our lives are linked together, that what we do impacts the lives of everyone we encounter, that we are accountable to one another.  Nonviolence means we trust one another and work toward the common good.

- Nonviolence means dedicating ourselves to the fundamental rights of every human being (justice, equity, equality).

- Nonviolence is courageously choosing to practice compassion with our adversaries. We oppose injustice, not people.

- Nonviolence means recognizing love as the power of the human spirit to triumph over injustice, inequity, suffering, as we embark on a hero’s journey of personal-social change.

Pledge of Nonviolence

Making peace must start with me.  I commit myself to become a nonviolent and peaceable person.

To Respect Myself and Others
To respect myself, to affirm others and to avoid uncaring criticism, hateful words, physical attacks and self destructive behavior..

To Communicate Better
To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to talk and act when I'm angry, and to work at solving problems peacefully.

To Listen
To listen carefully to one another, especially those who disagree with me, and to consider others' feelings and needs rather than insist on having my own way.

To Forgive
To apologize and make amends when I have hurt another, to forgive others, and to keep from holding grudges.

To Respect Nature
To treat the environment and all living things,
including my pets, with respect and care.

To Play Creatively
To select entertainment and toys that support our family's values and to avoid entertainment that makes violence look exciting, funny or acceptable.

To Be Courageous
To challenge violence in all its forms whenever I encounter it, whether at home, at school, at work, or in the community, and to stand with others who are treated unfairly.

Eliminating violence, one person at a time, starting with me.

A letter sent to NPR "All Things Considered " Host Leila Fadel
- Two States is not the only pathway to peace

January 19, 2024

by Don Dillard

This letter was sent to Leila Fadel, host of "All things considered" on NPR. The link to her program is included below. 

 https://www.wusf.org/2024-01-18/the-biden-administration-insists-a-2-state-solution-remains-a-real-possibility

A Way to Celebrate, Honor and Follow Dr. King

January 11, 2024

by Len Ellis

As we recognize and celebrate the birthday of Dr. King, I believe his words and actions are no less relevant today than they were over forty years ago. In particular his actions. I know I will never be the orator that he was, but I can be a similar active, participating force, an agent for change, a contributor to peace and nonviolence. In voicing his commitment to nonviolence, he said "If I am the last, lone voice speaking for nonviolence, that I will do." And so the relevant question today is "am I willing to be the last, lone voice speaking for nonviolence"? Am I willing to express my deep desire for peace? Am I willing to do whatever it takes to never give up hope, never give up the message, never submit to apathy, never to say "oh, let THEM take care of it"? 

Because what I see today, and I think Dr. King saw in his day, too many people are too quick to say "I don't have time," "What difference could it make?," "My friends/family don't agree."

You see, those committed to the power of nonviolence see it as a philosophy of life, not simply a method of social change. Those committed to the power of nonviolence see its relevance to their personal conduct and credo in everyday life. Those committed to the power of nonviolence stand in the face of bigotry and anger and hatred and injustice with the courage to show another way, and model what real freedom is. 

Dr. King challenged us to work for a greater humanity, for something greater than ourselves as individuals. So I have to ask: what am I doing to meet this challenge, to honor his legacy? What am I doing with not just the dream he left, but with the love and the faith to act? I invite you to ask yourself the same.

Yes, I am challenged every day to act in integrity, to be a voice speaking for nonviolence. And sometimes I fail, but more often the universe confirms it is the right thing to do. Dr. King is gone, taken from us by an act of violence, the very thing he dedicated his life to change. But he left us a challenge, to step up to the plate and do our part; what are you doing to honor the challenge, to create a better world? When you look in the mirror in the morning, do you recognize the one person who can leave the world a better place than she found it? If not, why not?

If you are truly committed to peace and nonviolence, then live in that integrity. Stand up for what you believe. Raise your voice! Be the last, lone voice speaking for nonviolence. If I don't, who will? If you don't, who will?

Peace Begins With Me!
By Len Ellis    

January 11, 2024

Have you ever had a lash in your eye? Most of us have from time to time, and at best, it is extremely irritating. A physical object in our tender eye is almost immediately noticeable. And what about the figurative lash in the eye? A situation or a person that is an irritation to us, which touches a tender nerve? We've all experienced this too, sometimes on a daily basis. And while it is happening, it seems so irritating that we just cannot think about much else.

Whether it is someone we would label as a difficult person, or a reflection of something in our own psyche, these irritations bother us. Naturally, most of us try to avoid such circumstances by avoiding these people, or not thinking about the situation. The thing is, though, by avoiding irritating people or situations, we miss out on the chance to grow, and we miss out on the opportunity to expand our peacemaking skills. And in almost every case, the irritation is not about the other person, it is about me, so dealing with the situation gives me the opportunity to find out something about myself.

The sages know this lash-in-the-eye is an opportunity for learning the skills that matter most in life: patience, forgiveness, and freedom from judgment. It is only when I have detached and let go of the judgments that I can put my arm around someone who has given me a really difficult time, and sincerely say, "Without you in my life, how could I have ever learned to be patient?" What's great about this is I can even do this with someone who is no longer around. In my mind's eye, I can recreate the situation and with sincerity, from my heart, say "Thank you for this opportunity to learn forgiveness."

Good and bad, happiness and sadness, pleasure and pain; these are the very real aspects of life at the outer, superficial level. The less I am bound by these dualities, the more clearly I will be able to see the core of purity, kindness and selflessness that is the real self in everyone, even in people who cause trouble, even in those lash-in-the-eye people.

The goal, the "where we want to get to place", is that of being engaged with every lash-in-the-eye situation, and stand in our integrity in the face of hostility, stand in our persistence in the face of resistance, knowing, yes knowing, that we can remain centered, remain at peace and say "Thank you". We can be with these lash-in-the-eye situations and instead of running away from them, or cursing them, we can bless them for what they are - opportunities to learn patience, forgiveness, and empathy, as well as freedom from likes and dislikes.

Instead of seeing the lash-in-the-eye as an irritation, I can choose to see it in a positive light, because as with all other choices - Peace begins with ME!

The Impact and Legacy of John Lennon
By Len Ellis    

December 8, 2023

43 years ago Tuesday, December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his Upper West Side apartment. The senseless shooting is no less repulsive today than it was then, even in light of all the mass shootings that have occurred over the past 40+ years.  

Over the years, when I am reminded of John Lennon, I have to ask – what would the world be like today had he lived? I want to believe it would indeed be a more peaceful planet, at least a more peaceful USA. One cannot underestimate the impact of the thoughts, ideas, and philosophy of Lennon, which eventually was put into words, words that we all could hear and take inside, words that interact with our very being, words that lodge into our brains, into our soul.

Just as words of violence can bring about actions of violence, words of peace can create a space for nonviolence, or in the Gandhian principal of Ahimsa, “a state of the heart which has no enemies.”

Can you imagine a world of no enemies? No perceived reason to harm, let alone kill, another human being? I know John Lennon could, and did. Just look at the words to “Imagine”, key phrases extracted here:

Nothing to kill or die for
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people:

-Living for today,

-Living life in peace,

-Sharing all the world

And the world will live as one

John took his imagination to the next step – he put into words and actions these principles – and we can do the same – our thoughts become our words become our actions. Yet we must go beyond this, we must set an example, teach our children from the moment they are born, how to respect and love one another, how to get along with our brothers and sisters. Yes, we will have conflicts – conflicts are a necessary part of life, but conflicts do not have to be violent! There is always a way to resolve conflict in a nonviolent way – ALWAYS.

I truly believe John Lennon would be leading us today to help eliminate the gun violence we are seeing today. Not by calling for more gun control, but calling for more understanding and tolerance and love for all humanity. He would be writing songs and making public appearances that promoted peace.   He would be taking every opportunity to be in the public view, being a model for peace, and most important, asking each and every one of us to do likewise. He would be promoting practices such as Nonviolent Communications (NVC) and Heart Math and Conscious Connections (formerly BePeace). He would be putting his words into actions. And what beautiful words they are.

I invite you to sit quietly, take John Lennon’s words into your head and your heart, and ask yourself “what can I do to make my life one of peace? What can I do to be a model for peace?” And when you get the answer, go forth into the world and show others what is possible. This is how we will create a peaceful planet. Lao Tzu, some 2500 years ago, said it this way:

“If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.”

And John Lennon reminded us in his own way. Go forth and promote peace, create peace, become peace. It isn’t hard to do.