There Must Be A Better Way (version 26.11.2001)

By Norie Huddle

President of Center for New National Security

“I feel so incredibly frustrated, said Susan.

John looked at her.  The muscles in her cheek were twitching.  Tension. He understood how she felt.  He'd been feeling a great deal of tension and anxiety ever since September 11... and now, the anthrax scares... and the war in Afghanistan....  “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked gently.

“Oh, dear, I’m not sure I can put my frustration into words.” She hesitated, then, “That’s part of what is so very frustrating.  I feel as if I am in some new and unexplored territory in my life and I am completely unprepared and uncomfortable.  None of the old signposts work anymore.” She fell silent.  John stood there, feeling an enormous sense of love and appreciation for his wife. She was always so honest, so insightful. Maybe out of her insights he would learn more about his own anxiety.

Suddenly her words came tumbling out. “I feel so frustrated because I don’t have any idea what we need to do to solve this current situation.  I mean, it was such a horrible shock when the Towers and the Pentagon were hit -- we haven’t been attacked since Pearl Harbor...and that was so far away.  And of course, we have to do something about it... the terrorists can’t just get away with their attacks.  But I feel so uncomfortable about what is going on in Afghanistan.  I mean, several million people are about to starve to death there unless food can be properly delivered to them.  And the bombing... I don’t know... it just doesn’t make sense.  The more we bomb them, the more innocent people are going to be killed or injured.  That’s not right.  That’s a kind of terrorism, too, don’t you think?”

John thought of the conversation he’d had two days ago with the guys at work.  “Yeah, I understand what you're saying.  The thing that Joey and Paul pointed out is that the more innocent people get killed, the more new terrorists will spring up.  Those guys over there don’t think like us.  They think they’ll go directly to heaven if they die on some suicide bombing mission or whatever.  So, it looks to me like a ‘no win’ situation.

“What we are doing right now really IS a no win situation”, said Susan. “But it's much worse than that.  We are not paying attention to some really important things -- is like being focused on the wrong enemy.  The real enemies are fear and poverty, hunger... disease.... And ignorance.  Maybe the biggest enemy is our way of thinking that we human beings have, -- that we can live however we want, cutting down all the trees, polluting all the rivers and oceans...the soil...  That we can continue consuming all sorts of resources endlessly... that it is okay for a really small number of people to control most of the resources and let other people starve.  That’s just not... fair!”

“You know,” said John, “Paul pointed out something similar -- that with the war on terrorism, we seem to be completely forgetting the larger issues that, if unattended to, will kill all of us, sooner or later.  He talked about global warming and the holes in the ozone layer.” John sighed deeply.  “It's as if people have gotten hypnotized by the actions of the terrorists... and now, they’re hypnotized by the reactions of our government and military against the terrorist.” He shook his head.  “I love America as much as the next guy, but loving America is part of loving the whole Earth.  America needs a healthy Earth to be healthy.  We’re thinking too small... we seem to be missing some really important things that we just can’t afford to miss.

“Yes”, said Susan.  “I think we’re pointing to the same thing.  Our leaders are getting so caught up in this immediate situation, scrambling from crisis to crisis, that they… and we’d never step back to get the big picture.  And, if we don’t get an accurate BIG picture of what’s going on, we’d never figure out a really good way to act.”

Susan fell silent.  She looked so sad.  “I lost my dad in World War II... my brother was badly injured in the Vietnam War....John, I really am scared that our two sons are....she stopped, all choked up.  “It’s not right....” She was shaking... deep fear, anger, frustration,　sadness... “And, over there in Afghanistan, there’s another mother whose son will die... or another young woman whose husband may die.... it’s just not right.  There MUST be a better way.

“Oh, sweetheart” said John, putting his arms around her as she started to cry softly, “You are so right.  It’s as if there are houses all over the village that are catching on fire... and the firemen are all rushing around to put out this blaze...and that blaze.... but it’s never enough, no matter how bravely they fight the fires.

“Yes,” said Susan, wiping her eyes on John’s sleeve.  “What we need is to step back and get the big picture...like, what is causing the fires in the first place?” She was silent for a moment, then, said: “You know what I keep thinking to myself?  If we're smart enough to put a man on the moon, aren’t we also smart enough to figure out how to create a peaceful and just world, a world that works well for everyone?

“Oh, yes.” said John, somewhat embarrassed.  “I know a lot of people would consider that to be completely crazy, utopian thinking.... but to tell you the truth, honey, I have the exact same thoughts myself.  We human beings are pretty smart.  But we don’t seem to be asking the right questions.” He rubbed her head gently with his fingers, slowly, thoughtfully.  “Maybe if enough of us were to put our attention onto solving that one," he said in almost a whisper, “maybe we could actually do it. "

They stood there, holding each other, feeling incredibly helpless.  How could this be done?  The task seemed so enormous.  How could enough people come to focus on this challenge of how to create a just and lasting peace in the world?   They both sighed deeply, spontaneously.... How wonderful it would be, if....

A faint idea began to take form....  “Oh, honey”, Susan said, pulling back and looking into John's eyes.  Her eyes were very bright and full of wonder.  “Maybe we just did something just now... something really important in asking ... together... for help.  You know… ask and it shall be answered unto you…

John looked at her strangely.  “I’m feeling something, too, honey.  It’s as if...as if something has shifted... but I can’t put words to it yet.

Susan was excited.  “John, I think a lot of people are thinking about these issues and are feeling much the same way we are. Maybe we could start by raising one question with our friends: How can we encourage people to think constructively about how to create a lasting and just peace in the world?

“Wow, WHAT an interesting idea, said John, starting to get excited. “I think you’re onto something. From listening to talk radio and C-Span and NPR, lots of people seem to be sensing that something new is needed.” He lifted Susan up and swung her around in a circle. “Well, why don’t you run this idea by the guys at work.”

“Great!” said Susan, as he put her back down gently.  “And we can send out emails to our friends, and encourage them to send emails to THEIR friends, and so on. Maybe if enough people share their ideas, we can figure this thing out.

--Share your ideas for how best to encourage and support people all over the world to share their constructive ideas for building a peaceful and just world: www.bestgame.org