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2ot3 P eace Newsletter January

Fellowship LigonierValley of IJnitarian Universalist


soundslike anotherform of the precedingtactic. of C'haracteristics PeaceIII 'fhis Both can be thought of as extending friendship is a continuation the seriesof artiof peaceculturesthat exist in the World. and courtesyto othersand seemsto be an extencles on dealt with the way these sion of normal life within the cultures. l-ast month's newsletter But by far the most popular method of cultures manage stressful situations within the group. This newsletter will touch on how threat- escapingreal or potential violence is by w-ithdrar,ving fleeing from it. This tactic is usedin or ening situationsfrom outsidethe group are hangiven that someform by most peacefulsocieties. dted. One meansthat is used by some cultures they have this opportunity. This, of course"inis one that has becomewell known throughout. volves a certainmindsetof the group. Violence is This tactic is ap- ' -,in all its aspects looked down upon by these the world today:non-violence. parentlymuch older than Martin Luther King. Jr" to This societies, sometimes a remarkable degree. type of rnindsetis illustratedby examplesfiom or MahatmaGandhi. Non violence can take the '"not understanding'" potential several a societies. tbrm of simply meaning. the caseof a culturethat In One society.the lfaluk. inhabit an island oppressor's in Micronesia.LIS naval vesselsstoppedthere was fbundedon the islandof Tristanda Cunhain and showedAmerican fllms. films the AtlanticOceanby a British sailor,the popula- occasionally were panicked. dictato- depictingviolence.The islanders tion oncehad to deal with "an irnperious, someso that they becameill. Many subsequently rial minister [installedby Britain] who tried to refusedto watch Americanfilms. run their lives.'"The inhabitants followed his orThe languageof the Chewong of Malayders as much as they had to. but ignored "everythingelse that they could get away with." war. crime, quarsia lacks words for aggression. reling. fighting..or punishment. l'he ministerwas eventuallyreplaced. Such things are unknown in their culture. They also do not beAnother way of relating to potential oppressors throughexhibitingbehaviorfor which lieve in bravery. is would not be apt to find fault. The A similar attitudeis that of the Buid. a an antagonist peopleof the Philipines.The-vlook down upon peopleof Ladakh.a region in India. "are known for their patience.tolerance,honesty.and truthbravery or courage. They regard physical viofulnesswith one another.They similarly tend to lence as the result of "boasting, quarreling.expeaceful pressionof emotions,egotisticalself-assertion. deal with outsidersin a straightforward. manner." It should be noted that these qualities and aggression. of which havehighly negative all they exhibit to outsiders onesthey normally' values." are possess and with which they treat each other. It It is interestingto note that many of the appearsthey are showing outsiders'the same valuespossessed thesefew' societies. by such as they havetowardone another. courtesy their attitudestoward courage.are quite foreign Still anothermethodusedin somesocie- to ours. Their attitude toward other values such ties is finding ways to become valueto poten- as aggression. war, crime, quarreling,fighting, or of punishment. we say we agree with and yet we This methodis employedby the tial antagonists. Hutterites the llS in their relationswith their in regard their presencein our society as normal. farming neighbclrsand the residentsclf towns Others.suchas patience. honestl'.and tolerance. near them, They make efforts to help these truthfulness. say we admire.But do we pracwe neighbors to exchange sell farm produce. tice them? or or r goods in the local towns to They often purchase Note: Quotes within this articlearetakenfrom the rvebsite dernonstratetheir economic importance. This Peaceful Societies.

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