people can make the difference — be one of these people

diane feinstein was on charlie rose a coupla weeks ago. when discussing the large number of american backers for the president's war against iraq, feinstein said (paraphrased), "I represent California, which is a very populated state. I've received 10,000 calls against a war in Iraq and only 200 calls supporting it."

i was one of the 10,000. i'm glad i called. you should call too. call your senators. call your representative.

downtown there are two large "chalk" grafittis, one huge peace sign in front of the post office. and another (not sure where it is) that also has the peace sign with the words "smart weapon."

no kidding.

and finally, today on new dimensions (one of my favorite radio shows -- you should try to listen if you can), the following:

THE SYNTHESIS DIALOGUES: PART 4: TOWARDS A NEW WORLD CULTURE
with H.H. The Dalai Lama and others
In the fall of 1999, forty innovative thinkers from around the world gathered together with H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet at his home in Dharamsala, northern India, for a special invitation-only dialogue about the future of humanity and the planet. In this, the second of four specials, we witness highlights from the third day of this historic event. Some of the voices heard include, eco-philosopher Vandana Shiva, educator and psychiatrist Uma Krishnamurthy, M.D., Bro. Wayne Teasdale, author of The Mystic Heart (New World Library 1999), global consultant Myron Kellner-Rogers, philosopher Jean Houston, author of A Passion for the Possible (HarperSanFrancisco 1997) and others.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i truly believe the most important thing we can be doing right now is praying for peace or doing maitri practice. i want to urge (no, challenge) all of my friends to spend just 10 minutes a day doing this. we can change the world.

one of the speakers today on the new dimensions show said that our notion of creating a world of peace is as bewildering to us as abolition of slavery was to the US population in the 19th century. now, we can't imagine a world with slavery. imagine if we couldn't imagine a non-peaceful world. i'm telling you friends, it can be done and we could the the generation to do it.

m.