http://emanzipationhumanum.de/

Wherever and whenever the white colonists appeared, after a certain period of time the indigenous people without schooling or university training realised very sharply: this way of living has no future. Fatefully the white man way of life was less empathetic and more violent. This way of life has brought us to the current situation where/when we are faced with the threat of self-extinction.

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- Since thousands of years patriarchal civilizations shape the way of life by domination.

- That is why many cultures still tolerate open or hidden forms of misogyny, slavery and violence.

- In the run of history industrialization has been paid by goods stolen from Nature and Indigenous People.

- Supremacy of current world powers therefore is based on injustice and crime.

- In blatant contrast to humanitarian promises the world is being downgraded by political hypocrisy.

- Any mentality which promotes social inequality is incapable of maintaining creative balances.

- General decline of Life and the narrowing of future perspectives are not at all natural, they are man-made.

- Common well-being depends on creative relations, on a sensitive togetherness.

- Real satisfaction, safe security, enduring peace and spreading prosperity may be found in healthy social environments only - never by war or at the cost of others.

- Joint co-operation, mutual understanding and creative flexibility shape the genuine humane way of life.

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From an email received 1/3/2009, in response to the crisis in Gaza:

I also add my voice to others who have spoken of the history of violence as a means problem solving.... As a Professor and historical- critical scholar of religions (beginning in the upper Neolithic period where we tend to find evidence suggesting a more humanitarian ethos still extant, as we do in most present -day indigenous traditions), into the origins of hierarchally (patriarchal) structured societies in Ancient Mesopotamia and down through Hellenistic Judaism (Greek and Hebraic/ Jewish) and Early Christianity (Greek/ Jewish/ Roman) and beyond....clearly, when one reads historical and religious texts (ancient or contemporary)in the context of this perspective it becomes clear that political agendas have been a most powerful impetus in shaping societies and religions (though not necessarily their spiritualities) for at least 5,000 years.

The template is ingrained and although I am deeply committed to being the change I hope to see...in my opinion any and all perpetrators of violence as a solution to any conflict still operate on the basis of this very ancient, deeply ingrained template that has become "normative."

Thus my "vote" for the immediate cessation of violence and initiation of a quest for peace that can include the voices of Youth, and "moral imagination" that holds the promise for the creation of a sustainable peace (and, prayerfully, also a new template).