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Jewish World Review Dec. 12, 2003 / 17 Kislev, 5764

Tom Purcell

Purcell
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Peace, Man

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | "Man, did you hear that director David Lynch and some other Hollywood dudes are trying to create an organization to spread world peace?"


"Are you serious, man?"


"Yeah, man. Lynch and others are trying to raise $1 billion to create a Transcendental Meditation organization that will relieve the planet's stress and bring an end to crime, terrorism, war and other bad vibes."


"Transcendental Meditation, man?"


"Yeah, man. Their goal is to create an organization that spreads the power of consciousness based on the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. His mission is to bring enlightenment to every individual on Earth and to establish a state of permanent peace in the world."


"That's sounds kind of pie in the sky, though, don't it man?"


"No, man. Lynch and the other dudes say the Maharishi's meditation technology has been proven, through scientific study, to reduce crime, terrorism and war. I know it sounds radical, man - Lynch is well aware that people are snickering - but these dudes are dead serious about getting the vibes out."


"But how, man?"


"Their goal is to establish peace-creating groups around the world, man. These groups will be comprised of trained experts who promote Transcendental Consciousness, what the Maharishi calls the state of inner peace."


"Wow, man."


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"Eventually they hope to build 3,000 Peace Palaces in the world's largest 3,000 cities. Each Peace Palace will be home to a group of 100 to 200 peace-creating experts. These dudes will help the world reduce stress, promote physical health and unfold the mental potential of the local citizens."


"And they think that will end crime, terrorism and war, man?"


"That's the plan, man. By unleashing a new consciousness on the world, these dudes will be able to spread a positive vibe that will heal us all and deliver us from our pain and suffering. Then we can all live in peace."


"An ambitious plan, man."


"But peace can work, man. America is proof of that. People of all different backgrounds and religions live side by side in peace. No reason the rest of the world can't have peace, too."


"Man, I dig the positive vibe thing. Every human has a choice whether or not to take a positive or negative approach to his own challenges. Positive always works better in the end. There is love and hope, and it makes sense to spread these positive vibes to the world any way we can."


"Right on, brother."


"But we can't overlook the fact that throughout human history negative has been much more common than positive. It's been much more common for people to live under tyranny than to live the way Americans do. The peace and freedom we enjoy in America was a unique experiment that worked beyond anyone's wildest dreams."


"I don't dig, man."


"Take Saddam Hussein, man. He rose to power through negative energy - fear, torture, murder, secrecy. I hate to say it, man, but such rulers are way more common in human history than people like George Washington who wanted the people to hold the power. There are hundreds of Hitlers, Stalins, Ida Amins and Pol Pots for every Washington, man."


"I still don't dig, man."


"Don't you get it, man, there is a civil war taking place on Earth. It's a daily struggle between positive and negative, good and evil, hope and despair. Every man, every country, is fighting this battle daily. You're either moving one way or the other with every action you take."


"You're losing me, man."


"It's certainly noble to encourage love, hope and positive vibes, man - that is the stuff of heightened consciousness. But we can't fully embrace the positive without acknowledging the negative. So long as there are worldly, evil men - men who crave fame, riches and power at the expense of their people and the world - these men will have to be dealt with. And meditating and hoping for peace isn't going to stop them."


"Man, you can be such a downer."


"Sorry, man, reality can be a real bummer sometimes."

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Up


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12/01/03: Joyless, selfish children
11/21/03: Thanksgiving, updated for our times
11/14/03: Hang in there, tubby America, your day in the sun will come
11/07/03: Morale at Veterans' Day
10/31/03: The Big Picture
10/24/03: A sorry bunch
10/17/03: Conversation with a typical poll respondent?
10/10/03: Men and women and brains
10/03/03: Iraqi Pork
09/26/03: They would not leave
09/19/03: A radical idea
09/12/03: Food Guide Pyramid has a "stupidity factor"?
09/05/03: Flag waving and football cheering
08/29/03: People who have it all, too often don't
08/25/03: Attack of the 'virus twits'
08/08/03: Why not have a whole slew of the world's dignitaries and leaders come by to visit you?
08/01/03: Do you really want to live until 500?
07/18/03: "Ain't-my-fault" lawsuits are becoming more creative
07/18/03: The real story never makes for good summertime drama in Washington
07/11/03: Government bureaucrats, not elected officials, are really the ones determining what people and organizations can and can't do
07/03/03: Overworked Americans
06/27/03: The Metrosexual Male
06/20/03: Crime Etiquette in Washington, D.C.
06/13/03: My Father, the Thief and the MGB
06/05/03: An Open Letter to Bill and Hillary
05/30/03: We are a busy people
05/23/03: Liar, Liar
05/16/03: Laffer all the way to the bank
05/09/03: My mother's house
05/02/03: Teaching the Iraqis how to protest
04/25/03: Iraqi TV
04/21/03: Explaining Democracy to the Iraqis
04/11/03: Major increases to the beer tax? That's a cheap shot right to the beer gut
04/04/03: War humor
03/31/03: Dolphins, PETA and the USA
03/21/03: Traffic Wars
03/14/03: Ronald Reagan's St. Patrick's Day
03/03/03: My Family's Tragic Secret: We're French
02/21/03: I'm worried about my people
02/14/03: George Washington Makeover
02/07/03: Making quiet sacrifices
01/24/03: "Gimme the, goo-goo, gah-gah, remote!"
01/21/03: "Misunderestimated"
01/10/03: Republican night life
01/06/03: Exercise pills
12/31/02: They provide unending joy to those who are wise enough to let them in
12/13/02: Hurried Man Syndrome
12/06/02: In DC, snowstorms have important ramifications --- or, at least, they should
11/26/02: Police advertising
11/15/02: An Interview with Osama
11/01/02: How to vote in America
10/25/02: On edge in Washington, D.C
10/11/02: Giving new meaning to "selling your body"
10/04/02: Bush's Angels
09/27/02: Conservatives, Liberals, Dick Armey and Barry Manilow
09/20/02: Are SUV drivers are the new GOPers?
09/13/02: Bubba is Dubya's man
09/06/02: The Freedom to Picnic
08/16/02: Ah, the $izzle of anti-terrorist pork
08/09/02: Vacationless prez and gutless Americans
07/26/02: Study gives women permission not to hide their emotions
07/15/02: Patriot food
06/28/02: Eavesdropping on a San Fran classroom
06/21/02: The crowded skies
06/14/02: Contemporary Father's Day: A conversation for the ages
06/07/02: Legal rights for animals?
05/19/02: Advice for prom goers this year: Hold onto your money
05/10/02: Don't take her for granted
05/03/02: Letter to the parents of a tubby teen
04/26/02: Zacarias Moussaoui gets expert legal advice

© 2002, Tom Purcell