Nonviolence (Also see Peace, Conflict Resolution, Organizing & Activism)

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“Practical Ways to De-Polarize” American Society”

November 26, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

The December 2020 interview on “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV series (also watchable on your computer) will remain very timely long after it airs on cable TV in Thurston County WA.  Our nation is sharply polarized regarding politics and public policy issues.  Many Americans recognize that we must heal the extreme polarization that is tearing our country apart.  Three guests share their insights and remedies so all of us can help to de-polarize our nation. Thurston County’s people with cable TV can watch it 14 times throughout December (Mondays 1:30 pm, Wednesdays 5:00 pm, and Thursdays 9:00 pm) on channel 22.  […]

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Let’s recognize November 11’s original meaning as ARMISTICE DAY, a day of peace

November 20, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

November 11 became a holiday because it was the day when World War I ended in 1918 with an armistice.  It was called “Armistice Day,” a holiday DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING PEACE. Later it got hijacked into a day to CELEBRATE WAR in the guise of celebrating military veterans.  But the subtext is really intended to glorify war. It’s OK to recognize veterans, but the emphasis on people who have worked in the military seems disproportionate, when many other kinds of workers — health care workers, teachers, artists, social service workers, etc. — do useful work and deserve appreciation too. My brother […]

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This clever diagram can help us strategize how to change to a peaceful foreign policy.

November 12, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

For a very long time the U.S. had a “War Department,” but we conducted very few foreign wars. In 1947 Congress changed it to the “Department of Defense,” and we have conducted many, many wars since then, including our 2-decades-long Endless War against “terrorism.” Sensible people want to replace the U.S.’s chronically aggressive and violently militaristic foreign policy. The diagram linked here can help us figure out strategies for doing that.  It is fun to bring a few friends together to work through this exercise together.  Also, it can be useful for you to work with it alone.  Creative insights […]

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Conflict nowadays during our polarized era

November 10, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

For a number of years now, our society has been hurt by sloppy thinking, oversimplification, and the distortion and denial of reality.  To get out of our current mess, we need to think more clearly.  We must stop lumping people together into wholesale stereotypes.  Reality is more complex than that.  You DO support reality, don’t you? Let’s avoid the seductive trap of binary thinking (“us” vs. “them,” etc.). We will not save our nation by merely defeating the people we think are wrong.  The people who were defeated simply go underground and come back again: Example #1:  After World War […]

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De-Polarizing American Society – MORE RESOURCES

October 26, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

My November 2020 TV program (“How to De-Polarize American Society”) explored how to heal the extremely serious divisiveness that has been escalating throughout American society.  You can watch the video interview and/or read the thorough summary I typed up at the “TV Programs” and “Nonviolence” parts of this blog. The thorough summary ends with some resources that could help us de-polarize American Society.  I am providing many more resources below — and also the blog post about QUOTATIONS regarding de-polarization.  See that on this blog’s “TV Programs” and “Nonviolence” parts. Also see EVEN MORE resources at this link:  2020.11 De-Polarization — […]

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STOP TRUMP’S COUP! Here are some of the best resources for information and organizing.

October 23, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

Recently I posted to my blog a short notice that Trump’s coup is ALREADY FAR UNDERWAY and included links to two excellent nationwide organizations working to protect honest democracy from Trump’s coup:  http://parallaxperspectives.org/trumps-coup-against-electoral-democracy-is-far-underway-these-two-resources-can-protect-us Some very savvy organizers and writers have provided some additional information, resources and encouragement.  The blog post you’re reading now connects you with some of these. We already know about “denialism.”  Despite much hard evidence, some people deny the climate crisis, Trump and his followers were denying the reality of Coronavirus, and so forth.  Now — again despite much evidence — some people are pretending that Trump is […]

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More opportunities to learn and use “Compassionate Listening”

October 23, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

  In addition to the November 2020 TV program and a subsequent post about “Compassionate Listening,” here are TWO ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES to learn more about it and to use it in your daily life: A Taste of Compassionate Listening serves as a prerequisite for further trainings.  It’s also a good refresher of CL basics.  It will occur Monday November 2, 2020, from 4:00to 6:30 PST/7 to 9:30 EST.  Register and more info here.  Compassionate Listening in Polarizing Times is taught by the two women who are guests on the November 2020 TV program (Susan Partnow and Rachel Eryn Kalish.  It will run […]

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Mondays Nov. 9 to Dec. 14: “Compassionate Listening” workshops — “Healing Our World from the Inside Out”

October 22, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

If you are finding value from — or are simply intrigued by — the wise, compassionate insights that the two women I interview in my November 2020 TV program (“How to De-Polarize American Society,” http://parallaxperspectives.org/how-to-de-polarize-american-society), you might want to sign up for the introductory online course in “Compassionate Listening” that another person is offering on 6 Mondays from November 9 through December 14.  See information at this link: https://www.compassionatelistening.org/events-1/healing-our-world-from-the-inside-out-intro-to-compassionate-listening-w-tom-mcsteen When you click a link there to get more information, you will see more than this exciting summary: Compassionate Listening is a practice that reaches deep into the heart of discord or […]

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Conflict resolution: Here is an inspiring example of countering right-wing hatred — and two more resources

October 21, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

Progressives rooted in nonviolence softened the hearts of Trump supporters who invaded their campaign rally: Nowadays our society is so polarized — and right-wingers are trying so hard to intimidate other people — that we need to share the positive examples of conflict resolution that have been occurring.  HERE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE of how a progressive Democratic campaign rally softened the hearts of Trump supporters who invaded it: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/10/19/1987688/-Flag-Waving-Trumpers-Crash-Qasim-Rashid-for-Congress-Event-What-Happened-Next-Will-Inspire-You?detail=emaildkre   How to face right-wing violence while defending the election — a conversation with George Lakey: As Americans prepare to stop a coup, concerns for safety are rising. Longtime trainer George […]

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How to De-Polarize American Society

October 18, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

Here is info about the NOVEMBER 2020 episode of “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV program. Please publicize it in whatever ways you can.  Thank you! How to De-Polarize American Society The November 2020 interview on “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV series (also watchable on your computer) is very timely now in late 2020 — and beyond.  Our nation is sharply polarized regarding politics and public policy issues.  Many Americans recognize that we must heal the extreme polarization that is tearing our country apart.  Three guests share their insights and remedies so all of us can help to de-polarize our nation. Thurston County’s […]

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Register now for SUN OCT 18 7:00 pm Zoom “ACTION HOUR” to take quick actions to protect democracy from Trump’s coup

October 18, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

More and more people are alerting the public and organizing nonviolent actions to protect honest democracy from Trump’s coup, which is already underway and will likely proceed beyond election day. I’ll send you info about that today, but right now you can SIGN UP FOR TONIGHT’S “ACTION HOUR” on Zoom so you can take quick actions to protect the election and stop Trump’s coup. Here is information I edited from an organizer of TONIGHT’S “ACTION HOUR” on Zoom:   Join with other people to take preventative action to stop Trump’s coup and support a free and fair election! Register now […]

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Let’s build savvy grassroots movements to expand the range of what is “politically feasible.”

September 18, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

Elected officials, newspaper editorial boards, and other official power-holders shy away from making the bold, humane changes for social and economic justice because they say those bold reforms are not “politically feasible.” Our job is to organize strategically from the grassroots to build movements that expand the range of what is “politically feasible,” so our demands will become obviously necessary instead of dismissed as unrealistic.   Instead of lamenting “ain’t-it-awful,” let’s change the awful realities by organizing strategically savvy grassroots movements! I encourage you to SIGN UP NOW for the series of 6 weekly workshops starting on YOUR CHOICE of […]

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“Let’s Boldly Create the Future We Really Want”

August 29, 2020 GlenAnderson 0

The June 2020 TV program for the “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV series addresses the serious problems that we are experiencing and encourages people to boldly envision solutions. People know the status quo is bad – and they want to solve the problems. But nearly everybody is bogged down in feeling powerless.  They don’t feel empowered to solve the problems, and they don’t know how to proceed. This TV program — and the transcript I have posted at this link,  2020.06 BOLD FUTURE — TRANSCRIPT with MORE INFORMATION and RESOURCES — start by confronting the serious problems in our world, our nation, […]