This month we celebrated the life of a great community builder and social entrepreneur. John Cotton Wood, who died at the age of 97, lived every moment to the fullest in the belief that every person could make a difference. He and his wife, Denise, who died a few years ago, provided a model for building trust and connecting divided […]
Author: admin
Why story matters
This week Scotland will vote on independence. Whatever the outcome, the campaign is a reminder that identity, culture and the power of story can trump rational argument and economic self-interest. Story matters. For centuries Scots have told a story of the English as dominating neighbors and oppressors who have looked on Scots as inferior. There is truth in this. But […]
If you’re not safe nothing else matters
(Originally posted August 2014.) In May of this year I was called for jury duty. Every Wednesday for a month I joined more than 100 other Richmonders of all backgrounds at the John Marshall courthouse. For hours we waited patiently to be called in groups to different courtrooms where final jury selections were made. The process was slow and sometimes […]
Mystery is a gift to be enjoyed
Abraham Lincoln is often quoted as saying, “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side.” But too often political and religious leaders select passages from sacred texts to bolster their own beliefs or prejudices.God must be appalled at hearing his/her name being used as justification for bigotry, discrimination, torture […]
Will America create healthy integrated public schools?
Ten years ago I took part in a forum of scholars, social psychologists and racial dialogue practitioners, marking the 50th anniversary of Brown v Board of Education. At the time we noted that American schools were reversing much of the progress toward integration achieved since the Supreme Court decision. That same year, our youngest son graduated from Richmond Public Schools. […]
A welcoming space for difference
The theme of this year’s Lenten series at my church was “radical welcome.” So I have been reflecting on what it actually means to create a welcoming space in my life, my friendships and my work with Initiatives of Change. It takes courage to reveal your true convictions when you feel you may be alone in your beliefs among a […]
Democracy depends on good losers
I have been reading Making Our Democracy Work by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer (Knopf 2010). One passage may be of particular relevance to the struggle for democracy now underway in many parts of the world from South Sudan to Egypt. It is also a challenge to those in Washington whose reluctance to follow the basic operating principles of […]
Pain and hope in Ukraine
It is difficult not to write about Ukraine at this time. And I realize how little I and most of us really know about this huge country, the second largest in Europe, which now stands at the crossroads of history. Recently, I read Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin by historian Timothy Snyder of Yale University (Basic Books, 2010). It […]
Diary of an Encuentro (continued)
Tuesday – Day 5 Getting practical Throughout these days there has been virtually no public criticism of the United States. This is remarkable given its long history of interference in Latin American affairs. However, I think most people here recognize that there is a need for honest conversation and I have appreciated the opportunity over meals to at least begin […]
Diary of an Encuentro (continued)
Monday – Day 4 Regaining trust and confidence Today has been another very intensive day. We began by gathering in national groups to consider some of the things we most hoped for in our countries.German Munich from Argentina spoke of his longing to end the deep political divisions as a result of violent repression under the military dictatorship in the […]