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<DIV><SPAN class=968131204-13022003><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#008080>Harrison, just knowing that you, Tova, Avner, the Refusnics, Mikk,
Marju and the Customs Agent are saying and being the "P" word all over the
place, makes my heart sing. Thank you for including all of us in your
reflections. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Viner Hand ITC" color=#008080
size=4><EM><BR>Peace,</EM></FONT></DIV>
<P><FONT face="Viner Hand ITC" color=#008080
size=4><EM>Christine</EM></FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><FONT
color=#008080>Christine Whitney Sanchez<BR><FONT color=#800080>Triune Milagro,
LTD</FONT><BR>2717 E. Mountain Sky Avenue<BR>Phoenix, AZ
85048-8990<BR>milagro27@cox.net<BR>480.759.0262
phone<BR>480.759.0403 fax<BR></FONT>VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
</FONT></FONT><A href="http://www.milagro3.com/"><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS">www.milagro3.com</FONT></A></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=1></FONT><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><BR><FONT
color=#800080><EM>Invoking the wisdom and capacity of the human spirit!
</EM></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Harrison
Owen<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, February 12, 2003 2:18 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B> Practicing what I been
Preaching (a little long)<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>Sorry I haven't been too active
here recently. Too many miles, hopes, fears, joys and many more
unmentionables. The last three weeks have seen me wander thought Israel,
Palestine, Estonia, and lastly Sweden. We did three full training programs
(3-4 days each) in a little more than 12 days. There really has to be a better
way, or I will totally blow my reputation for doing less and being more.
However, I think it was all worth it -- at least to me. And some funny things
happened along the way. For example, the extended discussions I had with my
Palestinian friends prior to the program about the inadvisability of using the
word Peace. Seems like it has been used to the point of oblivion, and worse --
it always seems to precipitate a heated political discussion when mentioned.
The very opposite of Peace. But how do you conduct a program with the title,
<I>Practice of Peace</I>, and never mention the word? Particularly when all
your overheads are laced with the "P" word???<BR><BR>So, I resolved to sin
boldly -- albeit carefully. When we started things off in Ramallah, I told the
story of the gathering in Rome. Fortunately some of the participants had been
there, so when the unbelievable overwhelmed common sense, they rose
magnificently to the occasion with their own descriptions, and they even used
the "P" word. Sensing some small advantage, I asked the rhetorical question
-- What on earth would drive an overfed, aging American to cram
his body into a cramped airplane seat for 6000 miles with a destination of
Ramalleh, even as his president was trying to start a war in the
neighborhood??? Insanity ? Search for Peace? Take your pick.<BR><BR>Anyhow, we
talked about Peace -- and more importantly, I know we experienced it in those
magic moments that Open Space inevitably provides. In a land where
respect, trust and hope all seem to have gone on holiday -- all three showed
up. Remarkable.<BR><BR>My time with Tova and Avner, my wonderful Israeli
colleagues, was no less rich. We did the training program as advertised, but
the high point for me occurred on the 3rd day, when "graduates" from the
preceding year joined us. There are now some 40 people in the area prepared to
open space, with Tova and Avner leading the way. Numbers get a little foggy,
but I believe that between the two of them space has been opened some 65 times
in the past year. Hell that is more than I have done in the last five years!
And it is happening all over the place -- towns, businesses, the air force,
the army, police, NGOs... Should you ask the obvious question -- does this
bring peace to the region? -- my answer is a resounding YES ... if not all at
once, then certainly a little bit at a time. Every time space is opened, peace
breaks out -- even under the most trying circumstances.<BR><BR>After the
training program, which was conducted near Jerusalem, Tova, Avner and I
journeyed south to Tel Aviv to meet with a most remarkable group -- The
Refusnics. These are serving Israeli officers and enlisted personnel who have
refused to serve in The Occupied Territories. They are more than willing to
defend Israel from external enemies, but draw the line at being an army of
occupation. This movement started just a year ago, when 50 folks signed a
letter to the new papers proclaiming their intentions. As of this moment, more
than 500 have seen fit to join the original signers. Their time has not been
an easy one, as many have spent considerable periods in jail for their
stand. Tova had offered to open space for them, for even though their
number was growing some rough edges were appearing, and it seemed useful to
take stock of present position and future possibilities. That plan was put on
hold because of the elections which were being held, but doubtless the right
time will appear.<BR><BR>And then it was on to Estonia, where Mikk Sarv and
his wonderful wife, Marju gathered a terrific group of fellow citizens from
business, NGOs, and university students. Also included were a small band of
First nation people from Russia. It seems that Mikk had provided some Open
Space for them several months before as they considered their roles and their
futures in Russia. I wish I could have been there. It all happened in the
forest with teepees as breakout rooms. <BR><BR>After almost three weeks on the
road (in the air -- whatever) I made it back home on Monday. Passing through
Customs, I found myself answering the usual question about the nature of my
business in a rather odd way. The agent queried, What is your business? To
which I answered, "Peace." He said, "Peace of land?" I said, "No. Peace
between my brothers and sisters." "Who are you with? -- he continued. "Me." I
said -- knowing that if I ever told the truth about the incredible band of
wonderful people all over the world, he would surely lock me up. He walked
away, shaking his head. I probably shouldn't have done it -- but it surely
felt good at the time. <BR><BR>Harrison<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><X-SIGSEP>
<P></X-SIGSEP>
<DIV align=center>Harrison Owen<BR>7808 River Falls Drive<BR>Potomac, MD 20854
USA<BR>phone 301-365-2093<BR>Open Space Training <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/"
eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.com</A> <BR>Open Space Institute <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/"
eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</A><BR>Personal website <A
href="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm" eudora="autourl"><FONT
color=#0000ff>http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</A><BR><BR><U>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR></U></FONT>To
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color=#0000ff><U>oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu<BR></U></FONT>Visit: <A
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"
eudora="autourl"><FONT
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