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 %SELF DEFENSE MUTUAL SURVIVAL BEING TRULY TOGETHER+970204
   %ULTIMATE CONFLICT RESOLUTION VALUES IDEALS EVIL+970204
  %COMMUNAL PERSONAL INTEGRITY HONESTY VIOLENCE WAR+970204
%ESCAPE PRISON COLLUSIVE GAME MUTUAL SELF DECEPTION 970204

     Our  survival  as  individuals  and  as   communities
depends upon resolving conflicts among our ultimate values
and ideals.

     Often  we  are tempted to defend  ourselves  only  as
individuals.   When we yield to such temptations we  drive
ourselves apart without regard for the fact that we cannot
survive  in purely individualistic ways;  for personal and
communal integrity are essentially interdependent.

     Often  we  are tempted to think that we  can  survive
only  by  sacrificing  our individuality to  the  will  of
others, the community, traditions, formulas, systems, etc.
When  we  yield  to  such  temptations  we  undermine  our
communal  integrity by being dishonest about our  personal
differences  and  refusing  to  deal  honestly  with   our
differences in creative ways.

     When we are confused about, and in conflict with, the
relative  importance of high level values and ideals,   we
need  to look for experiential evidence which supports and
challenges our current notions of what is most  important.
Mistakes  may  have been made in regards to what  is  most
important;   and such mistakes need to be  recognized  and
dealt  with  openly  and  honestly---else  they  will   be
repeated for all eternity.

     When  we  are  confused  and in  conflict  about  the
relative  importance of high level values and ideals,   we
need to consider some basic facts of life:

     1.  When  people  are dishonest with  themselves  and
each    other---the    people   and   their    communities
disintegrate.

     2.  Personal integrity,  and communal integrity,  are
essentially interdependent; thus neither can be sacrificed
to promote the other.

     3.  When   conflicts   fester,   unresolved  to   the
satisfaction  of  all  of those  involved---all  of  those
involved   and  their  communities  disintegrate   without
satisfaction,  meaning or hope.  People who do not want to
resolve conflicts disintegrate.

     4.  The meaning of each message depends as much  upon
the approach to the message by the recipient,  as upon the
intentions  of the generator of the  message---so  neither
can  fully control the meaning in any true  sense.    Thus
people  who try to control the meanings of messages do not
truly communicate through open and honest dialogue.

     5.  In  a changing universe,  we need to be  cautious
about  believing  that  we know and possess  any  absolute
reflexive   truths   about  us  which  are   eternal   and
unchanging.   When we are arrogant and believe we know and
possess   absolute   truths---we   and   our   communities
disintegrate  through  the  tragic  consequences  of  many
alienative  relationships,  manipulations,  coercions  and
violence.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
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