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Sample ESSAY TEXT



%DIFFERENT SAME PEACE SECURITY DEFENSE VULNERABLE 970510

     The roots of our violent conflicts may reside in many
kinds  of  DIFFERENCES and SIMILARITIES.   If we  fail  to
recognize,   name,  describe and be in dialogue about such
DIFFERENCES and SIMILARITIES---we are unlikely to  resolve
the violent conflicts whose roots reside in them.

     The  roots  of our violent conflicts  may  reside  in
DIFFERENT people:

     1.úúWanting  to  have and control  the  SAME  things,
territory, properties, ideals, ideas, etc.

     2.úúInterpreting  the  SAME  authoritative  texts  in
terms  of their DIFFERENT personal understandings  of  the
meanings  of  words  in the texts,  and  of  the  cultural
contexts within which they see the texts as being properly
interpreted.

     3.úúHaving  been accepted as proper authorities  with
the   power  to  be  in  control  over  the  SAME  things,
territory, properties, ideals, ideas, etc.

     4.úúHaving  accepted conflicting ideals,  values  and
principles  as  having ultimate importance  and  authority
over  the  SAME  tribe, community,   organization,   game,
business, institution, etc.

     5.úúHaving   internalized  conflicting   assumptions,
attitudes,  perceptions,  life-styles,  and/or patterns of
intimacy  as normal and worthy of respect within the  SAME
tribe,    community,   organization,    game,    business,
institution, etc.

     6.úúHaving grown  up  learning  to unthinkingly  fear
different realities,  images,  ideas,  ideals,   cultures,
classes, assumptions, attitudes,  perceptions, life-styles
and/or  patterns  of intimacy as ultimate threats  to  the
safety of their SAME community.

                         (c) 1997 by Paul A. Smith in
                      "Search for Integrity and Honesty"
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)

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