The choices we make today define the legacy we leave to future generations. What kind of world do we really want to leave our children and grandchildren? As we attempt to answer that question, we find ourselves at a critical junction marked by the intersection of two distinct cultures. A culture is a set of attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors that characterize a particular society. As we journey into this new century, we Americans are at a cultural crossroads.

On one hand, we can choose to continue along a path that is marked by:

•   rugged individualism that diminishes the common good;

•   unrestrained capitalism that deepens the gap between rich and poor;

•   irresponsible economic development that denigrates Earth’s eco-systems;

•   a racist western worldview that assumes its superiority over others;

Historians refer to that path as the politics of manifest destiny and empire. Those who are able to see beyond the illusion of the dominant culture have come to believe that it is a path that will continue to bring us into conflict among competing interests fueled by tribalism and global terrorism. This path marks the culture of violence. We go down it with great risk and cost to the social and economic security of our children and grandchildren, the rest of the global community, and indeed, all life on planet Earth. The final terminus of this path is the human tragedy of war and environmental destruction.

But there is another path that can be taken at the crossroads. And that is a path that leads to security and well being of our children and grandchildren. It is the path toward an emerging culture of peace.

United Nations Declaration on Culture of Peace:
“a set of values, attitudes, modes of behavior and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations.”

This culture of peace is more than simply the rejection of war and violence. It is a proactive way of being and living that values the common good and recognizes that we are dependent on each other for our mutual well being. It cuts through the fabric of our mindset, our lifestyle, our spirituality, and all our social institutions. It ultimately advances a just and equitable global economy that provides for the security of all peoples. It is a path blazed with actions that reconfigure all our social relationships and institutions. Unlike the politics of empire that asserts control and dominates, a culture of peace elicits a politics of community that opens in expanding circles of participation.

That path is marked by:

•  compassion and solidarity with all people, especially the poor;

• an appreciation of difference that respects & celebrates diversity;

•  respect for all life on this planet Earth, especially human life;

•  the equitable distribution of human and material resources;

•  advancement of racial justice;

•  sustainable economic development that protects ecosystems;