Global struggle with extremism in a brave new world

Global struggle with extremism in a brave new world

Dwayne Hunn

In our brave new world during the guns of August, we are redefining what is becoming a generations spanning terror war. Its morphing nametag is now the “Global struggle against extremism.” To win this struggle our administration is now mouthing phrases such as, “This is a struggle to win hearts and minds. Diplomacy, aid, and education will be a more important part of winning than the military.”

This is said while worldwide respect for American diplomacy is at an all time low, as is domestic support for the war. Diplomats, governments, and their citizens publicly feign cooperation for American policy, while holding their noses in private. The Ugly American image has resurrected itself. Crazed terrorists find it easier and easier to recruit from the uneducated, as well as from upper classes. In a world where trains, airplanes, rivers, suitcases, and exploding overcoats are the weapons of mass destruction emanating from WMD-free Iraq, the Doomsday clock inches toward caveman deadliness.

What is our best policy in today’s struggle for “hearts and minds?”

Not phrases from an administration whose words and policies are increasingly distrusted by increasing numbers.

Our best policy resides with our best assets, which the world still esteems as our innate strength. That strength rests with fearless, productive Americans who love overcoming challenges. Those resources give the world what it wants and needs -- the idolized and idealized mild mannered, competent Americans who know how to build --- and use force only as a last resort.

Where do we form that policy?

It may not come from today’s tired political system. But it could come from motivated citizens who can reinvigorate a tired system.

With the initiative often displayed in citizen initiative law making, a grassroots movement of citizens is seeking 40-50 bipartisan cosponsors to introduce and pass their already written World Service Corps (WSC) bill in Congress.

What would the WSC bill do?

If passed in Congress this year, over the next six years it would ramp up until one million Americans were peacefully and productively serving. That .6 of 1% of Americans aged 18 through 60+ would voluntarily have chosen to improve nation and world through their choice of Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Head Start, Doctors Without Borders, or the Red Cross, and other similarly effective organizations. Details at http://www.worldservicecorps.us.

Upon completing service, WSC members would receive a bonus of two years of community college plus two years of state college tuition (approximately $15,000 in 2004 dollars), or the equivalent given to relatives for education, to pay down educational loans, or invest in Medical Savings or IRA accounts.

Imagine if the WSC had been running for the last 30 years. Instead of most of the approximately 15% of passported Americans having a corporate or Club Med world perspective, tens of millions of Americans would have a first-hand understanding of the world and America’s pockets of need. With an enhanced political IQ gained from generations of building capacity and good will in the classroom of world needs, would we have today’s “global struggle with extremists” or mushrooming “terror war?”

That question’s answer is why the citizen-initiated WSC proposals needs massive grassroots support. Please learn how to help at http://www.worldservicecorps.us/how_to_help.htm. Today’s world citizens need the security, economic growth, and foresight inherent in passing the WSC proposals into law.

Greek slave, fable author, and moralist Aesop (620 BC - 560 BC) said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” His words comfortably reverberate through all religions.

His words, “It is easy to be brave from a safe distance,” critically reverberate through the minds of families who have lost loves in Iraq.

Living Aesop’s intuitive words through the WSC will reduce tomorrow’s myopic wars.

Doing millions of acts of kindness will reverse the bloody “struggle” or “war” that is spinning the world into a death knell. Doing so would not be hard in a nation still filled with can-do Americans who desire and thrive on service, love being part of a good team, and grow stronger dealing with frontiers.

So why not make the World Service Corps into law?

Ask your congressional rep, “Do you believe that Americans doing millions of cost effective good deeds would stem or expand extremism and terror?”

Then vote accordingly.

Please read & support the proposed Congressional World Service Corps Bills to stem terror & strengthen America. Click to them at: http://worldservicecorps.us/ In two mninutes, you can sign the WSC on-line Petition. Thanks.
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