In recent months, the Washington Post has published many articles focusing on the “culture of violence” that exists in the Washington, D.C., area. From Oct. 31 to Nov. 8, I noticed the following articles: “Neighbors Hold a Vigil for Mother, 2 Daughters” (Oct. 31), “At-Risk Children of SE Won’t Be So Easy to Save” (Nov. 5) and “Gun ‘n’ Run — D.C.’s game” (Nov. 8).
In the above-mentioned articles, and in all public discussion I have read or heard regarding the “culture of violence” in Washington, D.C., there does not appear to be any sign of a consensus among community leaders as to what can be done to restore, support and sustain a “culture of peace” in the capital of the United States. (And a similar lack of consensus seems to be prevailing in other urban centers in the United States with the same chronic problem…)
I have a question: Have the community leaders — of Washington, D.C. and of other urban centers in the United States with the “Culture of Violence” problem — considered organizing “Community Visioning Initiatives” (i.e. encouraging 100 percent citizen participation in brainstorming ideas, organizing the ideas into goals, prioritizing the goals, identifying doable steps, etc.) for the specific purpose of cultivating “cultures of peace”?
Another question: Have any of the above-mentioned community leaders considered developing “Community Good News Networks”?
“Community Good News Networks” is a name for participation by local community residents in an ongoing process of actively discovering, sharing, encouraging and creating “good news.” As more and more “good news” is discovered, shared and created, participants can give special attention to identifying the “good news” makers who live near their specific meeting place. A local “Community Faith Mentoring Network” could then be established to facilitate matching young people’s preferences for faith mentors with elders and “good news” makers in their local community. (A faith mentor is a person who, by word, action and presence, models a meaningful lifestyle, clarifies important life issues and provides guidance for deepening spirituality in a caring and accepting environment.)
Taken together, annual “Community Visioning Initiatives for Peace,” and ongoing “Community Good News Networks” and “Community Faith Mentoring Networks” can (1) “Bring to the fore what is often hidden: how many good people there are, how many ways there are to do good and how much happiness comes to those who extend help as well as to those who receive it.” (2) Increase our collective capacity to inspire and encourage individual spiritual formation — with all the beneficial consequences that follow for individuals, communities and regions.
Urban centers in the United States can be — and should be — successful examples of an interfaith approach to cultivating “cultures of peace.” And Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, can provide — and should provide — a model for other urban centers to follow.
In the best of times, even the most profound difficulties can be overcome; for in the best of times, growth of the faith, discipline and perseverance required by the process of individual spiritual formation is carefully nurtured, supported and sustained by family, friends, teachers, mentors, elders and the everyday influences of community life and cultural traditions.
Our particular moment in time on this planet Earth could be the best of times.
“Where a rose is tended, a thistle cannot grow.”