Thanks

Thanks for checking out my blog. I want to document my project and hopefully doing it this way can help me connect and learn from others too.

The basic idea is this…

When I got out of high school, I saw some real problems in the world and figured I’d do what I could to solve them. So I joined the US Army as an infantryman, wanting to be on the front lines of destroying my nation’s and my religion’s enemies. Back then, I thought military action was one of the only legit ways to solve problems; back then, I thought military might was synonymous to God’s will.

The shortcomings of war have been demonstrated vividly this decade. If it was merely a question of strength, our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would be long over. But I-and many of the other supporters-didn’t count the human factor. Much of the progress that has been made in Iraq has come when we have put brute force aside and instead worked with our ‘enemies’. If this shift from strict might to cooperation has created such progress, why not take the next step and dedicate ourselves to cooperation and partnership before situations even escalate to a threat of war?

We can sit around and wait until the worst case scenerio breaks out, or we can be proactive and make our very existences conscious of the the world’s suffering, dedicated to uniting for a loving world.

…and the plan:

 I have done some research on proactive organizations who are dealing with very real problems in loving, powerful ways. In hopes of learning more and spreading the work of these engaged groups, I will be walking across the country, stopping at each one along the way to do interviews, volunteer, and learn what I can. I’ll also be stopping and talking with anyone whose interested as I travel.

I hope to use this blog to share my experience, gain advice, and network with people who want to help ’spread the love’. (individuals, peace groups, student groups, religious groups, people with a place to crash or wisdom to share, please let me know).

Thanks for your interest!

Josh Stieber

desertcamel87@yahoo.com