Mark Satin pursues “America’s Purpose” at NAF Terrorism Conference
Posted: September 16, 2005 Filed under: News Comments Off on Mark Satin pursues “America’s Purpose” at NAF Terrorism ConferenceRadical Middle writer Mark Satin outlines “a
12-Point Plan for Combatting Terrorism and Becoming More
Understanding, More Humane, AND MORE EFFECTIVE in the Process”, based on his
observations of the New America Foundation’s conference on “Terrorism,
Security, and America’s Purpose.”
Some excerpts from the full
article:
article:
1. Stop! Listen! Learn!
We can?t move forward without doing a lot
more listening and learning.
more listening and learning.
2. Beyond Good Versus Evil
Note the overriding empathy in all the
analyses
analyses
3. Provide Servant Leadership
To lead effectively in the war on terror (or in
any other global endeavor), the U.S. needs to practice collaboration, foresight,
and an ethically informed approach to power.
any other global endeavor), the U.S. needs to practice collaboration, foresight,
and an ethically informed approach to power.
4. Help Bring Democracy to Muslim
Nations
Nations
First, democracy has to come from the bottom up.
Second, America can?t present itself as the sole model. And third,
although elections are important, even more important are (a) rule of law, and
(b) having a genuine opposition party take root.
Second, America can?t present itself as the sole model. And third,
although elections are important, even more important are (a) rule of law, and
(b) having a genuine opposition party take root.
5. Help Bring Prosperity to Muslim
Nations
Nations
any solution to terrorism will therefore require
us to help induce economic progress in all Muslim states, from Morocco to
Indonesia.
us to help induce economic progress in all Muslim states, from Morocco to
Indonesia.
6. Mobilize Global Civil
Society
Society
People … urgently need to know they have a
future, she said, and a future means jobs.
future, she said, and a future means jobs.
7. Keep Nuclear Weapons Out of Terrorists?
Hands
Hands
We can?t eliminate everyone who?d do
us harm, but we can and
must make it a lot harder for such people to
get their hands on nuclear weapons.
us harm, but we can and
must make it a lot harder for such people to
get their hands on nuclear weapons.
8. Eliminate Overdependence on Our Armed
Forces
Forces
?[F]orce alone will not be sufficient . . .
and can be counter-productive when not part of a comprehensive, integrated, and
long-term strategy.?
and can be counter-productive when not part of a comprehensive, integrated, and
long-term strategy.?
9. Reform Our Political
Institutions
Institutions
we?re becoming more centralized and rigid
while the terrorists are becoming more decentralized and flexible
while the terrorists are becoming more decentralized and flexible
10. Reform the Law, Don?t Thwart
It
It
We must stay within the constraints of the law,
even if the laws may have to be modified to deal with terrorists
even if the laws may have to be modified to deal with terrorists
11. Mobilize U.S. Civil Society
The front line of democracy promotion must not be
the U.S. government, [but] be non-profits, NGOs. Government should
?privilege? them.
the U.S. government, [but] be non-profits, NGOs. Government should
?privilege? them.
12. A Little Self-Improvement
if more Americans were truly interested in the
world and truly willing to accept and understand The Other, our responses to
terrorism might be more productive.
world and truly willing to accept and understand The Other, our responses to
terrorism might be more productive.
The conference?s real
message
if we want to build a new and
radical centrist consensus, then we need to listen to what
everyone
is saying. That?s why the conference included expert voices from every
credible point on the American political spectrum, and from at least eight other
nations…
The conference?s holistic
perspective was its real message. It modeled the holistic, integrative,
ethically aware worldview we?ll all need to adopt if we want to become
more effective opponents of terrorism, more substantial global citizens, and
more responsive human beings.
message
if we want to build a new and
radical centrist consensus, then we need to listen to what
everyone
is saying. That?s why the conference included expert voices from every
credible point on the American political spectrum, and from at least eight other
nations…
The conference?s holistic
perspective was its real message. It modeled the holistic, integrative,
ethically aware worldview we?ll all need to adopt if we want to become
more effective opponents of terrorism, more substantial global citizens, and
more responsive human beings.
Radical Centrism 