“You make peace with those with whom you disagree, not your allies,” said Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee who traveled to Iran with the February delegation. “Dialogue is not a reward or validation; it is a means to begin the process of reconciliation and pave the way for future constructive relationships.”

“When other venues have been closed, leaders of faith communities serve by demonstrating that alternatives to heated rhetoric and political isolation exist and may prevent war.”

From the article...



Did you even read the article,Gil? Your title is an indication that you know nothing about Mennonites and their views on freedom. On the contrary Mennonites love freedom, but believe it should be achieved through dialogue and peaceful means. Just because they met with the Iranian leaders doesn't mean they agree with them or that they hate freedom.

From the article...

Did you even read the article,Gil? Your title is an indication that you know nothing about Mennonites and their views on freedom. On the contrary Mennonites love freedom, but believe it should be achieved through dialogue and peaceful means. Just because they met with the Iranian leaders doesn't mean they agree with them or that they hate freedom.

He was being sarcastic. It was swipe at conservatives..

No examination of the utility of such a meeting and no historical perspective. In other words, typical Gil.

Goldi, i think hes making fun of the administration. They tend to use this tactic in order to push their agenda. For example the president of Bolivia, met with both Castro and Chavez, so the US makes him like like a Commie Pinko. But if you actually look at the guys back story hes come up from nothing to become president and has actually started to turn the country around. The Neo-Cons tend to say if you meet with the enemy you must support him.

Lysol, before you endorse bolivia's president, you should research him a little further. Last I had read of him, he was reconstituting the coca fields in order to turn his country around.

(Morales) was reconstituting the coca fields in order to turn his country around.

Much of Bolivia’s cocaine crosses into Brazil, Paraguay and other neighboring countries, with some ending up in Europe.
How much coca Bolivia might need for traditional uses, such as coca tea and leaves that indigenous Bolivians chew to relieve hunger and the effects of high altitude, is an open question. A much-anticipated European Union study of the issue has yet to begin.
the Venezuelan government is helping to fund Bolivia’s first industrialization plant in the Chapare, which will make coca-based tea and other products

go after the Mennonites the way they did Coloumbia University.

Lysol, before you endorse bolivia's president, you should research him a little further. Last I had read of him, he was reconstituting the coca fields in order to turn his country around.

Mennonites ROCK. My people came to Pennsylvania seeking religious freedom before it was part of the United States. What if governments dialoged about peace instead of dropping bombs/sending troups? I think this would be a good idea, but so often we go for the easy solutions.



Stu

it is a great idea. too bad we don't have a christian president. we could have avoided this war.

Mennonites ROCK. My people came to Pennsylvania seeking religious freedom before it was part of the United States. What if governments dialoged about peace instead of dropping bombs/sending troups? I think this would be a good idea, but so often we go for the easy solutions.

Stu

It's not always possible to engage in dialogue, especially when a boot is on your throat.

God bless the Mennonites. We need people like them. But when the hordes are at your doorstep, I'd rather be able to call on the Marines than the Mennonites.

So Christians NEVER participate in wars??? Where do you get this info from?

read it again. i said maybe if we had a christian president this war would have been avoided.i don't think a christian would have invaded iraq like bush did.
i'm talking followers of jesus christ here, not the political christians.

Mennonites don't hate freedom, they just don't appreciate the sacrifices that sometimes have to be made to guard freedom. If left to the Mennonites all of Europe would be under the boot of Nazi Germany today. As Neville Chamberlain found out much too late, it's impossible to negotiate with a dictator.
It's easy to be a pacifist when someone has your back. I put Cananda in the same boat as the Mennonites....it's convenient they can complain about the U.S. military and foreign policy when they know the US will do the heavy lifting to protect them.

Question, only slightly off-topic:

Someone whose family is friends of Dale High's family said that Dale & Co. are a part of the "Mennonite Mafia". I've heard that term before, but never in that context. Of course, living in the city tends to isolate me from certain county issues.

Could someone please explain this to me?

BTW, the other description this individual used of Dale High and his family was "despicable".

Question, only slightly off-topic:

Someone whose family is friends of Dale High's family said that Dale & Co. are a part of the "Mennonite Mafia". I've heard that term before, but never in that context. Of course, living in the city tends to isolate me from certain county issues.

Could someone please explain this to me?

One aspect of current U.S. leadership that coherently matches with the lessons of the past 30 years of protracted conflict settings is the statement that this will be a long struggle. What is missed is that the emphasis should be placed on removing the channels, justifications, and sources that attract and sustain recruitment into the activities. What I find extraordinary about the recent events is that none of the perpetrators was much older than 40 and many were half that age.

This is the reality we face: Recruitment happens on a sustained basis. It will not stop with the use of military force, in fact, open warfare will create the soils in which it is fed and grows. Military action to destroy terror, particularly as it affects significant and already vulnerable civilian populations will be like hitting a fully mature dandelion with a golf club. We will participate in making sure the myth of why we are evil is sustained and we will assure yet another generation of recruits.

I too heard the term "Mennonite Mafia" applied the the owners of Willow Valley and it was in reference to the preference of their own sect over others in business deals. Let me also add that it was said with laughter just so the spirit of the term is conveyed along with the words.



How many countries have been held/ruled by pacifasts alone? It's a beautiful philosophy but can one govern a nation, enforce a tax code and protect it's borders for any length of time using only these ideas?



I was raised as a Mennonite but we would call 911 and men wearing guns would respond if we needed help. The U.S. military defended our national interests and kept our enemies at bay for the most part. I don't feel that we were in any position of moral superiority from which to criticize the commander-in-chief for deploying troops in general.

. But also at the same time i've seen them use religion as a way to further their businesses, claiming how the busienss is "god centered" and that kind of BS but then when it comes to the treatment of their employees and such that all goes out the window.

After WWII and 72 million people dead, it is just hard to not question, could we have done some things better? We won the war, but at what cost.

no historical perspective.

Lysol, before you endorse bolivia's president, you should research him a little further. Last I had read of him, he was reconstituting the coca fields in order to turn his country around.

I can only speak for the Thomases at Willow Valley. They treat their employees very well. Some of the following posts are more correct. They tend to do business with each other.

Well i guess that is up for debate, i've heard just the opposite. So i guess just depends on who you know.

Any organization that size will have people in it who are happy and people who are not. I worked in the resort years ago, and I have several friends who have worked there for 20+ years. What I saw was good. I've even seen Marlin Thomas wash dishes when no one else was available.

yeah...the good old days...when bin laden was america' friend and we helped saddam, using wmd's, to target iranians...

nothing like historical perspective....

Yep, we should have left the Soviets in Afghanistan.

I'm sure you proposed that at the time... certainly you don't just take cheap shots with your 20/20 hindsight.

Yep, we should have left the Soviets in Afghanistan. I'm sure you proposed that at the time... certainly you don't just take cheap shots with your 20/20 hindsight.

Yep, we should have left the Soviets in Afghanistan.