What is Proactivity?
Identify
Proactivity seeks to identify, in any conflict, the true enemies of peace. The enemies, or the root causes, are never people but rather unacceptable conditions, bad attitudes and deficient ideologies.
Initiate
Proactivity means to take the initiative. Peace begins with me. Each person, individually, can act for peace. No one needs to wait on governments, armies, politicians, treaties, etc. Proactivity is deciding what to do, how to go about it, and getting started. As Confucius said, "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." We prefer to light "candles of peace," however small they may be, rather than merely exposing evil.
Implement
Secondly, proactivity means, having identified the root causes, we take deliberate, intentional actions to deal with those causes rather than only dealing with their effects and results. We strive to diagnose and cure the sickness rather than merely masking the symptoms, that is to "kill the spider" rather than continually cleaning out the "webs". We choose our actions based on our beliefs, values and principles rather than acting on or reacting to our fears, feelings, personal interests, friendship, expediency, polls, opinions, pressure or coercion. While we believe in doing "random acts of kindness," we prefer to be doing selected, directed, planned, intentional actions that strike at the root of evil. As Thoreau pointed out, "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root. "Our goal is to identify and then strike at the root of evil, knowing that in doing so, the fruit will die.”
Integrate
Proactivity means we will be talking about and doing concepts that are proactive. These activities are strategically designed to integrate the best practices with the realities of the situation. We will speak more about mercy than justice because the drive for justice is re-active whereas mercy is proactive. Responsibility is proactive whereas demanding rights is re-active. Demonstrations and boycotts ( except for proposes of public awareness, information and understanding) are reactive whereas dialog is proactive. Reparations are re-active but forgiveness is proactive. Co-existence is re-active but building friendship is proactive. Therefore, our agenda will be more for mercy, responsibility, forgiveness, reconciliation and friendship than justice, rights, reparations and co-existence.
Proactivity seeks to identify, in any conflict, the true enemies of peace. The enemies, or the root causes, are never people but rather unacceptable conditions, bad attitudes and deficient ideologies.
Initiate
Proactivity means to take the initiative. Peace begins with me. Each person, individually, can act for peace. No one needs to wait on governments, armies, politicians, treaties, etc. Proactivity is deciding what to do, how to go about it, and getting started. As Confucius said, "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." We prefer to light "candles of peace," however small they may be, rather than merely exposing evil.
Implement
Secondly, proactivity means, having identified the root causes, we take deliberate, intentional actions to deal with those causes rather than only dealing with their effects and results. We strive to diagnose and cure the sickness rather than merely masking the symptoms, that is to "kill the spider" rather than continually cleaning out the "webs". We choose our actions based on our beliefs, values and principles rather than acting on or reacting to our fears, feelings, personal interests, friendship, expediency, polls, opinions, pressure or coercion. While we believe in doing "random acts of kindness," we prefer to be doing selected, directed, planned, intentional actions that strike at the root of evil. As Thoreau pointed out, "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root. "Our goal is to identify and then strike at the root of evil, knowing that in doing so, the fruit will die.”
Integrate
Proactivity means we will be talking about and doing concepts that are proactive. These activities are strategically designed to integrate the best practices with the realities of the situation. We will speak more about mercy than justice because the drive for justice is re-active whereas mercy is proactive. Responsibility is proactive whereas demanding rights is re-active. Demonstrations and boycotts ( except for proposes of public awareness, information and understanding) are reactive whereas dialog is proactive. Reparations are re-active but forgiveness is proactive. Co-existence is re-active but building friendship is proactive. Therefore, our agenda will be more for mercy, responsibility, forgiveness, reconciliation and friendship than justice, rights, reparations and co-existence.
Diagram of Proactive Peacemaking
Proactive peacemaking is the culmination of seven elements, beginning at the base:
