Autumn Issue 2004

GLOBAL DIALOG PROJECT

Special Presidential Campaign Issue PRACTICAL POLITICS Tools and Insights to Understand What the $!%#!? Is Happening in the World (And How You CAN and Already DO Make a Difference)
HOT TOPICS NEWS Voting! (someone has to do it!) Whose Truth? Supporting The Bill of Rights Can't We Just Talk? War: Iraq, Afghanistan, and wherever is next... Women! It's In Your Hands Now... Participate!! Yes, you over there!
INSIGHTS, ANGLES, and the Big Picture Isn't It Time for the Dots to, Um.. Connect? Sadly, the U.S. Presidential Campaign Why the Heck Is This All About the Vietnam War? How They See Us - and Why We Should Care What Does It Take to Get Some National Security Around Here? Freedom, Liberty, Security - Are We Confused Yet? BASIC PRINCIPLES: Introducing... The IntegrityMeter! THINKING TOOLS "If all you've got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" We need more tools - STAT! Concepts You Gotta Have, To Get It Mediaganda and the Language of SpinWorld MythStories: How We Get from Here to There Humor: Dark Days Require Black Humor! Being Human: Is It For Or Against Us?

> FUNDAMENTALS -About Us. The following sections are about �us�, our values, our aims and vision, We are a group of �ordinary� people who believe it is past time for community and global discussion amongst humans of our path in the world as a species, as individuals, and as communities, governments, and cultures. However, the more important something is, the fewer places there are to discuss and learn about it. Want discussion on movies � lots of places for that! Want discussion on the issues, ills, and potentials of the human future? Not nearly enough places for that. This is not just a problem because we cannot vent our feelings and thoughts about the events of the day. No, it is a problem first because it disempowers us and makes us feel helpless when there are few integrative, big-picture venues in which to voice our insights and observations. Such disempowerment has far-reaching impacts � it depresses us, it decreases the power of our democratic institutions, and most importantly, it is a huge waste of the minds and hearts of billions of people around the world � a waste of the human potential to generate creative solutions to the our problems. Because we believe that unique potential and wisdom exist within �ordinary� people. People inside and close to situations from all walks of life have understanding based on differing integrations of knowledge and experience. These many, varied perspectives are needed to generate an accurate picture of our world, our possible paths, and functional, long-term strategies toward a positive future for us all. - Principles and Values. These are not just the standards of our own organization. They are not just what we believe to be important. They are the standards and principles upheld by many ethical, democratic, and even spiritual institutions. They are cornerstones of an ethical future � and we have lost sight of them in the world today. We believe it imperative that humanity begin to �walk its talk� about basc principles of We are currently setting up the basis for membership and participation. Equally important, we will soon be requesting your participation as websurfers and knowledge seekers, curators, integrators, writers, artists, designers, coders, visionaries, and scientists. Together, our knowledge and insights� and the synthesis of our many perspectives into a deeper understanding- will allow us to direct our path with wisdom. We ask you to join us. Human Nature � it�s time we face the facts Basic Concepts Motivation Aims and goals Vision Mission --Principles : We act from PRINCIPLES With knowledge � but realizing we don�t know everything, and that it will be fairly impossible to ever know anthing completely, hence we must allow for the chance tht we don�t know the right thing. Therefore we act out of PRINCIPLES, knowing that they will take us down a certain path regardless of our knownledge if we always act honorably no matter the circumstances.. if we always speak truth, have integrity