The intention of this exercise is to develop and strengthen our
Nonviolent Communication skills with a open dialog.
"World Peace", defined as the absence of war, is a basic human
need. To achieve and maintain it in a reasonable manner, we
must engage in continuing discussions about the relevant subjects and issues that challenge
us daily.
Although the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
at the end of World War II is common knowledge,
the threat that Weapons of
Mass Destruction (WMD) and Drones pose today,
is difficult for many people to comprehend.
To ordinary American people, Drone Warfare is used to "sanitize"
war. It decreases American casualties and an
ordinary American would say to you, well, if we're in a war, isn't it better
that Americans aren't getting killed? Yes, and isn't it better not to be at war? What we're saying
is that the drones make war easy. The Obama administration feels that
because no Americans' lives are at risk, it can expand the drone warfare
and not even go to Congress. So the American people don't know what's
being done in our name. And most of Congress doesn't know,
either—there's no effective oversight, as well.
We now have drone bases not only in places like Afghanistan and
Pakistan and drones being used in Yemen and
Somalia, but we've got bases in
Djibouti, Seychelles and
Ethiopia. We have sent drones to
Uganda and Burundi. We have a drone base now off the coast of
Australia. We are expanding this drone base tremendously. And the
proliferation is not only coming from the United States, we are
selling drones overseas. So are the Israelis and the Chinese. Over 50
countries have drones. Non-state entities have drones. And we feel
it's leading us towards a world of chaos and lawlessness.
Robert Heinlein
was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers," he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the
genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and
helped to raise the genre's standards of literary quality.
He may not have considered his political outlook a hawkish
attitude, but his vehement contempt for whom he referred to as "parlor
pacifists" was overt, but is understandable considering his personal
experiences and the times he lived through.
As the basis for the NVC Discussion Exercise we will use a short story he wrote,
"Solution Unsatisfactory"
. It is about circa 1940 - 1945 and describes the US effort to build a
nuclear weapon in order to end the ongoing
World War II, and its
dystopian consequences to the nation and the world.
Instructions: