James O'Dea

This is a powerful book which I think everyone should read. O'Dea, a long-time leader in the peace movement, argues persuasively that in order for peace to be gained on the community, national, and international level, it needs to start within each individual's responses to having their emotional buttons pushed, their need to be right/eous, and to win. But O'Dea is never sentimental nor simplistic. He knows what a big challenge this is, and he addresses it on the biological/biochemical level as well as the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual level.

The advantage to this approach is that it makes being a "peace ambassador" something each one of us can do every day -- and do so in a meaningful, significant way.

This is a profoundly spiritual book that never appeals to a particular spiritual path. It simply insists that each of us has the power to choose empathy, forgiveness, reconciliation, and generosity over fear and selfishness.

He does acknowledge that in some cases it is necessary to use force to prevent those who are stuck in their hate from harming others, but he holds out hope that healing is possible in the aftermath of even the most terrible acts of violence and injustice, using examples of actual victories of reconciliation.

O'Dea gives me hope for a more peaceful future, and the confidence to believe that I can be part of that peace starting right where I am.
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