Last Thursday Lightbearers from all walks of life gathered to discuss matters of peace and conflict in our lives and world. Here are the minutes of that meeting.

John and I want to thank all you peacemakers for joining us for dinner at Lorenzo’s Trattoria in Coconut Creek on the last Thursday of May, 2009.

John spoke about why we started Peace Options. It was our intent to have informal dinners or peace parties and to gather those interested in peace, inner and outer, to come together for mutual support, to work together and expand the whole, to expand self and our ability to create peace or anything else and to make a difference to our community and world. John also spoke of the need for more volunteers in the organization to take minutes (thank you, Laura) and to blog. (thank you all for volunteering)!

We welcomed new members: Helise, Ron, George and Ruth and old members, Karl, June, Jim, Jill, Rickie, Lee, Laura and John. George introduced himself to the group speaking about his professional career as photographer and writer during the days of the WWII, J. Edgar Hoover, and McCarthyism. Helise spoke of her expertise in healing and as a massage therapist. Ron told us he had recently moved to South Florida from New York.and was happy to meet us.

Our discussions were lively and topical. On peace and war, we questioned whether war was ever justified now in Iraq and Afghanistan or back in the days of WWII. Did Hitler make WWII a good war?

On religion and peace, we queried how religion affects peace. Is the Catholic religion one of peace or conflict? How do you square the Crusades or the Inquisition?

Forward to today, how do we feel about the abuse of children by priests in the U.S. and by priests and nuns in Ireland?

Lastly, what is the role of peace in politics? Specifically, what do we believe our government’s role is and should be in the bankruptcy of General Motors or Chrysler?

Our next meeting in on the last Thursday in June, the 25th, 2009, same time, same place. Hey, June does that mean you will create a blog in June because it’s June? Just a thought.

See all of you at our next meeting.