Breaking the Cycle of Violence

The images of the September 11 terrorist attacks still flash in my mind. The heart of America is ripped, even our most basic trust suspended. As Americans we need to express our deep anguish, our sense of powerlessness and collective loss. The cry for revenge, too, is a deeply human response. But we also need a plan of action that seeks not only to redress the injustice against us but also to promote change that breaks the cycle of violence.

Having worked for nearly 20 years as a mediator and proponent of nonviolent change in situations around the globe where cycles of deep violence seem hell-bent on perpetuating themselves, I have seen how people locate at the core of their identities ways of justifying their part in the cycle of violence.

With this in mind I share these observations. I start by exploring the nature of the challenge we face. The response I propose takes the challenge seriously in pursuit of genuine, durable, and peaceful change…