Dan wrote:

<<<Martin, your numerous contributions leave me the impression of a principled
and well intentioned person who wants the right thing to happen. However,
I think that you give up too easily on pacifism. Think of the progress
that resulted from Ghandi, Mandela, and masses of people involved in
anti-slavery movements, labour movements, women's movements, environmental
movements, peace movements, and so many more. There will not be a utopia
in this plane of existence, but change and improvements do occur, often
quite improbably so. History, including current history, is full of
examples of this. It may seem improbable, but then again people of our
generation also didn't believe that the Iron Curtain would be voluntarily
removed, did they? Maybe we limit ourselves too much by imagining that
something can't be done instead of committing ourselves to making it
happen.>>>

I sent this to my Montessori discussion list this morning:

Of the four mailing lists I'm a part of, on three of them there is great
discussion of the crisis in Kosovo.  The Everyman list (Jackson Browne
folks) are debating the meaning of war.  The Humans (Bruce Cockburn) are
talking about the rights of other countries to intervene in the actions of
other countries.  The Noam Chomsky list is abuzzz with linguists and I
can't quite figure out exactly where they are coming from but it's
meaningful and useful discourse.

Here, on the Montessori list......we are doing what MARIA MONTESSORI
admonished us to do.  We are setting about the task of nurturing the spirit
of the child in such a way so that they can go out into the world and
create peace.  We have to remember that much of the Montessori philosophy
was in REACTION to the hardening of children that was happening at the time
in reaction to war and poverty and ignorance.  She had wonderful hopes that
if all children were treated in this mindful and wonderful manner that the
world would slowly shift from a confrontational to a cooperative venture.
It hasn't happened, but we are charged with the responsibility of
continuing her work, of not giving up and saying that Montessori is just a
good way to TEACH kids.  Montessori is so much more than that.  Please do
not forget the REASON for it.  So much more all encompassing, such an
awesome thing to be involved in.....

Peace.  Mona