Exhibit teaches peace of mind
Melissa Cowan
Issue date: 10/12/09 Section: News
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That is the philosophy of Dorothy Hawkins and Jude LaClaire, members of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) network, a Buddhist organization that promotes peace.
Hawkins is also a student assistant for the Center for Full Employment and Price Stability in the UMKC Economics Department. LaClaire is a former UMKC student.
SGI's internationally acclaimed peace exhibit, "From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit," was displayed at the University Center last week. The event was co-sponsored by the UMKC Black Studies Department.
"Events like this raise awareness - I think that's where you have to start," Hawkins said. "This is what it takes, step by step."
Hawkins and LaClaire displayed the exhibit at three other colleges in the area before promoting peace at UMKC. The exhibit is shown all over the world.
"Violence is such an issue in our world today, not just in Kansas City," Hawkins said. "What I really like about this exhibit is that it addresses the issues we're already aware of. But it also addresses the solutions."
The exhibit is divided into four sections and 36 panels.
The panels encourage human security, inform of the impact of nuclear weapons, recognize those who are working toward peace, explore future concerns and give solutions to change perspective.
"Changing our worldview" is done by interconnecting and having dialogue, education, courage, engagement and hope about achieving peace, according to the exhibit.
Hawkins believes peace starts with one person. When people find happiness within themselves, their positive energy radiates to others around them, she said.
"[And] people who are satisfied with themselves are not as likely to commit acts of violence," Hawkins said. "War starts in the mind so peace can also start in the mind."
LaClaire recalled the philosophy of Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, about passive violence.
"Poverty, sexism, racism … those are all acts of passive violence," LaClaire said. "Passive violence really is a precursor to active violence."
The exhibit displays powerful images as examples of this violence.
LaClaire believes the nation is taking the right steps toward promoting peace by reaching out to understand one another, but "the political mess" is the problem.
"When we give our power away to money or politicians or whatever, then we feel powerless," LaClaire said. "And we lose hope."
But not all hope is lost.
"It's never too far gone," Hawkins said. "This [presidential] election … just the thought of hope sparked a movement."
Hawkins agreed we are moving in the right direction.
"I believe that because I very much believe in young people," Hawkins said. "We have very bright young people we don't hear a lot about who are doing some phenomenal kinds of things, (but) don't get into the mainstream media."
For more information, visit the SGI Web site, www.sgi-usa.org.
The exhibit is available online under "Exhibitions and Resources" from the "News and Events" tab.
ccowan@unews.com
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