Customers are always happy to hear their pianos after I tune them. Is that the only happiness they share with me? No, my other obligation is to be so kind that the customers say to themselves “I’m so glad I could talk to Kent today.”

Peace activism is not only fine-tuning an institution like taxation or social welfare. It is also a commitment to delivering the message so that the audience will say “I’m so glad I interacted with Kent today.” Ineed, if I do not inspire that happiness in my listener, there is little chance that my message will have a positive effect.

Undertaking to be against something constitutes being in opposition. Progress, on the other hand, is a matter of being in support of something. Peace building lifts the self-esteem and happiness of the parties to the peace.

When I try to tune two people who think they hate each other, it is crucial for both of them to conclude “I’m so glad I could talk to Kent today.”

copyright © 2011 Kent Busse
please quote freely