"Families of Peace"
A luncheon for twenty invited guests ws held at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, on November 11, 2023.
Honored were six internationally-recognized peacemakers: Dr. Martin Luther King, Queen Lili'uokalani, President Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Premier Zhou Enlai. A seventh emerging peacemaker was honored as well: Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the Sioux Nation.
The program began at exactly 11:11 am, marking exactly the 12th anniversary of the founding of the Zhou Enlai Peace Institute in 2011.
The following narrative summarizes a two-hour program, and will be complemented by a series of video and audio pieces, with photos, links and transcripts.
It is the web version of a production called "The Story."
Pu and Oli: Kumu Ryan Souza
The traditional Hawaiian opening was presented by Kumu Ryan Souza, who blew the conch shell to the four directions of the wind, and offered a blessing of protection and forgiveness for the gathering.
Speaker Calvin Say
Speaker Emeritus of the Hawaii House of Representatives, Calvin Say, began the program, giving greetings to all of those gathered in peace, and the spirit of Aloha. He recalled the 1988 first official visit by an Ambassador from China to Honolulu, and the spirit of the taro plant, as a unifying force for all. The sum of his nearly 50 years of public service: it is better to give than to receive.
Former Governor John D. Waihee III
Former Governor of Hawaii John Waihe'e observed that Hawaiian values are based on the principle that if we treat this world well, it will take care of all of us. He said that the need for peacemakers now is greater than ever.
"This planet is big enough for all of us."
Professor Maya Soetoro
Maya Soetoro is a Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Hawaii. She spoke of her work in providing the grassroots energy from which cultural renewal, environmental justice and youth leadership spring. Maya shared origin stories of her youth in Indonesia, where she first understood the fragility of peace.
She is an articulate advocate for the rights of the original peoples of earth, for women and for all those who seek recognition of their value, power and insight. Addressing the topic of the day, Maya said,
"I try to privilege community source solutions that are a manifestation of extended family, where we can 'refamilialize' ourselves with one another, and with the land itself."
A series of tributes to the great peacemakers of recent history was presented, seeking to understand the source of their strength, and the contribution of their families, in sustaining their vision work.
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
The first peacemaker tribute was a video excerpt from the 1963 speech by Reverend Martin Luther King, delivered to 250,000 people at the feet of the Lincoln Memorial. The complete arc of Dr. King's talk, connecting the injustice, fear and hope of the time, can be seen in this speech, which culminates in a series of declarations, "I have a dream today..."
"There is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."
Queen Lili'uokalani
Queen Lili'uokalani, the first and last Queen of the Kingdom, was recognized next.
Nalani Olds, celebrated poet and singer who often represented the Queen, recounted the life of the young Queen, as she confronted sorrow and injustice at being deposed by American forces -- and her ultimate prayer, which was to extend forgiveness to those who were doing wrong, not to use violence to seek justice.
Meleanna Aluli Meyer, a respected teacher and community artist in Hawai'i, offered amplification of the Queen's importance. Based on her lifetime of study of the Queen's life and work, and on her family relationships with those who knew the Queen personally generations ago, Meleanna spoke of the true roots of peace.
Mahatma Gandhi
Raj Kumar, the President of the Gandhi International Institute for Peace, has spent a lifetime studying, emulating and extending the work of Mahatma Gandhi.
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He spoke of his personal journey, and the profound contribution that Gandhi made to liberation of India, and to the liberation of humankind through his practice of non-violence. He spoke of the connection of Gandhi's work as an inspiration to Martin Luther King, and added.
"The name of Mahatma Gandhi transcends the bounds of race, religion and nation-states, and has emerged as the prophetic voice of the twenty-first century."
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa, a beacon of compassion, dedicated her life to alleviating the suffering of India’s most marginalized people, embodying love and empathy. Her work extended beyond the hospice walls, tirelessly seeking out those in need throughout Calcutta’s poorest areas. She cared for the sick and dying, comforted abandoned children, and provided food and shelter to those with nowhere else to turn.
Her unwavering commitment earned her global recognition. In 1979, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her “work for bringing help to suffering humanity.”
The Families of Peace viewed some excerpts of the feature film, "The Letters," which tells the story of the personal price that Mother Teresa paid for her service.
President Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela, a towering figure in the global struggle for human rights and racial equality, dedicated his life to dismantling South Africa’s oppressive apartheid system and forging a new era of unity and reconciliation.
As South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Mandela championed a comprehensive peace and reconciliation process, establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to heal the wounds of the past.
A historic and insightful broadcast from CBS Sunday Morning, produced as Mandela was released from prison, captured some of the sense of miraculous victory that the world experienced in 1990.
Zhou Enlai
Speaking at this special event was Zhou Xiaofang, the grand-niece Zhou Enlai, the first premier of China, and a respected global peacemaker. She recently presented a study to a prestigious conference at Nankai University, about the X'ian Incident. She explains the Five Principles of Peace, written by Zhou Enlai to achieve practical harmony among nations and all communities.
As a first-generation leader of the Revolution in China -- a writer, poet, general, chief diplomat and head of state -- Zhou Enlai strived to transform enemies into allies. He lived a life of simplicity and humility, on the same level as ordinary Chinese people.
Xiaofang told two personal stories about this, involving her father, Zhou Huazhang, who featured in the early financial and banking growth of the new Chinese republic.
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Zhou Enlai was one of the pioneers of "people's diplomacy," and Zhou Xiaofang shared the results of recent meetings with young Chinese leaders in Beijing, saying:
"They are very concerned about the US-China relationship. they want to rebuild trust, and the relationship between China and America, starting with a dialog. And we are determined to help them. Each one of us is powerful, and the time is now.
"Are we ready to be Nelson Mandela, today? Martin Luther King? Mahatma Gandhi, today?"
Today's Leader of Peace:
Special Recognition for Chief Arvol of the Sioux Nation
This event added a seventh, new peacemaker, representing the original peoples of America and Canada.
Chief Arvol Looking Horse is the 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle, a revered spiritual leader dedicated to preserving his people’s traditions and advocating for peace, justice, and environmental harmony.
Rooted in ancestral wisdom and a deep connection to nature, he is a powerful voice for Indigenous rights and a beacon of hope for a more balanced world.
"Peace Prayer," a short documentary film was produced specifically for this event, and was screened for the first time on November 11, 2023. The film was produced by a team led by Tiffany Marie Delorme, who assembled cameras, lighting, sets, music, and editing.
Ralph Cossa
Colonel Cossa is the President Emeritus and Worldwide Support for Development-Handa Haruhisa Chair in Peace Studies of the Pacific Forum, a Honolulu-based leading diplomatic and national security thinktank. He served as a Colonel in the United States Air Force. He shared his lifelong commitment to understanding and advocating peace.
Dr. Chuck Spezzano
Dr. Chuck Spezzano recorded a video message for the people at this luncheon, since he was traveling at the time.
Chuck Spezzano, along with his wife Lency Spezzano, is the founder of Psychology of Vision, a transpersonal healing model that integrates psychological methods with the concept of grace. With over 80 years of combined experience, they have developed and refined techniques for mental and spiritual enhancement. Psychology of Vision focuses on love, relationships, leadership, and spiritual growth, aligning with the principles of "A Course in Miracles" and impacting lives worldwide.
Chuck brought the theme of "Families of Peace" to the highest level -- where all people are members of the human family.
Special Guest: Venerable Panekhao
Venerable Panekhao is a "forest monk," meaning he is skilled at living in simplicity in any time and place. He is a Buddhist master, originally from an ancient order in Laos. with more than 50 years dedicated to the radically simple contemplative life, and to healing those who cross his path.
He leads a monastery in Brest, France, and was accompanied on his mission by Bernard Guillerm, a French businessman. The two traveled together from Paris, specially to join the Families of Peace gathering. About families, he shared:
"When you are at peace with yourself, you find a home everywhere. But when you're in trouble, you do not find peace, you do not find a home. When considering the journey to be here today, we said to ourselves, "We have to go there. It's our family."
Roger Epstein
After the main event, we spent some extra time with Roger Epstein, one of the original supporters of the Zhou Enlai Peace Institute, and a respected member of the Peace Families 'ohana.
He shared one of his professional peacebuilding projects, which we have been following and supporting for many years -- interconnection between attorneys, law firms, courts and judiicial districts in China and the United States.
The legal profession -- lawyers, and the process of the law, arbitration and settlement, are a vital part of the texture of peace, and Roger continues this work.
International Relations between China and America
Xiaofang Zhou North and Michael North were invited, in October 2023, to hold meetings with a group of young leaders in Beijing. The mandate was: find ways to re-connect two nations currently disconnected, over a bridge of personal trust and respect.
One of the meetings was far outside of Beijing, at the site of a battleground of the late 1930's, called Huairou. Michael told the story of this visit, and of the heroes of Huairou, who helped save the young nation of China through their blood and sacrifice, and establish its identity.
By telling similar stories to each other, person-to-person, Chinese and American people can begin to communicate again at the level of heart. This renewed foundation supports the resolution of diplomatic, economic, military, health, environment, international security and other complex issues in an enduring, sustainable way.
Conclusion: Governor John Waihe'e
Governor Waihe'e helped the gathered peacemakers to absorb the broad sweep of ideas and feelings they had shared.
He said, "I think it's exciting, to build diplomacy around people, as opposed to governments. It's a good fit. I thought that sometimes the best people to ask about peace are those that fight."
He spoke of his recent talks with Hawaiian martial arts lua masters. Those who break bones must have a commitment to healing them first, before beginning war. That will ensure the durability of peace. He finished by saying,
"Now that we have learned what's happening in the world, the key is, what happens now? The real test of today's lunch is: What do we do about it?"
More to follow. With each breath, each day, each month and year.
Image furnished by NASA
