Dear Bruce: A very good message for harmony seekers. Laj On Thu, Aug 29, 2013 at 10:36 AM, Bruce Cook <cookcomm@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Thu, Aug 29, 2013 at 7:27 AM > 7:27 AM > < > http://us-mg204.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=4pelosne5oa10# > > > Message starred< > http://us-mg204.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=4pelosne5oa10# > > > Escalation - Fiction or Reality?** > from Bruce Cook, AuthorMe.com to 1 recipient > ** > Show Details< > http://us-mg204.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=4pelosne5oa10# > > > - > < > http://us-mg204.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=4pelosne5oa10# > > > - ** > > > - > < > http://us-mg204.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=4pelosne5oa10# > > > > Dear friends, > > In light of recent events, I am sharing the September edition of the > monthly newsletter I write for emerging writers each month. I pray it will > help us refresh our perspective on global harmony. (Sent to GHA USA > Members) > > Enjoy, > > Bruce > > *Escalation in Fiction (and Life)* > By Bruce L. Cook > > In fiction, as in life, stressful situations lead to escalation. > > The fiction author sets a conflict (a stressful situation), and the > characters react, often resorting to escalation. This makes the story so > exciting. > > Think of Dr. Seuss. He conjured up the delightful *Butter Battle Book*, in > which the Yooks and the Zooks battle each other over breakfast food. The > Yooks, who wear blue and eat their bread with the butter side up, are on > one side. The Zooks eat their bread with the butter side down. > > The battle between these two groups escalates, starting with a mere > slingshot. The counter-weapon is a triple slingshot, and then comes the > slingshot that catches rocks from the triple weapon and sends them back. > Next the Yooks use a weapon powered by Poo-A-Doo powder and ants' eggs and > bees' legs and dried-fried clam chowder. The Zooks, in return, fight back > with an eight-nozzle elephant machine that shoots high-explosive sour > cherry stone pits. > > Not to be outdone, the Yooks devise a device with spindly mechanical legs > and four faucets on the back to "sprinkle blue goo all over the Zooks!" > Alas, the Zooks create the same machine to fight back. Finally, both sides > devise a compact weapon named for the first nuclear weapons invented, the > Bitsy Big-Boy Boomeroo. As with nuclear bombs there is no defense. In the > end, the generals for each side wait for each other and the questions is > which will be first to use the terrible weapon and trigger mutual > destruction for all. > > Now, for a fiction author, its obvious that escalation is interesting. We > might even try to avoid a comparison with real day-to-day existence. But > really who would kill thousands of people just because they dont butter > their bread on the same side? > > Try a new scenario. One side kills people with missiles and guns. The other > sits back in a palace and sends airplanes with deadly chemicals. Now which > side is best? And, as an author, would you stop by merely telling what > happened? > The real question is would it be possible for the two sides to tolerate > their differences? Is it really necessary to kill so many people just to > get your way? Even children should know better than that. > > I would challenge authors not to stop with just telling the horrible story. > > Instead focus on harmony among peoples, mutual respect, and plentiful > application of the golden rule, however its expressed in the cultures > involved. (And, believe me, it is always there.) Show how individuals are > taken advantage of by those who hold power over valuable resources like > oil, water, and the engines of economic production. > > In your writings, try to help world leaders find ways to make peace real, > not just a figment of fiction. > > The ABC of Harmony, Global Harmony Association, > 2012< > http://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-leo-semashko/the-abc-of-harmony-for-world-peace-harmonious-civilization-and-tetranet-thinking-civilization-and-tetranet-thinking/ebook/product-21151715.html > > > > Leo Semashko > Scarboro Missions Golden Rule across the Worlds > Religions<http://www.scarboromissions.ca/Golden_rule/> > Paul McKenna > The Coming Interspiritual Age, > 2012< > http://www.amazon.com/The-Coming-Interspiritual-Age-ebook/dp/B00AY6OA6K/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid61237385&sr=1-1> > > Kurt Johnson > An Introduction to the Just Third > Way<http://www.cesj.org/thirdway/thirdway-intro.htm> > Normal Kurland > The Butter Battle > Book< > http://www.amazon.com/The-Butter-Battle-Book-Notable/dp/0394865804/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid77778287&sr=8-2&keywords=butter+battle+seuss> > > Dr. Seuss > > To subscribe to this newsletter, click > here<https://www.elbowspace.com/servlets/cfdC?xr4=&formts08-02-02%2016:34:51.129073> > > > Yours in harmony, > > Bruce > Bruce L. Cook, Ph.D. > President, GHA-USA > Vice-President, GHA > Director of CSSS Publishing and Editorial team > President, World Writers Resources, Inc. > Author, *Harmony of Nations: 1943 2020*, Just Fiction Editions, 2012 > 1407 Getzelman Drive > Elgin, IL 60123 USA > 312-859-8090 > cookcomm@xxxxxxxxx > www.harmonyofnations.com > http://author-me.com > *http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&keyT4*< > http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&keyT4> > > > . > > >