APRIL MESSAGE

Dear Friends,

Collaboration, synergizing, walking the walk, maternal heart, true partnership with men, "Forgive-Love-Unite," service opens doors, women's heart network -- these are key words you will come across as you read this month's edition of the Logic of Love News. Why do I point them out?

As we continue to highlight and report on last month's Women's History Month and women as peacemakers, these were words that particularly struck me, because they describe some of the qualities, mindsets and actions needed for true peacemaking. To me they represent some of the crucial qualifications for being a true peace leader, especially when it comes to addressing the many social ills in our homes, communities, and nation. One of the most burning issues here in the United States, which has come again and again to our attention and needs to be resolved, is RACISM. Please don't miss the attached video footage of a recent co-sponsored WFWP USA Bridge of Peace event in Las Vegas entitled, "Resolving Racism," and ask yourself the question, "What does it really take to resolve this deep wound in our country?" There are many views on the issue -- and even more deeply rooted emotions on both sides -- that need reconciliation and healing.

One thing is certain, women who have the above-mentioned qualities within themselves are called at this time to be role models and peace leaders. Another thing that is certain is that we cannot do this by ourselves, as both our young writer Julia Granstrom mentions in her article on cyber-violence, and Las Vegas Chairwoman Kimiyo Anceny reminds us. We need to be in true partnership and synergy with men in order to move forward and find solutions to our social ills.

Professor Francis Sejersted, onetime chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee, said in 1991 on the occasion of a young woman democracy activist, Aung San Suu Kyi, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, and who was still being held in detention by the military dictatorship in Burma, "We are dependent on persons who set examples, persons who can symbolize what we are seeking and mobilize the best in us. Yes, we need courageous peace-leader role models, who can be ordinary women and men like you and me, but who are courageous enough to model for the rest of us."

Have confidence to step forward like our dear chairwoman in Philadelphia, Mrs. Jizly Dohou, who challenged her limitations to speak in public and did wonderfully! (Read "Walking the Walk.")

Finally, on a lighter note, let's keep our minds fixed on that which is beautiful and good, thus nurturing our souls every day. Let's clean our homes and be of good cheer to all those around us!

Happy April!
Angelika