This article is addressed to the
precursor of the Congressional Commission envisioned to develop The Department of Peace at the Federal level of United States Governance, being held Sept 8 - 14, 2005 in Washinton, D.C. This is one take on the Vision.

No doubt it is not far from any of our minds that the current domino effect of
tragedies unfolding out of the floods in the southern United States speaks volumes about the significance of intent in this gathering. To have to witness any semblence of cultural coherence disintegrate into anarchy in the space of hours and days before our eyes, not thousands of miles away in Iraq (While the war in Iraq is no less significant to our purpose), but right here at home, brings front and center the pivotal questions upon which our immediate future, and the hope for the future of generations to come swings.
Coherence of culture, inherently consisting of an awareness of generational roots and societal stability, depends upon qualities of relationship people have with each other. The qualities of relationship we have with each other depend upon the quality of relationship that individuals have with themselves
and the individual's relationship to Life.

So, if significantly effecting prospects for lasting Peace in the big picture is dependent upon individual experience and the immediate sphere of influence around individuals, this points to one quality from which to begin. That quality is Individual Security. Following 9-11 one of the very first, and most decisive steps was developing The Department of Homeland Security. This Department symbolizes, and speaks to, and takes action on security for our Nation at large--a step in the right direction, to be sure. Now it's time to bring that foundaton of security closer to Individual Homes, so that our Nation begins to develope a foundation of security for the Individual up to the National level with continuity.

It is with this in mind that here-in is suggested Community Resource Centers
as one branch of the support of the
Department of Peace. Here is what it could look like:

Within home-base communties such as neighborhoods, apartment complexes and gated communities, etc, there would be
a Community Resource Center planned for in the building stage. (Of course, for existing communties creative provisions would be made.) For example, in a neighborhood of houses one of the model homes could be designated as the Communtiy Resource Center when the building of homes is complete. In apartment buildings, one apartment could be disignated for Community Resource use. The Resource Center could offer any number of a collage of services depending on the unique needs of the residents, from specific resource referral, such as to reliable plumbing or AC service; a place for networking bulletins of in-house or wider community events; offering communtiy interest workshops like gardening or parenting classes; augmenting neighborhood watch programs by being a place every family going out of town can put their house on the watch list; and enhancing support for latch-key kids through a community- based awareness which homes are in a
latch-key circumstance.

We are aware that what will actually come of this will be a combined synthesized effort. It is our hope that this may be the foundation of vitalized collaboration that can expediently move into form.

As I write this it occurs to me that the development of this commission is likely the most appropriate opportunity to speak to a Truth that has been looming in the shadows of this nation for decades, and that is the need for a cultural, societal and individual soul-level shift in perception to the necessity for Concsious Conception in Pregnancy. The moment of conception is ultimately the beginning of the beginning of any possible foundation for lasting Peace. The moment an Unwanted Baby is conceived all subsequent possibilites and choices drastically diverge from the potential for balanced physical, emotional and spiritual health that will be required in order to turn our social, cultural, relational tides away from paths of anarchy.

I am not suggesting we can tell teens to ignore their hormone rushes. I am suggesting that NOT taking decisive steps to instill a cognative, emotional and energetic understanding of the global consequences we are now facing that hinge so greatly on how prepared this world is to support babies is criminal by ignorance. We cannot know how great the effect of efforts to teach Conscious Conception may be until we try. And up to now it has not been tried on a large scale in this country.

For a baby to be consciously conceived and begin developing relationship with awaiting parents is a powerful foundation for a new someone to come into being human. When babies are unwanted at the outset, it sets the stage for a foundation of primary insecurity, neediness and low self-concept that a person can then spend years attempting to overcome rather than being able to live from the leading edge of natural human potential that may have otherwise developed if from an initial foundation of developmental stability and wanted-ness.

For more information on the significance of this suggestion see
The Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health website and birthpsychology.com. Anyone wishing to contact me for information or discussion in this regard may email
vgoldkey.ev1.net.