A co-worker of mine had this book and the title “Speak Peace In A World of Conflict” intrigued me. It became even more interesting when I opened it up and saw this quote at the top of the Introduction:

“We need a more peaceful world, growing out of more peaceful families and neighborhoods and communities. To secure and cultivate such peace, we must love others, even our enemies as well as our friends.” - Howard W. Hunter

That may be the only time in my life that I’ve opened up a book by a non-LDS author and discovered a reference to something said by an LDS prophet. It only says the name “Howard W. Hunter … it doesn’t identify who he is.

I wonder how the author chose that quote - if he knows much about President Hunter or maybe knew him personally? I just don’t know.

The book itself is a challenge to my internal values. Some of the points Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg makes here don’t fall into line with my understanding of justice or common sense - there are points he makes that just don’t sit very easily with me. I also feel the author makes some points or takes some approaches that are contradictory to each other.

But it is still an interesting read and I’m impressed by the fact that the author is very much aware of the ugliest realities in this world - mass killing, rape, etc. and that some people who are embroiled in these kinds of problems are taking the time to listen to this author. If what he has to offer has applications in the more horrific world contexts, then maybe I need to be a little more open-minded to what he has to say.

Let’s just say I’m still leaving ample room for skepticism, without having lost interest in what the author is writing.