Vision of Hope Blog - April 2008

What If Being Good Were Made Profitable?

Nissim Dahan

The political philosopher, Machiavelli, concluded that "fear" was the best tool a leader could use to keep his subjects under control. And there is no doubt that fear has worked well over the centuries to keep people in line. But could it be that in today's globalized world a new organizing principle may be emerging?

Take China, for example. I don't doubt that the leaders there would like nothing more than to crack a few more heads in Tibet. They are tempted to [...]

A Recipe for Peace Pie

Nissim Dahan

Ingredients: 1 Nanotechnology Research Department at an Israeli University1 state of the art Green Technology Product1 Industrial Zone in the Palestinian West Bank1 mid-size Factory BuildingSeveral Palestinian and Israeli Entrepreneurs (preferably of the male and female variety)200 Palestinian workers (preferably of the "peace-loving" variety)Several Saudi Investors1 Marketing Firm with hunger in its belly1 Public Relations Firm with the guts to think bigSeveral Media Outlets (w [...]

Edwin Just Called Me A "Deist"

Nissim Dahan

In one of his comments on www.mideastyouth.com, Edwin called me a "deist."

A what? A "deist." Well, "them's fighting words," as far as I was concerned, but before reaching for the boxing gloves, I thought I'd better look up what the word "deist" means. It can't hurt to understand the insults, before getting insulted.

Deism is the belief in the existence of a God on the evidence of reason and nature only, with [...]