Back to the Future of Peace.

At a time when Reagan had communism plaque on the brain (Vietnam syndrome) and plausibly denied any knowledge of weapons going to Iran and proceeds going to Central America, Oscar Arias Sanchez stood up and said no. In the 1980s right wing dictators backed by the U.S for decades and left wing partisans found themselves battling and causing the people of these countries to suffer horribly. The US.

Once elected President of Costa Rica, he demanded that the U.S. backed contras leave his country. He met with other Central American leaders and tried to foster peace without U.S. involvement. He got them to agree to an immediate cease-fire and amnesty and free elections. When given the opportunity to meet with Reagan he lectured the President on the failings of U.S. policy and that no one else supported the Contras. He asked the President to bet on peace instead of war.

Regan continued to call the Arias Peace Plan flawed, but Oscar won the Nobel Prize for his efforts and although Central America has not solved all its problems, but its getting better. The U.S. is less involved. These days, Oscar runs a foundation for Peace and Human Progress.

His thoughts on peace as captured by Scott Hunt. I think we need to sit this guy in a room with Junior for an hour.

"Peace is a never ending process; it is the result of innumerable decisions made by many persons in many lands. It is an attitude, a way of life, a way of solving problems and of resolving conflicts. It can not be forced on the smallest nation, nor can it be imposed by the most powerful."

"We can overcome it, but it will involve many structural changes in the political and economic systems that govern our lives. Moreover, it will involve changes in consciousness and culture. It begins with education, teaching our children the values of peace: to be honest, to have politics with principle, and not to resort to violence."

Again, there's lots more and I recommend the book.