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able. All cases and names are kept
confidential.
1
f the two parties cannot arr ive
ata solution themselves, the Center
offers an arbitration service. Here
each party agrees to be bound by
the solution determined by inde–
pendent arbitrators.
Follow-up calls are made to see if
both parties are abiding by the
agreements.
In all cases, the Center has
achieved a high success rate. "We
SPORTS
(Continued from page 14)
" Gíve" Versus " Get"
Cooperation or competition? That
is the question.
lt
all boils down to the basic phi–
losophy of life that the founder and
editor in chief of this magazine,
Herbert W. Armstrong, has long
taught.
The causes of human ills, war,
sickness and poverty result from
human greed and selfishness–
man's desire to
GET.
lt
didn't start
with professional sports. l t started
at the beginning of human soci–
ety-with Adam and Eve who
chose to
TAKE
the forbidden fruit.
They chose the way of human
experimentation rather than divine
revelation from the Creator. Nearly
6,000 years of human experience
have shown that man's way of gel
has never resulted in happioess.
We have chosen Satan's way of
competition. After all, it was Satan
who started that philosopby when
he . convinced one third of the
angels to revolt against God-to
become competitors (Rev. 12:4-9).
1
have touched upon sorne of the
most complex problems of today's
world-violence, drugs, cheating,
unfair and unethical business com–
petition. Yet the solution
1
ampro–
posing to these complex problems
líes in a way of life that can be
taught little children.
1 am not so naive to think we can
wave our magic wand of new chil–
dren 's games and have complex
world problems solved. But one has
to start somewhere. And what bet–
ter place to start than with the next
generation of leaders-today's chil–
dren?
But competition has become
38
have successfully resolved about 95
percent of
al!
cases that have come
to us," reports .Mr. Zupan.
The resolution time is also dras–
tically reduced through the media–
tion process. "A civil tria! often
takes up to five full years to resolve,"
Mr. Zupan explains. "Here at the
Dispute Center we resolve most
cases within seven to 10 days!"
The main advantage the Dispute
Center has over the civil legal sys–
tem is that it avoids the adversary
such a way of life that proposing an
alternative sounds radical. To sug–
gest that our whole modern life–
style of games, sports and competi–
tion needs to be evaluated and
revamped may seem absurd to
sorne. From childhood games to
adult physical education and mores,
the whole way of life needs new
thought, new life, new spirit.
1
don't believe in abolishing the
development of athletic skills or
competition of the right kind . Half
the battle is attitude. Through ath–
letics young people can learn to
strive for excellence. The right kind
of competition-especially against
one's own self-can certainly con–
tribute to character development,
developing confidence and self-dis–
cipline. The right kind of athletic
endeavor broadens one's perspec–
tive, contributes to the spirit of fair
play and abiding by rules.
There is a great deal of good in
athletics. Even as
J
approach 48
years of age, I actively participate
in a variety of sports programs with
many of my friends.
At Ambassador College a few
years ago we had, for a temporary
period, intercollegiate athletic com–
petition. We tried for the highest
quality program possible. Colleges
we competed against had the highest
respect for our coaches and athletes.
We strove for good sportsmanship.
Other school administrators and
coaches generally counted it joy to
play at our gym on the Pasadena
campus. Referees sought work at
Ambassador games because they
were treated with respect.
But upon thoughtful evaluation,
the board of directors decided not
to continue the intercollegiate pro–
gram.
ft
was too easy to drift into
the improper competitive spirit.
We didn't totally do away with
approach in resolving cases. "We
don't allow threats or the at–
tempted destruction of people's
character," Mr. Zupan says. "We
airo at resolving the core underly–
ing root of problems- not the
symptoms."
I n
a so-called civilized world that
spawns far too much legal angst, a
lesson can be learned from the
small Community Dispute Resolu–
tion Center and its noble effort.
Let's hope we do.
o
sports and athletics. lntramural
sports remain an active part of
campus life-but we are striving
for that balance between striving to
improve one's abilities and helping
others also achieve their best.
1
have never seen or experienced
anywhere else when an opponent
makes a good move, scores a goal or
makes an excellent play that the
opposing team says, "Good shot."
Or, " Nice move." But that's what
our coaches teach. By no means have
we achieved perfection, but we are
striving every day for that ideal.
If little children are taught games
of cooperation, what a different view
they would have as adults. Can you
imagine what changes would be
made if the greatest reward and hon–
or carne to those who helped others
the most?
Can you imagine a sport where
the person who gave the most to
others was the real winner? The
concept is so strange that many
can't even think of a game where
that is possible.
What a testimony to our compet–
itive way of life!
l f you are a parent, set out to
learn new and different ways to
teach your children the way of
cooperation.
If you are an educator, spend
more time thinking how you can
encourage students to grow and
learn through cooperation rather
than competition.
And no matter who you are, in
your family, business and recre–
ation you can start to practice new
and different methods. You can,
for example, develop ways to main–
tain physical fitness and family
togetherness.
Cooperation-it's a way of life in
which there are no losers. Everyone
wins.
It
is a better way.
o
The
PLAIN TRUTH