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War, Not War and Peace War supporters and anti-war protestors have something in common; they share the language of war. Conversations: why we should wage war, why shouldnít; what will happen if we do, what will happen if we donít; the moral imperatives to do so, the moral imperatives not to do so. The language often sounds the same. Being in the right, twisting the facts to fit a viewpoint, the truth is, name-calling. Denigrating, dehumanizing, insulting the intelligence of, impugning the motives and intentions of the other side. All referents are to war in one way or another. Peace as the absence of war. As a war protestor, I share in these conversations. To be sure, as I believe, opposing war is a necessary action, especially in our democratic republic. There are many substantiative arguments against war. Yet, I am ashamed when I stoop to the base level of name-calling and dehumanization. Anti-war is not enough, if we are to get out of this paradigm called ìwar.î To be sure, there are protestors, with their signs, who promote peace as well as oppose war. This is my point; peace is its own paradigm, with its own language and conversations. Peace exists independent of the talk of war, the waging of war. The peacemakers live peace. The person who assists the homeless with shelter, who helps them be able to afford housing. The person who assists the poor with meals, who helps them with earning a living wage. The person who intervenes with addicts, who counsels them to live according to their Divine spark. The person who works to keep our planet livable, the quality of our air and our water, maintaining preserves of natural beauty, alternate sources of energy. The person who assists with keeping the peace, who teaches conflict resolution. The person who works for justice, who promotes understanding and empathy among all people. In a recent ìletter to the editor,î the writer said that she wonít go to anti-war protests until they become peace rallies. So what are peace conversations? Being a good neighbor; just think if it were national policy to be a global good neighbor. Reaching out to people different from us, listening to them unconditionally, engaging in dialogue; imagine if this were national policy. Cultivating and nurturing dialogues between combatants and antagonists, now out of the radar screen of media; between Israeli and Palestinian, North and South Korean, Irish Catholic and Irish Protestant, Serb and Croat and Muslim; imagine if this were national policy. Seek and pursue peace every day. The next anti-war protest in which I participate, and I will be there, I will be promoting peace, with my sign ìA World of Peace and Understanding for My Children and Grandchildren.î --David Nekimken |
