WARS FOR PEACE

WARS FOR PEACE



We live today in testing times, times when selfishness is reaching grotesque proportions. These are times when each one of us wants (and rightfully) a safe and peaceful existence. However, whether it is an individual, a community or a nation, if our safety and peace is threatened, we strike back with such venom, completely losing sight of the fact that the other party also has the right to a safe and peaceful existence. Man is fast losing sight of moral and ethical values and his capacity for empathizing with fellow beings and his self-control or self-restraint is touching new lows with the passage of time. But man must realize that in trying to create a haven for himself, he cannot create hell for others. The key to a safe and peaceful existence is a harmonious, safe and peaceful co-existence of all the peoples of the world.

In a war, whether it is between individuals or nations, each side will emphasize or showcase ‘its suffering, ‘its misery and talk about it in detail, simultaneously trying to overlook, ignore or make small of the suffering which is inflicted on the other side. But are not the people on the other side also human, with the same aspirations, the same joys, the same feelings of love and sacrifice for their children, the same prayers for their parents, and, the same sorrows! Whether it is my blood or your blood, it is after all human blood the spills across the war-lands. The children on both sides lose their parents; the parents on both sides lose their children. Then how is one misery greater or lesser than the other’s? Whether they is your wounds or my wounds, post-war, they do not heal. Buildings and cities can be rebuilt, but to re-build faith and friendship is a Herculean task, near impossible!

It is folly on the part of the powers that be to feel that war has to be fought to bring about peace. War tears to shreds the precious fabric of daily life that really requires peace to thrive on. Then how can war lead to peace, to safety, to happiness? Happiness for the human race is possible only when all the peoples of the world are embraced in a single human solidarity. When one person, group or nation feels that only they have the right to happiness while the rest languish in misery, it causes conflict --- this is how terrorists are born, and wars are fought for the satisfaction of the false egos of a few. Wars do not bring about solution; they bring more problems to be solved. Wars instigate further wars --- with periods of lull in between --- but no permanent peace. If we want permanent peace, we have to sit down and talk --- communicate with each other. Dialogue is "assertive” behaviour ---- war is “aggressive” behaviour. Aggression blinds, assertion clarifies. Assertion makes one realize not only one’s own rights, options, choices and wants, but also makes one acknowledge those of the other party. This makes life livable not only for one, but also for others. This brings about peaceful co-existence in daily life --- this brings about permanent peace! In the world today, the powers that be should be made to understand that the people of the world want “assertive” behaviour from them and not “aggressive” behaviour.

Dr. Poonam Mehra