We must seek, above all, a world of peace; a world in which peoples dwell together in mutual respect and work together in mutual regard.
-John F. Kennedy
We are two months and one day away from the first annual anniversary of the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas. That day was horrible. What Israel has done since is worse.
What fixes war – more war? No, peace – more peace and less war. What good has war caused this year? What good has it caused any year?
Pompous power plays by patriarchs? Papas please. Pivot plans; practice pacifism. Pilot peacefulness; position, pray, and prosper peacefully.
True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Justice does not equate to revenge. Justice yields to equity, and equity enables egalitarian environments. What is more peaceful than all of us simply coexisting together naturally? A collective lack of maturity is what contributes to this cesspool of needless bloodshed.
I identify immaturity internationally:
putin’s poo pilfering Ukraine
netanYahoo’s unhinged vendetta
prolonged civil war in Sudan
genocide in Myanmar
drug wars in Mexico
gang wars in Haiti
suppression of minorities globally
those are but a few…
When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love.
Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness, and contentedness.
Thoughts of love are constructive for brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.
-The Pitiful Causes of War, and the Duty of Everyone to Strive for Peace
Envious and/or insecure majorities clinging to some falsely misplaced ideal of superiority or comfort? We have it better than others so that is fine? No, that is not peace. That is a persistent problem. If the playing field is not even, then the odds will not be favorable. Find truth. Spread peace. Reflect, learn, and grow.
Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict.
-Dorothy Thompson
If we keep focusing on differences, then how can there ever be peace? We are all sharing this one planet; it is time to start acting like that. I strongly believe that we can tolerate everyone if we stop being so closed-minded and standoffish. We do not all have to be best friends, but we can all cease being worst enemies. It hurts my head and my heart to think that people are out there today (and every day) willingly ending lives, fighting for some silly, pseudo-patriotic meaning that is not true to their personal core. Did they grow up wanting to be a killer or someone who gets killed? I doubt it, especially for the latter. They probably wanted to pursue a peaceful and positive purpose. Instead, immature boys hiding within their imaginary borders brashly try to make themselves feel better at the cost of countless lives. Manipulating human experiences for war, humans being pointed away from peace by petty, pitiful powers posturing and pillaging populations deplorably.
What is the point?
Why is the point?
Who points?
The structure of world peace cannot be the work of one man, or one party, or one nation… it must be a peace which rests on the cooperative effort of the whole world.
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
We can each start by building up our own inner peace. Lay the foundation of your indomitable mental fortress. As that grows and strengthens, share it with others.
As peace spreads, so, too, does joy and contentment. We can stop combating and competing for more awards and prizes. We can simply be, happily and peacefully.
If there is to be any peace, it will come through being, not having.
-Henry Miller
More land will not matter in the long run.
Additional deaths will not cancel out wrongdoing.
Struggle and strife among egos will hurt all parties involved.
Live long, laugh heartily, and love hard.
Prosper and profit in peace, people, please.
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.