A decade later, this post inspired my poem No Shield Will Shield Forever.
Would you agree if I said, "Only a dreamer could imagine absolute peace in this world?"
History tells us that human beings would never agree on universal peace. Lesser mortals like us, who form the backbone of our civilisation, will be content when our basic needs are taken care of and we can sleep in peace. But in every society, peace often seems like a conflict waiting to happen.
The picture below is a portrayal of a scene from the 5th century AD where strong Hun men are killing a woman and her child. It could be under any pretence, but it is always unjustifiable. One and a half millennia later, unfortunately, very little has changed. The time and place have kept changing while the pain has remained the same.
Throughout human civilisation, the powerful, driven by the pursuit of power, wealth or desire, have led groups of strong opportunists—and sometimes disillusioned people—to kill the innocent.
One can use the choicest of words to name it: war, resistance, protest, revolution, regime change, or maintaining peace and stability in the country. It really doesn’t matter. We can no longer trust the motives or actions of the leaders of the world's most powerful nations when they speak or act in the name of peace.
If you still have doubts, then please look at the image below and try to find a justification for those swords and daggers adorned with gold and silver.
It tells us that humans not only like to kill, they also like to do it in style. The less violent among us would probably not mind spending $1,000–5,000 to have a few of those decorated daggers or pistols proudly displayed in their showcases.
My intention is not to delve into the details of what the perpetrators have committed in Mumbai, Iraq, or Paris.
Is everything lost?
It's never too late to begin bringing hope for peace. However, peace must begin within ourselves. Let us take the first step and pledge together to eliminate violent thoughts from within ourselves.
Let this wave of nonviolence flow like a fresh breeze, touching our families, neighbourhoods, communities, and eventually the rest of the world.
Just as John Lennon sang in Imagine, we hope that someday all will join us, and the world will be one—a peaceful one.
To reach where we want to reach, let’s start a new cycle by #BloggingForPeace with BlogAdda
Nothing is more "newsworthy" that negativity. It is sad that only the wars and the attacks get front page coverage and as part of the audience, I must say it does capture our minds. This cycle is an endless loop that needs to be stopped.
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