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Sept. 21st has been set aside by the United Nations as the
International Day of Peace.
It is the hope that all nations throughout the world will take pause
to "give peace a chance", and in doing so, plant the seeds of hope
for a more peaceful future. The fate of those seeds of hope depends
upon all of us because our everyday choices have the power to either
nurture the peace process or extinguish it.
It is estimated that every day more than 35,000 children continue to
die of hunger due to the violence in the world. Will there ever be
peace while such injustices still exist? We teach our children to
resist peer pressure, but how often as adults do we allow ourselves
to be swept along with the less than just decisions made by many of
our politicians and society at large? How often do we look the other
way?
We can all help the peace process by aligning ourselves with
humanity as a whole and insisting on decisions in our communities
and country that are for the good of the global all. If we insist on
compassionate decisions and choose to stand up where we have
previously sat back in silence, we can create the bridge to more
peaceful times. Why not declare September, 2009, as the official
beginning of the shift to a more peaceful world? We can be actively
involved in the peace process by making conscious choices that promote
justice and equality and allow all to live with dignity. (next column)
03/09/2009 08:22 PM
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This might involve rethinking our use of
natural resources, researching the labour conditions
involved in the production of the goods that we consume and
acquire, reconsidering our entertainment choices or seeking
ways to reach out to those who are victims of violence.
Who knows where a few days or a month of conscious choices
could lead?
After time for observation and contemplation we may decide
to make some permanent adjustments to our lifestyle that
will have a more positive impact on our world or we may
choose to use our power as voters to write letters to our
politicians asking for choices and actions that promote the
peace process.
John Lennon’s heartfelt call for peace still rings true
today:
"Imagine all the people
Living life in peace . . .
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one"
Together we have the power to "give peace a chance".
 Hear
John Lennon sing Imagine
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