This I believe is the boldest
article that I will ever write. As much as needed, I stay away from being
judgmental especially with sensitive political issues yet a personal
experience had taunted me to speak my mind just for the benefit of backing up
with the pursuit of peaceful and harmonious relationship within our society. I
am here, not just as a free-spirited writer who is paid to write something, or a
sister whose brother was stuck in a mountainous region in the middle of a clash
against rebels with no food or water supply and with danger at hand. I don’t want
to remain muted, sitting comfortably inside the four-wall of our house, not
with the recent Mamasapano incident, not with videos displaying violence that caused
a massive uproar. And as I grow older, I
don’t want to see my son going out the door, fearing each moment of his safety
because violence is everywhere.
What is it in You?
I believe in the greater
purpose. And I know that mine is not just to watch things happen and not do
something about it. I trust this voice that nudged me, not just to mere babble
these thoughts but because of dignity, or profound concern as a member of this
human race for this voice to be heard. I believe you have yours to fulfill too. Peace
is something that we all are aiming for. Therefore it is a concern of the
entire country, making peace as a shared obligation. Yes, it is not just my
business alone, not just the lawmakers and the government, but it is YOURS,
too.
What is it in you that you
have to join this armed conflict? Can you sleep soundly at night? Do you
find peace every time you pull the trigger and shoot someone? How can you do
that to your brother? What happened to this passage to “love one another?" Too
many people already died because of this separation, of this division. There’s
too much bloodshed at both sides. You have even oppressed civilians who are
just simply trying to live a normal life because of this twisted ideology. Is
this really the life that you want to have? To see fear in the eyes of the
children, or to point your gun in their faces just to threaten them with what
you think is right? Your advocacy of independence just for handful personal
gains is not the answer, it never will…. worst-to kill. Too many people risked
their lives just to break the chain of desolation, fear, violence and crimes.
Don’t you have a family of your own to go home to? Are you not tired or all
this chaos? For what benefit is it? Personal satisfaction? Really? We are of
one blood, one nation, one flag brother, why do you hate so much?
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the
whole world blind.” What is peace to you?
How do You Define Peace?
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According to Wikipedia “Peace
is an occurrence of harmony characterized by lack of violence, conflict behaviors and the freedom from fear of violence. Commonly understood as the absence of
hostility and retribution, peace also suggests sincere attempts at
reconciliation, the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or
international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic
welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that
serves the true interests of all.”
In order for our community to
attain it, peace must be seen at least in two forms: A simple silence of arms,
absence of war or absence of war but accompanied by particular requirements for
the mutual settlement of relations, which are characterized by terms as
justice, mutual respect, respect for law and good will.
What Can We Do to Make it Happen?
Peace talk process and panels,
reconciliation and alternative solutions have been what our government is
advocating for the leftist to coordinate. And that the government needs us, to
join the advocacy and be united as one. Criticisms after criticism will not
help. President Aquino on his speech, commemorating the People Power Revolution
addressed the nation that despite the anger that may solidify in our hearts
with the recent SAF 44 incident, we must remind ourselves that truth, compassion, love,
and peace will always be more powerful.
According to him, “Let us not forget that our police went there, not to
inflict violence, but to fulfill the law. They sacrificed so much so that we
could attain peace; it would not be just if what they gave for peace became the
spark that ignited further violence.”
I therefore ask everyone who
has the vision of lasting peace to intensify our prayers. Whatever religious
sector you belong to, we need a restoration and sincere reconciliation for
our country. It might not be an easy tread to work on, but if we are all united
into one goal, one prayer, then the vision will be possible.
We don’t want to live every day incessantly looking behind our backs because we feel unsecured. Let’s give
justice for those who have their lives to put an end to the fear and
violence - that we truly are worth dying for.
We all have hearts, and so is
our conscience. Let us start mending the broken past and to entrust the Lord
for the peace and forgiveness to reign and for another story of love and unity
instead to prevail in our society.
Just like what Lennon had
penned: "Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a
dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world
will be as one.” Peace is possible, even at broad daylight—it can be a reality…not
just a lucid dream.
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