A friend of mine is a firm believer in the theory that it is impossible to achieve peace, so there’s no point in trying. I wholeheartedly disagree with every part of that statement, and believe that if we begin to believe as she does, we begin to travel down a dangerous road. Whether or not achieving peace is possible, believing that achieving peace is possible is a huge step in the right direction. I we have a glimmer of hope that peace is possible, it might have a chance. If we don’t believe peace is possible, it isn’t. Peace isn’t just going to fall into our laps. It’s going to require some effort, and it’s going to be a challenge. And if we believe there’s no point in trying to achieve peace, we risk the chance that violence will become commonplace, and acceptable, because there is no reason for it not to be. Martin Luther once said, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree today.” We must hope that peace can be achieved, no matter how unlikely it seems. We must, as the saying goes, give peace a chance.
Nice post. I agree completely with you. If there is no belief, there is no chance. Peace, just like anything requires some work to achieve. Spread the word.
I think the Cortright book, Gandhi and Beyond, has interesting applications to what you are saying here. Peace certainly isn’t going to just happen–like any other “end,” it is something we must work incredibly hard for. Non-violence is more than just a nice theory; it has truly practical applications and really can work. We just have to be willing to put in the effort.