As
a demonstrator for peace every Sunday I am sometimes asked, “Why?” in various
ways, at various times and locations, in mostly antagonistic tones, and occasionally
with downright insults. I also get
arguments about why peace is impossible and war is a necessity: “Violence and
war are in human nature, and you can’t change human nature;” “Short of war or other means of violent
force, what are we to do in the face of a Hitler, a Saddam Hussein, an Osama
bin Laden, ruthless leaders who will organize masses of warriors to murder,
torture, enslave, rape, or commit any other atrocity to any number of people to
accomplish their purposes?”
These
are serious arguments. Experts on the
issue do not agree on what the evidence shows about human nature as opposed to
what is learned via human culture. Peace in our time seems improbable. Justifications
for war have a long and pervasive history, and they are fueled by feelings of
satisfaction, pleasure, and intensity we crave in our everyday lives if we are
to judge by the popularity of violent media which teaches that violence is an
exciting and necessary way to get rid of the bad guys and make heroes. Peaceful conflict resolution is hard work,
it is not widely taught yet, and its rewards are delayed gratification with,
apparently, nowhere near the intense excitement that violent conflict provides.
So why do I continue to demonstrate
for peace? Because I believe that war is
too costly in money and human potential to sustain; see http://armscontrolcenter.org/issues/securityspending/articles/fy09_dod_request_global/.
And because I
believe that, while peace may not seem probable in our time, it is clearly
possible sometime, and there is evidence that shows this. Simple observation shows that most people
live most of their lives without resorting to violence. People can and do learn better ways to solve
relationship problems and to get their excitement through social-justice action
and other peaceful means. Without
cultural reinforcement for violence and with appropriate treatment, the
mentally ill, too, can and do live peaceful lives.
Peaceful movements and leaders of my
own lifetime have increased in numbers and strength. The first formal academic
programs in Peace Studies only began in the mid-20th century. Since then these programs have proliferated: “The
existence of 200 peace studies programs on college campuses in North America
and Western Europe provides powerful testimony for the desire of human beings
to avoid Armageddon by studying peaceful ways to resolve conflicts” (http://www.gmu.edu/programs/icar/ijps/vol3_1/Harris.htm). More and more people speak about
peace, study it, write about it, and join with others in actions to protest war
and to promote peace. At the bridge for
peace, thumbs up are far more frequent than thumbs down. In spite of opponents making arguments about
human nature and necessity, historic cultural changes have taken place in my
lifetime increasing civil rights for racial minorities, women, gays and
lesbians. These changes take place because
of the efforts of individuals organizing and demonstrating to challenge
existing cultural frames.
I go every Sunday to add my voice to
the growing chorus of those who believe in the possibility and necessity of replacing
violence and war with peaceful problem solving and conflict resolution.
Published in The Star Herald, "Viewpoints," March 13, 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment