Starting a new year with the World Day of Peace should augur well for the other 364 days. Many world leaders take time off to participate in ceremonies and celebrations, and deliver speeches to prove to their respective countries that they cherish peace and happiness, and that they wish that everybody could enjoy this time of the year as best they can. There were many instances in history when belligerents were prepared to call a truce so that soldiers could taste the warming spirit of the year.
Sceptics are prone to conclude that this is just one example of the multifaceted character of world leaders. During this festive season they break their normal routine and put on hold their firm belief that politics is the art of the possible. Underlying this questionable concept is the fact that there are no limits to satisfy political ends for these include injustices, discrimination, lies and manipulation of the democratic process.
Under these conditions, it is extremely difficult for a lasting peace to take place. Those who endure hardships, either financially and/or psychologically, because of that approach to politics are neither likely to forget the causes of their misfortunes nor the people who were involved in the process.
Bad blood tends to ensue and the peace process will never have the opportunity to embark on its path and flourish. Only people with strong characters will overcome the consequences of those malpractices; their complete trust in God that, in the end, whatever happens is for their own good, will certainly buttress their willpower.
In his first message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Benedict XVI has chosen the theme "In truth, Peace" and expressed the conviction that wherever and whenever people are enlightened by the splendour of truth, they naturally follow the path of peace. He defined peace not as an absence of armed conflict but as implying "the fruit of an order which has been planted in human society by its divine Founder, an order which must be brought about by humanity in its thirst for ever more perfect justice".
The Pope qualified further his perspectives when he continued that "whenever there is a loss of fidelity to the transcendent order, and a loss of respect for that 'grammar' of dialogue which is the universal moral law written on human hearts, whenever the integral development of the person and the protection of his fundamental rights are hindered or denied, whenever countless people are forced to endure intolerable injustices and inequalities, how can we hope that the good of peace will be realised?"
One has to admit that those who are accountable for the governance and administration of a country carry an enormous responsibility to ensure that all citizens are treated equally and that all their people have equal opportunities for advancement to ascertain that a lasting peace prevails.
Admittedly, within a democracy there are Opposition parties that are on the lookout for injustices committed by governments. At times, however, these parties are more interested in political power than equity and fairness in administrative matters; it is not uncommon for them to resort to untruths to achieve their ultimate end. If untruths are the vehicle of transference of power, peace is not well served in the long run.
Within a country there are different levels of authority to ensure order and justice; thereby, each one should be a vehicle of peace. Never-theless, broadly speaking, all those entrusted with important posts often relish the idea of exercising their power on subordinates. There are times when people in such positions abuse their trust for various reasons: vested interests, personal ambitions, fear of competition and pecuniary interests.
Being the link people in the hierarchy, they are fully aware that they are in a position to give a distorted view of the situation to entrench their position even further. Subordinates may not always be in a position to prove their case, either because of fear of having to face further reprisals or because others who can supply the evidence will not be ready to risk their necks for them. Those who are in possession of the facts may also give false evidence to gain the sympathy of people in authority.
Such instances transgress the fundamental law of love of neighbours; and love of neighbours certainly contributes to pave the reign of peace. One should help a neighbour who is in need. The need may be financial, psychological, and physical.
Donald Nicholl, in his book The Beatitude of Truth, describes the love thy neighbour equation thus: "In answer to the question, 'Who is my neighbour?', it would have been quite easy for Christ to have given a definition embodying some principle or some law which would have satisfied the questioner by leaving him in his fixed condition of detachment. Instead, Christ tells a story about a man on the way from Jerusalem to Jericho, which in no time involves the questioner in the man's fate and touches his heart. No one can remain unmoved by the story - or ever forget it, because the heart has a good memory."
Nicholl continues to explain that such approaches, i.e., touching the heart, are not limited to the New Testament. Other religions, too, have discovered that the heart can be moved to understand the truth and be the conveyor of peace in the world. Thus, one finds it among the Sufis of Islam and the Jewish Hasidim; in the Buddhist Scriptures there are such stories and the mass of Indians have been educated by the puranas, those ancient stories that acquired their saviour as they were transmitted throughout India between the fifth and 18th centuries.
Deep within the human heart there is the yearning for peace and love. Many religions took it for granted that these two characteristics were focused on neighbourly love so that peace prevails within the country. But this modern age has discovered other different perspectives when there are times when peace and love are lacking within families.
Marriage breakdowns create further problems not only to the couple who separately search for new partners, probably causing further marriage breakdowns, but also to their children who are likely to grow up in an unstable atmosphere.
It is crucially important that families be strengthened through the 'truth' approach that ensures faithfulness to each other. Keeping in mind that each family is an important cell in society, breaking families means inviting civil strife because under these conditions lies and selfishness will become the bedrock of personal needs. All this boils down to the antithesis of the Pope's theme for this World Day of Peace and to each individual person's yearning for love and peace.
Having attained peace among people, we can move a step further to create peace with nature. The environment has become an increasingly important topic because we have found out that the world could become unsustainable for future generations. Legal enactments may help to guide citizens to protect the environment; the impositions of fines may make people think twice before causing pollution; but if the earth is educated to nurture a love of nature, then we are assured that our environment is really protected.
Much before this modern preoccupation with the environment, Francis of Assisi was perhaps the first person who was equally dedicated to people and nature. Roger D. Sorrell delineates these characteristics in his book St Francis of Assisi and Nature thus: "...Francis personally interceded to produce prosperity for righteous towns, or to predict (correctly) future civil strife for a foolish and ungrateful city. Francis himself could link his presence or approval with prosperity (harmony with the environment) and civil peace (harmony between humans)."
It does not make any sense to love the environment and hate people. There should be a reconciliation between the two. If world leaders lead the way, the people will certainly follow. But for peace among people and love of nature to really prevail it has to be built on blind justice.
I wish all Sunday Times staff and readers a happy new year.