“If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

I love the definition of Peace as  “Freedom from or cessation from war or violence.”

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been obsessing about peace lately.  Especially with respect to non-violence. I wrote a few haikus about it.

Yes, the recent violent protests have really troubled me. I am not sure why they have troubled me so deeply this time. I have always been of the activist bent – having visited the Capitol several times to advocate, lobby and protest for human rights, universal health care, HIV prevention and homeless rights. All have been non-violent exercises, peaceful demonstrations of the second amendment.

But the riots in Ferguson were particularly distressing to me.   The  opportunities for solidarity and unity across racial, class, generations, were nearly erased by those who selfishly decided to take the law into their own hands by destroying personal and public property. Yes, there are valid concerns about injustice, but violence is not the answer.

I have been trying to understand this. How does someone go from peaceful protests to violent destruction?

Pride? Selfishness? Lack (Or Loss) of vision?

MLK Jr. describes Pride as the monster that swallows non-violence. Violence is the language of the frustrated. When you can’t get what you want, it is easy to spiral down into violence.

CS Lewis “humility is not thinking less of your self, it is thinking of your self less.”

I think people resort to violence when they stop thinking about the people they are trying to serve and become fixated on their own personal agenda.

“Blessed are the meek (the humble) for they shall inherit the earth.”  Unfortunately, You don’t get your way by force. Even those who go to war, have to go through a peace treaty and negotiate the terms for peace. All of the time fighting, bloodshed, pain, suffering still culminates in a peace talk. The violent destroy the very earth they seek to inherit.

The humble,  like Stephen Covey described in the 7 habits of highly effective people, “Seek first to understand, than to be understood.”.

Humility.

Humility is key for non-violence.

“The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility. Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

I really admire non-violence and seek to cultivate it. I am learning however that Non-violence is not only a physical thing. It can be verbal, emotional or even non-verbal…

For example, there is a certain violence in the “silent treatment.” If you’ve ever experienced the “look of daggers”, you might know what I mean too. Oh how someone can slice you up with daggers in their eyes!  Or how with a single voice tone,  someone can make you shrivel up!

Practicing non-violence calls for a deep awareness of every aspect of our lives – our thoughts towards others,  flippant answer, that sarcastic remark, lashing out…

I am becoming aware of how dangerous my speech can be when I am tired, hungry or just sleep deprived. Self-care is key for my being grounded and attentive enough to practice non-violence.

Blessed are the peacemakers – they will be called sons of God. I think about all those who profess their faith yet use God to promote guns. Warmongering, spreading hate, race-baiting… It know that I risk  sounding  judgmental and preachy as I write this but I can’t understand how people use God to promote guns and hatred. I am working on it.

If we really sought to think of the others more, try to understand then try to be understood. Like Gandhi, we will be able to achieve what was deemed impossible.

Peace-making is not a passive thing. Peace making takes guts. A certain fierceness. A willingness to sacrifice, stick one’s neck out.

Peacemaking is described by Wiki as practical conflict transformation – aimed at establishing equitable power relationships so that future conflict is held at bay. This is done by agreeing on ethical decisions, and aims to achieve full reconciliation among the adversaries, and foster a new mutual understanding among all involved. There are usually 2 parties, with a facilitator or mediator.

So what does a peacemaker do when surrounded by those willing to succumb to violence?

Is there a role for force, and peacekeeping, especially in the face of evil, or anarchy? I wonder…
I do think that violence is a matter of intention and manner… domination, or liberation, connection or power play…

The question to ask is what is really going on here?

Gandhi says the greatest force available to humankind is Non-violence. He objected to violence because he said the good it appeared to do was temporary but its evil was permanent.

We should all be peace-makers..

Like MLK says, we must evolve a method for all human conflict – a method that rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. Love is the foundation of such a method. Imagine that!

Approaching all human conflict with love, rejecting revenge, aggression and retaliation. Is this possible? Yes!

As with all the ideals, I expect this to take an intentional cultivation. I am very interested in cultivating this, are you?

Violence is a descending spirial leading nowhere. Id doesn’t solve any problems but multiplies evil and violence in the universe. What  would happen if we really internalized this truth?

I want to cultivate humility, non-violence and peacemaking in every aspect of my life.

Imagine friendships, marriages, businesses, international relations without revenge, aggression or retaliation! That is a concept!

Oh Yvonne, you are too idealistic!

Well, thank you! That’s what I am here for… to help you cultivate your ideals so that life will not rob you of them! )

See you next time!

 

Cultivating Peace:

1. How would you define humility?

2. In what ways does pride affect your relationships?

3. What role does non-violence play in your life?

4. Are there hidden pockets of violence in your life?

5. In what ways can you be more of a peacemaker?

6. Are you an active practitioner of the 2nd amendment?

7. In what ways can you cultivate peace in your life today?

 

Humility, Non-violence and Peacemaking go hand in hand in cultivating peace. Take the time to uproot old habits of violence in your life. Love is the bedrock of a peaceful life.  May you find peace in all aspects of your life in 2015. See you Next time!

Yvonne Whitelaw writes for Yvonnewhitelaw.com where she blogs about her quest to grow into her ideals in her “Live Your Ideals Project”. By sharing her lessons along the way (every Monday and Thursday), she hopes to serve and inspire a tribe of wholehearted warriors like you, to “live your ideals, live your calling and change the world.”