Last Friday was International Day of Peace
I had planned to blog about this on Friday though ironically I ended up keeping myself busy reading about violent protests and riots which were taking place around the world.
You have probably seen it on the news or read about it in the newspaper. An insensitive, short movie was created having a go at Islam and its prophet Mohammed. As news about the movie spread, so did the protests. As the protests grew, so did the violence.
I was surprised to read about the intensity of the protests even here in Sydney, just around the corner from where I work. That brought it much closer to home.
As I tried to think about this abstract notion of “world peace” on Friday I couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by the difficulties of the idea in practice – particularly as I watched the intensity of what seemed to be the uncontrolled anger of many protesters.
How can that be transformed? How do you teach a narrative of tolerance and peace to a child who is brought up carrying signs calling for the beheading of anyone who insults Mohammad? How do you reason with a person who is consumed with rage or “holy anger”?
I’m actually not really sure. Sometimes I have to admit that I don’t feel very optimistic about the state of the world! I’m even tempted to respond with anger at what seems to be a completely unreasonable response to the offence created. I wonder how many others felt the same way as they watched the news over the last few days?
Based on my very scientific Facebook survey, there are a lot who are angry or fearful about the protests.
Someone pointed out recently how skewed the news is
No surprises there I guess. It is generally just the stuff that seems shocking to the senses and which can be hyped up and dramatised which makes for good ratings. Reality is not quite as it first seems on the news.
It may be obvious, but is an important point to be mindful of. Take the recent news, for example.
In the midst of stories that sounded like the entire muslim world was up in arms, how many reports actually noted that the estimated participation in anti-film protests was between 0.001 and 0.007% of the world’s Muslims and that most major leaders, both Western and Muslim, have condemned any violent response to the film? In the midst of graphic images of angry protesters all over the world and signs promising killings for anyone who stood against Islam, how many reporters covered the protests where Muslims carried signs apologising for the small minority who turned to violence?
See this article for more.
Change is not beyond anyone
I was glad to see an interview with a young Australian Muslim who had angrily gotten involved in riots about 4 or 5 years ago. Despite the intensity of the emotions he had felt and the relatively short period of time which has passed, a few years of wisdom learnt and a University education has shifted his perspective radically. I can understand why they are angry (there is more behind this than just a silly film), he said, but I now see that violence is not the way.
Never believe anyone who tells you that people’s actions are just random or that they can’t change.
I couldn’t help but think of another man, arguably the most influential and celebrated person (apart from Jesus) in my own faith tradition. He was a man who out of a sense of holy duty had previously made it his goal to murder those with the very faith he came to call his own; the apostle Paul.
How can we write-off or hold contempt for those who affront us in their rage while still celebrating heroes who, at one point, were little different?
People are not random. And, just as circumstances and experiences can change, so can people. It is a powerful reminder that, whatever faith tradition or spirituality we align with, that it is so important to approach each other with grace. To attempt to suspend our judgement and fear – whether we have been insulted by another or whether we are affronted by another’s anger.
While it is fair (or even important) to assert that violence is not okay, it is the process of dialogue, understanding and forgiveness which will become balms in these situations. Anger, fear and brash declarations only compound things.
I think it is important to celebrate the good
It is so easy to become captured by the dramatic, the bad, the things that cause fear. It takes work to reorient our perspective and realise that for every one of those stories there are numerous stories of hope and transformation which go unnoticed.
Every day around the world there are growing outbreaks of peace, tolerance, forgiveness and reconciliation. Stories of things being transformed for the better in a dramatic way which is compelling and inspiring.
For me this year, International Day of Peace has been a chance to remember this reality and move my mind from the prevailing narratives of doom, fear and fatalism to ones of hope and celebration. When was the last time we went to a peace memorial or museum (yes, they do exist!) instead of just a war museum. When was the last time we read about stories of hope and reconciliation instead of just stories of fighting and destruction?
A bit of balance is good for the soul. Here are a couple of suggestions to check out in honour of Friday:
Join a call for a robust Arms Trade Treaty (Email Bob Carr here)
Soldiers of Peace (website)
Feel free to add things that you have come across!
the green orange blog 