INTER-FAITH CONFERENCE 2013 ESSAY CONTEST

HOW CAN WE, BY CELEBRATING DIVERSITY, ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE PEACE?

By Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

HOLY SCRIPTURES

Traditional wisdom in African proverb reminds us: “When broom sticks come together not only do they sweep well, but they cannot also be broken by anybody.”  To wit:  In unity and diversity lies strength and progress.

The theme for this year’s Interfaith-Conference – “Celebrating Diversity for Peace,” should serve as a war cry for humanity at the threshold of the 21^st century.  And the essay topic for the occasion- “How can we, by celebrating diversity, achieve sustainable peace?” is even more profound.

The 64-million-Euro question is: “How can mankind achieve sustainable peace on this planet of diversity?”  Whose responsibility it is to initiate the sustainable peace movement?  Where should the sustainable peace start?  These queries began to kick out each other out of the womb of my thought as I reflected on the essay topic. Then the first hunch I received from my master- within was that the person or group of persons who proposed the essay topic might be enlightened souls themselves. Otherwise, such an inspirational drop of wisdom would not have geminated in their minds in the first place.   The organizers of the event merit felicitations.

To answer my own question, I dare say that peace is not a commercial article to pick up on supermarket shelves anywhere in the world.  Peace, in my view, is a sentiment that must be experienced and expressed.  It is like love. It is abstract but tangible. It cannot be seen but can be felt. It cannot be touched but can be hugged. Peace is sweet and loving. It is harmonious and infectious. It is peace that gives fragrance to the bouquet of flowers of diversity. Sustainable peace must originate from the individual’s heart. And it is only profound peace that can be sustainable.

To achieve sustainable peace, man must be at peace with himself (herself).  Man must be at peace with nature and his environment.  Man must be at peace with his neighbor.  And if we reflect on the biblical anecdote of the Good Samaritan, as advocated by the Master Jesus the Christ, we must ask ourselves: “Who is my neighbor?” All human beings living on this planet of self-interest   must see one another as their neighbors. So, therefore, if we build our concept of sustainable peace on this foundation of good “Samaritanian” spirit, the following must be considered to achieve sustainable peace in the 21^st century:

·         The seed of racial discrimination must not be planted in the consciousness of our new generations regardless of their geographical origins.

·         Conscious efforts must be made to eliminate all forms of discriminations, especially gender related ones where men see themselves as being superior to women.

·         Human pigments whether white or black, or yellow, must be seen as beauty in diversity rather than a barrier to fellow-feeling.

·         The suppression and oppression of the poor by the rich must be kicked out of human civilization.

·         The deliberate economic policy whereby the first world perpetually keeps the third world in socio-cultural bondage must be abolished like the slave trade of the 15th and 18^th centuries.

·         The manufacture of chemical weapons and other weapons  of mass destruction for whatever reason must be condemned by all peace loving people  no matter against whom  it was used or being used or  will be used  in the future.  Conversely, the benefit of science and technology must be distributed globally in the name of globalization.

·         Sustainable peace can be achieved when wasteful resources, especially food stuffs in one part of the world can be preserved and delivered to starving and dying neighbors living in other remote corners of the world as our neighbors.  

Undoubtedly, when fair play is observed in accordance with the rules of the game   at any local or  global arena in any  sporting events whatever,   at all times, sustainable peace will triumph. As we celebrate the 100 years of the Peace Palace here in The Hague, tribute must be paid to the pioneers who dreamed of such a reality as far back as in 1913. The flame of their vision must not be snuffed. Fair play must always be the watch word.  

Unfortunately, however, sometimes, some citizens somewhere in the world feel left   in the   sea of suspicion that the scale of the international peace and justice is not being balanced equitably.  A typical illustration is what happened recently when the African Union (AU) protested that two Kenyan leaders who were elected by their own people through peaceful and fair democratic elections ought to be given the chance to serve their term of office first. It seems to me that the AU has made some observations which must be subjected to further interrogation. Are there some equal or worse offenders somewhere who have not been given invitation cards for a tea party in the jail in The Hague?

As an ordinary African citizen who just arrived in Europe for studies, I am speaking from personal experience.  From an African perspective as far as sustainable peace is concerned, I can express my opinion as well.  The socio-political, economic and cultural behaviors of some African leaders leave much to be desired. Corruption has been a bane of development and sustainable peace in Africa.

The cases of former Presidents Mobutu Seseseko of Zair, now Democratic Republic of Congo and Sani Abacha of Nigeria are there for verification.  These were African leaders who were reported to have stuck away millions of dollars in some foreign banks in Europe and elsewhere while their   poor citizens died of hunger and starvation. But where lies the moral justification of those European countries that also accept corrupt and ill-gotten wealth into their secret banks?  Can sustainable peace be achieved in the atmosphere of mistrust and self-interest? 

 It is my contention that if we can all embrace and celebrate unity of diversity which is the beauty of creation, humanity will experience sustainable peace on earth as in heaven. 
 Essay written and presented by MK Abissath MA Student  for the first Inter-Faith Assay Contest held on 16 November 2023, ISS, the Hague, the Netherlands (Did not win the only prize at stake)

   (03/11/13)