Make Peace Today

· Peace · Paix · سلام ·

· 和平 · Friede · мир · Paz ·

· With ·

united; possessing something physical, psychological, imagined, or spiritual; not alone

· Myself ·

I only travel the path towards peace when discrimination and hatred is far from my heart.

Fear and distrust are rampant in times of conflict - whether personal, local, or national.

When I feel no power to change the world, I become cynical. I watch and do nothing to counter the darkness that falls like the choking dust of a forest fire.

I have a voice, and by certain declaration, I can, slowly, make a difference. The how or why peace can be made is through the only qualities that can keep us from certain destruction: love and hope.

· My Family ·

Love your family and peace will come.

Your family may be through blood, friendship, or choice. They may not have grown up under the same roof, spoken the same language, nor followed the same religion. You may not have seen your family for a long, long time, yet your bond is strong in their presence.

At times we may fall out, we may break our ties, we may allow the hurt of family to obstruct our way to freedom.

Family is at the heart of peace and war.

· My Friends ·

My friends advise me, they sometimes disagree with me, they respect my feelings, my thoughts, yet remain a healthy step away. In times of trouble they comfort me and I, them. I depend on their good counsel.

Friendship brings me context, perspective, and solidarity. A friend will walk with me no matter how difficult the times that unfold.

When I have no friends nor seek friends, I am an island. I distrust, I become suspicious of the motives of others. I live only to survive.

Be friends, make friends, and the clouds of misgiving will lift.

· My Neighbour ·

We do not choose our neighbours. We may know them well, we may have hardly spoken if at all.

A neighbour is close, whether we like it or not. Unlike friends and family, a neighbour is outside of my emotional influence. Although I may have different views and beliefs, I must meet and talk with them. For both our interests I must move towards cooperation.

· My Enemy ·

An enemy is someone or something that harms or weakens. An enemy is hostile, agressive, forcefull. My greatest enemy is doubt.

The enemies of peace are inequality, poverty, and prejudice - whether this relates to gender, political opinion, social class, age, disability, religion, sexuality, race and ethnicity, language, nationality or other personal characteristics.

· Be The Voice of Peace ·

If you want to make peace with your enemy,
you have to work with your enemy.
- Nelson Mandela

It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it.
And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Peace cannot be kept by force;
it can only be achieved by understanding.
- Albert Einstein