Peace Calm
Peace isn't just the absence of conflict but also a state of restfulness and inner peace.
We want peace! We want peace! That’s the outcry we hear around the world. We talked about Peace and Happiness in a prior chapter, which may be of value as well. What is peace? Is peace static or dynamic in nature? meaning, can we reach an absolute state of peace? If yes, what would that look like? If not, what is the next best thing? I would like to share a bit of a story about my background. It may provide some context for this chapter or at least a reference point for my investment in the subject. I was born in the early 1990s in a country now called South Sudan. It’s a country that appears to have been in a state of clashes and civil unrest for most of its history. At least, that’s the outcry from most of its citizens. Similar stories seem to trace back to the time of my mother and possibly my grandmother. However, they were not as prevalent or engrossed in reality as in the current generation. So, we have had generations that have been calling out for peace or pursuing the ‘illusion’ of peace. I say illusion because if two generations have never experienced peace, when will they know if they have reached a state of peace?
What my point with that question is, it appears we never on individual or communal level defined what peace is. There's lots of variation in what peace means to each of us. It's important for us to know what peace means on a local level. I am sure the country has written or aligned a certain strategy in place to pursue the national idea of peace. However, from observation, it seems incongruent on an individual level. Maybe, at least on the application level. Okay, let’s say we're moving the topic forward. This tangent wasn't meant to start a political debate, but we do love doing that sometimes. Let’s say there is a peace strategy in place, and eventually the country reaches a state of ‘peace’.
Peace doesn't only exist externally. It also lives in our behaviour. However, most of the time we focus on external factors, which are, of course, crucial. You cannot talk to someone in an appropriate manner of exchange if they are holding a gun to your face or burning your house down. So that is a critical area of focus. However, my argument... No, let’s not call it an argument. My take is that we must pay equal attention to ‘designing’ citizens that are capable of living in a state of peace. That means when the gunfire ceases, things will become silent and restful, which will be the new norm for citizens. Silence is something so scary for so many people, especially those who have been conditioned to be in a state of hustle and bustle.
When peace comes and there is nothing to occupy that state of restlessness, people naturally revert to some state of chaos. Hence, I say it’s important when doing external work on the state of the world. They must also be focused on correcting the internal state of the individual. This is sometimes more complex than changing outside. That's because our character traits and beliefs become more ingrained in us than our attachment to external things. Changing those states is slower and feels like it is an attack on us. Attack on who we are or who we have become. It gets even more difficult if that’s all you have been for much of your life. It's also tough if the memories and stories of your grandparents, mother, and father occupy the same state.
Changes to this state require the long-term moulding of our belief system and traits. In most cases, we may need to develop a new skillset to adapt to the new reality. Art and media are valuable resources to emphasis and amplify these changes for reorientation. What we see frequently enough often starts to become engrained in us. The western world is a fitting example. They use film as a vessel to get their message across in mass. This has aided in putting them in a certain position on a global scale. I am not going to comment on whether that image is correct or not, but it created significant influence. Communities can use a similar approach to educate and enhance the value of their citizens for the newly established state of peace. Chapters that delve deeper into this topic and help design a reformed citizen are Memory and Imagination and Compartment of Identity.