When you stop and think about it, war is, at its root, an interpersonal problem. Consider it. Wars start because a couple of people – leaders – were unable to resolve their differences peacefully.
This gives us a very different perception of war, doesn’t it? Rather than thinking of war as some inevitable clash between powers, it lays bare the fact that if people in leadership would simply slow down and take more time to resolve differences amicably, then wars could quickly become a thing of the past.
Wars always end in negotiations. So why not just skip the killing and bloodshed and go straight to negotiations? This is how we create a world of peace: We teach our leaders that we want peaceful resolutions to conflict. We make them work their shit out.
Wherever there are people, it seems, there will always be conflict. Still, conflict can be resolved through sitting down and talking until resolution is achieved. The results might be different than if armed battle occurred before the talking, but maybe not by much.
For example, after World War II, national boundaries returned pretty much right back to the way they were before the war. Russia is at war with Ukraine now, but after the war is over – after however many years – the international community with see to it that Russia returns Ukraine’s territory back to them. And how many more lives must be taken before that happens?
It’s time that citizens start to speak up more loudly that we want an end to armed conflict. We need to tell our leaders that the time has come to negotiate peaceful resolutions to problems rather than constant war and death.
It’s going to take a body like the UN working to draft a Universal Declaration of Peace and then setting up a neutral location for nations to negotiate peace in order for this change to happen.
It probably sounds like science fiction, but it just might be achievable in our lifetimes. The world is changing rapidly. Communication is better than ever. With the proper political will, lasting peace can and will be achieved. We just have to want it badly enough to prioritize peace over war.
All the best,
Matthew Vasko
Founder, Century of Compassion
Photo Credit: VectorStock
Century of Compassion 