World Peace Is About People With Different Lives Getting Along

by C. E. Moné

[One of our readers responded to the previous HOPE editorial, and we’d like to share it with you.]

From last week’s Naiman piece, which can be found by clicking here: “So, if you happen to run into any American who claims to support the open-ended war and occupation of Afghanistan, or a US/Israeli attack on Iran, or any other demand to bomb, invade, or occupy someone else's country based on "humanitarian" motivations, ask them to say this sentence: "Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died as a result of the US invasion and occupation of their country." If they can't say this sentence, you can safely ignore anything else they have to say.” Robert Naiman, previous HOPE newsletter editorial.

I think Robert Naiman is wrong. It is poor policy, in general, to ignore anyone who does not agree with one politically. It is far more instructive and helpful to the planet to pay close attention, to explore their beliefs, to find out why they think as they do and find out what they think about one’s own beliefs, and why they disagree. What is their proposed solution to world problems? This produces civilized discourse. We also find areas in which we share beliefs, and so are more apt to support one another when the need arises.

When the power is out and the big tree has just fallen over your road, do you really want your neighbors to be pissed at you because they refused to pronounce "Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died as a result of the US invasion and occupation of their country." to your satisfaction? C’mon.

Some people are brought up to believe that one has to hurt other people to gain whatever is personally desired, that God rewards those who kick ass and the dead people are the result of their own misdeeds, or maybe it is all predestined. Aren’t these interesting roads to explore? One does not need to negate other people’s belief systems to find areas in common. And the areas in common are our shared humanity.

Okay—I vilify you, you vilify the Iraqi people—what is the difference? At this point in the world, extending loving kindness to people who may not agree with us is the road to the common understanding that will curb continued escalation of insanity, particularly the group insanity named war. Numbers are unimportant. I think the first Iraqi killed as the result of this endless, insane war was one too many. One futile death is more than enough, and that goes for the young soldier sent to invade also.

So, if this is the “HOPE” newsletter, let’s start with some hope. Let’s not be so convinced that facts and numbers will change other people’s views. Extending a loving and understand hand, however, and articulating differences in a polite and respectful way, might. So let's build peace from the ground up. It doesn't start with rabid attachment to a "correct" viewpoint. Our life experiences form our viewpoints, and we can be instrumental in changing other's life experiences.