Sup,
Here’s an article that was written by me on September 9, 2018. It was for a purpose, but never got used, I think. I can totally see why. Enjoy!
Peace is a choice. It is a deliberate state of harmony and serenity. It is deliberate because, by nature, the human is not peaceful. Peace is also an emotion. In fact, I have only begun to discern the concept of peace in its many forms. From my understanding, the concept of peace can be beamed in two directions; internally and externally.
I used to know peace only as the harmonious existence amongst humans. So, if I had heard, “peace be unto you”, I would have simply assumed that to be a declaration of concord among two or more people. “No fights, no arguments, love amongst countries, races, and tribes”; it never really went beyond that. I never really thought about it. So, if I ever heard of wars being fought amongst counties, or maybe the ridiculous mini-battles animatedly enacted by a couple who live down the street, I would have only wondered “why” and probably shook my head while frowning. I didn’t realise that human nature was only prevailing. Nevertheless, human nature is never an excuse because there is always the choice of accord. The entitlement of ‘punishing’ offenders by whatever standard set by the ‘offended’ is the twisted way wars and oppressions work.
Along the line, I found out about another kind of peace; internal peace. An African proverb, which I have come to love, says “when there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do no harm”. I’ve said before that innately, the human is not peaceful. The human mind is filled with so much worry, anger, doubt, unworthiness, and negativity. I have had these feelings many times, and I used to feel I deserved them maybe because I had done something wrong in the past and I felt “this present self-loathing I feel is some kind of way life wants to pay me back”. How wrong can that be? I realise now that I chose to feel the way I felt. So, when I would have been insulted by someone, there was no way to not be affected because I already had my own demons living in me.
Amongst ourselves also, there are always countless reasons to stay angry at what someone did five year ago. There’s always a reason to be angry and bear so much hate towards the colonisers who treated our forefathers wrongly. There’s always a reason to want to beat the heck out of ‘those’ Nigerians who didn’t want our fathers to have Biafra. How about those innocent lives that were lost in the Cold War? Or those who died in the hands of Hitler? How would their blood be avenged? All these infinite reasons for “NO PEACE“!
Then, when those who seek revenge succeed, will another group of people rise for revenge against those who initially sought revenge? And another? And another? And another? And maybe one more till we all succeed in killing one another and we become extinct.
The peace we have within us reflects and affects the way we react, and that simple reaction could make or mar the entire world, save or ruin countless lives, and many more “bigger picture” instances. I chose to exclude internal and external peace ✌.
These are 500 words (or less ?)! Talk to you tomorrow!
… As a way of being accountable, I’d like to let you know that I typed and published this article on April 26. There was “no light” for two days. Yes, this is after having one day of electricity after this experience. I live in Nigeria. Your work being delayed because of “light” is a norm. Between you and me, I’d like to say that I’m deeply saddened by this causal sick norm. No one in a civilised society should live like this.