Giving Peace A Chance

Peace is more than just a perspective or a preference. It should be mandatory for everyone and every nation. How can we achieve peace? a difficult query to respond to. That is why dwelling on or responding to this query must lead us somewhere. Without peace, our planet turns into an unlivable place. In the present context, it is really necessary for every one of us to understand the value of peace and ways to accomplish it. The progress of peace has been hindered by various means, especially ideologies that should be understood in order to solve the issue that challenges peace.

The concept of peace is as old as humanity, as is the concept of war. The scholars like Richmond, Harrison, and Richmond opine that despite the fact that history has mostly been peaceful, there are a lot of pictures that show violence, damage, and death. Peace is possible in the absence of war and conflict. But how can conflict and war not be possible in the presence of various ideologies? The French philosopher Destut de Tracy is credited with coining the term "ideology" in 1796. The connotation he gave to the phrase was quite different from what it signifies in present-day usage. From this perspective, he began teaching a new branch of knowledge or science called "thought logic."

Ideology

Nowadays, ideology is a more or less cohesive collection of ideas that serve as the foundation for organised political activities, whether they are meant to sustain or modify the present system of power relations. For instance, the systems of conviction are: capitalism, communism, Marxism, patriotism, feminism, existentialism, humanism, astronomy, and this list continues on and on. Each form of notion that encourages thought eventually becomes an ideology. That is linked to ideology; we tend to attract and repel others. Hence, not all ideologies are productive.

 Certain ideas divide people and occasionally end in a war or strife. Hannah Ardent (a philosopher) regards ideology as a power that may impact and has the ability to transform the world. So here comes a question: Can peace persist when the world is filled with multiple ideologies, mainly when one ideology is the outcome of one thesis and functions largely in the form of an anti-thesis? The route to peace is impeded by numerous sets of ideas catered to by people in power. Yet, a distinguished researcher from Dhaka University, Kazi Sameeo Sheesh, admits that peace is power, not vice versa. Conversely, peace should only counter war.

Mohammad Akmal Shareef (a researcher and writer) strongly thinks that peace cannot be attained in isolation. He acknowledges that there is always a conflict between ideas and reality. Nonetheless, the beauty of varied occurrences coupled with the communal acceptance of humanitarian objectives should be reiterated to sustain peace. 

Peace is not a goal to be accomplished; rather, peace is always in process for certain scholars. In reference to creating peace, Professor Anisuzzaman opines that even if it appears unreachable at the time, we should not give up on attempting to accomplish it. Additionally, peace is a main instrument for sustainable development, and as the world is attempting to practise sustainable development, eventually peace can be realised.

In addition to that, Radia Tamim from Bangladesh says that prenatal education is crucial for prevailing peace. The notion of harmony and tranquilly is genetically transmitted. Everyone is conceived as a foetus in the womb of a mother. Additionally, if birth rates improve, then mankind will steadily improve.

Sheesh opines that education can fix all the issues, like war. He primarily feels peace education has a conceptual capacity to stop the conflict, even if there is no actual proof. Hence, he proposes that we should be positive about education, which will help mankind overcome issues like strife and bloodshed.

Peace In Community

Mohammad Abdus Sabur, general secretary of the Institute of International Peace and Conflict, feels that youth may assist promote peace. There are several forums and organisations, such as international groups like SAARC and ASEAN, that facilitate and energise youths to contribute to the area of peace. Nonetheless, he regrets the reality that these organisations have grown less successful over time. Rather than concentrating on the causes of conflict and war, finding a resolution for community peace is far more crucial.

In conclusion, peace should not be overlooked as it is a vital phenomenon for establishing a living place for everyone,   regardless of their religious system. Warfare and conflict are mutually exclusive phenomena. This is a known equation. But, despite a profound concern for mankind, peace should not be disregarded. Peace should be a priority, and no stone should be left unturned to protect it, albeit right now instantaneous peace appears unlikely. 

According to common belief, known as the Law of Attraction, our subconscious will push our conscious mind to reach our objectives more as we utilise our imagination to concentrate on them. As a result, I feel that if we all focus on peace, we may be able to fight back against inclinations that may lead to violence.

(The author is an academician associated with a Kathmandu-based college)