AT THIS time of year, it is to be hoped that the message of peace is resonating in every heart, in accordance with the reason for the season the birth of the Prince of Peace. Peace, it has been said, is not the absence of conflict but the management thereof. If we accept that definition, then we, people of every race, colour, class and creed, around the world today, need to invest more towards the attainment of that ideal.
The reality, however, is that behind the glow of the Christmas lights, the carols telling of love and joy, the blessing of family gatherings, the bounty of food, fellowship and friends and the exchange of gifts, lurks the shadow of war. The shadow comes in many guises from domestic dislocation to combat in the battlefield. Even as we speak, today, in distant lands (Iraq is foremost in our minds), contending forces are seeking to annihilate each other in the name of peace but warfare does not always produce peace.
However, it is romanticised and glorified, war is an ugly business bringing with it results not always in consonance with the motives of those who initiated the offensive in the first place. It seems that it is becoming harder to escape. No matter where we live, the shadow of the conflict touches us. Who would have imagined that Jamaicans would be among the dead in the current battle for 'hearts and minds' in far-away Iraq?
On the homefront, we have our own battlefield, littered with the wreckage from the violence unleashed on the community by those who have lost all respect for life. Despite the peace marches, despite the prayers and the pleadings, the lawless continue to hold us hostage, setting a record of violent death which shames the very face of the entire nation. It is indicative of the strength of the human spirit that despite this, our people continue to function and engage in the quest for peace and prosperity. We recognise that we will never have a society which is devoid of conflict and challenges. It is the very nature of life that the rough comes with the smooth, the pain with the joy. Indeed, that is the essence of the Christmas story, for the Babe in the Manger will be replaced all too soon by the Man on the Cross.
For those whose faith reinforces that belief, there is comfort in the knowledge that the road leads on to another destination of hope. As we celebrate Christmas tomorrow, as family and friends assemble and the age-old greetings of joy are exchanged, we know that there are many potholes on the road to peace. We are aware that we will have to find a way to stem the tide of deviance which is bringing this nation so much shame and pain. We have to awaken in each other the urgency to conduct our daily relationships with greater civility and mutual respect, so that we can have a truly kinder, gentler nation.
We have to give our children the gift of wise counsel, sharing with them the proven values of decency and integrity which can nurture them into fulfilling adulthood. Above all, we have to give to each other the gift of peace, a peace built on justice, respect and love. It is in that spirit today, that we join with voices everywhere, in sending the ultimate greeting of Christmas: "Peace on earth, goodwill to all."
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
