It is enough to switch on the T.V. to see countless images and stories of violence perpetrated on innocent and not so innocent victims – the packaging-tape wrapped heads of dead so-called drug pushers, innocent children and bystanders killed by stray bullets in buy-bust operations, victims of the countless terrorist bombings, not to mention the “normalized” violence of trolls on the internet, unscrupulously and falsely assassinating the character and good name of innocent people.
Ours are extremely violent times with a government that actively promotes the Culture of Death rather than the Culture of Life. Pope Francis’ Annual World Day of Peace Message: “Non-violence – A Style of Politics for Peace” is thus very timely and a very welcome source of hope and guidance in the present world situation.
Pope Francis in his message reiterates that we need an “active nonviolence as our way of life.” He pleads, “I ask God to help all of us to cultivate nonviolence in our most personal thoughts and values,” and “may charity and nonviolence govern how we treat each other as individuals, within society and in international life”. He exhorts, “in the most local and ordinary situations and in the international order, that nonviolence become the hallmark of our decisions, our relationships and our actions, and indeed of political life in all its forms.”
The revival of the death penalty is looming ahead in Congress and “little wars” with insurgents in Mindanao are still on-going affecting thousands of families. Poverty has a tight grip on the lives of many of our people leading to many injustices and abuses like domestic violence, human trafficking, violence against women and children, and the oppression of our Filipino workers both here and abroad.
We can understand why our church leaders and even political personalities cannot give up the fight against extrajudicial killings or the death penalty as these are contrary to the paradigm of peace and active nonviolence. Pope Francis continues, “This is also a program and a challenge for political and religious leaders, the heads of international institutions, and business and media executives… It is a challenge to build up society, communities and businesses by acting as peacemakers. It is to show mercy by refusing to discard people, harm the environment, or seek to win at any cost.
To act in this way means to choose solidarity as a way of making history and building friendship in society. Active nonviolence is a way of showing that unity is truly more powerful and more fruitful than conflict. Mahatma Gandhi said: “If you want to change the world, start with the children.” It is therefore imperative that education to peace and non-violence begin with the children – in their family, in school.
Hopefully more of our economic, religious and political leaders will adhere to such a paradigm for such a model as proven by history, has brought out the best in humanity, and has indeed contributed to peace and stability in the world
