Making War Never Makes Peace, It Makes War
- © Michele Toomey, PhD • March 22, 2004

It is frightening to me to see the level of violence and hatred that permeates our world today. I understand the need to protect and defend ourselves, but I cannot begin to fathom the desire to conquer or annihilate others. Hating someone we fear is also something I can't really comprehend. There is no way that killing and maiming is going to lead to anything but more killing and maiming. Fear is always in that cycle of hate.

I would wish that the United States would take the lead in organizing and funding peacekeeping activities. CBS Sunday Morning had a presentation on "Children Playing for Peace."It was so uplifting. An Irish American basketball player who didn't get picked up in the NBA draft, went to Northern Ireland to play basketball and ended up teaching and coaching children of both religions how to play basketball together. Girls and boys, Protestants and Catholics, learned a team sport and learned about themselves and each other. It showed the fun they had together and the friendships it fostered. He has now gone to South Africa and wants to go to the Middle East next, using a team sport to let children discover there is no need to fear or hate each other.

With creativity and funding, there are unlimited ideas that could be tapped for potential opportunities to educate and integrate those who are taught to fear and hate for no reason other than different beliefs or different races. We are currently trying to stop hatred by using force. Since when did anyone ever believe that we can force someone to stop hating and fearing. What ever happened to the old adage, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink."

War does not make for better understanding and it certainly doesn't stop fear or hate. We are only perpetuating the very myths we are fighting to destroy. I encourage all of us who want this senseless fighting and terrorism to stop, to write our congress folk and demand that they divide the resources of war between war and peace. Challenge them to create peace strategies to balance the war strategies, to invite our youth to engage in promoting peaceful activites not just enlisting in the military service. Oh, that's right. We already have a Peace Corps. Then let's sharpen its mission to combatting terrorism and hate through Peace Corps activities. Let's do campaigns to encourage enlistment in the Peace Corps the way the military is recruiting on high school and college campuses for the armed services. Fund the Peace Corps and give it a 21st century mission in the face of this war of and on terrorism.

"An eye for an eye" has only led to blinded enemies, and we know that all too well. If retaliation could bring an end to hatred and violence, Israel would have led the way, but it hasn't. If anything, Israel is a tragic example of the failure of violent retaliation to bring forth anything but more violence and retaliation. That cycle never ends. "You can't get there from here."

Let's unite behind a parallel effort to join, teach, offer aide, play sports and make music together while the warriors engage in their war games. Peace is a by product of respectful understanding, fairness, and appreciation of each other. It can't follow as a by product until we lead in that direction. Let's not settle for war, let's lead for peace.