What is Peace?
IN SEARCH OF PEACE
By Monica Benderman
There have been protests, rallies, concerts, camps, and mobilizations. There have been marches from East to West and North to South. There have been candlelight vigils, world-wide conferences, fasts, arrests, intrusions, interruptions, standoffs, Congressional Debates, Congressional Briefs. There is a Peace Movement, a Peace Academy, a Peace Coalition, an Institute for Peace, Voters for Peace, a Peace Party, Declarations of Peace and a Prayer for Peace. There have been wars.
All of this has been in search of Peace.
Does anyone know what we are looking for?
WHAT is Peace?
Is Peace quiet, or loud?
Is Peace black, white, red, brown or blue?
Is Peace of community, or is it solitary?
Does Peace come in the written word or is it shouted from the rooftops?
Can Peace be held?
Do we dream Peace?
Is Peace made, or bought, or sold?
Can Peace be taught?
Can Peace be regulated?
Is Peace available on demand?
Can Peace be given to others?
Is Peace quality or quantity?
Is Peace uniform?
If our mind is “under the influence” can we see Peace when it’s with us?
Does Peace have requirements?
Does Peace have needs?
Is Peace Democratic, Socialist, Communist?
Is Anarchy Peace?
Does Peace require order and discipline?
Is Peace free?
When we get to Peace, how will we know we are there?
Will we all think alike?
Will we never disagree?
Must we all sound the same?
Will we all know equally, and if we do, how will we know it?
Will we lose our need to question, to wonder, to hope, to learn?
Will we lose our desire to achieve?
Will we die?
Will we cry?
If we can look another in the eye and see ourselves staring back, is it Peace?
How do I know that your peace is my peace?
How do you know that my peace is yours?
If I believe in a different dream and you tell me I’m wrong, is it Peace?
If I speak a different language and you ignore me and say you cannot understand, is it Peace?
If I practice a different religion and you run from me as if from an infidel, is it Peace?
If I love in a manner you cannot recognize and you say I do not know how to feel, is it Peace?
If the voice in my heart speaks to me in words you cannot hear and you say I am not good, is it Peace?
Because you stand on a platform with a microphone in hand and demand that I follow you as you lead me to Peace, how can I trust that I will get there?
What is Peace?
Copyright 2006 The Benderman Foundation
