Random thoughts
As a student studying “customer-relations” I was taught that human beings are the most complex creatures. While attempting to study that phrase or today while trying to teach the same to my students I often wonder if I have ever really understood the depth in that simple phrase. Like someone said it is extremely easy to understand mankind, just split it up into two words “mank” and “ind” the problems lies in the fact that no one has been able to understand the parts that make up mankind. I have often wondered if I have understood myself. The answer is no, there are several instances in my life when I have believed that what I believe in, is not correct. I have felt that what I am planning to do or doing or have done are not really what I want to or wanted to. This review is just another example…I just did it.
I started wondering about this topic after a review by a member on this site sparked off a minor debate in its comments section. Reading ahead you will find that this write up is full of original ideas and thoughts (original as in when they were originally thought about by some original originally thinking person).
Pieces of peace?
Coming to this write up, I guess the topic in itself is a biased one; Biased to the extent that it does not create a balanced view of the issue. It is a topic that stems out of our own (as in yours and mine) guilt. Why else would some one ask a question that is “loaded” like the one in this topic? Can there be peace in a world of sudden terror?? Well the answer is obvious and it is No. But then that’s not my problem; my problem is still with the question. And I will put it down in the form of another question… Has there been peace in this World at any given point I in time … and without much pondering, my own assessment is that “No” at least not since mankind (mank + ind) came into existence in the form as we know of them today.
Who would you blame for the present conditions in the World? Now that depends on which part of the world you are in. Some of us say CEO of Al Qaida Mr. Bin Laden, some others say it is not just him but also the Supremo of Iraq Mr. Saddam Hussain, few others would point fingers to Mr. Yasser Arafat, Mr. Simone Perez and the likes. Back home in India we blame everything on the evil designs of the “legitimate” dictator (now isn’t that a paradox) Mr. Musharaff and his ISI, not to mention a bunch of free thinking and bold minds who would blame it on the big brother attitude of the Americans. Plausible as each of them sound I just have one question was this world a peaceful place before these people stepped in and made it hell for you and me?
The review that sparked of this one, talked about a time and era where science had not taken over the world. It talked about meadows, clean air, nature and innocence. I beg to differ. All those elements paint a very peaceful picture indeed, but wait just add in a few men (and women too) you will soon find the peace is lost. Wherever man has set his foot he has brought in with him a few inherent qualities. Love, hatred, affection, beliefs, values, mindsets, likes, dislikes, jealousy, and enthusiasm to list a few. Each of these elements, bring in conflict and where there is conflict, there usually isn’t peace.
Peace is a very relative term. It’s got various connotations. It’s interpreted differently by different people, why it’s interpreted differently by the same person in different times. For example for a person living in the calm and quiet of a small sleepy town the knowledge that an enemy state may attack say month from now is something that will affect his peace. For that matter an event like 9 11 is something that we all saw as a threat to our peace. Consider a family that is living in the border villages of Kashmir, a day without bombing for them is a day of peace. A soldier on the battlefront finds an hour without shelling very peaceful. My friends in Army tell me one month they get to stay with their wife and family is the most peaceful time in the year. I also know of friends who stay with their family all year who feel that the time they get to spend away from their wife is the most peaceful. I guess the point is made.
Who is to be blamed?
Science and religion are equally blamed for the lack of peace in today’s World. I read about some great minds who say that nuclear bombs are the greatest threats to world peace. I call them great minds as that is exactly what they are ….just minds. I simply cannot understand as to why people blame science for human frailties. A nuclear bomb did not motivate the Moguls to invade India, it did not trigger of the original religious crusade (not the one that Mr. Bush recently declared), it was not the basis for the Queen of Britain to dream of an empire where the sun would never set… agreed the some of these conflicts were caused and won on military power. But since time immemorial man has been in conflict with one another… even before weapons were invented.
Religion I agree has played its part. Not just by creating fanatics but also by promising heaven. Sometimes religion lays down very hard standards to adhere to. It talks of an ideal lifestyle, which I am sure is mostly impractical. When you break a rule you are filled in with guilt, remorse and what not. Your mind is a constant state of flux. You try that much harder to please the Lord. You fail even badly. When that happens there is no scope for peace. Religion should not be reduced to a rule book. It’s just a reference point in my opinion. Belief in God should not be something that takes your belief in yourself or for that matter in your fellow beings.
I am the culprit
I hate peace. I hate order. I am often guilty of wanting things to go wrong. So that I can set it right and hog the limelight. I want tragedies to happen so that I express my concern or sorrow, thereby placate myself as someone very considerate; I want people to ask me for help, I want attention. I hate to admit it; I feel I have gotten closer to God if I throw a rupee into the beggars bowl. If I help a blind cross the road… what would I have done if there were no beggars? No Blinds??? A bunch of self-pleasing people interested in commotion and steeped in it can never have peace amongst themselves.
We are constantly looking at the wrong place for most things and that includes peace. There is no point in looking out into the world for peace. There can never be peace in the world as such. Not with millions and millions of thought process’, viewpoints, aspirations and ambitions… But one thing is certainly possible… you can be at peace with yourself. Realize what you are and what you are worth. Just be happy, contended and proud of yourself. Probably if you are at peace with yourself you have done yourself a world of good (that was attempt at trying to have a positive sentence with both “World” and “Peace” in it).
Help!!! Comments required