This may seem like an easy question to answer. However, we often take actions that are counter-productive to living in peace. For example, we know that mass/public transit is a better method than everyone owning a car. Yet the perception of public/mass transit carries a degree of shame.
Each of us wants to protect ourselves from harm yet we are
willing to give information freely for the sake of convenience as we stay
connected to the internet. We are spending more money on security because of
the want of convenience as this want destroys peace. The programs of social
media platforms have been designed to encourage content. That content is filled
with hateful rants and shallow lifestyle advertising. We know this and yet as a
society we are not willing to curtail ourselves away from what we know is
destroying us because to an individual there is no way anyone is going to tell me
what to do.
There are great arguments about what the “government” is
doing to our lives, yet a democracy is rooted in the people being informed,
being engaged, being respectful and being willing to work at finding solutions together.
Often, we get people who only vote and think that is enough. Again, it is not convenient
for us to be that involved because there are shows on streaming services to
watch, sports, vacations, jobs, families, healthcare, and community partnership
volunteering. Because of all the pressures people feel, the decision process that
is crucial to a democracy is left to erode. The speed of peace relies on each
of us to take greater responsibility to be correctly informed. Peace relies
upon each of us to engage in public dialogue with respect as changes are made
to improve society. This is the situation we are in and if society decays, the
tasks of peace become greater.
As people begin to feel constrained for whatever reason they
will need to vent. How that is done is an important component of peace. What is
funny is that it is rare for a persons to say they suck at communication. Often
people say they are good at it. If that were true we would not be in the mess
we are. What this indicates is that we are lying to ourselves every day and
that is very harmful to peace. How can we say we are in control of ourselves
when we can not even speak truth to our own selves. We built a society that
wants cheap products, quick service, and no one responsible for our collective
actions. That is a recipe for disaster.
It has taken thousands of years to get where we are today. It
will take a few more years to improve peace. But it will hinge on each of us to
be responsible, respectful, patient, caring and willing to work harder at
peace. At your speed, the world will have peace.
