I saw the purpose of our participation in two simple ways. First, it was going to provide JCTR with an opportunity to strengthen its linkages with other social and justice centres. Second, we would know and learn from the experiences of other centres. However, at the end of the workshop, I walked out with a different feeling.
No matter where we are, we all need peace in order for us to enjoy life on this earth.
This workshop was much more than I initially thought. In my view, reflections on war, violence and conflict raise key issues on the situation of peace in the world today. No matter where we are, we all need peace in order for us to enjoy life on this earth. Using this as my entry point, I share with you some of the main feelings I walked out with from Santa Severa on 17th September 2005.
FACING AND UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US
I was amazed by the realisation that even though so many studies and reports have been written about conflict and violence, little time has been dedicated to understanding and acknowledging the impact of these issues on life from a spiritual dimension. This has also shaped the manner in which we have responded to the challenge. To face and understand this challenge, we need much more than analytical reflections. To face and to understand the challenge of violence and building peace is actually a search, which has no time limit but requires personal, community, national, regional and global contributions.
Violence is characterised by various intertwined factors that range from religious differences, competition for natural resources, ethnicity differences to governance problems.
It is a Search that I see in the following six ways:
SEARCH FOR THE CORRECT ANSWER
It was shocking to know that the current violence in this world cannot be easily analysed in terms of enmity between two parties. Violence is characterised by various intertwined factors that range from religious differences, competition for natural resources, ethnicity differences to governance problems. Therefore, there is no one clear-cut solution to conflict situations. It is important to identify the inter-relationship amongst the various factors at play in a particular situation.
SEARCH FOR FORGIVENESS, RECONCILIATION AND JUSTICE
I was really challenged by the realisation that one way of building real peace is through forgiveness, reconciliation and justice. I kept asking myself these questions: “Would I be ready to forgive and reconcile if I were one of victims of violence?” “How does it feel to be identified as a perpetrator?” Then I also realised that both “victims” and “perpetrators” are people just like me. They come from families and communities just like me. I also ask this question: “What is the balance between forgiveness and justice?” In my view these questions do not have easy answers. However, I am encouraged to learn about some initiatives that have promoted these values such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.
I think that the greatest challenge we face is how to ensure that peace is attained through “peaceful” means.
SEARCH FOR PEACE
I learned that it is not easy to separate violence and peace. “Violence” is or can be used to justify means of attaining “peace.” I think that the greatest challenge we face is how to ensure that peace is attained through “peaceful” means. This can be difficult especially in the world with different religious and cultural beliefs, varying economic and social development ambitions. What “peace” is to me could be “violence” to another person. It was also interesting to learn that peace can be classified in specific categories such as negative peace, which means mere absence of war!
SEARCH FOR BETTER LIFE
It is true that the growing disparity between the rich and the poor is also a major impediment to peace in the world today. The rich are pressurised to find effective means of protecting themselves while the poor continue to search for all possible ways of changing their ways of living. This has often resulted into various types of conflict. Therefore, it is important for every person to feel and see the need to equitably share the benefits of this world.
SEARCH FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
Today, it is very clear that we need to improve our standards of economic, financial and political governance. Poor governance systems at all levels of society, namely family, community, national, regional or international levels, have greatly contributed to creating tension amongst people. The systems have been used to determine who and how one will have access to power, authority and resources. Therefore, it is important that all of us join in the struggle for more participatory, accountable and transparent governance systems of society.
The rich are pressurised to find effective means of protecting themselves while the poor continue to search for all possible ways of changing their ways of living.
SEARCH FOR THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH
The key questions are “What is the best role of the Church in situations of conflict?” “What is the position of the Church on war, violence and conflict?” It was difficult to come up with clear and justifiable answers to these questions. It was amazing to learn of the different roles that the church has played in conflicts.
One clearly sees a mixture of positive and negative roles. Of course the Church’s role in mediation, care giving and peace building must be supported. At the same time, it is important for the Church to continue searching for the clear positions on issues of war, violence and conflict.
What is the best role of the Church in situations of conflict? What is the position of the Church on war, violence and conflict?
CONCLUSION
I believe that the Jesuit Social Apostolate Secretariat has taken a very bold step of opening dialogue and search for better ways of enhancing peace in the world today. I am also very impressed how the participants strongly emphasised the importance of spiritual meditation and inter-religious dialogue on war, conflict and violence. It was also felt that the Church needed to strengthen its role of promoting justice and peace. It is my sincere hope that all of us who treasure peace will take this opportunity to contribute to make this a better world to live in today.
Charity Musamba,
JCTR Staff
Lusaka
