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On the Front Line with the World’s Great Peacemakers <www.auralady.com>
The book is the journey of one man into the hearts and minds of some of the most powerfully affective peace activists in the world. He interviewed people who rose to the call for peace on the planet, and did what they could in their own region of the world, and in their own unique style. Each interview is preceded by an excellent education on the region’s background of angry conflict and war. I learned much more than the everyday media presented about each of these regions. And, I have to admit, I felt a little bit of shame at the way my beloved country has handled and spurred on some of the conflicts. For example: The United States supported terrorist operations in Central America, all in the name of protecting its "interests" during several presidencies. Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, one of the peacemakers, knew that only radical change would bring about peace in Central America. He was instrumental in actually de-militarizing his entire country at a time when other leaders thought that was beyond foolish. His vision was to not only bring peace to his country, but to set an example for the world: "As Costa Ricans, we hope to present our nation as an example of the type of steps that human societies can take in creating a new culture of peace. In our country, we do not believe that acts such as abolishing armies are utopian or ridiculous. It is the horrific levels of world military spending that are ridiculous, especially in light of the tremendous human needs that exist." Other peacemakers were examples of peace within themselves, even as millions of their countrymen and women were exterminated by cruel regimes. The path to rebuilding Cambodia seems to be lit by the inner light of one such man: Maha Ghosananda has been dubbed the Gandhi of Cambodia. The Buddhist monk was trained in meditation and Buddhist traditions in a Thailand monastery while war and atrocities raged in his country. With the exception of an older sister, his entire family was killed during Pol Pot’s reign. When he returned to his country, he established healing centers and was instrumental in restoring order to many villages and sacred sites. His secret? The power of compassion and a sparkling presence that had the author laughing and smiling through most of the interview. The rebuilding of the country has been a slow process that would test the patience of most, but patience is also a virtue that a few of us could take to heart as we step towards peace a day at a time. In Ghosananda’s words, there is a ripple effect: "Human rights begin when each man becomes a brother and each woman becomes a sister, when we honestly care for each other. Then the Cambodians will help the Jews, and Jews will help Africans, and the Africans will help others. We will all become servants for each other’s rights…." All of the peacemakers in the book exemplified ideals that moved against the current stream of consciousness in their region, if not the region of Planet Earth. Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian peacemaker speaks of the "joy yet to come," even as she lives among intensifying violence. Jane Goodall sees hope for the future in our being fed up with the materialistic lifestyle: "It is clear we have to change; that isn’t impossible!" The weaving of history and personal story made the book hard to put down at times, and at other times I wanted to put the book down in exasperation. "Where is this all going?" I’d wonder. Then I would read another peacemaker’s inspired, compassionate words, challenging me to read further and do further in my life towards a world without war. From the Dalai Llama: "I believe it is better, it is far better, to believe that basic human nature is positive. That way we will develop more optimism. This is better than being off in a corner with pessimism, being isolated. I don’t think that’s happy at all." And neither do I. |
I was so looking
forward to retreating to a peaceful space at home to read this
book after I picked it up. I knew the stories in this book would
be compelling. What I didn’t know was how the inspiring
stories of peacemakers would both give me great hope for our
planet’s future, and keep my heart in painful yearning:
we still have a long way to go.