International Day Of Peace: Is The World Really Hopeless? 

I never had faith in world peace and humanity (that was until I wrote this blog). Conversely, I assumed that peace would remain a figment of the imagination.

Celebrating International Peace Day made no sense in the light of homicide, multi-million-dollar scams, abused children and youth, human trafficking, animal extinction, and extreme poverty.

I still remember the day I read about “Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban”. By the way, I also did not overlook the COVID Pandemic. Every day, lives were lost, leaving families to mourn the loss of loved ones.

Racism, xenophobia, and other forms of racism and intolerance exist in all societies. Racism not only affects the lives of those who are subjected to it but also society. In either case, racism has negative effects on our society.

However, here I am, writing a blog in honor of the International Day of Peace. What could we possibly do? Point a finger at others? I sighed and scrolled through another Instagram reel. But the voices in my head didn’t stop.

“In a society marked by systemic racism, disunity, hatred, and hostility, we all lose. It’s just that not everyone can save the day, and the lessons we learn don’t always make us better people. Moreover, some people are simply unlucky to be born in a third- or fourth-world country.”

My thoughts haunted me. After finishing a draft, I crawled up in my bed and thought about all the terrors in this world; I didn’t get a good night’s sleep.

The next day…

The next day, I studied for almost 4 hours, reading many sayings from the world’s greatest minds. Then I concluded that,

Are you now saying that the world is improving? Of course, yes.

How could you say that amidst all the terrors? Well, um… Let me tell you something.

Have you ever had a sinking feeling in your stomach while consuming the news? It chills me down the spine every single time. I’m not dramatic.

Every day, the mainstream media bombards us with doom and gloom. The absolute worst. When you get a lot of bad news all at once, it can feel like the end of the world. However, it is critical to maintain a balanced perspective. The consequences of bad news are bad in and of themselves. As a result, people who consume a lot of news can become mis-calibrated. They are more concerned about crime, even though it is decreasing.

Here are some good things that have happened in the past few decades.

In 21 years, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty fell to 58%. More than half of the world! Electricity, education, and healthcare are all easily accessible to us. And our loved ones no longer perish in wars. In sum, it’s not as worse as we thought it’d be.

There’s also the noble sacrifice. Soldiers go on suicide missions hoping to benefit the larger cause.

World peace, terrors and misunderstandings

Some argue that humans are animals and that animals are not naturally peaceful. Human nature is barbaric, and we can’t go against mankind’s nature. Although, there is a thin line between the two. Humanity’s very nature is to go against its nature. Even without wings, we invented airplanes and flew. (Inner voice: Though we also invented atomic bombs!)

There are no strategies for achieving global peace

You heard me. There are no strategies for achieving global peace. We cannot claim that implementing a specific government system or technology will cause world peace. However, there is a cause-and-effect chain. Every person’s value (heart and mind) is the primary reason for world peace. Each individual bears responsibility for world peace; leaders bear sole responsibility.

Is global peace feasible? It is feasible! But how?

I could have told you if I knew the answer. Everyone else could have told. From Erasmus of Rotterdam (the greatest philosopher of peace) to Chinese philosophers. Top entrepreneurs without-of-the-box ideas. But guess what? At least, there are thousands of activists striving for a better world. Indeed, the situation is improving in terms of peace.

What does world peace mean to me?

World peace requires equality, adequate resources to live a dignified life, adequate education and healthcare, and adequate freedom. Moreover, peace cannot be achieved if people are hungry and unemployed. Global peace starts on an individual level, as quoted by Confucius.

What is your role in global peace?

You have the power to make a significant difference in world peace. Yes. You, indeed!

There is no need for enormous sums of money or a high level of authority. Do you want to make a change? In the first place, you need to believe that anything is possible. All you have to do is believe in humanity and persuade others to believe in it as well. Isn’t that crazy?

Assist people in changing their perspectives. So, if you want to see genuine change, you must persevere and educate humanity. See the world through the eyes of common interests of the heart, and people will change with you. Set a good example. Be kind and compassionate. This is how humanity will progress and improve. And so this is how you can make a difference in the world.–An extract from “Rise Up and Salute the Sun by Suzy Kassem”.

“End Racism. Build Peace.” This year’s theme.

Everyone must be involved in the battle against racism. We all have a role to play in creating a world free of terrors. When you witness an injustice, speak up. Besides, he who permits oppression is equally guilty of the crime.

Be the reason people still have faith in humanity. Be a light that brings happiness to those who have been wandering in the dark for so long. Everyone must maintain a positive outlook. We live in a world full of both pain and joy. Both are equal realities. Though it is a sin to devote all of your attention to suffering while completely ignoring joy. Remember, it was never about victory. It was all about the fight.

Celebrating International Day of Peace matters.

We will observe the International Day of Peace at the United Nations Headquarters on September 16, 2022. The program will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the traditional Peace Bell Ceremony in the Peace Garden. At that event, the Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly will ring the Peace Bell.

Ringing the bell twice a year is a tradition: on the first day of spring, and on September 21 to honor the International Day of Peace. The International Day of Peace serves as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together. Peace. With this in mind, let’s give it a shot!

To readers who have made it this far, I present you with an anime-inspired dialogue,

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