The Art of Pacifism; Tuesday, Fifth Period [ 02/01 ].
Hot chocolate and comfy pillows to sit on in the middle of the room with a teacher beaming peacefully at his students? Must be Tuesday!
"Hello, little ducklings ♥," Shunsui greeted the students with his usual warmth. "I hope you enjoyed last weeks activities ♥! If any of you felt inspired to continue your new hobby outside of class, I should love to hear about it ♥. But, today, I figured we would have a discussion, about the very fundamentals of what we are talking about ♥. We dove right in with Jainaism and Martin Luther King, Jr., which means we have yet to actually define peace. Pacifism itself is an opposition to war or violence. Is that essentially the crux of the meaning of peace? Or is there something more to it? Let's explore ♥.
"Peace can mean a great many things to a great many people, but, ultimately, it is viewed as a a society or relationship operating in harmony without any violent conflict ♥. This could mean actual physical violence, or one could argue that it extends to emotional and psychological violence as well. Some view peace as the absence of hostility; others believe it includes the healing of a previously violent or difficult relationship. And, obviously, internationally speaking, peacetime is a time without any warlike conflicts ♥. That's the easy one, the big one. But what about peace within ourselves?
"Just as everyone is different, everyone is going to have their own personal thoughts on what they expect to be truly peaceful ♥. The word itself is Anglo-Saxon in origin, meaning 'free from civil disorder.' It has been used as a greeting, especially as renderings of the Hebrew word Shalom ♥, similar to the Arabic salaam ♥, which have multiple meanings: safety, welfare, prosperity, security, fortune, friendliness ♥. Many people have considered it to encompass respect, justice, and goodwill, too ♥. Quiet also enters the picture, recalling meditation and serenity, in the search for tranquility, an absence of disturbance or agitation ♥.
"Clearly, many religions have their tenants of peace, as well. Buddists believe that peace is achieved when all suffering ends, following the Four Noble Truths: the Noble Truth of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering, and the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering ♥. Suffering comes from craving the things that make life, both good and bad, and only when one can escape these cravings can they start the path on the cessation of suffering.
"The Jewish and Christian faiths believe ultimate peace comes from a personal relationship with God ♥. Jesus Christ, the son of God, imparted to his Christian followers, 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.' It is through that connection with a higher being that they find the center...and source...of peace ♥. And when we look at Islam, one of the translations of the Arabic word is peace; it also means submission to Allah. This submission is based on humility and an attitude of humility within one's own self cannot be accomplished without total rejection of violence and attitude of alliance towards peace ♥.
"These are, of course, ideals ♥. There are great histories of violence committed in the act of religion, which would seem to go directly against the tenants mentioned in their ideals of peace ♥. If your idea of peace is linked to a connection with your god, and your connection with your god does not allow for other beliefs, is a break in the peace acceptable? Must one create war to then achieve peace, or is it all too counter-intuitive?
"Let us keep in mind that most times of peace come only after a war, where one party has completely vanquishes or conquered another. As Georges Clemenceau said, 'I don't know whether war is an interlude during peace, or peace an interlude during war.' Is a post-war peacetime true peace? Does the achievement of peace justify the warlike actions that brought it? A very, very big question, that men have been asking themselves for ages ♥.
"And what of inner peace ♥? Often, peace on the wider scale can seem overwhelming for a person, especially if they themselves are not at peace ♥. Inner peace is described as being strong in the face of trouble or stress, and is often achieved through meditation or other activities, such as the hobbies we tried last week ♥. Inner peace, one could assume, is highly individual; each person should have a different way to achieve it. But are some better than others? Is, say, one who reaches inner peace through meditation and closing out the world around them achieving a better form of inner peace, than, say, oh, I don't know, someone who may find it at the bottom of a bottle of sake, hmmm ♥?
"A few words from those with more wisdom than myself:
"'I'm concentrating on staying healthy, having peace, being happy, remembering what is important, taking in nature and animals, spending time reading, trying to understand the universe, where science and the spiritual meet." Joan Jett ♥
"'If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.' Nelson Mandela ♥
"'Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.' Baruch Spinoza ♥.
"'It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.' John F. Kennedy ♥.
"'One cannot subdue a man by holding back his hands. Lasting peace comes not from force.' David Borenstein ♥
"'It is easier to lead men to combat, stirring up their passion, than to restrain them and direct them toward the patient labors of peace.' Andre Gidd ♥.
"'One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.' Morihei Ueshiba ♥.
"'You cannot find peace by avoiding life.' Virginia Woolf ♥.
"And last, but not least, 'It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.' Eleanor Roosevelt ♥."
"In general, these are very large topics, but it is important to consider them and look at them if we are to embrace the art of pacifism and achieve peace, be it in our personal worlds or in the wider world around us ♥. This has also been an extremely quick overview, which much left out, but that is where you all come in ♥. What are you own personal philosophies on peace ♥? Your societies'? Do you agree with the tenants in which you were brought up, or not? What defines peace to you and how do you best achieve it, within yourself or within the world around you ♥? What obstacles present itself in obtaining your ideal of true peace ♥? No wrong answers, of course ♥! Just a discussion to help understand and maybe open our minds and eyes to perspectives that may not be our own ♥. Who would like to start ♥?"
[[ OCD comin' atcha is here! ]]
"Hello, little ducklings ♥," Shunsui greeted the students with his usual warmth. "I hope you enjoyed last weeks activities ♥! If any of you felt inspired to continue your new hobby outside of class, I should love to hear about it ♥. But, today, I figured we would have a discussion, about the very fundamentals of what we are talking about ♥. We dove right in with Jainaism and Martin Luther King, Jr., which means we have yet to actually define peace. Pacifism itself is an opposition to war or violence. Is that essentially the crux of the meaning of peace? Or is there something more to it? Let's explore ♥.
"Peace can mean a great many things to a great many people, but, ultimately, it is viewed as a a society or relationship operating in harmony without any violent conflict ♥. This could mean actual physical violence, or one could argue that it extends to emotional and psychological violence as well. Some view peace as the absence of hostility; others believe it includes the healing of a previously violent or difficult relationship. And, obviously, internationally speaking, peacetime is a time without any warlike conflicts ♥. That's the easy one, the big one. But what about peace within ourselves?
"Just as everyone is different, everyone is going to have their own personal thoughts on what they expect to be truly peaceful ♥. The word itself is Anglo-Saxon in origin, meaning 'free from civil disorder.' It has been used as a greeting, especially as renderings of the Hebrew word Shalom ♥, similar to the Arabic salaam ♥, which have multiple meanings: safety, welfare, prosperity, security, fortune, friendliness ♥. Many people have considered it to encompass respect, justice, and goodwill, too ♥. Quiet also enters the picture, recalling meditation and serenity, in the search for tranquility, an absence of disturbance or agitation ♥.
"Clearly, many religions have their tenants of peace, as well. Buddists believe that peace is achieved when all suffering ends, following the Four Noble Truths: the Noble Truth of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering, and the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering ♥. Suffering comes from craving the things that make life, both good and bad, and only when one can escape these cravings can they start the path on the cessation of suffering.
"The Jewish and Christian faiths believe ultimate peace comes from a personal relationship with God ♥. Jesus Christ, the son of God, imparted to his Christian followers, 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.' It is through that connection with a higher being that they find the center...and source...of peace ♥. And when we look at Islam, one of the translations of the Arabic word is peace; it also means submission to Allah. This submission is based on humility and an attitude of humility within one's own self cannot be accomplished without total rejection of violence and attitude of alliance towards peace ♥.
"These are, of course, ideals ♥. There are great histories of violence committed in the act of religion, which would seem to go directly against the tenants mentioned in their ideals of peace ♥. If your idea of peace is linked to a connection with your god, and your connection with your god does not allow for other beliefs, is a break in the peace acceptable? Must one create war to then achieve peace, or is it all too counter-intuitive?
"Let us keep in mind that most times of peace come only after a war, where one party has completely vanquishes or conquered another. As Georges Clemenceau said, 'I don't know whether war is an interlude during peace, or peace an interlude during war.' Is a post-war peacetime true peace? Does the achievement of peace justify the warlike actions that brought it? A very, very big question, that men have been asking themselves for ages ♥.
"And what of inner peace ♥? Often, peace on the wider scale can seem overwhelming for a person, especially if they themselves are not at peace ♥. Inner peace is described as being strong in the face of trouble or stress, and is often achieved through meditation or other activities, such as the hobbies we tried last week ♥. Inner peace, one could assume, is highly individual; each person should have a different way to achieve it. But are some better than others? Is, say, one who reaches inner peace through meditation and closing out the world around them achieving a better form of inner peace, than, say, oh, I don't know, someone who may find it at the bottom of a bottle of sake, hmmm ♥?
"A few words from those with more wisdom than myself:
"'I'm concentrating on staying healthy, having peace, being happy, remembering what is important, taking in nature and animals, spending time reading, trying to understand the universe, where science and the spiritual meet." Joan Jett ♥
"'If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.' Nelson Mandela ♥
"'Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.' Baruch Spinoza ♥.
"'It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.' John F. Kennedy ♥.
"'One cannot subdue a man by holding back his hands. Lasting peace comes not from force.' David Borenstein ♥
"'It is easier to lead men to combat, stirring up their passion, than to restrain them and direct them toward the patient labors of peace.' Andre Gidd ♥.
"'One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.' Morihei Ueshiba ♥.
"'You cannot find peace by avoiding life.' Virginia Woolf ♥.
"And last, but not least, 'It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.' Eleanor Roosevelt ♥."
"In general, these are very large topics, but it is important to consider them and look at them if we are to embrace the art of pacifism and achieve peace, be it in our personal worlds or in the wider world around us ♥. This has also been an extremely quick overview, which much left out, but that is where you all come in ♥. What are you own personal philosophies on peace ♥? Your societies'? Do you agree with the tenants in which you were brought up, or not? What defines peace to you and how do you best achieve it, within yourself or within the world around you ♥? What obstacles present itself in obtaining your ideal of true peace ♥? No wrong answers, of course ♥! Just a discussion to help understand and maybe open our minds and eyes to perspectives that may not be our own ♥. Who would like to start ♥?"
[[ OCD comin' atcha is here! ]]