By Mairead Maguire
I once asked my friend, the late Father Dan berrigan for some peace
Advise and he replied
‘Know where you stand and stand there’.
I lived in west Belfast throughout the ethnic/political conflict ‘the troubles and every day I prayed to know where I stood while injustice cruelty and killing surrounded our communities. I listened to hear clarity of thinking to the question
‘Is violence state or paramilitary ever, right? Is there such
A thing as just violence or just or any war?”
Today there is much anger when faced with such cruelty like Gaza, Myanmar,
Sudan genocides by government and retaliatory armed insurrections we are all challenged to know where we stand regarding violence, and we need to do something for peace and justice. After a long spiritual journey, I chose to become a pacifist and work for a nonkilling world, and this is where I stand! I decided war and violence is always wrong!
Today humanity is faced with a choice in solving our enormous problems – to solve them together through dialogue or continue down the road of militarism and war. I believe for most people our hearts are in the right place, but our minds and methods are living in the past. When there is a problem outcome the big guns and threatening nuclear weapons and we regress into childhood and start behaving like mad people dropping bombs on others and politicians telling us to get ready for war and spend our money on weapons not food! Why won’t our politicians grow up and stop this infantile behaviour or they will end up getting us all blown to bits!
Our thinking has to change and I for one do not see Iran, Russia, China,
Israel, Palestine as my enemy and refuse to buy into the false narrative of war propaganda. I believe we can talk to each other without killing each other.
I know where I stand, I will not join the mad call to war by any government
and invite young men and women to join me in refusing to kill their fellow
humans or to die or get injured themselves -their lives are sacred and precious.
Let us remember the golden rule of most religions
“Do unto others as you would have them do to you’
‘Know where you stand and stand
there and be gentle and strong for the
worlds children by saying no to war’
Love you
Your friend
Mairead Maguire