The culture around us teaches that a vision of peace is just a dream, and that the only way to live in the real world is to make as much money as you can, acquire power, and dominate as much as possible.
Instead of a culture of inclusion, we live in a culture of division. Instead of a culture of justice, we live in a culture of injustice. Instead of a culture of compassion and forgiveness, we live in a culture of revenge and retaliation. Instead of a culture of nonviolence, we live in a culture of violence. Instead of a culture of peace, we live in a culture of war.
If we want to move toward a culture of peace and nonviolence, we will have to open our eyes, see with new vision, and recognize every human being as our very own sister and brother. This vision of peace is the center of the world's religions and a spirituality of peace and nonviolence.
As we begin to see the world through the lens of nonviolence, we are not only appalled by the world's violence, we commit ourselves to ending it. We begin to resist wars, violence, and other injustices, and promote peace, justice, and active nonviolence for all of humanity.
I know it can be disheartening to believe in peace at a time like this. But even when the world is exploding around us, it is important for those of us who do believe in peace to continue to say so. Only then will we ever reach the critical mass necessary for people to believe that there really is a better way.
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