‽istis reclaims peace and ponders power (weekending March 19th 2022)
This week ‽istis remembers watching the news as ‘on this day’ (19.3.2003) Baghdad and the world was shocked but perhaps not awed, and many themes for this week’s pondering and wondering swirl around:
‽ What might a more effective response to war look like? What primary prevention measures could perhaps lay foundations for a more peaceful world? What secondary prevention measures could resolve emerging differences and disputes that possibly lead to violence? What reactive measures may yet be necessary when violence, murder and destruction are threatened and planned for and initiated?
‽ What might a pacifist response to the Russian ‘special military operation’/invasion be and could it save more lives and livelihoods, homes and schools and hospitals, shops and offices, civic and cultural buildings, vital infrastructure, life as it was just a few short weeks’ ago? (1)
‽ Could the United Nations do more now and, if not, what reforms might allow it to be more effective: a revision of the UN Security Council permanent membership and the veto powers that come with it? A greater ability not just to resolve but to fulfil? (2) Should the United Nations do more, now? (3)
‽ is ‘nationality’ worth dying for? (4)
‽ Europe’s problems, World War III, what if the rest of the world does not wish to be sucked in to a conflagration, yet again?
Mighty issues and themes have indeed maelstromed around!
But at the end of the week, with negotiations and terms for peace unresolved and war both near and far (5), ‽istis retunes the radio from soothing classics to the news, turns on the television, powers up the laptop, opens the newspaper for another day - and is mostly left pondering and wondering:
Such power
So much potential to do good
Yet this…
© Pistis
NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme and past blog
entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’: @Pistis_wonders. ‘Follows’ and respectful comment and dialogue welcome...
References found include: https://www.afsc.org/newsroom/invasion-ukraine-must-be-stopped-us-military-aid-not-answer "It is very important for us to convey that Ukrainians are peace-loving people and very kind. In the last two months, when we got together and started our meetings, we agreed that there is no one among us who would see war as the answer, or believe that violence is the way out. We categorically condemn any aggression, expansion, and pressure." (cited in the article/on the web page referenced)
References found include: https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/ga12288.doc.htm including considerations of the veto power
…and how might we decide on such a moral imperative‽
See interview with a young Ukrainian student BBC Breakfast 13.3.2022, last week a student, this week: armed and ready to defend: “No-one wants to die, even if it for your country.” See also: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60724560
At least at the time of typing: 17.3.2022
