Re: Peace

Peace isn’t merely an inert state as though one is thrown into stupor; peace is not merely absence of conflicting issues between two parties.
In one of my earlier posts I had defined happiness as outside circumstances. Happiness is synonymous with Life. Peace is where any man may back up with his inner resources to let happiness has its free working. Is it possible?
In Christian scriptures we read of ‘peace of God that passeth all understanding’. Life is positive and doesn’t care a fig for the issues or the outstanding causes for conflict. Life isn’t legalistic and doesn’t bring up some claims as we hear nowadays from some Jewish quarters that their claim to such and such land is unassailable since God had promised the land to the Patriach Abraham. Yes are we to dismiss their claim as untenable? Since the name of God is invoked I may also quote a verse from the Old Covenant. ‘The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof…”(Ps.24:1) Are the Arabs not the descendants of the Patriarch? Is it an impossble feat in such a case to let your brother live in comfort even as you have been sufficently provided for? No that is impossible for our security, so says some. Security must come from a spirit of accommodation.
Much before the gold rush of ’48 Bozo the Bugger took mining rights from some bank that was going bust. He went west and found gold. Immediately he bought a mule team and some work hands. He in the months to come fenced in lands as far as eyes could see. He put up a notice stating he was the owner and anyone who came anywhere near would be shot.
When one came near and he was seeking gold, Bozo fired a warning shot and said, “ Keep off my land!”
Bozo had acquired rights by possession and he was ready to fight it out to hold what wasn’t legally his. Yes he would need more guns and more fire power to make his false claims stick.
Israel could have made peace;equally the Palestinians could have accommodated their brethren and taken an effort to live in amity. But they didn’t.
How can there be peace when both parties cannot take their eyes off the issues and cases of bloodletting that have occurred since the birth of Israel?
Peace of God (or Peace that life has instilled in every one of us) is outside circumstances and beyond our limited understanding. If there be a statesman who makes peace, overlooking all the past injuries,- with the ‘enemy’ do you think he shall be welcomed as a hero by his own nation?
Issac Rabin, I salute you.
Tailpiece:There have been many such instances. Michael Collins for one and he was shot dead in ambush by rebel IRA members for making peace with the English in 1922.
benny