Words That Build World Peace
BY ARLENE HARDER, MA, MFT
Explore a quotation, affirmation, fact, phrase or question that you believe can build world peace.
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.
Albert Einstein
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
Words are always used to support the "rightness" of each side of a conflict. Words paint the opponent as the embodiment of evil and oneself as firmly on the side of God. Words rally forces on the battlefield and supporters on the homefront. Words are necessary for wars to start—and to continue.
Words are also part of the movement toward peace, and we certainly could use a bit less inflammatory speech and art these days.
Even when we feel a need to defend our position, within each of us is a yearning for peace, and there are some words (and pictures) that are able to reach that desire within our hearts. If well applied, these words can make a difference. They can create a force to encourage all of us to step away from the brink and view our differences in a more conciliatory fashion.
© 1999, Revised 2006, Arlene Harder, MA, MFT |
