by Georgia S. McDade
Real peace means no war, of course.
But real peace demands so much more
than no war.
Though no war is an excellent
beginning.
Peace requires no fear of war.
The physical body must be safe.
There is more than adequate food,
shelter, attire.
And there is no worry that any one—not
to mention all three—will disappear.
This physical body gets preventive
medical and dental care and
treatment when needed.
And there is no worry that benefits will
be reduced or exhausted nor service
denied.
The mental body must be at least equally
safe; some might argue safer.
Peace provides space for education,
a good, solid education full of
knowledgeable teachers who
recognize the humanity of all and do
not see differences as inferiority.
Questioning without fear of
repercussion is ever the case.
Peace also allows spiritual development
of any and every variety.
Again there is no fear.
The stress created by the lack of any one of the above can shatter peace, shatter peace overtly or maybe covertly, but shatter peace nevertheless.
And all of us are not always like the oyster; the stress does not always
result in our creating pearls though this stress may indeed make us shells of ourselves.
Finally, real peace allows us to pursue happiness as we see fit when that pursuit harms no one.
Opportunity and justice permeate this paradise.
The ever-present governor without exception recognizes that no pursuit of the ultimate personhood and real peace diminishes another or the other.
Wonderful piece. Excellent. Thank you.