Monday, December 30, 2013

World Day of Peace

"And you will all be brothers." [Matthew 23: 8].


I long for peace.

In my home growing up, I suffered black eyes. I went to school with black eyes. I went to a family wedding, wearing a beautiful pink ruffled dress, and black eyes. The real problem as to why I was getting black eyes was never resolved. I was told, "Stop getting black eyes. You are embarrassing us."

I went from violence in the home, to violence in the outside world. I went off to university, and one day a man followed me home. I was assaulted. I almost died that day.

To this day, I cannot stand even a movie showing violence. Part of me knows that the dramatic action is not real. Part of me feels that what I see on this screen is all too real to me.

There is violence at home. There is violence in the neighborhood. There is violence in the world. There is no peace.

World Day Of Peace 2014 is January 1, 2014.

In his World Day of Peace message, Pope Francis writes: "The ever-increasing number of interconnections and communications in today's world makes us powerfully aware of the unity and common destiny of the nations. In the dynamics of history, and in the diversity of ethnic groups, societies and cultures, we see the seeds of a vocation to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another. But this vocation is still frequently denied and ignored in a world marked by a "globalization of indifference" which makes us slowly inured to the suffering of others and closed in on ourselves. In many parts of the world, there seems to be no end to grave offenses against fundamental human rights, especially the right to life and the right to religious freedom. Alongside overt armed conflicts are the less visible but no less cruel wars fought in the economic and financial sectors, with means which are equally destructive of lives, families and businesses."

Make no mistake, friends, I watch network and cable television, I listen to the radio. I read three newspapers a day. I scan the Internet. I am aware of violence in so many countries.

In this year of 2013-2014, we have seen violence in the following countries:

Afghanistan: suicide bombings continue, as Taliban insurgents battle to regain territory, in light of U.S. withdrawal of troops
America : Mass shootings occurred throughout the country, including in Newtown, CT, Washington D.C. Navy Yard, and Centennial Colorado. Deadly bombings at Boston marathon by former Chechen citizens.
Argentina: violent street crime has risen.
Bangladesh: a pre-election rally turned deadly in Dec. 2013. Garment worker's rally over pay turned violent.
Burma/ Myanmar: religious violence between Buddhist mobs and Muslims.
China: deadly violence between Han Chinese and Uyghurs in Xinjiang.Threats of  violence over sovereignty of Senkaku islands, which are in dispute with Japan.
Columbia: Farmers' protests, over impoverishing farm policies, turn violent.
Congo: terrorists attempted a coup on Dec. 30, 2013 to rid President Kabila. A UN report in 2013 catalogued the violence committed by the M23: recruitment of child soldiers, sexual assaults and torture.
Egypt: Violence from clashes between Muslim Brotherhood and their foes. On Dec. 29, 2013, an explosion occurred near military intelligence units.
Guatemala: pervasive poverty promotes violent crimes.
India: Clashes in August 2013 between Hindu and Muslim communities have caused violent attacks.
Indonesia: religious intolerance against Christians, Ahmadiyahs and Shia Muslims is increasingly violent and deadly.
Iran: Despite an accord with the United States to limit the development of nuclear weapons, in Dec. 2013, a rocket attack hit a camp occupied by Mujahideen.
Iraq: The United States entered in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein. Explosions and shootings continue to rock the country from the strife between the Shia and Sunni groups.
Israel: The Gaza continues to see Palestinian/ Israel conflict, with shootings, tanks and airstrikes in the region.
Japan: Japan's military has a five year plan to procure drones, jet fighters and destroyers, over the dispute with China for the Senkaku islands.
Jordan: Massacre in eastern Amman, Dec. 27, 2013 as part of country's tribal rivalries.
Kenya: Post election violence spiked after the election of Kenyatta and his running mate Ruto, both charged with crimes against humanity.
Kosovo: election violence in Nov. 2013 between Serbs and ethnic Albanians.
North Korea: President Kim Jung Un ordered his uncle executed for treason. He has also threatened a nuclear missile attack towards the U.S. and allies.
Lebanon: offshoot of Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for Nov. 20, 2013 attack on Iranian embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
Libya: Militias remaining from the overthrow of Gaddafi continue to plague the country with violence.
Malaysia: tension between Malaysia and Philippines has led to violent clashes.
Nigeria: August, 2013, a Christian town was bombed. Boko Haram group is accused of crimes against humanity, including attacks against schools.
Pakistan: border violence between India and Pakistan. Continuing bombings of Christian churches by Islamist Pakistan Taliban.
Russia: Two suicide bombings since Oct. 2013 on behalf of Chechnya muslim terrorists.
Saudi Arabia: Ethiopian migrant workers have been physically assaulted by security forces, and many killed.
Somalia: Al-Shabab militants control the southern part of the country and are attacking foreign mission workers. Doctors Without Borders exited the country in August, 2013.
South Sudan: The Nuer tribe is battling against the Dinka tribe, and the Dinka President of the country. Thousand of  innocent citizens have died, because of tribal affiliation.
Syria: Civil war rocks Syria. More than 2 million refugees have fled the country. Strong evidence of chemical weapons used in 2013 against citizens. With chemical weapons under watch now, Syria is using barrel bombs packed with shrapnel.
Thailand: Violence rocked the Dec. 27, 2013 election protests.
Turkey: protests against the growing encroachment on secular interests turned violent, as the government used tear gas and water cannons to clear the crowds.
Ukraine: Violence broke out in Dec. 2013 at protests over the government's decision not to join the European Union.
Venezuela: the government in May 2013 sent the military with assault rifles into ghettoes to curb deadly violence.
Vietnam: Facebook organized picnics to gather together bloggers for human rights. Attendees were attacked violently by police, May 2013.
Yemen: Violence killed many in the Northern province as Houthi (Shiites) fought with Salafi (Sunnis).
Zambia: A Cornell Law School study reported in June 2013 shows that sexual violence against girls in schools is extensive.
Zimbabwe: Diamond mines in Marange are mined under violence and slave conditions, according to a human rights group.

You notice that I have not spared any country for political reasons. Violence knows no political party or ethnicity. Violence cruelly affects us all, equally.

Fifty years ago, in his book Strength to Love, Martin Luther King, Jr. said, " We must pray earnestly  for peace, but we must also work vigorously for disarmament and the suspension of weapon testing." We are now two generations past the day when he wrote these words. Where is Peace?

Pope Francis has even reached out to atheists and agnostics, to work for and demand Peace. He said, "I invite even non-believers to desire peace. Join us with your desire, a desire that widens the heart. Wars shatter and hurt so many lives!"

Pope Francis began his World Day of Peace message by saying,  "The family is the wellspring of all fraternity, and as such, it is the foundation and the first pathway to Peace, since, by its vocation, it is meant to spread its Love to the world around it."

May the Peace and Love that come from God spread throughout the world! We must pray for Peace. We also must demand it and work for it!

(c) Spiritual Devotional 2013. All Rights Reserved.



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