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Sunday C. Mbang
Chairperson of the World Methodist Council
There are a number of factors and reasons that result in the lack of peace. The absence of peace can result from wars, conflicts, quarrels, violence and disagreement. Wars sometimes happen as a result of political, economic and religious reasons. The Christian Crusades had religious overtones. In the same context was early Muslims religious wars used to spread Islam. Recently, America and United Kingdom and her allies went to war against Iraq for reasons, which cannot satisfactorily be substantiated. The outdated philosophy of �might is right� probably gave the actors the desired impetus to act. The Boston Tea Party, which led to the War of the American Independence, was both economic and political. Presently there are crisis and conflicts in many areas of the Delta region of Nigeria. These conflicts, to my mind, are more economic than political between two ethnic groups. The Delta conflict is for the control of the vast natural resources found in the area. Many conflicts, wars, violence and rebellion have occurred as a result of oppression, domination, colonialism and racial and ethnic discriminations and policies. All these are possible by the actions, attitudes and legislations of a country, race, community, class and that of certain individuals against others. The many years of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, India and Pakistan, Southern and Northern Korea and the Northern Ireland are to be seen in this light. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. of America sacrificed his own life in order to lighten the burden and the humiliation meted out to his race and people. The racial attitude of the many Americans was responsible for his death. Most third world countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean took up arms against their foreign colonial masters in order to free themselves. Probably the many years of lack of peace in Northern Ireland between the Protestants majority and the Catholics minority can be traced to lack of love, insincerity and the administration of that community. Paul�s advice to the Romans of �Let love be genuine� is yet to command respect amongst the people there. Tension and state of war may not necessarily survive without both internal and external support. South African Apartheid Policy lasted that long with all the destabilizing effects, conflicts, rebellion and violence, which it caused because of the tacit support of Europe, America and their allies. Why has it taken this long to find acceptable and impartial solution to the many years of the crises in the Middle East especially that between Israel and Palestine? Probably if big brother America were not backing Israel through and through, the solution to the problem would have since been found. Thus without the active support and sometimes participation of countries, communities and groups and individuals, what brings about lack of peace everywhere would in many cases be impossible. Solidarity encourages lack of peace sometimes. By the same token, solidarity can be a root to peace. But what do we understand by solidarity? The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Common English (Sixth Edition) defines Solidarity as �holding together, mutual dependence, community of interests, feelings and actions�. We had argued earlier on that it was the unwholesome support given to the authors and perfecters of the apartheid South Africa that kept the dehumanizing system to last that long. Immediately there was less solidarity with the perpetrators of the system, it collapsed, never again to return. Unity is said to be strength. Whenever and wherever there is the meeting of minds on an issue, there is always the probability that all will be well and vice versa, depending on whether what has brought them together is for good or ill. It must be stressed at this point that half-hazard or diplomatic solidarity may not bring about the desired goal. Peace had eluded efforts by many international and communal bodies on many international and national issues in the world because the solidarity had not been total by all and sundry. Sometimes self-interest had been the reason for what I have captioned diplomatic solidarity. CONCLUSION Conflicts, which will always result in lack of peace wherever this happens, will normally thrive with support and solidarity by countries, groups and persons. No revolution, violence and disorder are likely to succeed without solidarity in one form or the other. By the same token the prerequisite for successful peace in any tumultuous situation is the tacit and sincere and genuine solidarity with all the efforts seeking and working for the peace. Jesus Christ gave the people of our world peace. His peace (Shalom) was different from the world understanding of peace. If the people of our world and people in conflict situations were willing to avail themselves of this gift, then peace would have been the lot of all and sundry and everywhere. But that is not usually the case. Solidarity will always remain the root of lack of peace and also of peace.
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