Of Peace and Conflict

What does it take to stop the endless cycle of hate and violence?

I recently watched the Oscar-nominated documentary 'Promises', that explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes of young children on both sides. There is no shortage of extreme views on either side, with children on both sides spouting vitriol and hate. At one point, one of the boys living in an Israeli settlement talks about the Israeli army soldiers practicing at a firing range nearby and comments that it wouldn't be too bad if they missed their targets and accidentally shot an Arab instead. At another point, one of the Palestinian children talks about his twelve year old friend being shot dead by Israeli forces during the Intifada and says that he thinks it is his duty to fight what he sees as an occupation force. But in the midst of all the hate, there are a few sane voices. As one of the children rightly points out, 'what does it mean to 'win' in the war? In the end people on both sides suffer'.

I think it says something about our society, when we allow the minds of young children to be poisoned with hate. I cannot help believing that deep down everyone desires peace. Does constantly living under the spectre of fear, anger and hate change that? Does one reach a point where there is just nothing left to lose? Is it possible to be so full of hate, so full of anger, so full of despair that no price is too high to pay?

At times I feel like a mute and dumb observer, watching the world spin violently out of control, powerless to stop the insanity. But then again, I have the luxury of being so far removed from most of these problems that I don't need to worry about them on a daily basis. There are no 'one-size-fits-all' solutions to the world's problems. Maybe all that I can do is to try to learn all sides of the story. I may not agree with everyone's point of view, but I can atleast try to understand where they are coming from.

What does it take to stop the endless cycle of hate and violence? I don't know.