Boulders Across Borders

A blog about catching the "stones" of hate and injustice around the world to create peace.

[thestonecatcher]

Teaching Peace: The Cultivation of a Movement Through Education

Our class at the Yi Jun Peace Museum

Lessons Learned from the Final Week

One of the most important lessons I learned from our time in The Hague came to light during the final week of class. During this week, we spent one full day on Korea in The Hague. During this time, we visited the Yi Jun Peace Museum where we learned about the start of Korea’s involvement in the 1907 Second Hague Peace Conference. We learned that the Korean envoys sent to The Hague were not allowed to be a part of the conference and, therefore, could not ask the international community for help in recovering Korea’s diplomatic sovereignty. The museum also taught us about this issue in Korea at the time when Japan was attempting to control Korea using its government.

Our class at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in The Hague.

During this day, we also traveled to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in The Hague. Here we learned about the younger generation in Korea and their current involvement in peace movements. We spoke with diplomats at the embassy about how individuals in South Korea are fighting against the human rights atrocities in North Korea. When these diplomats asked us what we knew about Korea, we, the students, did not know any of this. They also asked us about our culture and what younger Americans think of Korea today, especially related to the division between the Koreas and whether or not the younger generation in America is interested in world events. The experience at the embassy was an exchange of knowledge. Rather than one party lecturing another, we asked each other about peace and justice and all learned from one another.

The day we spent learning about Korea taught me a lesson on education. Our experience at the embassy and the museum proved that there is an important history that is related to a collective world peace that many people do not know about. The U.S. and Korea seem not to be educated about each other. Koreans seem to be uncertain about what Americans think of their country and their situation, and Americans seem to be unaware of what is going on in Korea, especially related to peace. What is shocking about all of this is the breach. Most Americans do not know about what happened in 1907 with Korea and most do not know about the efforts of individuals there today regarding human rights issues. It is haunting to think of all that could be achieved if the countries were even closer and worked together, but there seems to be a hesitation between the two. This is likely because of a lack of education.

The Relevance to International Peace and Justice

Education is the first stepping stone on the path to creating peace

A large part of international peace and justice lies in education. Many of the miscommunications between countries or individuals are the causes of major injustices or acts of violence in the world. A lack of education about other countries and their cultures and traditions can lead to a separateness between nations that causes fear and even leads to war.  Education about cultures is also essential in making sure justice is actually complementary to the traditions and needs of the country who is asking for justice. If Americans knew more about the efforts of individuals in Korea to prosecute North Korea for human rights issues, then we might be more involved in the process of helping bring justice to the victims of these atrocities. However, education in the U.S. fails to mention that this is happening in South Korea. Much of the American education on Korea is about North Korea and is aimed at creating fear. Students hear about their potential use of nuclear weapons against the U.S. and a hate harbored for Americans. They are taught that injustices occur daily in North Korea, but they are not taught that people in South Korea are trying to take action against it or what Americans can do to help. Furthermore, they only learn about the negative side of Korea’s history that is related to the war and the separation. They are not shown Korea’s desperation to be a part of the Second Hague Peace Convention in 1907 or how strong the bond between America and Korea was even during the Korean war.

May Wright Sewall, an American educator and reformer, said that peace must be taught through positive history. If students only grow up learning about the negative history of a country, such as all of the wars they fought, they will not believe their country to be capable of peace. However, if they learn about the positive steps their country has taken towards peace, they will see the potential for their nation to continue that path and understand that there is an alternative to war. This is also the idea of the word “schatzwiederentdeckung,” a term our professor, Hope May, discovered that means recovering a buried treasure, for example, a positive peace history in a nation’s past. This is what the education at museums like the Yi Jun Peace Museum and discussion with diplomats at the embassy can do for individuals. It helps to recover, through education, a positive past, and it helps to uncover the positive present that is not being talked about enough. At the Bertha von Suttner Master Class Don Ferencz talked about the ability of countries to turn people who are diverse and different into the enemy of the citizens and justify treating them unjustly. If the U.S. educates its people as if all of Korea is North Korea, a place and a people to be feared, it enables Americans to enact all sorts of injustices. The U.S. does not usually do this with education, but the possibility is always there. Promoting justice involves reducing fear by using education to create common understanding and acceptance of each other.

This is necessary if countries like Korea and America will ever understand each other and work together to create peace. Both countries need to have a common understanding of each other’s goals and histories. Each country needs to decide what peace and justice means to their citizens and educate them correctly about the other country and its citizens. Education is an exchange. It is conversation between different parties who come together for the purpose of understanding one another better in order to connect and work together. In small ways, education brings us closer together and allows for the creation of a world where countries are not afraid of each other, but interested in each other and willing to work together. This is how lasting peace and justice are formed.

Reflections Post-Hague

Schipol airport

Time Home

For me, coming back from The Hague has been a whirlwind of its own. In just a short time, I have visited with many friends and family members who ask me about my time in The Hague. It is difficult to respond to this question, since we did so much while we were there, and I want to explain it all to them. However, I realize that most of what we did, especially things related to the terms and individuals related to international peace and justice, is completely foreign to many people here. For example, when I mention to people that we sat in on the South Africa decision at the ICC, most of them have no idea what I am talking about. When I mention that we stayed at the castle of Fey von Hassell, many of them smile and nod through the story but never really understand the deeply changing experience that it was for us. It is hard to comprehend how such meaningful and significant moments on the trip can be just words to people here. Even the ones who do understand how lucky we were do not fully understand the emotions we experienced. There really is no way to put into words for others the way in which this experience changed me, and sometimes it is frustrating when people back home want to act like everything is normal when I feel like it is not. It’s even harder to explain to others the nostalgia for our days in The Hague when returning back to a life without any of these daily adventures.

Acclimation Process

Ann Arbor, Michigan (home for me)

I have not had to acclimate too quickly to life in the U.S., since a student from Germany arrived to live with us just days after I arrived home. I will travel to Germany with her in just a month. In a way, it was convenient that my trip was so close to her arrival, since most of the conversions from European to American standards that she was doing upon arrival were conversions that I had just been doing in reverse for a month. It is almost as if we are acclimating together. Acclimating while also trying to bridge the gaps for someone from Europe gives me a firsthand view of what I must have seemed like abroad, but it also helps me to be more sensitive to the differences in culture and things that need explanation. I am also thinking more deeply about the very strange traditions we have here that are so hard to explain to others. While I have traveled enough in my life that I am not regularly phased by rapid changes in practices and traditions, each time I leave somewhere I come back and view my own country in a new light, sometimes with pride for certain practices, other times with a sense of things that we could be doing better. This trip allowed me to return with a sense of both and to be especially prudent in noticing minute details in differences in culture that change the way people from different cultures each experience the world.

Personal Lesson

Learning through discussion

Personally, when I think back to The Hague, I am most affected by what I discovered about education. Overall, I learned that the things we learn in our lives are all interconnected even when we think they never could be. An example is the moment when I was talking to Don Ferencz at the Bertha von Suttner Master Class in Italy. He mentioned to me a poem by Alfred Noyes called “The Highwayman” that deeply affected both him and his father (Ben Ferencz). For many people this poem would have been just any other poem that meant nothing at all. However, just a semester before this trip, I studied this poem extensively and even memorized it for a class on children’s literature. This is how I found myself at a castle in Italy reciting a poem from my completely unrelated class with Don Ferencz. This moment formed a connection and a link between us that might not have existed otherwise.

Another example involves language. I knew that my years of Spanish would be completely useless in Italy and the Netherlands. However, I found that my Spanish allowed me to understand the Italian spoken at the Bertha von Suttner Master Class and also connected me to various individuals of Hispanic backgrounds in The Hague. Part of knowledge and learning is making connections. It is as E.M. Forster said, “only connect … live in fragments no longer.” Growing and learning more, even if it is not in our area of study and we think it will never apply to what we are doing, does not ever hurt us. Learning more, learning vigorously and hungrily, learning anything and everything we can only helps us to connect the fragments of a relatively broken world to make a better picture. When we learn and connect with others through our knowledge we can understand each other in new ways, as I found in my small experiences on the trip when I was surprised to use knowledge I never thought I would. When we work to understand each other on emotional levels, we take part in the creation of the world around us and actively bridge the gaps and make it a more connected and peaceful place.

Conceptual Lesson

Cora di Brazzà

I believe that Cora di Brazzà’s ideas about how to create peace have resonated with me the most and created a holistic lesson of the course. At the start of class in Mt. Pleasant, we talked about different methods to promote peace. Henri Dunant had ideas about organizations stepping in during war time someone else had their ideas, and Cora di Brazzà emphasized education. Cora lived her belief that education could foster peace in her everyday life. In Italy we learned about how she educated the women in her town on how to create and sell lace as well as how to make cookies. She empowered people and taught them how to be a part of society in a peaceful and industrious way. By doing this, she steered them away from being violent by educating them and empowering them. When people are empowered, they do not turn to violence because they have no need. Education is also necessary to show people how to accept and be kind to others. Cora’s ideas are infused in the experience of this course. It is as if her ideas were a part of the collective subconscious. She lives on through her descendent, Federico Pirzio-Biroli who endeavors to create peace and harmony in Africa by empowering people and allowing them to be entrepreneurs. He is giving them the means to continue to educate and employ others in their community to spread peace and a sense of empowerment through community (including the world as a community) efforts. The peace movement that exists in The Hague lives on through the same concept that Cora mentioned. Individuals at organizations wholeheartedly seek to educate others, both citizens of The Hague and those who come to visit, on the idea and history of peace. This can be seen in the Hague Talks events, the countless museums for peace history (including the Peace Palace Visitor’s Center , and the willingness of individuals, such as judges; lawyers; library directors; or any others, to meet with young students and talk with them about peace. While Henri Dunant’s ideas were valid and make sense, for the common person, Cora’s ideas are simple and attainable.

Learning from Corrado at Brazzà

This class was a trial of Cora’s ideas that proved them to be right. If it was an experiment to see if her ideas about education really do lead to peace, it worked and the hypothesis was proven correct. As students, we learned about positive history, which is what made us first start to question the use of violence and the ethical issues of war while still in the classroom at Central Michigan. When we went to The Hague, we were immediately entered into the world of the individuals who work there who taught us what peace and justice look like in everyday events. Once we learned about the efforts of different countries and individuals towards making peace, it was impossible not to notice the difference that is being made and impossible not to feel the pull to be a part of it. We even learned from each other and developed more in-depth ideas through conversation about various topics and by debate. It is easy to say that one should work for peace, but if it seems like one is alone in the endeavor it is easy to give up. If one is educated by others and given examples of how to engage in this process and shown that one is not alone, it becomes much more feasible. It is in this way that Cora’s idea is made real. Education makes peace efforts tangible and shows the ways in which one might start and take part in the effort. We were continually learning through our time at The Hague and Castello di Brazzà. We did something simple, learning and becoming empowered in our knowledge, and it made an impact on us that was, as Cora predicted, not simple or small at all.

A quote by Albert Einstein that is consistent with Cora’s beliefs about peace and education

The lesson is, for the ordinary person, peace does not have to be a large, lofty, impossible goal. Education is peace and peace is education. Cora believed that the two were inseparable and I have come to agree with this idea because of the ways in which I have changed since my time in The Hague. One is never done learning and can always learn new ways to be peaceful, such as learning about the Seven Rules of Harmony or learning the meaning behind the peace badge pin. One can always become a more peaceful person, and one can also always spread peace in small ways. Education can be as simple as telling someone about the history of peace or being kind to another person and serving as an example. Cora had it right all along and was a living, breathing example of the concept. One can create the world one wants to live in. We raise children to be the way they are and our actions influence the way others, in turn, act towards others and towards us. If we want to live in a more peaceful world, we have to teach others what it means to be peaceful, and that means teaching ourselves as well and living what we learn. Cora’s lesson is that we are all students, and the takeaway is that peace is not the end goal, but the entire journey itself.

[thestonecatcher]

Justice for Who?: Freedom and Control in International Law

The estate of Castello di Brazzà.

This week we participated in the Bertha von Suttner Master Class at Castello di Brazzà. This annual class is in celebration of Bertha von Suttner’s life and includes many presentations on international peace and justice. Usually, this class is held in the Peace Palace in The Hague, but this year it was held at Castello di Brazzà in the Udine province of Italy. This is because it is the home of the late Cora di Brazzà who designed the Pro Concordia Labor Flag. It is also the home of the late Fey von Hassell, whose autobiography was a part of presentations in the program. The location of the class was made even more significant by the presence of certain people there. Among the presenters for the week were Ambassador Stephen Rapp of the United States; Corrado Pirzio-Biroli, the owner of the estate and Fey von Hassell’s son; and Don Ferencz a Visiting Professor at Middlesex University School of Law and the Convenor of the Global Institute for the Prevention of Aggression.

During our time at the castle, I had the opportunity to speak to some of these individuals. When talking to Don Ferencz, he reminded me of one of his father’s (Ben Ferencz, one of the prosecutors for the subsequent Nuremberg trials) favorite stories that has to do with peace. It is about an astrologer named Tycho Brahe who dedicates his life towards a goal that he may never reach and, in this way, attempts to make the path easier for the next person who takes up the task. In other words, Brahe tries to further a movement in part so that the next person who becomes involved will only continue his progress. Don reminded me that his father believed that this would also be the process for international peace and justice: individuals doing work that the next generation will continue. One could argue that Don himself was watching the sky for a younger generation and helping it to begin the fight for international peace and justice in the middle so that that generation might reach the end.

What I Learned from the Master Class:

Don Ferencz giving his speech at the 2017 Bertha von Suttner Master Class.

To start his presentation at the Master Class, Don used a quote from Athenien historian and general Thucydides that says “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” He tied this quote to international justice, stating that it is still about which country can do what to whom. In other words, international law is about how much power strong countries can exert over weaker ones. While many in the world want to believe that the international justice system is completely just, these words coming from someone who has spent so much of his life around international law and whose father is one of the very important individuals in this area was haunting.

A copy of the Charter of the United Nations.

International law, Don argued, is all about power and reason. His main example had to do with the United Nations (UN) Security Council. The idea behind the Rome Statute is that it shows even leaders of strong countries will be prosecuted for their crimes. It is, as he puts it, a “plea of law to humanity” to demand justice of each other and to allow judgment from an international court. However, only two members of the UN Security Council are parties to the Rome Statute and under its jurisdiction. As for other members of the Security Council that have not ratified the Rome Statute, the Security Council can refer its members to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Although Don pointed out that each party of the Council has a veto and, therefore, would likely never be tried for the Crime of Aggression by the ICC.

A picture of Hermann Göring next to his quote.

Don quoted Hermann Göring’s warning that common people are never the ones who want war. This idea makes sense, since it is the common people whose sons and daughters go on to battlefields while those in power issue the commands. The common people are asked to pick up guns and swords, and the common people feel most the destruction that war leaves. Don added from Göring’s quote that whether the common people have a voice or not, one can easily be dragged along with policy if one is told the pacifists are damaging the country. He connected this point to an idea from the American war general Douglas MacArthur who said that the U.S. Government wants to keep people in a constant state of fear in order to allow the government to spend money on a military system. One can be convinced to fund an army if one is told it is the only way to survive. In essence, these quotes are warnings from individuals who witnessed and (in the case of Göring) participated in military and governmental corruption. One can no longer naively believe everything they are told about peace and justice and one must start to seek answers for oneself.

Corrado Pirzio-Biroli’s final advice of the conference resonated with these quotes that Don shared. Corrado reminded the audience that one of the most important things in life is to always ask questions. This is the idea that one should not blindly accept anything. Instead, questioning helps individuals to find a sense of clarity and truth by forcing the discovery of facts and reason.

How it Relates to International Peace and Justice:

A dove with an olive branch: the symbol of peace.

These ideas bring to light the question of the relationship between freedom and peace. Freedom in relation to the Rome Statute allows some countries to decide not to be a party and not to be held responsible by an international court (one example is the United States). This suggests that some countries are immune to consequences for injustice. Moreover, a veto in the Security Council can prevent leaders of a state from being subjected to the jurisdiction of the ICC. This damages both the idea that anyone can be held responsible for actions of injustice and also the idea that the court is universal and unbiased. This creates the sense that some countries are more powerful than others and suggests that those who are in power will always have control over those who have less resources. In other words, countries with power will decide what sort of peace and justice can come about for the countries without as much power.

This does not reflect the idea of peace for the common people who are so often exposed to war. The people of a state should not have to question whether or not their leaders will be held responsible for their actions. Already citizens of the United States question why the U.S. was not held more responsible for some of their actions in the Middle East or other countries. A UN Security Council veto or the optional ratification of the Rome Statute is not in the interest of peace for the individuals who have to press a button to drop a bomb or shoot a gun. These provisions are in the interest of the individuals in power in countries who do not want to be held accountable by anyone other than themselves. There comes a time when the question is relevant: is freedom (in relation to the freedom of governments to not be held accountable by an international court) greater than peace?

Governments cannot be held accountable without an international system that has force. Don’s points about the common people and the government reflect other ideas that were mentioned by the presenters at the Master Class. Maja Groff spoke about the UN Security Council having a more prominent role with a security force that is more representative of all nations. This would solve the problem of an international justice system that only provides justice for the strong countries by giving the Security Council the strength to impose consequences on stronger nations and by giving nations with less resources more of a role.

The essential question is if a state should be held accountable whether they like it or not. Is this an invasion on freedom that will lead to war or a necessary precaution that could lead to peace by enforcing accountability? Some countries, undoubtedly America, would be angry that they would potentially be forced to face an international court for any crimes they commit. This could lead to animosity and/or war. However, it could make the U.S., and other countries that have not ratified the Rome Statute, realize they are accountable and provoke collaboration between nations. If all states are equal in responsibility for their actions, then the world itself might become more centralized and recognize the need for a common peace to avoid prosecution. No one state should be above another. Equality is a fundamental part of peace and justice.

In relation to Corrado’s advice, one should question their governments and systems of peace. It is important to ask why a state would not want to be a party to an international statute that might promote peace. It is even more important to recognize the role that war and violence play in sustaining certain countries. Many countries profit both tangibly and intangibly off of war. It is vital to question why a state would avoid international prosecution and what they might have to fear or hide.

The cardinal virtue of prudence.

One should always be prudent, like the cardinal value suggests. This means seeking counsel with oneself above others and being, as the bible says, “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Prudence involves, among other things, understanding the difference between what is right and wrong and applying it in practice. This means asking questions to find truth and promoting justice even when strong voices are fighting against it.

[thestonecatcher]

Judging Culture: Respecting the Diversity of Justice

The judges of the International Criminal Court from many different countries and cultural backgrounds.

Hafsat Abiola said, “Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are.” Each country, each city, each home, and each individual would likely define the “best that [they] have,” in a unique way. This is because our world is full of diverse cultures and beliefs, not just between borders, but also between souls and minds. Each individual finds purpose in their own way, and peace is found by finding a way to coexist with and support different interpretations of the world that we live in.

This cannot be done without justice systems that recognize and respect these differences as well. Justice does not exist without clear and intentional acts that support culture: the culture of a state and the culture of an individual. If the world is to become a better place, complementarity must mean more than simply deferring to domestic jurisdiction.

 What Resonates During Week 2

Meeting with Manuel Ventura. 

This week, we met with Manuel Ventura, the director of an NGO called the Peace and Justice Initiative. Manuel told us about a case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the country of South Africa. South Africa is charged because they did not sufficiently detain Al Bashir in their country when they were required to. However, South Africa is not a party to the Rome Statute and, therefore, is not under the jurisdiction of the ICC. They are being tried by the ICC because they are a charter member of the United Nations (UN). The UN Security Council can refer any member to the ICC, even if the state is not a party to the Rome Statute. Because of this, the Security Council referred its member, South Africa, to the ICC. The ICC now has jurisdiction over the State, even though South Africa chose not to sign on and be held accountable to the provisions of the Rome Statute.

Regarding cultural practices, this ability of the Security Council could lead to issues with state preferences. If a state signed on to be a member of the UN but did not sign on to the Rome Statute because it disagreed with various cultural practices of the Statute, being referred by the UN could result in an infringement on their practices and wishes. While the ICC is meant to be a complementary court to the domestic courts of a state, this does not necessarily mean that the culture of the individuals of a state is preserved in the ICC’s practices.

Manuel spoke about how one criticism of the Rome Statute and the UN Security Council is that they are influenced mainly by Western states that generally exercise jurisdiction over African states. If the UN Security Council or the ICC were to overstep their boundaries or do something unethical (such as disregard state preferences regarding cultural practices), who would call them to court? In this sense, not only is there a danger of these organizations protecting and ruling based on their own cultures rather than the cultures of other states, but there is also no accountability if they do so and jeopardize the cultural practices of the party.

The Relevance to International Peace and Justice

The Blue Shield (top) and the Banner of Peace (bottom).

Landmarks of cultural heritage are protected in times of war with the sign of the Blue Shield. This mark distinguishes sites that house or that are a part of a state’s cultural heritage and should be protected during wartime. Additionally, there is the Roerich Pact, which, uses a flag called the “Banner of Peace” to distinguish areas that need protection. However, culture seems to be less of a concern in the time after war when countries are focused on making peace. In reality, culture is a part of peace and of war.

Ruth Murambadoro speaks about this issue at Hague Talks. Ruth focuses on the idea that the decisions of a court based on their ideas of justice do not always coincide with the domestic, or even victim definitions of justice. This is a part of cultural heritage. Peace and justice can only be achieved if cultural practices are maintained and respected. Too often courts focus on punishment and state retribution rather than deferring to the wishes of a victim. However, we went to a case at the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals and noticed that there was a victims lawyer present. This is one step forward, but it is still important to note that justice does not exist if the Western countries that house these courts do not respect the wishes of the countries that they try, even if they do not agree with or understand them. Justice starts with culture, and peace starts with preserving the dignity of each state and each individual. Judges are given the power to judge culpability, but this should not allow them to judge the very personal and diverse ways in which states or victims find justice and peace.

[thestonecatcher]

Practicing Small Peace: Overcoming the Overwhelming Challenge

Martin Luther King, Jr.

What does it take to change the world? It is a question that many of us ask ourselves every day, yet the answer often seems too complex and out of reach. While one day we might have a burning passion and be made alive by our drive to make great change, with each passing day the vision can become more and more dim as we come to terms with the magnitude of our world and the complexity of the issues that surround us. We idolize men and women of the caliber of Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, Rosa Parks, and Nelson Mandela and convince ourselves that we do not have the abilities that they did. We begin to believe that they knew something we do not about changing the world, and we should leave it to the great leaders to make a difference.

What we fail to realize is that we change the world every day. In small ways, our interactions can impact others even when we are not aware of it. These moments are called “lollipop moments,” a term coined by leadership expert Drew Dudley in his 2010 TED talk. Sometimes our actions, however small, are enough to help others reevaluate their ideas and view the world in a new light. It may seem like no one ever achieved greatness by individual interactions or small moments, but this is actually how all greatness begins.

Why Fey von Hassell’s Story Resonates

Fey von Hassell and her two sons.  

Fey von Hassell is the author of the book A Mother’s War, in which she details her time as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps as a result of her father’s participation in groups that conspired against Hitler. WWII separates Fey from her sons and her husband, claims her father, and temporarily claims her home. However desperate her situation, Fey’s courage comes from small actions that do more than she realizes. On page 119 of the book, Fey holds a Christmas celebration for the Nazi soldiers who are stationed at her house (some of whom have even stolen from her) because she wants to make a kind gesture and understands that they may be homesick during the holiday season. On page 107, Fey details how she tried to help many members of her town avoid the wrath of the German soldiers. She writes, “I succeeded only once in preventing someone from being deported.”

Fey, like many of us today, is disappointed that she cannot help every soul struggling under the Nazi regime, and she discounts her actions. Paul Loeb, in “Soul of a Citizen” quotes Sister Helen Prejean; “’Better to help ten real hurting people—or nine, or one than to be overwhelmed and withdraw and do nothing.’” 

Though Fey might have felt that her actions were small in attaining the peace and justice  she yearned for during the war, she acted while many others did nothing. The excuses of individuals during the Nazi Regime were that they were overwhelmed by the power of Hitler and the situation itself. Fey did not let herself become overwhelmed, instead, she pressed forward and helped in small ways. She tried to attain peace with a celebration that brought together individuals of different views, even though they stole from her. She helped a man to stay in the country with his family. Even if she might not have felt it in the scope of the war, she made a difference for that man and for the soldiers. By spreading peace, even when it felt futile and even when it was for people who harmed her (or her house), Fey made a difference and contributed to the peace of the world by refusing to spread more hate and leading by example.

Insight of the Week

The stacks of the Peace Palace Library (each red slider weighs about five tons).

This week, we were allowed to visit the stacks of the Peace Palace Library. While among the books, someone commented that there were too many books for one lifetime. It is overwhelming to stand in front of the books in the Peace Palace Library and think of all that is left to uncover, all that must be done to reflect on history to move forward with peace in our world today. Yet, that does not mean we should not start. 

As an example, The piece by Bertha von Suttner that Hope picked up and translated (The Barbarization of the Skies) was a small piece of a large history. But, rather than look at the stacks and hundreds of tons of books and choose to become defeated by the daunting task, she did something to further the movement and play a role in the foundation of peace. It would be so easy to step back and say that it is too much, that one can never read enough to make a difference with all of the information that exists in the library. However, one does not need to. 

An individual only needs to contribute, to do something that makes a difference to a single person. This is how a movement gains life. The library has a wealth of knowledge, but it is not meant for one person to do alone. If we each do our part in small ways and work together to connect the pieces, we are able to do everything in a lifetime. If we believe we have to do it all individually, we will each die (spiritually and physically) before we achieve anything. It is only in working together that we can possibly seek to finish the project before us.

In the Capitol Rotunda in Washington D.C. there stands a statue of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott. As we learned from Hope, the statue was originally only of Susan B. Anthony, who first remarked that she could not imagine doing anything without the other two women, after which, they were added to the statue beside her. This shows the idea that we are not alone in the work that we are doing. In the library, and in the research related to peace, we do not have to stand alone, a solitary statue. All great leaders of peace and justice worked with other leaders, and Susan B. Anthony and the statue of the three women is a reminder that we do our best work when we do it together.

The Relevance to International Peace and Justice

The library is representative of the peace movement and of justice. There are many atrocities in the world, and, of them, many people are responsible for individual and global injustices. It seems overwhelming to try every person who killed someone unjustly during a war or to find justice for every single person that has been individually wronged. Yet, it seems like failure to leave any individual without justice. It is not failure. Though the courts may not be able to try every person responsible for injustices, trying the leaders of evil is the small step. It is overwhelming to think about all of the parties responsible, but that does not mean that nations should give up and do nothing. Instead, they do justice for the 1,000 or even 100 people out of 1 million. As Fey’s actions taught, even a small step to preserve justice does something profound.

So it is with peace. It is such a large and daunting word, especially when added beside the word “world.” We must not be overwhelmed by all that has to be done. We can take one step, help one person, and make a difference. This contributes something. Bertha wrote books that may not have reached every person in the world, but reached many that learned from her and spread the message of peace. The people who built the Peace Palace Visitors Center may be frustrated by the fact that many people walk by and never come inside, but the 100 that do come inside are likely changing their perspective of history and peace. If everyone does their part to learn about peace and justice, we can teach each other so that 1,000 lifetimes worth of knowledge and work is attainable in just one.

One small way to start is by practicing peace every day. The Pro Concordia Labor flag, made by Cora di Brazza, encourages following “7 Rules of Harmony” to learn to practice peace and to lead by example.

The Universal Peace Badge.

The Universal Peace Badge, pins that reflect the ideas of the Pro Concordia Labor flag, encourage its wearers to always be conscious of whether or not they are upholding the golden rule in their actions. Both the badges and the 7 Rules of Harmony are simple ways to change the world and bring about peace. However, we as humans tend to think our actions have to be grand, that we have to change the world for millions at once to have done anything significant.

Even the most influential individuals did not do this immediately. They started with small steps, lollipop moments. They started with things that they felt passionate about, even if it only affected one person at a time. We are each leaving a legacy every time that we make the choice to treat another person with harmony and kindness instead of evil. If it affects even one person, it is worth it.

[thestonecatcher]

Darkness and Light: Non Tibi Hoc Soli (you are not alone / the only one)

Carl Jung

Each of us is not alone in the decisions that we make, our actions, or our judgments. The idea of the collective subconscious says that there are certain human archetypes that are recurrent throughout history. Over the course of history, the stories that we tell and the actions of humans are repeated over and over again because we are all part of history. Even if we do not know it, our actions follow the motions of others that came before us. These subconscious pieces of us can be difficult to access, mainly because they can be filled with darkness that we do not wish to acknowledge within ourselves. Sometimes understanding who we are today means revisiting a more painful past and unlocking memories that would be easier to forget.

Reciting lesson four of the seven principals of resistance: The enemy is inside us, but the enemy is not us.

However, as Steven Pressfield says, the enemy we fight is inside of us, but it is not us. What lies in our subconscious, even if it seems to be an archetype that asks us to challenge what we know or acknowledge a dark part of us, does not need to define our actions. Carl Jung addresses this in a quote: “There is no coming to consciousness without pain. People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own soul. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”

Why it Resonates 

As a part of our conversation regarding the collective subconscious and memory, we talked about different kinds of ignorance: not knowing, forgetting, knowing but not caring, and knowing without acting. Not knowing oneself falls into these categories of ignorance. It is too easy to repress our souls because they might bring us pain or scare us. Either one does not know oneself, knows something about who they are meant to be but does not care enough to pursue a passion or dream, or knows that it is possible to discover one’s soul but is too afraid of the pain and darkness inside to act. As Steven Pressfield wrote in his book, Do the Work, resistance is inside all of us, but what is scarier than the difficulty of resistance is thinking of what may happen if we succeed. 

Florence Nightingale and Henri Dunant had to go through pain of losing their families, realizing they could not be with the ones they loved, and risking death itself in their work in order to bring their passion to consciousness and realize what they needed to do in their lives. I am not Florence Nightingale, but her and Dunant’s actions and emotions feel familiar to me and feel as if they are shared feelings of a higher calling in the collective subconscious. Like the others before me, I have realized my true passion, traveling and doing good in the world in some way. The pain of coming to this consciousness is realizing the worry and sadness I know I could bring on the people I care about by choosing a path that they do not approve of and having to make sacrifices in my life. However, if I can face my own soul and consciously fight against my darkness, my resistance such as family and my own fears of what might happen if I allow myself to consider a new, possibly more dangerous and risky path in my life, then I can follow my passions and find out what I am meant to be doing. 

The Relevance to International Peace and Justice

The Rwandan Genocide

International peace requires all individuals to confront their subconscious darkness, especially regarding the dangers that we may repeat. Genocide is an example. In our past there have been many genocides. Genocide comes from the Greek term “génos” for “people” and the Latin word “cide” for “killing.” The term was first used during the Nuremberg Trials, coined by Rafael Lemkin, who lost family to the Holocaust and read about many instances of sanctioned mass murders of individuals by a state. By Lemkin’s definition alone, after Germany there were genocides in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

Good things can come from the collective subconscious, but darkness can arise as well. While heroism and spirits of peace can be repeated, so can the darkness that allows for genocides to happen. This is why the quote by Jung is important. As a world, we must address the darkness that will continue to exist in many different individuals. This is how we become enlightened about why peace is important and why justice is necessary. If we use justice and law to discourage actions of darkness, not only are we repeating actions of peace and justice from our collective subconscious that lead to enlightenment, we are repeating the actions of acknowledging darkness and becoming enlightened about how to care for others and love those around us. The collective subconscious, if its darkness is recognized and attended to, can be used to promote a future where peace is repeated and peace promoters are an archetype. It can also help us to create a standard of meeting darkness with rehabilitation and reason rather than pain and fear. Like with the subconscious in our own minds, for the potential of the world to be discovered in peace and justice, we must embrace the darkness to find the light together.

[thestonecatcher]

Uncertain Passions: The Power of Being Unprepared

 Leymah Gbowee unveils a Bertha von Suttner statue at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

Bertha von Suttner, the first woman to participate in the 1899 Hague Peace Conference and the first sole woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, most certainly began her work for peace before she was ready. To be the first woman to take part in this conference and to receive this award meant that she was taking uncertain steps forward. There were no precedents set for women who participated in the peace movements, much less women who led them. Still, Bertha began her work before anyone gave her the instructions on how to do so, and, therefore, learned along the way and made great change in the world. Bertha’s whole story can be found at: http://www.berthavonsuttner.com/ABOUT/index.html.

 Do the Work by Steven Pressfield explains why starting before one is ready, like Bertha did, is a crucial step in achieving success towards one’s dream. Pressfield writes, “Good things happen when we start before we’re ready. For one thing, we show huevos. Our blood heats up. Courage begets more courage. The gods, witnessing our boldness, look on in approval.” Where there is a dream, a passion, or something that one feels must be done there is always resistance. Resistance can take the form of relationships, finances, societal standards, or simply fear itself. However, resistance only exists when one’s dream is strong enough to be successful. If an individual waits until they feel ready to begin, this is a form of resistance. Too much time spent preparing decreases the momentum of a movement and holds an individual back from real accomplishments. Though it is uncertain and terrifying, beginning before one is ready is necessary to overcome the excuses and justifications not to start.

 Florence Nightingale.

Pressfield’s idea is not a new one. Take, for example, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Florence came from a wealthy family that expected her to marry and fulfill the duties of a housewife. However, Florence felt the pull to do something more in the world. She was drawn to hospitals, and, though she was untrained and did not know much about nursing, she took the first step forward and became the superintendent at a care institute for sick women in London. Florence ignored her fears and uncertainty and began before she felt ready. If she had waited until she did feel ready, she may never have started. The environment of an individual does not always encourage them to start, and, therefore, they must push forward even if they have not been prepared because they may never be. More information about Florence Nightingale can be found at: http://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/florence-nightingale.

 Paul Loeb’s Soul of a Citizen firmly echoes this idea. Loeb writes

“There is no perfect time … no ideal circumstances for voicing our convictions. What each of us faces instead is a lifelong series of imperfect moments in which we must decide what to stand for. Choices may at times be thrust upon us … more often we’ll have to seek them out consciously, in contexts that don’t always encourage them and sometimes when we don’t feel ready. The wonder is that when we do begin to act, we often gain the knowledge, confidence, and strength that we need to continue.” 

Fear gives a person power. Uncertainty gives a person the ability to grow and to do the things that they and society might not believe they can. Bertha and Florence challenged themselves and revolutionized the world around them. They made their dreams, which many regarded as idealistic or delusional, into realities by beginning before they were ready.

 The four cardinal virtues.

Starting before one is ready is the idea of the cardinal virtue of Fortitude. The four cardinal values are explained at: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a7.htm. Fortitude is the virtue that allows one to continue on the path of creating good in the world by conquering fears and enduring many oppositions and hardships. When an individual starts before they are ready they do not know how long they will have to keep stepping blindly forward, but they endure the fear of uncertainty and keep stepping anyway.

 Change is not made in the world by completely prepared individuals who know each next step of the way or calculate every word precisely. Those that strive for peace and for a better world aspire to do something that they are not sure they can. They take a step forward and hope that they will not fall. It is blind faith in their passion. It is the idea that they will succeed because they have to, and because something fundamental inside of them will not let them stop until they have finished.