Last night, I had the opportunity to go to a presentation by master's students in EMU's Peacemaking and Conflict Transformation program. They have students from all over the world (over 50% are international students) who come together to learn about peacebuilding. Last night, a couple from Afghanistan and a woman from Iraq spoke.
They spoke of their countries' landscape, religion, history, and way of life. And, of course, they talked about the military occupation in each of their countries. It was beautiful to hear their perspective. They call it as it is, because they have experienced it. They are honest. Ryan said last night that they have a "vested interest" in our understanding their point of view, understanding what is REALLY going on.
And what REALLY is going on is that they are HUMAN BEINGS whose countries, families, friends, limbs have been ravaged by a seemingly never ending war. The woman from Afghanistan said that the people in her country see other nations simply playing chess in Afghanistan. It is a convenient location for a chess game, located in the "heart of Aisa," surrounded by other nations, a country unable to have any border control. She addressed the American perception that her people are "violent and aggressive." War has been going on in Afghanistan for decades. Other nations have come and bombed the country mercilessly. With no equivilant means of defense, the Afghani people are forced to use guns and other means, such as suicide bombings, to defend themselves. The desire to protect one's life is natural. They are normal human beings in extreme circumstances. What other options are there?
While I understand that three people, all from relatively peaceful parts of their countries, are not representative of the entire population, their voices are VITAL to our formation of opinions and actions. These lovely people had hope. They believed in the possibility of peace. If I, in turn, say that there is no hope, that peace will never come to their people, I am only again oppressing them.
There were two quotes in particular that stood out to me. Credit for both of them goes to the Iraqi woman, a beautiful, passionate woman. First, she said, "people carry guns around as if they are a security. For me, a gun is an insecurity!"
And, a quote that has been playing over and over again in my mind...
While showing photographs of Iraq, she came upon a picture of a beautiful flower and exclaimed,
"Still we have flowers after all the war!"
The grace of God remains. The love of God is eternal, it does not fail.
