Our Social Conscience

Peace, this column’s title in the Hebrew language, is understood differently by many Filipinos from different walks of life. As a result it is used also in many different ways. This varied knowledge, understanding and utilitarian experience of peace has led to a lot of confusion. This confusion has ultimately caused a very negative effect in our lives not only here in Mindanao where a lot of associations and groups carry the word ‘Peace’ either as title or objective of their existence, but even in the entire world.

This confusion has affected in large measure our social relationships. This negative effect is visibly felt and seen in the moral motives underpinning or behind our social relations and activities. Peace groups and associations claim that they are motivated to pursue lasting peace for love of God and country. This is good and truly admirable. But what is ‘peace’ to them? How do they understand it? What is their experience of peace as an individual person and as community?

I may sound again as a broken record if I repeat here the two most common ways of knowing and understanding peace. These two factors underpin the morality of their efforts. They assert that peace is simply, rather simplistically, an absence of conflict or war. In modern lingo it is ceasefire, that is, “keep the weapons but don’t use them”. Apparently, this is morally good. But the motive is not clear. Keeping the weapons poses a threat they will be used again anytime. Hence it is not true peace. To the people of Greece in olden times this peace was called Eirene.

The other way of peace making is to promote the drafting, approving and signing of the mutual agreement, an accord on paper. Apparently this is morally good. The motive may be clear but the Who, How and When of the implementation are not always clear. Example is the Peace Agreement of September 1996 officially signed by the Philippine Government(GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front ( MNLF). As is well-known to everyone this peace accord has worsened social relations here in Mindanao, to say the least. This incomplete peace is what the Roman people of old called Pax.

There has been little discussion among peace groups on the morality of the efforts in the process and building of the culture and structures of genuine and lasting peace. This is one reason why in spite of the many consultations, symposia and seminars our social relations are not yet morally sound and genuinely peaceful because the correct and sound moral conscience is not guiding our thoughts, words and actions. Next week we will share in this column how Shalom can form a correct and sound knowing and understanding of what is an

Immoral wrong-doing and what is not from the Jewish, Christian and Islamic perspectives.