A Fragile Contentment

"Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

 

The same can be said about peace. Peace ensues. It is an outcome, not an output. I am intrigued by the recent directive outlawing public demonstrations in the wake of the disputed March 2013 presidential tally. This is not a comment for, or against the directive.

I think the directive is a reflection of our fears.

We are afraid of ourselves

We are afraid of the untamed animal within.

We saw what the animal could do in 2007/2008.

We saw what the animal could do in Tana River.

We know what the animal does to disenfranchised labourers in cities and other places.

"I knew a man who lived in fear

It was huge, it was angry, it was drawing near

Behind his house, a secret place

Was the shadow of a demon he could never face

He built a wall of steel and flame

And men with guns to keep it tame

And standing back, he made it plain

That the nightmare would never ever rise again

But the fear and the fire and the guns remain…

And then one day, the neighbours came

They were curious to know about the smoke and flame

 They stood around outside the wall

 But of course, there was nothing to be heard at all

 "My friends," he said, "We've reached our goal

The threat is under firm control

 As long as peace and order reign

I'll be damned if I can see a reason to explain

Why the fear and the fire and the guns remain"  -- Dan Heymann

The recent prescriptive campaigns for peaceful co-existence are well meant, and I am sure they have had an impact. However, as long as the shadows of our demons remain; as long as the elephants in the room remain unspoken about, we shall continue to need guns and tanks. This begs the questions: What happens when there are so many elephants that we become and elephant graveyard? What happens when the ghosts overrun us?

We all know from science fiction movies that bullets don’t kill ghosts. Exorcism works better. The peace we desire and are urged to maintain can only come when we commit to exorcism and healing.

I look forward to the time when we shall collectively appreciate that peace is more than not killing each other. I have hope from the fact that many of us who think this way. In whatever language you translate the word peace, it implies harmony, safety, and right relationships. My favourite word for peace is Shalom (from the same root word as Shelam and Salaam). It implies welfare, prosperity, and wholeness.

Shalom, Kenya.