It is a strange phenomenon, but apparently the meaning of Peace, as a word, as a concept, depends entirely on which side of the political spectrum you favour.
Firstly however, we need to acknowledge that the claim built into the possession of nuclear weapons – that they have kept the peace since 1945 – is a total fantasy. War, death, destruction has been constant. And in so many instances has been proxy wars between the old adversaries.
New players on the world stage have also learnt from this, and have joined in the safety at home proxy approach. And, justifiably as far as their disregard for hypocrisy is concerned, our insistence on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is treated with contempt.
So, with that out of the way, it would appear that the retention of peace, from a right wing perspective, is to threaten, threaten, threaten, or incarcerate. And then threaten.
Jeremy Corbyn, one of the world’s many imperfect men, has been attacked continuously for talking to leading figures in a number of less than entirely savoury organisations. He has never, as far as I am aware, been accused of plotting with them to inflict harm on anyone. But he has talked to them.
And he has done it publicly, not hidden, not in secret. Because, strangely enough, he is aware of the fact that if you treat someone with respect, and have a discussion, then understanding can emerge. The removal of threats can produce a potential route forward. At the very least it can help prevent the slide back into violence.
And, with all the groups, and political factions that exist on the ‘wrong’ side of the western viewed divide between ‘right’ and ‘terror’, there is a root cause to their actions. The anger that drives people to participate in extreme actions arises from a disconnection from what they perceive as a place of safety.
And to resolve that feeling, you have a choice, threaten to reduce that safety even more, or talk, discuss, understand. Those talks may be hard, the content may be contorted and nuanced, but an understanding can be the first step to resolution.
But, as long as its another country’s population, chest beating bravado will always win with the world leaders we are blessed with today. Which means that, when the proxy wars spill over onto our own streets, the first response from the Tory ‘leader’ is to try and score cheap election points.
Until ‘leaders’ realise that the only solution to conflict is to stop the fighting and start the talking, to attempt to understand, to break the cycle, then the ripple effects of all the power posturing will continue.
Which gives them a campaign slogan, and a reason to persist. But the impact is felt by the innocent, and the dispossessed, and the disillusioned, and the disadvantaged.
And it also means that they continue to walk hand in hand with countries who treat their own people, and other nations, in ways we would find unacceptable, but ‘ignore’ because we can make a profit, or create an alliance, that keeps us in the gang with the big boys.
And it always seems to me that this time of year is the perfect example of the hypocrisy of the western powers – belligerent and bellicose pronouncements during the season of good will to all men.
Merry Humbug!
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