PEACE ALL OVER

                            

Hardly had the ink dried on my writings about Marawi City and then, the loose cannonball invaded Resorts World, killing 39 including himself. 

Our country is currently on the crossroads – of whether to remain peaceful or to continue being at war. To remain at war is to be treated daily to audio-visual images of the dead, the injured and the sick. To be at peace is for us to be able to focus on being creative, being in harmony with our neighbors, and being soulful.

What should be our attitude towards war?

Do all the sectors of the military institution focus their attention on how to bomb out the enemies? On what arms to use to demolish them?

On the other hand, how could we strengthen peaceful methods so that they are imbibed by every citizen and all other violent groups shall embrace them in the name of humanity?

As we are dealing now with the Marawi siege and the possible explosion here and there of bombs and forces of violency, everyone has to focus on creating the best situation that will foster peace. All, including the religious, must thrust their attention on this in order to make our country, not a Syrian or an African state that is steeped in civil war. The religious must cease from harping on reproductive health and instead just concentrate on strengthening and increasing the number of groups that will disseminate peaceful ideas. 

Schools could also make their students fly paper doves at the opening of classes and drop them from high rise buildings later on.

Jeepneys could fly peace flags on their antennae; private vehicles could have a sticker -- "Peace, don't be elusive."

Children -- let them wear colorful headbands signifying a colorful inclusive world. 

Then let's have contests -- painting, poems, plays, songs, musical compositions -- all containing the theme of peace.  

It's difficult to imagine living in this world with maimed limbs, blind eyes, or even a lost relative and friend to terrorism.