Let's get things straight: An essay on forgiveness and reconciliation for world peace
MENA Dubai 2003 Abstract
Author Roberts D. Hicks
Copy We need to get things straight to help build peace in a stable world. The world we live in may be physically stable, but it is not healthy or peaceful. To protect the health of the earth and restore peace where it has been lost, the human race needs to come together to face some very serious and urgent problems. To ensure the best of all possible futures for all human beings living today, the next generation, plus all those that will follow, the need for wisdom and cooperative efforts has never been so great.

One of the most important and urgent questions we must answer is therefore how can we stop the fighting and the violence that is occurring throughout the world so that we can work in peace more effectively for the benefit of all people now and in the future?

The answer to this question, I believe, comes in two parts. The first part is that we must do more than we have been doing to confront the feelings of fear, mistrust and hate that are so prevalent throughout the world. To do this successfully will require that we be honest with ourselves and admit that both forgiveness and reconciliation are urgently needed on a global scale. People should not allow their fear of the violent few to prevent them from knowing the good of the peaceful many, nor should they allow that fear to prevent them from living in harmony with others. Following this, the second part requires that we work urgently to heal and strengthen the bonds between all communities and peoples.

It is important that we understand that the international war against terrorism must be won, not at the expense of tolerance, goodwill and compassion for others, but by the use of them, and in the end what will always be needed is forgiveness and reconciliation.