Peace On Earth

IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE, it is good that Vincentians have gone to the polls and taken a decisive step about the governance of our country in time for us to approach the traditional Christmas season free of political strife. That season, in terms of its global geographic spread, is certainly the most ubiquitous on planet earth, its spread and influence is far beyond its original foundation on the Christian religion.

It is founded on the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in the land of the Palestinian people but spread all over the world in circumstances which in many cases were even antithetical to what Christ stood for and preached- and still does. Spain’s marauding conquistadors, the Buccaneers, slave traders, missionaries and colonialists of Britain, France and the Netherlands all played their role in what they thought was the spread of Christianity worldwide, by means more foul than fair.

As Christianity spread, so too did the celebration of Christmas as the main festival of the Christian church. In fact, the development of capitalism in the bastions of nations which claimed Christianity brought with it a massive spread of commercialism to the extent that it became a defining feature of the Christmas season in countries large and small.

Yet the Christian church continues to remind us that underlying and surpassing all the other themes is the one of “Peace on earth”, because “Emmanuel is with us “. It would be impossible to truly enjoy the Christmas season unless there is not only peace on earth but also, most importantly too,” goodwill towards men” (and women and children as well). Reality in today’s world highlights this fundamental contradiction. Not only are there genocidal wars on every continent enveloping every creed and race, but in spite of a rash of “peace talks” and “peace deals” we are no closer to “Peace on earth” than we have ever been. Even a quick glimpse around the world would reveal the reality – wars in Europe, Africa, Asia (including in the birthplace of the Christ child), and, frightening for us Caribbean people, the looming threat of a massive US invasion of Venezuela which would

bring death and destruction to the shores of our idyllic region. In reaction to these we are informed of a rash of what is termed “peace initiatives”. Conscious of the great prestige attached to the winner of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize, prominent political figures are today attempting to chalk up points towards being awarded the prestigious prize. Hasty “peace settlements” are organised in which leaders of warring factions are hurriedly summoned to “peace talks” at the end of which documents supposedly to mark an end to hostilities are signed publicly.

The reality is that no sooner than these peace deals are announced that we hear of further outbreaks of hostilities on the part of the signatories. That is the case with the Rwanda/Congo deal in Africa, the Thailand/Cambodia settlement in south east Asia, the agreement to end the armed conflict between India and Pakistan and, most painful of all, the grand peace deal in the Middle East which has brought neither peace nor justice to the people living in the land where Christ was born and lived. In addition, there is the blatant failure to find a peaceful solution to the fratricidal conflict stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while a massive US armada continues to threaten peace and goodwill in the Caribbean.

How serious are we then about peace as being central to our celebration of Christmas? We would urge our church leaders to also focus on these larger issues and make them a part of the homilies and discussions this Christmas. Let us spare far more than a thought for the millions displaced and suffering people in Sudan, the Sahel, south and south-east Asia, in Haiti, and especially at this time, in Palestine, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. We must at least bring the plight of all these to the fore, speak out against the threat to peace in our own zone of tranquillity in the Caribbean.

That, at a minimum, will bring real meaning to “Peace on Earth”.