Dove of Peace

PEACE AND PESSIMISM

By: Joleen Bakalova USA

Peace seems fake. It seems like a social concept that is rarely ever implemented. These days, the traditional definition of peace as the lack of war seems to only ever be ‘maintained’ in the most developed countries. And the irony is that the cost of preventing war is hardly ever peaceful in action or idea. Even if a country is technically in ‘peacetime, ’ is there ever truly peace? Protests, violence, and injustice still exist, even if a country is not at war. Sure, there are minute moments of perceived peace in a society, but those often seem like a short illusion created by the ‘powers that be.

For many young people, there is prominent passivity and pessimism surrounding the concept of peace. In this nuclear age and time of worldreaching strife, both in traditional and non-traditional senses, it is difficult to truly believe in a perfect peace as currently portrayed.

True, peace is not perfect. It never will be. But there is great relevance in recognizing leaders and their continual efforts of striving toward peace. The millions of people who dedicate their lives towards implementing justice and progress for the world must be honored. And, in them, there comes a sharp distinction. The utopia-adjacent image of a pure white dove holding a glorious olive branch in its impeccable beak is not real. It is just a symbol. But those who lead their nations and communities toward a better path forward are real. They are the true representatives and shapers of a ‘perfect peace, ’ the true representatives of the hope of humankind.

As humanity moves forward in this time of crisis, we still can be optimistic about peace, as people are its promoters and progressors. And as history has told time and time again, it is difficult to be pessimistic about people and the future that they will bring us. 3