Popular sayings like “after the storm comes calm” and “hope is the last thing lost,” though clichéd to many, are reality today.
By Omaira Martínez – Colombian journalist
I believe one of the most moving scenes anyone can experience is the reunion of someone who has been held captive, kidnapped, active in armed conflict, or deprived of freedom with their family.
Words fall short when good news—sometimes so long in coming—arrives to renew and revive hope that a more peaceful coexistence is indeed possible.
Talking about peace in these chaotic times is an odyssey, especially considering that the total peace some advocate for isn’t possible in a world as diverse as ours, where nearly everyone competes for the same interests: power, control, money, and recognition.
A famous saying goes that peace isn’t the absence of conflict but the ability to face it. What is possible, however, is coexistence through agreements where everyone can exchange benefits without harming the general or common interests.
It sounds simple, but circumstances and recent conflicts have shown us the complexity of human relationships when people insist on gaining advantages to satisfy individual interests.
Beyond ideologies and clashes between nations over resources, territorial control, and political recognition lies humanity’s need to survive and face the consequences of wars and conflicts that often seem incomprehensible or irrelevant to most.
I’ve always believed that coexisting with others—whether in family, community, with those who think differently, or come from another culture—is one of the most complex challenges we face.
That’s why we must prepare to confront it with the willingness and ability to understand the interests that motivate rivals or opponents. It must also be acknowledged that there will always be devastating and irreversible consequences and losses.
The indifference and lack of solidarity from those not directly involved in a conflict are among the most evident signs of the modern world, which still doesn’t grasp the impact any disagreement—no matter how distant—can have on global stability. Peaceful coexistence is built on the will of the parties involved, and turning the desire to live peacefully into reality is a negotiation process where each side must define how far they’re willing to compromise.
History has taught us that after conflict, a new beginning is possible; that humanity, though fragile, grows stronger after crises, becoming more resilient. That it is indeed possible to move from fear to hope.
Peace and strength to the families of those who lost their lives in the clashes between Israelis and Palestinians. Congratulations and well-deserved recognition to María Corina Machado, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, who has shown that opposition can be done without violence and has restored hope to her compatriots for a brighter future.
oma66co@gmail.com
