The controversy of the past brings in new challenges to the current system of world order, something that has limited control and potential of what the next steps might be and how they would be taken in. It’s not a surprise for socio-political wars to extend and take new turns in the modern day. In fact, most of the battles fought nowadays are based on solid foundations that have been laid down in the past. It’s a generational contribution and continuation of previous ideologies and actions.
But there have been some circumstances when actual war and bloodshed had taken a step back, with a short pause. It’s not a peaceful transition or an end of a conflict, but a religious testimony of respect of a whole day and occasion. This step is a major milestone towards long-term and eventual peace and stability, however, not all sides are willing to accept and compromise. But still, the pause of violence during holly days, such as Christmas have been a norm in some parts of the world.
The first representation of the Biblical message and tradition of favoring peace over violence and war took place in 1914 during The First World War when German and British forces crossed trenches and zones just to celebrate Christmas, putting the dispute of the context of their reality behind for a day. Not only that, but the Guerrilla conflict between the Maoist New People’s Army (NPA) and the government in the Philippine is another case that is following the same theme of religious extremism, to the point of extending the timeframe of war to over 50 years, but putting a short end to it on Christmas. The conflict is a serious socio-political crisis that endures and encompasses domestic beliefs with international implications of applying political ideologies that are not widely accepted in the country.
The conflict between NPA and the government have been largely confined by the international community’s inability to address and deal with the domestic political crisis first, and that led to an extended period of instability and violent acts within the community. But with all the violence and bloodshed associated with the war, on Christmas eve and the day of the holiday, war pauses, everything shuts down, and the silent night of prayers extends into a silent night of mourning the dead by sealing the sound of the riffles and the screams of on-goers.
But the question remains floating in everyone’s mind, and its whether this pause is cooperation for an ultimate extended truce ? Or it just a pause to take a breather and continue with more violent acts?. As it may be a break to think of more strategies and tactics to apply when the pause is over. It’s something that has been seen as a light in the darkness of endless warfare, but this light still has some missing hidden meanings behind it. For it’s considered as a religious symbol and ritual of respect to the Bible and the Holy Ghost that can also be taken into other levels of worship, by redesigning the tactical approach of religious glorification through war and the creation of a new way of thinking and doing. All to reach the ultimate goal of victory that is never present on a battlefield.
The turn-up of events from actual wars fought through strategies and tactics, to holy wars during the holy days, is a spiritual experience and reminder of the medieval period and the way war was declared and fought.
Modern scenarios of pausing all acts of war during Christmas not only encompasses the Philippines, but it also includes the Russo-Ukrainian war. Last year, Russia proposed a pause of war during Christmas to allow both sides to celebrate this holy day by being with their loved ones. But the proposal was rejected by Ukraine as it was seen as a step towards the beginning of their end, especially that the Russians were not to be trusted with a break and a pause of events by any means. Ukraine’s rejection held deep and bold statements in the academic field of politics, especially when trust is a fundamental principle that can build up empires, and destroy them all at once.
In this context, trust is the answer for all, it will always define and determine the next warfare steps. Whether it’s peace or the continuity of battle, it remains hidden and buries deep within one’s own beliefs and values that have been a great and major influence for the war in the first place.
But aside of all contexts and Polticial disputes, the pause on actual war actions is also considered as an invisible light white flag that is semi-raised by the opposing party. It’s a hand that is lend to propose a settlement, an indirect diplomatic resolution through spiritual tendencies and the holiness of the day. And when both parties are in full acceptance and agreement of a peaceful resolution, then the pause have made a progress for peace, which can also be defined as the guidance of the holy spirit that made victory a priority for both. And that’s an ultimate settlement for all, peace and preservation of the soul and life, instead of extermination and destruction.
Original article
Comments