Here’s an exercise. Close your eyes and think back to your childhood. Imagine a sandbox, or a swing, or a blanket spread out for a picnic. It’s a beautiful sunny day. You have new toys.
And then someone hits you, touches you, says an offensive word, takes away your doll. Do you remember? It’s unpleasant, I understand, but it’s going to get more unpleasant, forgive me for saying that.
So, the conflict begins. Immediately your parents come in and make you put up with it. You now have to perform a ritual with your little fingers touching each other and saying, “Make up, make up, and don’t quarrel anymore.” The parents leave, and you are left with a great deal of irritation, because the person who offended you has gone unpunished. And you put up with them unfairly.
Last year, I was interviewed by a Mexican media outlet, and the host asked me whether I was for peace or for fighting. He was smiling, he knew that his question was provocative – I didn’t get confused and gave a brief overview of the history of Ukraine in the 20th century in two minutes. The host stopped smiling, my answer was very uncomfortable for him.
In those two minutes, I put all my intellectual powers into explaining why there is no peace option for us. But I didn’t tell the whole truth, given the specifics of the audience (but I can tell you). I don’t believe that I will ever see a time of peace, because peace is not only about the end of hostilities. The dictionary says that peace is “the absence of disagreement, enmity, quarrels”.
We have already recalled that touching with little fingers will only deepen the wasteland. Therefore, I believe only in fair punishment for all criminals. Only then will we, our children, and our deceased be at peace. If you doubt my words, I suggest two more exercises.
Close your eyes again – now imagine our deep, healthy, peaceful old age. And now imagine that you are listening to or reading the news. And let’s say that Ukraine and russia are hosting the Olympic Games together, carrying the torch, the symbol of peace. You would feel angry, right?
Let’s open our eyes.
Take a deep breath.
Now close your eyes. Imagine old age again. They report that the tribunal is ending with life sentences, and that what’s left of russia has been completely lustrated. It feels good, doesn’t it?
Let’s open our eyes.
I still like the exercise of justice more.
Don’t you?
Sofia Chelyak, journalist, culture manager
The initiative is implemented within the framework of the project “Strengthening the capacity of the women’s network of volunteers in Lviv region” (#FemaleVolunteersLviv) with the technical support of UN Women Ukraine and funded by the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF).
The WPHF is a flexible and rapid funding instrument that supports quality interventions that increase the capacity of local women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.
* This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), but the views and contents expressed herein are not necessarily those of the United Nations and are not officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations.