Write a dialogue between peace and war
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A Dialogue between War and Peace
MARCH 22ND, 2010 COMMENTARIES, FEATURED0 COMMENTS4187
By the Rev. Dr. Miltiades B. Efthimiou
This was written on an airplane en route to New York from Baghdad, after the writer had attended a “Peace Mission” with 18 other clergymen representing 60 million Christians, living in the Americas. It took place right before Desert Storm in Iraq and was sponsored by the National Council of Churches. Areas visited were Cyprus, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Damascus, Amman and Baghdad.
It was a cold December evening when the fierce but revered Sir War and the equally distinguished but humble Rev. Peace decided to hold a discussion relative to their respective positions on who controls the fate of the planet Earth. The discussion took place at the grand estate of Sir War as the pendulum of time moved ever closer to the climax of the Middle East crisis when two great armies were planning to annihilate each other.
Sir War was very rich and, because of his great fortune, lavished his guest with sumptuous hospitality. Rev. Peace lived in humble surroundings, and could never afford to entertain on the scale of Sir War. After his arrival, Peace and War sat near a crackling fireplace and began their dialogue:
“There really isn’t much point to our conversation, is there, my friend?” Rev. Peace’s eyes were downcast as he replied, “Well, sir War, I guess there isn’t since it is inevitable that soon many will call upon you and invoke your name! Yes, it is true, the powerful do not respect me! Each day that goes by, I feel that something in me dies. I’m afraid my last days are coming soon. If there is a conflict in the Middle East, perhaps my name will be-come just a memory.” It was obviously what sir War was waiting to hear, except for the fact that Rev. Peace added this: “But look at you! Time has not been kind to you for you are looking ragged, and hate has turned you ugly and you have grown fat by the misery of others. You’re dressed in the finest silk, and you are adorned with rubies and diamonds.” Rev. Peace scanned the eyes of sir War and said, ‘Look at your house! It’s not a normal house; it’s a gigantic castle built on the sands of time with the monies derived from all the wars fought in your name from the beginning of time. The Lord even spoke about you in one of His parables, ‘The rich man and poor Lazarus ‘ “.
“Well, let’s look at you,” sneered sir War with a look of contempt. “Your simple garb reflects the humanity of the lower class of all ages. Of course, you live in humility, for you roam the world like your Lord, trying to gather followers to your hopeless cause of peace. Your efforts are useless. No one listens to you!” And with a haughty and defiant stare at his guest, he haughtily proclaimed: “No matter what my appearance is, I have statesmen, kings, dictators, presidents and the powerful who worship me. War is a thriving enterprise! My coffers are full, I am never hungry and I eat the best and most expensive food, wear the best clothes, I am warm in winter and cool in summer, and I say to myself every night, “Soul, soul, you have many, many riches …!” And then Sir War took Rev. Peace by the hand and looked into the fire and said: “Have I not made freedom and democracy my slave?” And then from the fire, he looked into Rev. Peace’s eyes and said, “Can I not make you one of my slaves also? You will never hunger nor will you ever feel the icy winds of winter, nor the hot rays of the summer sun!”