By Paul Weiser
Words change meanings between use alone and in a phrase - not to mention among different phrases. One subtle but significant distinction involves "peace."
Without going into religious usage (where "My peace I give unto you" implies a distancing from earthly affairs while "religion of peace" in fact demands surrender) consider only "Peace" the noun and "at peace," the category of nations not at war. At first glance the usages appear different.
"At peace" describes a real condition of international affairs where neither of two nations has proclaimed war against the other or committed undeclared acts of war against it. "Peace" alone, on the other hand, edges toward the Christian religious definition, an ideal condition of somewhat oblivious withdrawal from - even aversion to - conflict.
This distinction is so subtle that, in waking reality, it collapses. The world is what it is, nations are what they are; Christian peace is given "not as the world gives," Islamic "peace" is a sham. The condition of being "at peace" with others is as close as a real nation can come to serene religious/ideological peace, for every other nation has (by definition) the ability to declare or commit war against it whether the nation of the second part wishes it or not.
It has been truly said that war is the health of the state; by implication, then, peace would be its illness. But in a world where other nations exist and likewise strive for "health" at its expense, the best nation's only recourse is to treat periods "at peace" as times of restorative rest between its necessary labors. That best nation must, as another adage implies, prepare for war if it would have peace - but manifest the self-confidence and self-restraint to remain at peace with all who are likewise peaceful in word and deed.
None of Your Lib (NOLIB) is a weekly column, appearing
each Monday. Email responses and requests
to Paul Weiser
- be sure to specify in the body of the message that
your mail is to NOLIB. Some past articles are in the
NOLIB archives, and you are also invited to
visit
my home page. All responses
are appreciated,
and may be incorporated into succeeding columns in whole
or in part unless the sender requests otherwise. And of
course, the opinions expressed are those of the columnist and
may
not reflect the views or opinions of gte.net.