What is Peace?

By Darrin F. Coe, MA

Websters defines peace as the absence of hostilities, not the absence of aggression or competition but the absence of hostility.  Hostility is defined as antagonism and antagonize is defined as arousing hostility. 

To me antagonism holds the connotation of purposefulness.  Hostility also holds the connotation of purposefulness as well as violence; perhaps even a desire to cause harm physically or emotionally.

The SS4P defines peace as an atmosphere, attitude, and mental/emotional state that fosters cooperation, creativity, growth, and improvement.  It allows for individuality within a teamwork paradigm.  It is an atmosphere in which people experience a calmness of purpose while at the same time understand that it is ok to aggressively compete with one another in a way that leads to mutual growth, improvement and respect.

Peace connotates purposeful resolution and negotiation in an attempt to diminish experienced physical or mental harm.  Peace is an atmosphere and state of mind that facilitates empowerment.

Only in peace can we grow to our fullest potential. 

Conflict is considered good in that its peaceful resolution embodies challenge, growth, and creativity.  Conflict is not to be avoided but embraced as a path to nurture peaceful opportunity.

Peace must be lived as a state of being much like ones faith or ethnicity.  Peace is an existence and a process not an event.