During this sacred season of Solstice, the idea of “Peace on Earth” is being silenced more than at any time in my 56 years. The symbols of peace, the language of peace and the celebration of peace are “disappearing,” rather like the disappeared intellectuals in a military coup.

In the weeks prior to Remembrance Day, there was very little “never again” talk and far too much dangerous macho-speak of patriotism and glory.

Canada needs a designated Department of Peace. Peace-related work is now handled in a fragmented process by many different departments. The existing government structures are better geared to rationalize and organize war than to design peace.

Peace is a layered and complex issue that is a part of every aspect of human society. It is constructed (or not) through the subtle influences of education, language, entertainment, our legal system, economics, foreign policy, feminism, literacy, etc., etc., etc. Peace is about bone deep justice – it is never simply just an absence of war.

Canada is failing miserably at peace, both domestically and internationally. We have been backsliding alarmingly into a more simplistic and primitive militarism. The promotion of this militarism is increasingly bending unthinking minds to its purposes. Propaganda that frames “othering”, fear and glory is the norm now.

Only a designated Department of Peace with its own Minister of Peace in cabinet can effectively distill and organize all elements of peace issues within government. Canada had a proud history of the promotion of peacekeeping and peaceful negotiation. We can rehabilitate our tarnished reputation by becoming the first country to establish a Department of Peace.

Now that the economy is tanking and the illusion of “freedom 55” is, thankfully, spiralling into oblivion, many of us oldies will be staying at home more. We will have more time to focus on working to redeem ourselves. Most of us have taken far more than we can ever repay. Working to promote the organization of peace and a Department of Peace can help us leave a more honourable legacy. There is an informative website at www.departmentofpeace.ca. This non partisan group has put together an excellent body of material and needs our input and support.

Let’s not stick the younger ones with global war. We’ve already put them in peril by creating environmental mayhem. Let’s forge some lasting goodness for them by insisting that Canada adopt a more holistic and formalized structure whose sole modus vendi is to create the conditions for real peace.

Dawn McLaughlin
Stratford