I would love it if tomorrow, all the world's nations decided to disarm their armies and agreed to resolve conflicts exclusively through peaceful means. But, this will never happen. Although I consider myself to be a pacifist, I realize that the military is a necessary institution in our modern world.
One can imagine my joy when I found out last week that the Irish Republican Army had decided to end all armed campaigns and pursue its goals purely through democratic and peaceful means.
In the midst of our own war on terror, we oftentimes forget that others, such as the British, have been engaged in an even longer terror struggle with the IRA. For almost a century, the IRA carried out hundreds of acts of terror by bombing innocent civilian institutions, such as banks, in the United Kingdom. Today, it seems that the IRA has finally realized that its violent means was getting it nowhere.
Those involved, however, must be careful with this new agreement. Taking it on face value alone, it looks very promising. The BBC reported Saturday that the IRA had already begun taking down military outposts. But the end of violence does not mean the end of the struggle. Leaders must now find a compromise in the IRA's age-long quest for self-governance in Northern Ireland, a daunting task. Furthermore, ceasefires have been agreed upon in the past, only to be broken later. It remains to be seen whether this conflict will be successfully resolved, but this latest declaration is a good first step.
The British conflict with the IRA is very similar to the U.S. conflict with Al-Qaeda. The IRA is trying to oust British presence in Northern Ireland, while Al-Qaeda is trying to oust U.S. presence in the Middle East. Both Al-Qaeda and the IRA have shown no mercy in attacking innocent civilians. The difference, now, appears to be the method of resolution. The IRA and British have decided to stop fighting and starting talking, while the U.S. and Al-Qaeda continue to fight.
It seems like the Irish and Brits have it correct. Violence simply does not solve any problem. It is barbaric and leads to a "you-punched-me-so-I-can-punch-you-back" mentality. The IRA and Brits eventually will reach a compromise that for which only a ceasefire could provide the foundation. Violence can never provide a compromise because in such situations, communication between opposing sides usually does not exist.
In the Middle East, the increasing presence of the United States will lead to more hate and contempt for Americans. Nothing will be solved because our administration, as well as Al-Qaeda, is arrogantly convinced that no peaceful deal can be reached.
Maybe the hate and anger is so extreme in the Middle East that violence is not an option but a requirement. But in my silly little pacifist heart, I still hold hope that one day, both Al-Qaeda and the United States can come to their senses and give peace a chance.
Uven Chong is a mechanical engineering sophomore. Reach him at uven.chong@asu.edu.
