“The ‘call to war’ can only take us so far; so I say what our nation needs now is a call to peace and to service; peace and service on a scale we have scarcely begun to imagine.”
Our Quote of the Week confronts our assumptions about what is needed to transform society during a turbulent time. In the face of polarization, hostility and violence, we must challenge ourselves to pursue a peaceful path, one that is ultimately beneficial for ourselves and for those around us.
Sargent Shriver made this call to peace in his 2002 Speech at the National Peace Corps Association’s 41st Annual Celebration Dinner, less than one year after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Even being at the advanced age of 85 at the time, Shriver demonstrates with this short speech that he understands the contemporary world. The speech reveals the continued commitment to service, peacebuilding, and diplomacy that motivated him throughout the 1960s when he had the roles of head of the Peace Corps, the War on Poverty, and US Ambassador to France.
Among the many eloquent addresses that Sargent Shriver made during his life, this speech stands as one of Shriver’s most powerful calls to peace. He reminds his audience:
“Peace is much more than the mere absence of war. Peace requires the simple but powerful recognition that what we have in common as human beings is more important and crucial than what divides us.”
And he is blunt about the stakes involved in pursuing a path of conflict:
“Because the capacity to kill one another has far outstripped our capacity to live together. We live in a world of low-tech killing where plastic knives and innocent-looking envelopes can do the job just as efficiently as nuclear bombs. There MUST be an alternative to this endless cycle of killing, not just for America’s sake but for all of humanity.”
He is clear about what he sees as the biggest threats to humanity, and emphasizes that we must join together with other countries to eradicate them:
“Let’s join anew in common cause with all countries to eradicate poverty and militarism. Let us not be afraid to tackle difficult assignments, unswerving in our dedication to live and work alongside citizens of other nations who want to create a safe and stable world.”
While Shriver’s words may seem idealistic, he proved over and over throughout his career that putting these ideals into practice would lead to greater collaboration and empowerment in communities across the United States and across the world. By creating community-based opportunities for individuals to serve others in creative ways, in programs like the Peace Corps, Community Action, and VISTA, Shriver empowered others to build peace and security in meaningful ways.
We end this week’s reflection with a reminder that by focusing on what’s around us, we each can have an active role in creating a more peaceful world:
“You don’t have to be overseas to bring us closer to world peace; you can plant the seeds of world peace in your own back yard. Do anything you can dream up; and never stop doing!”
Today and every day, may we focus on what we can do in our own unique ways to answer this call to peace.
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