Locals Describe “What Peace Means To Me”
In order to mark International Peace Day, Imagine Bermuda held a reception this afternoon [Sept 21] for stakeholders who have made some contribution to the cross-community conversation on ”What Peace Means to Me”.
Glenn Fubler of Imagine Bermuda said, “The gathering took place with the collaboration of Brown & Co/ BUZZ and we appreciate their support for same.
“The significance of this venue was the fact that it overlooks the site of the Number One Shed. It was on those grounds that Bermuda experienced one its most explosive labour disputes in September 1959 – 55 years ago.
“The course of that dispute led to a face-off between dockworkers with improvised weapons and the Riot Squad and was the first occasion in the Island’s history that the Riot Act was read out to a crowd. This was done from the porch of the old Trimingham’s. [adjacent to Brown & Co.]
“However, after some hours of tension, a group of local residents offered an intervention to mediate between the parties. After sometime, the mediation worked and this crisis ended peacefully. It represents a key chapter of our shared past, demonstrating choosing peace and the subsequent engagement – over many months -between the parties transformed the system of labour relations on the Docks.
“We note that those who missed the broadcast of the conversation with Desmond Tutu can Google the recording of same at ‘Summer of Peace’ and listen to it at one’s leisure.”
Locals Describe “What Peace Means to Me”
Deputy Governor Ginny Ferson
Peace means living in harmony with other people, treating each other with warmth, decency and respect no matter what our background, race or religious beliefs. And where there are differences we learn to overcome them through patience, understanding and generosity of spirit.
Filmmaker Lucinda Spurling
I hope every day that “peace will win and fear will lose” in my own personal life and in our world of global unrest. Peace is a world without violence and without greed. Instead of feeling the burden of struggles we have little control over, I choose to have hope or like the Queen in Alice in Wonderland, “ Why sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
PLP Chairman Maynard Dill
Is an end to all conflict, and anxiety, where each individual can enjoy mental tranquility; in an atmosphere where individuals are free and unfettered to meet their personal needs and self-actualization.
Tantamount to this is individuals are free to accumulate wealth but to do so with regard to actions and outcomes not adversely affecting others.
In the absence of greed there is true peace.
Independent Senator Joan Dillas-Wright
Peace is a word that speaks to more than freedom, or the cessation of war, among or between countries, nations or tribes or even conflicts among families. It is also reflective of a disposition within a nation, of freedom from hunger or harm.
It is all of these, but to me PEACE speaks to a state of mind whereby an individual is at one with himself or herself and with nature.
It is therefore an existential state that reflects contentment and therefore happiness with oneself, knowing ones abilities and limitations, and knowing when to say yes, and when to say no, with a firmness of conviction that leaves no misinterpretation.
I have two readings which I like to reflect on (1) the poem Desiderata by Max Ehrmann; (2) John 14:27 in the Bible.
I also experience peace sitting in my garden or by the ocean. I think we are very fortunate to be living in this beautiful island of Bermuda which I do not take for granted.
Marilyn Outerbridge, the mother of the late Haile Outerbridge
Peace to me means humbly submitting oneself to the will of God. God is Peace, therefore if we want peace, we must return back to God. Peace means Love, Joy, Patience, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and self control. It means brotherly love; taking care of the homeless, the motherless, the fatherless, the widows and orphans.
Peace therefore is attained through the fulfillment of these virtues. Peace is one of the fruit of the Spirit. So to attain peace, is a great virtue. Against such, there is no law.
In concluding, the World needs peace. May the Peace of God and the Gift of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Martha Dismont of the Family Centre
Thank you, Imagine Bermuda, for encouraging each one of us to celebrate Peace Week, and International Day of Peace—September 21st!
As I walk around our island, and look upon the faces of the Bermuda people, where there used to be happiness and care free expressions, I now see sad and unattached people. Clearly, people do not only need a sense of peace, but also a sense of hope, and well-being.
I want to encourage each one of you to consider going deep within yourselves to find the hope and peace that you seek. I learned a long time ago, that what I need is not external to myself. Everything we have ever needed is within. The bible expression, and question: “what hast thou in the house?” rings true, here. Once we recognize it within, we will see it manifested in our experience. But we must seek it within first, and then claim it as our own.
For me, “peace” is a reflection of compassion, forgiveness and patience.
“Peace” is an inner sense that all is well and that it will always be well, no matter what untoward circumstance appears. It is reliance upon a deeper power than oneself, and a trust that this power carefully holds the entire universe in His hand.
“Peace” is the sound of children’s footsteps skipping through the rain without a care in the world…..
My peace continues to come from this inner sense that tells me that there is a higher power that governs every aspect of my being, and gives me everything that I need. I have my greatest sense of peace when I trust completely in this promise.
Go, find your peace. Dig deep. Do not stop until you find it. It may be slightly hidden, but it will be well worth the journey.
Thank you, Imagine Bermuda, for reminding us to pause for a moment and to seek those things which give us the truest sense of peace, and ultimately, the best sense of hope.
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Premier Michael Dunkley
The symbolism of peace for me is a state of calmness that guides your mood and reaction despite the challenge faced.
Peace is knowing that while we may not be able to control everything around us, we can control how we react to those things. Peace is not meeting violence with more violence.
It is the absence of violence if at all possible. Peace is the expression of unconditional love, patience, kindness and forgiveness.
I think this quote from the late Dr. Maya Angelou aptly sums up a unique and interesting approach to consider… “Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.”
As the Premier of Bermuda, my humble hope for Bermuda is a Country and a people coming together in the spirit of respect, kindness, unity and peace. One Bermuda.
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Everyone is crying out for peace, none are crying out for justice
There will be no peace ’til mankind gets equal rights and justice…
Everyone talking bout crime but tell me who are the criminals!!!!!!!
What a gift to offer to us, Imagine Bermuda… the opportunity to consider just what peace means to us… and then, with the encouragement of Mahatma Gandhi, to go and ‘be the change we want to see in the world’.
“Is an end to all conflict, and anxiety, where each individual can enjoy mental tranquility; in an atmosphere where individuals are free and unfettered to meet their personal needs and self-actualization.
Tantamount to this is individuals are free to accumulate wealth but to do so with regard to actions and outcomes not adversely affecting others.
In the absence of greed there is true peace.”
Self Actualization is greed to oneself in terms of time.
Wealth ??? Really ??
Peace requires personal interaction to exist. Peace in a box away from everyone is not peace it is SOLITARY CONFINEMENT and a conflict deterrrant.
Just trying to help you realize what peace is, Mr Maynard Dill.
Well said Marilyn Outerbridge. It is obvious that through all that you have been through, you have perfect peace. A peace that we can all aspire for.
…until the basic human rights are guaranteed to all without regard to race;…until that day the dream of lasting peace and world citezenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained;…sound familiar? These are the words of a true leader.