Youth Category 2nd Prize

HARMONY ON EARTH: A TRUE MAGNUM OPUS

by Allison Zbicz
USA, Age 18

Though difficult to attain, harmony is not just some abstract utopian ideal. It is more than the mere cessation of gunfire, more than "peaceful coexistence," and more than the serenity of a beautiful spring day. Just as in music, where harmony is the coming together of varied and distinct parts to create one glorious masterpiece, harmony between people is the coming together of diverse peoples to create one glorious masterpiece: a united humanity.

To obtain harmony between people and among nations, we must call for an appreciation for all people, regardless of religion or political beliefs. Harmony necessitates understanding, forgiveness, respect for life, and trust. If the world can attain these things, the world can attain harmony and peace.

All nations and people have, at some point in their history, wronged others and been wronged by others. A nation that "keeps count" of grievances is always able to enumerate the transgressions of other nations, but is conveniently blinded to its own wrongdoing. Regardless of how morally questionable or corrupt its actions may be, no country or person actually perceives itself as an unjustified aggressor. Even Hitler was able to convince himself that the Jews were somehow deserving of their fate. As a result of our biases, we must come to realize that our suffering cannot be compared with the suffering of others, that sometimes we must compromise our idea of "justice" for the sake of peace. The healing of divisions cannot begin until the fighting has ended.

In the tragic ongoing conflict in the Middle East, both the Israelis and Palestinians continually harm each other. Because both sides are unyielding, it does not matter which group is more innocent and pure. A change in leadership cannot cause the people to forget their past sufferings, so how can we expect peace in the Middle East unless these peoples can learn to forgive each other their debts and start over? Unless they can learn to respect and value all life, regardless of ethnicity, unless they learn to tolerate and even appreciate diversity, unless they can trust the integrity of each other's promises, they can never have harmony. While leaders certainly have a responsibility to help guide people along the right paths, I along with all the citizens of the world have an obligation to help those who need it, to hope and pray for reconciliation, and to try to understand those who persecute us. Who am I to judge the motives of other's actions? Who am I to hate those who are themselves hurting and misguided? Every generation in every time and place has had their own burdens to bear, but working towards harmony is a never-ending struggle, something we must keep working towards even when it seems hopeless, especially when it seems hopeless.

How can we catalyze this desire for peace and harmony in the world? How do we get people to forgive in spite of their pain? I believe that a true and complete harmony is not created in one sweeping action, but rather, one person at a time. Through education, we can weaken and dispel many social prejudices. By helping people try to look at the conflict from a different perspective, by helping them see that different is not the same as evil, we can work towards a more peaceful earth. In music, a magnum opus, or great work, is created by hundreds of themes woven together on a grand scale. As the name implies, the composer dedicates his life to the creation of this work. For us to create a harmonious world, we cannot just expect it to happen on its own, we must dedicate ourselves to this great work. We must be the composers of a harmonious future.

Yes, some people in the world have unleashed terrible destruction and have caused immense pain for others, but we must not let vengeance be our motive for action. We must convince our neighbors that it is time to start over with "a clean state," or better yet, with no slate at all. Maybe such a plea will be viewed by the world as youthfully naive and optimistic, but what other choice do we have? A harmonious world cannot be won with tanks and fighter jets, and such a proposition is decidedly absurd. Yet, many world leaders today seem to sincerely believe that violence can put an end to violence, and that diplomacy is expendable. What I ask is this: If we cannot even take the time to try to understand our adversaries, what hope is there for the composition of a peaceful and harmonious world?

"The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart."- Dorothy Day