Having a peaceful and harmonious environment is a dream of all people in the world. When you live in those kinds of environments, you will live comfortably. Now, the question is how to maintain peace and harmony in society?
On the Voice of Salam site, there is an article entitled 12 Simple Principles to Build Peace in Your Community by Elizabeth Arif-Fear and here are the points of the article.
- You have to treat the way you want to be treated.
Empathy, tolerance and peace are the good old Golden Rule. You are taught by this principle to love yourself and love others as well. It covers cultures and faiths. - You have to listen to hear what others have to say, not to speak.
You have to engage in dialogue with an open mind and the real will to listen to others. By doing this, you will be able to understand each other and you are able to build bridges. If people cannot communicate with others, change will not be able to happen and peace will not be able to be built. If you communicate with others, you will listen to their experiences and views and show empathy, understanding and compassion. - You have to accept differences of opinion.
In this life, of course, we have different opinions and we may not all agree on the similar things. So, it is important to build compromise and mutual understanding. Sometimes, we need to agree to disagree and acknowledge that there are different beliefs and forms of expression other than your own. - Never fight violence with violence.
No matter what problem it is, violence is not the answer. You can only bring peace through free will, dialogue, empathy and forgiveness. Peace is that if not absence of conflict, it is the ability to overcome conflict by peaceful ways. - You have to fight extremism in all its forms.
Make sure that you do not categorize terrorism as a religious phenomenon and single out or stereotype certain groups of people. It is a human disease and it is able to take a lot of forms. We have to fight all forms of extremism and hatred. If not, there will be further division and conflict. - You have to accept that identity is fluid.
It is important for you to note that any one person is able to have some aspects to their identity. Identity consists of a lot of elements such as cultural-linguistic origin, nationality, age and religious beliefs. Identity is able to change. So, don’t put people into a box and you have to avoid categorizing people according to an us vs. them narrative and you need to remember that we are all singular individuals who have unique experiences. - You have to avoid stereotypes.
We have to avoid misconceptions, stereotypes and toxic narratives. Instead, we have to get to know a person so that it will avoid offence, misunderstandings and help us to create a real bond with others based on true understanding, empathy and trust. - Approach the media with skepticism.
Make sure that you do not just believe everything that you see on the television, in newspapers or on the internet. It is important for you to think objectively for yourself. You have to get to know the people and facts behind any story and make sure that you do not fall for media scapegoating. - You have to be careful with the language that you use.
Your choice of language, tone of voice and intonation convey a message. So, you have to make sure that the message is positive. You have to pay attention to the language that you use and avoid something racist, misogynistic, Islamophobic, and many more. Never underestimate the power of language. - You have to let go of the past.
Let’s say that now you are stuck in the past. If so, you are not able to move on. The things that you have to do is to learn lessons and learn to move forward for the greater good. If you forgive, it does not mean that you agree with everything. However, it means that you are able to move on without grudges and resentment. By this way, communities can heal and move forward together. - You have to stand up for others, not just your own community.
Let’s say that we only fight prejudice and injustice against our own family, friends and community groups. If so, it means that we fail to protect the wider community and society as a whole. It is important for you to remember that discrimination, bigotry and prejudice do not know boundaries. So, to make a community live peacefully and in harmony, we have to respect everyone’s rights and freedoms. - You can celebrate diversity.
It is important for you to learn about other communities, nationalities, and people to understand them. If you do not learn about others, you will not understand them. As a result, you will miss out on the chance to build bonds, friendships and common goals and interests.
Some Ways to Live in Harmony with Others
According to the WikiHow site, here are some ways that you are able to do to live in harmony with others.
- You have to connect with others.
It can be done by taking part in community events, connecting with your neighbours, hanging out with friends on a regular basis, spending quality time with family, being vulnerable and honest with friends and family, and being generous and caring to your partner or spouse. - You have to overcome differences and disagreements.
It can be done by avoiding yelling or shouting at others, countering anger with compassion and empathy, being an active listener, being open to compromise, and accepting that you may not agree with everyone. - You must give back to others.
It can be done by helping a neighbour, friend or family member in need, volunteering at a local organization, donating money to a worthy cause, becoming a mentor, and shopping at local businesses. - You have to maintain your own sense of harmony.
It can be done by finding a hobby or activity that you enjoy, trying deep breathing, taking time for self-care, and using positive affirmations.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
