WJBC Forum: When will peace come?

Posted on January 2, 2015

By Mike Matejka

Happy New Year!  I hope 2015 brings us a more peaceful world.  Despite all our modern means of communication, we often seem more distant within our own human family.   Rather than a commentary, let me share a poem I recently wrote on this theme…

Peace on earth is the holiday cry.

Where is there peace?

Is there peace in the desert sands where ISIS lurks and drones fly?

Is there peace for young men on Ferguson's streets?

Is there peace for the Bengali sewers of clothing?

Is there peace for those awaiting a silent night at the border?

Is there peace in the land of plenty where many hunger?

While we cry peace, our hearts, cities and nations stare

across chasms of hate and misunderstanding.

"Love thy enemy" is missing from the torture report.

Irony abounds in a world with communication so rapid

but understanding so slow.

Where is peace?

Is peace found when we learn to listen?

Is peace found when we see through other's eyes?

We should light firesof hope and compassion.

Peace comes when we break hatred’s brittle shell.

Peace comes when we open our hands, not form a fist.

Peace comes, but only when we touch,

listen, understand, respond.

Let peace end its homeless wander

and find home in all of our hearts.

Here’s hoping 2015 brings a peaceful world for you and our troubled human family. 

Mike Matejka is the Governmental Affairs director for the Great Plains Laborers District Council, covering 11,000 union Laborers in northern Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He lives in Bloomington with his wife and daughter and their two dogs. He served on the Bloomington City Council for 18 years, is a past president of the McLean County Historical Society and Vice-President of the Illinois Labor History Society.

The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Cumulus Media, Inc.

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