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OPINION: Fr Martin Magill on UN 'Peace Day'

As events take place across Northern Ireland to mark UN Peace Day, north Belfast priest Fr Martin Magill suggests the kind of 'small steps' that could make a big difference at home and abroad

A prayer service to mark UN Peace Day held at Titanic Belfast last year. Picture by The Big Wooden Box Ltd
A prayer service to mark UN Peace Day held at Titanic Belfast last year. Picture by The Big Wooden Box Ltd A prayer service to mark UN Peace Day held at Titanic Belfast last year. Picture by The Big Wooden Box Ltd

Each year on September 21 people all over the world celebrate United Nations International Day of Peace, which was first observed in 1982.

It is easy to be cynical about such UN days with questions like what difference do they make.

One of the great strengths of Peace Day, as it is also known, is its ability to unite people throughout the world in ways that significant Christian celebrations like Christmas and Easter are unable to do.

It is very easy to focus on difference and I know I don't need to emphasise that point in this part of the world.

In reality, even with the differences of gender, identity, religion, sexual orientation and nationality, every single human being can unite around a desire and a commitment for world peace.

Peace Day allows us to acknowledge one another as fellow human beings. For the cynics - and, if social media convinces me of anything, it is that's there is no scarcity of them - the words of the Chinese proverb come to mind: "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness."

I would suggest celebrating International Day of Peace by lighting a candle for the whole human race in the midst of our darkness. Peace Day encourages a politics of hope and is a pointer to human flourishing.

Turning to the more local scene on the island of Ireland and how it is celebrated here or not, for the most part there seems to be little awareness of the day.

In my research for this short article, I was unable to find any event in the Republic whereas I came across a number in Northern Ireland including places such as Omagh, Newtownards, Stewartstown, Crawsfordburn, Coalisland, Antrim, Derry/Londonderry and Belfast (details of all known events can be found on www.facebook.com/idpni).

Belfast itself has several events including a time for prayer organised by Christian Aid in Redeemer Church on Donegall Street and an Interfaith event by the Northern Ireland Faith Forum.

There is also an event on the day after International Day in the offices of Meditation NI with the timely title of "What is needed for peace?"

On the evening of Peace Day there is "Peace Fest NI" which its youthful planners described as a mini-festival bringing people through music, art, storytelling and dialogue.

I've been hearing about live tweeting, instagram and periscoping to mention just a few.

One of my hopes for the Belfast City Hall event is that it will encourage a new generation of peace makers and maybe encourage a new generation of politicians.

So how do we make the most of Peace Day? My main suggestion is based on a useful initiative called "One Small Step", which published a book containing suggestions of 100 "small steps" such as reading a newspaper from another political perspective, going to a sporting event not associated with one's own background, or attending worship in another tradition.

I offer three suggestions, local, global and personal.

1. From my own experience, I want to stress the value of quiet conversations.

I recently read that one of my Facebook friends has decided to avoid some of the "tit for tat" posting which happens in social media and is engaging more in coffee shop conversations. I would suggest to make the most of the quiet conversations, it is important to have an open and inquiring mind.

I'm grateful for the conversations I've had with people such as historian Jason Burke, Jamie Bryson who wrote about our generation in very generous terms on his blog, academic Sophie Long specialising in civic loyalism, and more recently with Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Guy Spence. I found each of these conversations enriching as well as challenging.

2. In the spirit of International Day of Peace, I would suggest doing something practical to help a refugee or asylum seeker. As refugees begin arriving here, this will become more and more necessary. We might consider making a donation to a charity working with refugees and asylum seekers.

During Peace Fest in Belfast City Hall, Bethany, a 9-year-old girl, will share her experience of how she and her family got to know a man called Stanley who is seeking asylum in Northern Ireland.

Alongside this, as the island of Ireland becomes more culturally and religiously diverse, we might decide to learn about another religion or another culture.

3. Going back to social media and some of the comments one reads, it is clear that the teaching of Jesus of the "splinter and the wood" is as relevant today as it was then.

Some of us tend to point out the faults and failings of others, with no awareness of our own blind spots. For those of us who point out the sectarianism in others, it might be an idea to consider if we are projecting some of our issues on to those of other religious or political traditions.

In this suggestion, we might consider looking at some of our own issues. In short, as we develop inner peace, we contribute to outer peace: "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself.”

I would suggest when we start work on the "plank" in our eye, we contribute to increasing peace in our world.