Peace & Order

PEACE AND ORDER

Peace and order unites religions and culture, incorporating values of security and harmony together with justice and respect for the human dignity. While peace undoubtedly, is one of the most universal and significant of human ideals, it is describe as "one of the most positive symbols having meaning for the whole humanity", the ways that we think about peace and how to attain it are often diffuse and content-dependent.

Peace is the dream of every generation, the goal of every civil society. Do we recall the anti-war movement in the 60's in which states "Make Love, Not War!" The masses of "flower" children waved their homemade signs and chanted in their exuberant innocence. They opposed the Vietnam War, they wanted to live and let live.

And we must not forget the most important event in our Philippine History, 'The 1986 Edsa Revolution', wherein all people from different walks of life gathered together and walk hand in hand in order to achieve "Peace" for our country.

It is a sad fact of life that there will be wars in the next generation, and the next. What ha gone wrong? Why is it so elusive, when everyone wants it. Is peace and order an impossible dream?

THE PROBLEMS

The Peace and Order situation in our country is still sinking in the sea. The vision of having a non-violent, quiet, peaceful & orderly way of living remains a dream.

CRIME AND VIOLENCE

The rate of crime and violence increases daily. Violence arises inevitably from human competitiveness and covetousness; peace is secured through the forceful imposition of order.

Violence against women and abuse of children is a continuing problem. Discrimination against Muslims persisted, that often results to violence between two opposing religious beliefs. Child labors, prostitution as did trafficking are all crimes against women and children.

Recent trends in the types of crime have been toward economic and intellectual crime involving violence accounted for all 35.37% of all criminal cases reported to the police in 1994, posing a serious threat to the peace and order of society. Crime has also spread from urban centers, and juvenile delinquency has been on the rise.

UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS IN THE SOCIETY

Some elements of the security services were responsible for arbitrary and unlawful, in some cases, extrajudicial killings, disappearance, torture and arbitrary arrest and detention. The prosecutorial and judicial corruption remains a major problem. Police and local government leaders at times, sanctioned extrajudicial killings and vigilantism as expedient means of fighting crime and terrorism.

Despite effort by reformist leaders in all three branches of the Government to strengthen the rule of law and protection of human rights, a fundamental and pervasive weakness in the rule of law contributed to a widely held belief that official justice is beyond reach. Some local military and police forces harassed human rights activists.

POVERTY

The increasing rate of the population which results in too many people, but does not achieve good education, results increasing rate of unemployment in our country. This also triggers the people to act violently in order to have money and sustain the needs of their family, though in some cases, it is for themselves in order to have a good life.

CITIZENS

The most important cause of the problems of peace and order is that we, citizens of this country do not know how to follow and practice the law, particularly the rules and regulations. Following simple rules will lead to peace and order. But, as we notice, many people don't know how to follow, even the road signs. Tendency is that more and more people break the rules in which correspond to punishments.

Character defects and personalities disorders also cause serious conflicts at home and at work. Individuals who have great difficulty in anger management often suffer from unresolved personal issues and inner conflicts, which then results, in their conflicts with others.

BROAD WAYS TO PEACE THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION

Aside from the problems that cause chaos to peace and order, we must also register in mind that there are also wrong ways on trying to achieve peace and order; that ends up as being hindrance in accomplishing it. It is important to remember that "the end never justifies the means". Peace must not be achieved at the expense of other noble values; to do so may inflict more suffering and injustice than war itself. There are three broad ways defines, that actually lead to destruction.

TYRANNY OF POWER

Power may reside in one leader, one ruling class or one nation. History has shown, from the first Emperor of China to powerful Imperialistic leaders in Western nation, that military might be able to impose peace and order on the rest of the world, but not for long, because the human need for freedom and self-determination has proven to be a more potent force.

Dominant hierarchy brings stability and peace to animal groups, but it does not work well with human societies:

(a) when a radical & abusive leader has absolute power, he/she is capable of committing unimaginable atrocities against humanity.

(b) Human leaders often resort to all out wars to establish dominant hierarchy, in the process, they sacrifice countless innocent lives.

(c) The need for freedom and expression has been hardwired into human beings, which many would rather to die free than live as victims of oppression,