CHO Min (former deputy director, Korea Institute for National Unification, ROK), in explaining the World Historical Significance of Ahn Jung-geun’s “A Treatise on Peace in the East” under the context of Global Citizenship Education, is also proposing a Global Citizen Forum on Peace. Is this meritorious?
Can we take a cue from Cordell Hull, the US Secretary of State during the horrific World War II years? “Organized international cooperation can be successful only to the extent to which the nations of the world are willing to accept certain fundamental propositions. First, each nation should maintain a stable government. Each nation should be free to decide for itself the forms and details of its governmental organization–so long as it conducts its affairs in such a way as not to menace the peace and security of other nations.
“Second, each nation should conduct its economic affairs in such a way as to promote the most effective utilization of its human and material resources and the greatest practicable measure of economic welfare and social security for all of its citizens. Each nation should be free to decide for itself the forms of its internal economic and social organization– but it should conduct its affairs in such a way as to respect the rights of others and to play its necessary part in a system of sound international economic relations.
‘Peace is a lie. There is only Passion…Through Victory my chains are Broken. The Force shall free me.’
“Third, each nation should be willing to submit differences arising between it and other nations to processes of peaceful settlement and should be prepared to carry out other obligations that may devolve upon it in an effective system of organized peace.
“All of this calls for the creation of a system of international relations based on rules of morality, law and justice as distinguished from the anarchy of unbridled and discordant nationalisms, economic and political. The outstanding characteristic of such a system is liberty under the law for nations as well as individuals. Its method is peaceful cooperation.” [The Record And Aims Of American Diplomacy, Broadcast over the National Broadcasting Company, September 12, 1943]
What can we add? Tips on how to be a good neighbor! One: “Keep your dog on a leash. Aside from being common courtesy (and often the law), it will prevent unexpected close interactions with neighbors who prefer to social distance.” [https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/101-ways-to-be-a-good-neighbor-36926022] That means you should stop your maritime militia boats from engaging in dangerous maneuvers. [https://news.yahoo.com/philippines-accuses-chinese-vessels-dangerous-074836866.html]
Tip #2: “Encouraging your kids to get out there and engage with your neighbors is important, but it isn’t always easy to balance this with conversations on safety and the so-called stranger danger.” [https://www.npr.org/2021/12/01/1060464791/how-to-be-a-good-neighbor] Who are these strangers? There are an estimated 40,000 Chinese who have no valid work permits or were found to be working in unlicensed or illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator firms, but deportation proceedings have been encountering difficulties because China has imposed penalties on deported POGO workers, the Department of Justice said on September 20, 2022. [https://www.onenews.ph/articles/40-000-undocumented-chinese-pogo-workers-in-phl]
Tip #3: “Actions speak louder than words, and your attitudes towards marginalized and vulnerable people also set an example for your kids.” [Diana Opong and Janet W. Lee, “5 tips on being a kinder neighbor and fostering a sense of community,” December 3, 2021] Example: “I thank and congratulate our Philippine Navy and Coast Guard as they complete another resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal, making it the third successful mission in five weeks. Once again, I salute our men and women of the AFP and PCG for fearlessly staying on track to complete their mission, despite intimidation from the Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels. This is a humanitarian resupply mission. Only barbarians at the gate will delight at seeing soldiers on a peaceful mission denied food.” [Statement of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on the September 8 Resupply Mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, September 8, 2023; http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2023/0908_zubiri1.asp]
Tip #4: “Remember to check your bias, and ask yourself why you feel uncomfortable and unsafe, rather than putting the blame on your neighbors.” [https://hbr.org/2017/01/how-to-speak-up-if-you-see-bias-at-work] Case in point: Due to repeated incidents of bullying and harassment by Chinese Coast Guard in the resupply mission of our Philippine Coast Guard for the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Sen. Idol Raffy Tulfo separately communicated over the phone with Ambassador of the Philippines to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, National Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Romeo Brawner, August 24, recommending for the US Navy and the PCG to conduct a joint military operation and explaining that this is currently being done by Malaysia and Indonesia, which are joined by the American and the Australian navies. [Tulfo cries foul over Chinese Coast Guard harassment of PCG in Ayungin Shoal, August 25, 2023; [http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2023/0825_tulfo2.asp]
Finally, our Zeitgeist (the age of ChatGPT, TikTok, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor) demands a new freedom. In the Age of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, the farmer should be free of his fear of repressive cartels and excessive taxation. In the Age of Marvel’s Midnight Suns, the entrepreneur must be free from the fear of monopolies and excessive government regulation. In the Age of Resident Evil IV, workers will not tolerate rice queues, closed factories, wage theft. This must be done given our experience with WW2 and now we know that stagnation, economic distress, cultural backwardness, and social unrest within nations undermine all efforts for stable peace.
“Through victory my chains are broken. The chains. The chains are the easy part. It’s what goes on in [the heart] that’s hard.” – Darth Maul [Star Wars: The Clone Wars]
