| Dean's Statement at Peace Vigil Friday 27th August 2010 |
What use is a vigil? Vigil is a Latin word for a time of watchfulness: it's a Christian custom to wake and watch at times of crisis or celebration, in order to pray, to remember, and to be open to God.
A Vigil for peace is doing three things.
(1) It expresses our solidarity together as human beings: with different heritage and culture, different faiths and none. Today we assert our relationship together as Bradfordians, people of this place, whether born here, or like me having more recently made it our home. We want this to be a place where people live together in community, and we are committed to work for that. We stand together, not divided, from across different parts of the wider Bradford community.
(2) Our Vigil is for Peace. We're here to show that we have a concern for peace, and turn away from verbal or physical violence. The American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov in one of his Foundation series of novels has a character who's an astute politician speak the great line that “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent”. There's a lot of truth in that. But it's also true that violence can be used as a cynical means of getting power over others.
Peace on the other hand is saying No to violence and to control over people. And it's also saying Yes to the Semitic understanding of peace, salaam, shalom, which means wholeness, well-being – people being in right relationship with one another and with God.
To stand up for peace means that, if we're serious about what this Vigil represents, we can't go away from here and be angry or violent towards the EDL or anyone else. We're here to practise peace with each other so that we can share it with others. Peace isn't genuine if it's selective, if we're only peaceful with the people we like or want to be with. Working for peace means also being concerned for the people who don't want peace.
(3) By giving up time to be here, we're saying that we're committed to change the way we are and the way the world is. Three things in particular:
(i) We commit ourselves to be people of peace, non-violent in word or action. Peace like violence can be infectious: as the scriptures say, a soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause violence. If we're at peace in ourselves, then we can influence others to also be people of peace.
(ii) We commit ourselves to see those whom we disagree with as human beings. The EDL, or anyone else, even those coming here wanting to cause violence, are not monsters but people like us. We can and should disagree with what EDL members say they want, and what some of them do: but we need to treat them with respect as fellow human beings, and by listening, uncover the anger and the fears they have which underlie their actions. It's not until we meet other people as human beings and not stereotypes, that we can begin to build peace with one another.
(iii) We commit ourselves to work and to pray for a peaceful future. That's not a soft option. It means building relationships between different communities, not staying in our own groups, but meeting those different from us and listening, talking, sharing our hopes, fears and concerns together. There are many in Bradford – many who are not here today – who simply don't interact on a meaningful level with those of a different culture or faith, and don't talk about the things that concern them. That's why the EDL can get the support and the reaction that it does. The way to work for peace is to go out and listen to others, and to respond with humanity and compassion.
And as a person of faith, I also believe that we should pray for peace, within ourselves as well as between other people. This is Ramadhan for those of Muslim faith, aparticular time to pray and to live for peace.
If you believe in God, then be committed to pray for peace – for God works in the world to draw us together to live in peace with God and one another. When we pray, we open doors for God to work in people's hearts, including our own, to bring hope and peace.
And if you're someone who doesn't pray, at the moment anyway, then take time to reflect on your own fears and angers, and your hopes for the future of yourself and of this city; and offer to others your desire for peace and goodwill between all people.
None of us know what tomorrow is going to bring: but take the time to be still and to reflect so we can meet it with peace in our hearts. May God's blessing of peace be within us, and upon us and our city. |
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