Guadalupe/2003
Theme: Education for peace from the masonic point of view
GRANDE LOJA MAÇÔNICA
MISTA DO BRASIL
República Federativa do Brasil
C.N.P.J. 51.503.415/0001-19 // CCM 2.764.704-8
Filiada ao CLIPSAS
Fundada em 24-05-1968
UNESCO "...wars and violence begin in people's minds. Therefore, it is in their minds that bulwarks of Peace must be built."
We are born, we grow up and carry on with our lives in a crazy speed, unaware of the time around us. We have sometimes, in some rare moments of our lives, some reflex actions and we stop to think about what happens to us... but they are not just moments!
Our childhood is left behind, but it is in that very phase, in the innermost part of ourselves, where events reside, those ones that mark our lives forever; where our personality takes shape, already coloured by several episodes: revolts, uncertainty, insecurity, fears, deprivation, affection, experiences, in short, everything that moulds the human being.
And it is there the beginning of our problems. Violence originates because we have lost the basic notion of the fact that we are made and formed by nature and the universe. When we speak of our fellow human beings , against whom we are violent, we forget that they are more than fellow creatures, they are me, they are you!
We have lost that notion because we want to have everything that gives us a certain pleasure, we have become attached to it, and therefore possessive, jealous, haughty, selfish; and so, when we feel threatened, we reject what causes us pain in a furious, hostile and violent way; it is the hidden fear, fear of losing what we possess, what we think belongs to us by right; nevertheless this is truly a mere illusion of our minds.
Therefore we must stick to
our children and their education, for in them it is the true possibility for
changes and the actual development of the world's community. Internal and
consequently external changes are to be obtained in the building of Moral,
of Ethics and in the formation of Character, they are necessary to build a
foundation for the Spirit of Peace, so imperative for our unhealthy humanity.
Unfortunately though, we cannot speak of peace nowaydays, for these very
children are being used as intruments in a wild war of words and actions,
for the hypocritical interests of despotic rulers of nations that consider
themselves superior to everybody and everything, just because they are part
of this race or that one, or because they have more money , power or weapons
than the others.
Everything could be different, fairer and perfect, if man would take the
Masonic Prism into consideration, this egalitarian point of view of our
Brotherhood.
Why do I say this?
Ah...Brethren, let us catch
a glimpse of a true Masonic way of thinking on the matter "Education through,
or for Peace". It is the development of a global view, where there is no
social and cultural inequality, where citizenship and world brotherhood can
be created regardless of frontiers, or races.
Where, individual's or groups' abilities for communication allow us an
absolute interaction among peoples and nations, thus creating the habit of
wise and responsible actions. Interrelationship of past and present also is
used in order to try to improve the future, thus preparing new alternatives
for man's social and full development .
Masonic Ethics, which has all necessary elements to contribute in the formation of a peaceful, fraternal and tolerant world, can help create immediate and non-violent solutions for human conflicts, apart from making society aware of man's noble nature and his triple reality, namely material, human and spiritual. This encourages the practice of good for the common well-being based on ethical, moral and spiritual principles.
When these principle are strengthened, formation of character and human values are influenced positively, generating a more promising future, and consequently building a fairer society among men of integrity. This way we can eliminate all race, sex, class and creed prejudices, we can make political and ideological disputes be treated in a more rational and tolerant way in our pursuit of a union of all peoples.
After all, there is within each and every one of us the opposite of violence. This is the state of peace and love, wisdom and tolerance which makes us all our own masters, open and free to build a better world.