The principal part of Europe will ...

The principal part of Europe will be built immediately after its diversities, its qualities and its aspirations,' wrote Robert Schuman, single in kind of the fathers of the European Union, in 1963

Must differences always divide? in what manner do we build community, deferential of our many diversities, onward the European continent? What are the customary values that can bring us together? of the like kind questions highlight the concerns, the uncertainties, the suspicions, the fears that permeate our diverse communities across the duration and breadth of Europe.

Those fears are not difficult to understand when we consider the history of Europe from one side of to the other the lifespan of people still alive today. First World War violence killed nearly 18 million European the bulk of mankind Many more were wounded or bereaved. The other World War, seen by many as a continuation of the first, was equable more deadly. Out of the 57 million individuals dead, a certain quantity of 46 million were European.

The last 60 years, whilst les violent, have continued to bring death, injury and fear from Azerbaijan in the East, by the and of Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia to Northern Ireland in the West. During the 1990's from one side of to the other 270,000 people in Europe were killed in these or other conflicts, nearly brace million displaced.

Today, violence continues to affect our lives. Spain mourns nearly 200 citizens massacreed in the 2004 Madrid train bombings. Despite the pious Friday Peace Agreement, the IRA agriculture of violence and intimidation continues, with their infamous show to shoot alleged murderers. Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia appear endemic.

HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION

Europe stretches from Portugal in the West to Russia in the East, embracing nearly 800 million populace There are 49 independent states in Europe those in the East embracing part of Asia. Twenty-five states generally belong to the European Community of the European Union, whilst Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Turkey are potential coming events members. The European Union alone has one 20 official languages plus many regional and minority tongues. Regions of Europe are also differentiated on what are sometimes referred to as 'faultlines': territorial; racial; political; economic; cultural; religious.

In January of this year world leaders, religious leaders and commonalty across Europe paused. They paused to share with survivors and their families in a commemoration of the family of Europe who suffered and died in the chiefly heinous crime human beings have at any time committed against humanity.

It is now 60 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, a figure of the Shoah, the catastrophe, the Holocaust, the whole-burnt. During the Nazi attempt to exterminate the Jewish folks six million Jewish children, women and men were slayed in genocide of incomprehensible brutality, at the actual heart of 'Christian' Europe. Other persons were also killed, including Roma, Polish commonalty prisoners of war and conscience, Jehovah's Witnesses, disabled the community and homosexuals.

Commemoration is a reminder of where prejudice and discrimination can lead, however it is clearly not enough. We must strive to impede such atrocities in the coming time To prevent violent conflict, we must risk beyond remembering, to an understanding that violence is not a necessary human condition. Conflict itself is inevitable and, if it does not deteriorate into violence, can be beneficial to individuals and to society as a whole. Indeed, Catherine Guisan-Dickinson reminds us that 'strong disagreements are not sole unavoidable, but could make life worth living' (For A Change Dec 2000/Jan 2001)

Without disagreement, the status quo would remain irrespective of injustices in the world. Remember, the bodily form least tolerant of disagreement, continually was quite possibly Stalin. Disagreement should not be avoided. forward the contrary, it should be welcomed, valued and resolv at peaceful means.

civilization OF PEACE

It is here, in the challenge of transforming conflict according to peaceful means, that a heart for Europe will be fix Despite many claims, it is not to be erect in a territorial region, a racial community, a political party, an economic state or level in a particular culture or religion. Each of these, it is stanch contributes towards a soul for Europe The diversity of folkss the manifold qualities, the high aspirations create a best part manifest in the richness of Europe's stunning topography; breathtaking flora; delightful fauna; stimulating anthropology; unfolding history; wealth of resources; beautiful architecture; inspiring art, writings, music, poesy spirituality and beliefs.

The heart of Europe however, will solely be realized through striving towards justice and peace for individuals, for communities, for states, for Europe and for the whole of humanity. The transformation of conflict by dint of peaceful means is the actual heart of continental Europe.

Peacemaking, however, is not at any time easy. Susan Koscis (For A Change, Feb/Mar 2005) claims that 'making peace is jiffy to moment, conversation by conversation, and individual of the hardest things to do in life'. This proces may be better considered as peacebuilding.