From A Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace

“Golden Anniversaries” are special moments, not least because they happen only ONCE in a lifetime. Pioneers. Visionaries. Patriots. – People like Mahathma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Tunku Abdul Rahman ; these are MEN dedicated to enriching others.

History has a purpose. We learn from its mistakes so that we may NOT repeat them. We learn from its achievements so that we may emulate them. If only to learn the best.

It is said that today the nations of the world spend more money on military preparations than the total spent on positive development and that the scientific knowledge and technical skills expended on military improvements far exceed what is devoted to more constructive and beneficial ends. In short, humanity is devoting a vast amount of its resources and wealth to self destruction.

In August this year, Malaysia turned 50. Think about it.? We have been a nation for 50 years, since 1957. How far we have come? What have we achieved? Five decades of development and progress.

When the first cries of “MERDEKA” were jubilantly roared across the country led by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, somewhere across the Pacific one week later , on Sept 08, 1957, the second president of the Soka Gakkai, JOSEI TODA, made a historic declaration condemning nuclear weapons “an absolute evil” fundamentally threatening the dignity and right to live of all humanity.

Toda issued this declaration at the height of the Cold War between East and West. Both Eastern and Western blocks were frantically engaged in developing nuclear weapons and conducting test blasts. Nuclear weapons, capable of destroying all human life, cast a dark and terrifying shadow over the destiny of all humankind.

Toda called out strongly for their total abolition, stating that he wished to rip out the claws hidden in the very depths of these weapons. Toda saw such thinking as a product of the darkest aspects of human nature.

Today, 50 years later, the significance and farsightedness of Toda’s approach stand out more strikingly than it has ever done before. Almost 20 years after the end of the Cold War, the ever present threat of nuclear multiplication continues to cast its dark shadow over the international community. Despite Post-Cold War reductions, some 12,000 nuclear weapons remain in active service (“deplored”).

The total of both deployed and non-deployed weapons today is estimated to be in the region of 27,000 warheads. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the danger of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists is very threatening.

The problem needs an urgent solution. The abolition of nuclear weapons is an imperative that can no longer be postponed. What then is the fundamental solution to abolish nuclear weapons that Toda is attacking so vigorously?

The answer to this is the SGI’s movement for “human revolution” based on the daily struggle to transform our lives from within is an essential aspect of the historic challenge to rid the world of nuclear weapons. At the same time, the awakened solidarity of the world’s people is of the utmost importance, for only this can lead to an unstoppable current towards the renunciation of war.

The SGI aims to empower the world’s citizens to rid this Earth of needless suffering and lead lives of peace and happiness. Although anti-nuclear movements were emerging in Japan, the vast majority of people based their opinions about nuclear weapons on the ideology of one side or the other.

President Toda wished to inspire in his audience the belief that since human beings created the atomic bomb, human beings must also ensure its abolition. He wished to arouse them from their state of fear and helplessness in the face of this monstrous threat fifty years ago. And today, 50 years later, this arousing awakening still stands.

Our willingness to live comfortably while ignoring reality is the silent violence to the lag of interest that could threaten the human race. On the other hand, assuming that this reality will continue unchanged into the future is a major human weakness. In an increasingly interdependent world, we share responsibility for the security of all human beings. Our challenge is to rise above violence – to stop the rapid buildup of arms and forever ban the most fearsome weapons in history.

WE MUST DO SOMETHING……
Is it possible to transform the culture of violence into a culture of peace?

WE THINK IT IS POSSIBLE!
Becoming informed and sharing awareness is the first important step towards achieving this goal. Spreading awareness will make a difference because knowledge empowers

In this regard, Soka Gakkai Malaysia too will continue to work alongside people of like mind in building a culture of peace in Malaysia and the rest of the world in the twenty-first century.
This is why "From A Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit" exhibition is being held.

Although it may seem like a detour, this is in fact the shortest possible way to the peace and security of the world.

Contributed by Eric Mah (MD - H4C3)

Video (Click on Play button below)



The destructive force of the Atomic Bomb Video