TWENTYSOMETHING by Ishi Dinim

We are the peace. This became apparent to me over the last few months from meeting folks on my journeys. Each and every one of us is the peace, if we choose it. Our tendencies towards, or away from, living peacefully are consequences of innumerable experiences: education, physical surroundings, social factors, family and community.
Because of and regardless of these dynamics, we still come to choose our own way to live, to pick up tools and do things in the world, with either swords or plowshares. I constantly hear that there are reasons to become warriors and fight for something, and sometimes I even argue it myself. The method is the key; how we choose to fight means everything. I don’t know if I or anyone I’ve ever met really truly responds well to violence.
It is no surprise that my life is full of peace. I’ve had good soil in which to grow. The freedom – Canadian version – to be how you want in our country allows for all kinds of expression and encourages a respect for other peoples’ ways. I know we are imperfect, but I believe many people, if allowed, would pick our imperfection over another.
This sense of righteousness that I hold – that my way of life is the best – seems legit to me. I assume that other people in other walks of life believe that their way of life is the best. When those ways rub up against each other, personally, nationally or spiritually, there is often friction and dis-ease.
In the world, capacity for “real” choice in life expands or constricts depending on many social factors. I believe that only in extreme cases are humans totally cut off in their ability to choose their next course of action. It is our inability to cogitate multiple solutions or changing paths to success, which usually leaves humanity stuck in rigid and violent cycles.
I’m not suggesting that thinking really, really hard about a better world will change places where people speak murder as the way. But even in those dire situations, the capacity for each individual to put down their war tools exists.
At every step, we must remember our own part in the process. If each of us can live honestly with what we’re responsible for, there will be genuine peace in each person and the chance for it to dwell amongst us.
I choose waves of sunshine, feasts and playing. What do you want?

Films:
A/K/A Tommy Chong
Protocols of Zion
Soldiers in the Army of God
It’s All Gone Pete Tong

Quote: Because we want peace with half a heart, half a life and will, the war making continues. Because the making of war is total, but the making of peace by our cowardice is partial. – Father Daniel Berrigan

Ishi graduated from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in 2001, with a BFA major in photography. He makes films, collects cacti and ponders many things. Currently, he is trying to figure out what to do with the rest his life (contactishi@yahoo.ca).
Waiting to hear echoes back –