As wars and rumors of war multiply around the world, we hear a steady drumbeat of calls for peace. But what is “peace”?

Often, when we pray for peace, we are praying for an absence of war. But insisting on an absence of war can be a way that the Powers of Money, the Powers of Religion, and the Powers of the Kingdoms of this World sustain their Powers to continue to oppress, exploit and enslave people.

The path of nonviolent direct actions (such as boycotts and strikes) as preached and practiced by the Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a way to secure shalom by struggling (in the absence of war) to save oppressed, exploited and enslaved people—to challenge all pharaohs to set all people free.

Furthermore, it is sometimes necessary to use force (but never to use violence) to secure shalom by saving oppressed, exploited and enslaved people. (See my blogs “Ending Violence: Putting Faces with Names”, “Ending Violence: Embracing the Spirit of Peace”, “Curtailing Force: Replacing Nails with Glue”, “June 1962”, and “Alcatraz: Escaping by Using ‘Countervailing Powers’ Wisely”.

Therefore, securing “shalom” means far more than securing an absence of war.

The Hebrew word “shalom” means securing an absence of war in ways that justice can roll on like a river, and righteousness like a never-ending stream. (Amos 5:24).

Shalom means establishing a government that secures the rights of all people to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Shalom means establishing a government that secures government of the people, by the people, and for the people, with Liberty and Justice for all.

Shalom means establishing a global civilization that secures the Four Essential Human Freedoms pursued by President Roosevelt during the Second World War:

—Freedom of Speech and Expression everywhere in the world

—Freedom to Worship God, everywhere in the world

—Freedom from Want, everywhere in the world

—Freedom from Fear, anywhere in the world.

President Roosevelt emphasized that these Freedoms need to be secured everywhere and anywhere.

Why?

Because a key reason for the outbreak of the Second World War was that America had withdrawn from the common defense of Democracies in Europe after the First World War due to short-sighted isolationist movements such as America First.

Learning from this mistake, NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed by America after the Second World War to prevent a Third World War by providing for the common defense of Democracies in Europe.

A Democracy is any nation (including, I hope and pray, Russia someday) if its government secures the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness of the people, by the people, and for the people, with Liberty and Justice for all.

Ironically, NATO is being undermined today by another short-sighted “American First” movement. This short-sighted movement is bringing the world to the brink of a THIRD World War—the FIRST NUCLEAR WAR!

Shalom means struggling globally—everywhere and anywhere—against the common enemies of Humanity, as declared by President Kennedy during the Cold War:

—tyranny;

—poverty;

—disease; and

—war itself.

To win the Cold War, America learned (albeit imperfectly) the importance of opposing:

—all who are racists;

—all who start wars;

—all who persecute others; and

—all who love to hate

(my book Visions of America, at pages 113-118,150-151)

Furthermore, America learned that all must mean all!

For example, America must even oppose people within Democracies who are racists, start wars, persecute others, or love to hate. Why? Because all we like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6):

—Democracies can fall under the sway of Pharaohs;

—Democracies can fall under the sway of Bad Shepherds; and

—Democracies can fall under the sway of the Powers of Money, the Powers of Religion, and the Powers of the Kingdoms of this World.

Therefore, securing Shalom will mean securing for all Humanity (whether living on Earth, on a space station, on the Moon, on Mars, or beyond) the ideal America—the ideal Promised Land—that was first discovered by the hearts of Abraham, Moses and Jesus.

In this ideal America

—all people will be blessed (Abraham; Genesis 12:3);

—all pharaohs will be challenged to set all people free (Moses; Exodus);

—all hurting people will be healed (Jesus; Luke 10:25-37); and

—all will mean all in the Way of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20; Isaiah 2:2-4; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 21:1-4).

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

What does shalom mean?

How do we achieve shalom? 

What is the difference between nonviolent direct actions and a mere absence of war?

What is the difference between force and violence?

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For related thoughts about civilizations and governments, please read my blogs “Civilizations and Governments: An Independent Path”; “Civilizations and Governments: Giving Wisdom Without Finding Fault”; “Civilizations and Governments: Using the Word To Build a New Earth”, “Civilizations and Governments: A Good Trainer”, “Civilizations and Governments: A Good Wife”, “Civilizations and Government: A Good Toy”, “Civilizations and Governments: How Do We Build a Good Civilization?”, “Civilizations and Governments: Overcoming Fear and Discouragement”, “Civilizations and Governments:Seeing, Hearing and Understanding Wisely”, and “Civilizations and Governments: Mercy Is the Power that Preserves”.

For related thoughts about anchoring the human rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness on the Teachings of Moses, the Jewish Prophets, and Jesus (Matthew 5:17) in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-8:4), please read my blog “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.