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ZAMBOANGA
CITY – It is said that our eyes are the windows to our soul. It
is through our eyes others can discern our inner-most emotions. It never lies.
One
sunny afternoon last month, world renowned visual artist Rameer Tawasil staged
a peaceful but moving protest on the worsening situation in Sabah between the
Royal Army of the Sulu Sultanate and the Malaysian government forces - a solemn
declaration of his dissent on the armed conflict where victims are once again
the civilians - through art.
Over
200 youth participated in the activity calling for the immediate halt of the
war in Sabah.
Amid
the peaceful but intense protest, two participants stood out the most. And they
did it silently in a corner trying to express what peace is for them. What’s so
special about them is that, no, they are not youth, nor celebrities, nor famous
artists; they are little girls, no more than seven years old.
Soon,
the public took notice of them. Not used to the attention from a sea of people,
the shy kids were overwhelmed and struggled for a few minutes to get back their
strokes with the guidance of their father.
Regaining
their composure, they started to paint on their canvass trying to express
what’s on their minds. Both are painting the same idea: an angel.
One
onlooker asked the elder kid why an angel? And the kid sheepishly replied,
“It’s because angel is a picture of peace and meekness.”
The
child’s eyes lighten every time she completes a stroke. Timid as she is, the
kid tries to hide her excitement of seeing her work come to fruition, but her
eyes betray her.
After
finishing her work, the girl just looked around trying to see what the older
participants are drawing.
Being
learned people, the youth wrote messages calling a stop to the crisis in Sabah.
Messages of love and respect written in colorful chalks mainly covered the
canvass and the sidewalks in Normal Road, just outside a local university.
The
kids’ works may have drowned in the momentous activity, but kid’s reply to one
of the onlookers has made a dent on the many opinions expressed by the
participants.
If only
we are meek and peaceful enough to sit and try to solve the problem in Sabah,
there could have been no blood spilt, no death, and no families torn because of
the war.
In a
child’s eyes everything may all be just very simple. Adults would discard whatever
idea comes from kids. After all, they would always say, “They are just innocent
of what is going on” or that “They are too young to know the magnitude of the
events.”
Perhaps
all the conflicting ideas a person acquires in his lifetime has made things
complicated. The meaning of the word “peace” may now vary depending on the
person’s interpretation and biases. The word peace has become so political that
peace has just become a “word” and not an ideal and state of being.
Grown
men’s interpretation of peace has become so complicated and technical. In
today’s standard, there can only be peace by flexing muscles and showing who’s
stronger. Peace means trying to be allies with the stronger group, effectively
accepting one’s superiority over the other.
However,
peace, in the eyes of a child is a million miles away from what “adults” say it
is. In a child’s eyes, peace is about respect, love and being meek. Where there
is this child-like attitude, there is peace.
A story
in the bible would tell us that kids may just be oblivious and innocent, but
Jesus Christ Himself said that unless we become like child, we will never enter
the kingdom of Heaven.