The question that we must ask is whether we are making progress toward the goal of universal peace. Or are we caught up on a treadmill of history, turning forever on the axle of mindless aggression and self-destruction?
Interpretation
This quote prompts us to reflect on our advancement towards global peace versus being stuck in cycles of conflict.
F.W. De Klerk's quote challenges us to consider our current trajectory regarding universal peace. It emphasizes the importance of evaluating whether our efforts are genuinely contributing to achieving peace or if we are merely repeating destructive patterns without progression. The metaphor of a 'treadmill of history' suggests that society may be trapped in a loop of aggression and self-destruction, pointing to the need for conscious efforts towards positive change.
In practice
In a discussion about world affairs, you might use this quote to emphasize the need for peaceful solutions.
I played an integral part in helpings formulating that new vision... that we must abandon apartheid and accept one united South Africa with equal rights for all, with all forms of discrimination to be scrapped from the statute book.
If you want to bring an end to long-standing conflict, you have to be prepared to compromise.
There is a certain kind of peace that is not merely the absence of war. It is larger than that. The peace I am thinking of is not at the mercy of history's rule, nor is it a passive surrender to the status quo. The peace I am thinking of is the dance of an open mind when it engages another equally open one -- an activity that occurs most naturally, most often in the reading/writing world we live in. Accessible as it is, this particular kind of peace warrants vigilance.
I believe in peace. I believe in mercy.
The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it requires a mater-architect; in execution, the labors of many.
We may think of peace as the absence of war, that if the great powers would reduce their weapons arsenals, we could have peace. But if we look deeply into the weapons, we will see our own minds - our own prejudices, fears, and ignorance.
The world cannot live at peace without the United Nations. For this reason: it creates a reasonable guarantee that all this change in the world, these tremendous political and economic developments, can be channelized, kept orderly. The United Nations is a mold that keeps the hot metal from spilling over.
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