What the (blank) is going on in the world - lessons in peace

Over one year ago, I wrote my first “What the (blank) is going on in (Blank)?” article.

That first article, published on Feb. 9, 2009, touched on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since then, I have covered current conflicts from Algeria to Zimbabwe (and everything in between) for a total of 16 articles within this column. That does not include the spoof issue article or this current issue’s.

In my final piece for this column, I want to touch upon a few important things to remember when studying active conflicts.

They are relevant. It is all too easy for most people to sit back and tune out what is going on elsewhere in the world because it “doesn’t affect you.” As a citizen of the United States (or a resident), it affects you more than you will ever know. The conflict in Israel drains your tax dollars; the conflict in Northern Ireland will determine the future of one of our greatest allies (the United Kingdom); the conflict in Somalia influences our reluctance to enter the conflict in Sudan; the conflict in Kashmir will dictate the nuclear balance between Pakistan, India and the world. Do not doubt how important the events in these countries are just because you cannot point them out on a map.

They are never simple. Though I write about these conflicts in a half a page or less, there is far more information about them than I can ever write about or that I can ever know. My point is that conflicts are infinitely more complicated than the polarized view we are given in modern media coverage. Bad guys may not be as bad as they are portrayed, the good guys may be doing something we would never condone and information is never as free-flowing as we would like.

Media literacy is critical. As I mentioned above, media coverage often presents a simplistic, polarized viewpoint. Though I did have to simplify my own stories, I tried to present as balanced a view as possible. I may not have been successful all the time, but it is the responsibility of readers (or television viewers, internet surfers, etc) to decipher this information with a grain of salt. Be aware that every writer, professor, anchor person and so on has their own bias that affects their coverage. Try to study information from both sides, because no solution will ever come forward to any conflict if you know only one side of the story.

Never stop learning. Again, it is easy to think these issues do not matter. Actively learn about what is going on in your world, because the United States is heavily involved in a large portion of it. Pursue information and knowledge because as technology improves, it becomes ever easier to connect to people on the other side of this planet.

Practice cultural understanding. Contrary to American exceptionalist ideals, we may not be the best country by everyone’s standards. Realize that your culture and heritage is different from others, be respectful of their culture as you wish them to be respectful of yours and be open to them. You never know what benefits can come from another culture until you open the door.

Lastly, realize that peace is possible. All media coverage, my own included, can present a very grim outlook on the future. But if we pursue knowledge while maintaining open cultural communication and understanding, become media literate and observe the lessons the past and present are giving, the future may not be as terrifying as it seems. Conflict can be healthy and lead to growth, but it is too often carried out too far. We must learn to make concessions, to take responsibility for our actions and to act in good faith. The road to peace is fraught with difficulty, but some of the most wonderful things in life are those we have worked hardest to get.

I appreciate the opportunity to share what I have learned about the world with those who are willing to read about it, and I am pleased to say that the "What the (blank) is going on in (Blank)?" series will continue next year, written by The Fiat Lux's Sports Editor, J.P. McCombs.