What does it mean to become a Messenger of Peace? Is it an award? An achievement? Or a level to advance to? Well, World Scouting tells us that every Scout is a Messenger of Peace. So is a Messenger of Peace born or made? There is a myriad of different questions floating in and out of our heads right now. The world is already confusing as it is with the challenges that recovering from a pandemic imposes. But imagine having to cope with the effects of COVID-19 and also having to face a war that separates us from our families. Some even face the threat of having to leave their homeland. Ukrainian Scouts do not have the luxury of imagining such a thing because that is the reality for them right now.
Striving for and protecting peace has been a priority of the Scouting Movement since its inception. To be a Scout is to be a vanguard of peace dialogues and proactive peace-led initiatives. Being a Messenger of Peace is more than just a title and prestige, it is a duty to yourself and your fellow people. We are living in a time when young people have the privilege of becoming socially aware. Information is at our disposal and we must use it wisely. We must not turn a blind eye to what victims of war are going through for the sake of blissful ignorance. Now that we continue to bear as witnesses to wars that devastate and violate the lives of many, we must do something. We must take a stand. We must call for peace.
War is not a new concept, our history is covered in the blood that it has shed. Nor is the tension between Ukraine and Russia a recent occurrence. But existence does not mean tolerance. We must realize that no one comes out of a war, a victor– not even those who are not directly involved with it. Not even those who win the war. More than 350 Ukrainian civilians and possibly hundreds to even thousands of Russian troops have passed away as of this writing. It is the consequences of a conflict that, just like any other, will bear no fruit. Among these numbers are children who have done nothing wrong but lost their lives to the discords and hostilities in Ukraine.
As Scouts, we have promised to pass a better Philippines for the next generation. But how could we if we cease to protect the peace in our community now? The sociological, humanitarian, and economic effects of war are not limited to the two actors involved in it. Rather it becomes an international issue in this age of globalization. Therefore, preserving peace must be an international effort. We also have our part to play as Scouts in this international effort. Let us remember to keep our promises of uplifting Scouting beliefs and values as we put on our neckerchiefs. It is our responsibility, as Messengers of Peace, to acknowledge, react, and respond to the problems that are threatening international order, peace, and human rights.
Our camaraderie in the Scouting Movement should be strengthened and unified most, now more than ever. We must stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are bearing the emotional, mental, physical, social, and environmental tolls of this conflict. We must show that we are present in the face of adversities, that we are there for one another as one Movement. A war favors no one— we must not alienate one another. We must instead, open and offer the Movement as solace for those the war leaves wounded and oppressed.
As Messengers of Peace, hope is an important factor in creating change amidst challenging circumstances, but it is not enough. Hope should be accompanied by action that materializes the visions that are motivated by it. We must act and do our part in preserving peace and condemning violence by educating and updating ourselves on the recent happenings concerning the conflict. We must react with empathy and understanding to the victims of this conflict and try to walk a mile in their shoes before we choose to ignore them. We must respond to this information by calling for peace in all sectors and levels of the Scouting Movement and the societies in conflict it finds itself in. There are international laws and principles set to handle such situations diplomatically through negotiations and peace talks. We must call for the withdrawal of brute military force and violence as lives and laws are being violated. We must prevent further violence and its perpetuation and manifestations in Ukraine by condemning the conflict happening in the region. We must do something and everything that we can to show our support to our fellow Scouts and their countrymen.
What does it mean to be a Messenger of Peace? It is having the will to accomplish your duty of preserving peace by protecting others and the dignity of their lives and rights no matter the differences imposed by demographics. It is the will to acknowledge, react, and respond to the problems that challenge peace in our communities. It is the will to stand tall and strong alongside our brothers and sisters who are suffering firsthand the effects of war. Being a Messenger of Peace is being there in times of hardship. Being a Messenger of Peace is being a brother and a sister to those who need you to be one. Being a Messenger of Peace is to be aware. Let us be Messengers of Peace. WE are Messengers of Peace.
