The pax romana and its dangers
24
Feb
We warn that the pax romana, the one that Rome
decreed after the end of conflicts in its conquered territories, hides the hatred and indignation that does not eliminate wars; no dominated people will be comfortable seeing their goods, cultures and values denied.
This pax proposed by Trump in both Ukraine and Gaza may cause a momentary disarray, but it hides future confrontations that would free peoples from the yoke, and more critically, this climate is now spreading to other peoples and nations.
The Palestinian group Hamas handed over six hostages to Israel on Saturday morning (22 February). The first on the list were Tal Shoham, 40 years, and Aversa Mengisto, 39, who were handed over in the south of Gaza, in Rafah, to the Red Cross and then taken to Israel, and then three more, one more who was a Muslim and was not handed over to the Red Cross.
Under the agreement, Israel must release 602 prisoners, thus completing the first phase of the agreement, but the idea of keeping Gaza under control proposed by Trump and accepted by Israel will be an obstacle to extending the ceasefire agreement.
In Ukraine, Trump’s proposal is to hand over the territories conquered in the war, and Trump even called Zelensky a dictator, which the European Union denied, saying that he was elected in a legitimate election, while Putin rigs the elections and doesn’t give the opposition freedom.
Germany held parliamentary elections, which according to the number of seats will appoint the new chancellor. The center-left SPD (Social Democrats) of Olaf Scholz lost to the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) of Fredrich Merz, who should be the new chancellor, but it depends on an agreement that will have to be negotiated with the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany), which has grown to the point where it is in second place (table above, before the end of counting on Sunday).
What is striking in Germany, and this is happening in many parts of Europe and the Americas, is the growth of the nationalist discourse of rejection of immigrants and the loss of values whose discourse, even in Germany, is growing among young people, the Grüne are the Greens.
Without clearly confronting the ideas and thoughts that lie behind apparently praiseworthy attitudes, we won’t be able to separate the wheat from the chaff and tell which side has the civilizing capacity to make humanity less conflictive and respectful of all.
Among the voices defending a peace without borders, without hatred and polarization is the Pope, now in a state of critical health, at the age of 88, he has placed the Church and his concerns for humanity above his health.
More than ever, we need public men of peace, above hatred and polarization, who speak and practice the values they claim to defend.
