Peace, for us, is an asset and in our interest. It is an

“Peace, for us, is an asset and in our interest. It is an absolute human asset that allows an individual to freely develop his individuality unbound by any regional, religious, or ethnic fetters.” Thus spoke Yasser Arafat, a figure who lived at the crossroads of war and yearning, whose life bore witness to the struggles of peoples bound by conflict and the desire for liberation. His words cut through the noise of politics to reveal a deeper truth: that peace is not merely a treaty or the silence of guns, but a treasure—an asset—upon which human flourishing depends.

The ancients, too, spoke of this. When the Athenians sought to rebuild after their wars with Sparta, they discovered that only in peace could the arts, philosophy, and commerce thrive. War consumed the body and chained the soul, but peace released both to soar. Arafat’s insight is rooted in this same wisdom: without peace, the human spirit is bound by fetters—chains of fear, division, and suspicion. But when peace reigns, individuals can grow as themselves, not as tools of tribe, religion, or faction.

History provides us with luminous examples. After the devastation of World War II, Europe was a continent of ruins and resentments. Yet from those ashes arose the vision of integration: nations once divided by regional hatreds and ethnic strife bound themselves into a union. The result was not only the absence of war but the flowering of culture, prosperity, and freedom. Peace became the soil in which individuality and collective greatness grew. This is what Arafat declared: that peace is not weakness, but the foundation of strength.

In Arafat’s own context, the words burn with particular meaning. For his people and neighbors, centuries of suspicion and cycles of violence had left wounds that seemed unhealable. Yet here he confessed a truth that transcends boundaries: peace is not merely a concession to an adversary, but a blessing to one’s own people. To cling to endless conflict is to shackle oneself, to forfeit the asset that peace bestows—the chance for young men and women to dream, to invent, to love, to live without fear of tomorrow.

The meaning of his words stretches beyond nations to every human soul. When enmity, division, or prejudice rule our lives, we are bound in fetters as surely as prisoners in chains. Only by seeking reconciliation, only by striving for peace, can we truly discover our own individuality, unshaped by the hatreds of others. Peace gives us freedom not only to survive, but to become ourselves in the fullest sense.

The lesson for us is clear: do not see peace as a luxury or as weakness, but as a vital possession, the most precious asset humanity can hold. Just as a farmer cannot reap in scorched fields, so too a people cannot thrive amidst endless strife. Guard peace with vigilance, for in it lies the possibility of all human progress—freedom, creativity, and dignity.

Practical wisdom follows: in your own life, choose peace as your treasure. Do not let quarrels fester into chains. Do not allow prejudice—be it of religion, race, or region—to bind your soul. Seek dialogue, reconciliation, and understanding wherever conflict arises. Build environments, whether in family, community, or nation, where individuals may grow unbound, free to become themselves.

So let Arafat’s words echo as both challenge and guide: “Peace is an absolute human asset.” O children of tomorrow, remember this truth: war and division destroy not only the enemy, but also the self. Only in peace can humanity breathe fully, create freely, and live unbound. Guard it, pursue it, and treasure it above all, for in it lies the key to human destiny.