Peace is necessary. For justice, it is necessary. For hope, it is

"Peace is necessary. For justice, it is necessary. For hope, it is necessary, for our future." – Harry Belafonte.

In these powerful words, Harry Belafonte reminds us that peace is not just an ideal, but a necessity—a force that underpins the very foundation of justice, hope, and our future. Belafonte's call for peace is an urgent plea, recognizing that without peace, justice cannot be served, hope cannot flourish, and the promise of a better future is reduced to mere fantasy. Peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the active presence of understanding, cooperation, and equity—a state in which all people are given the opportunity to thrive, free from the shackles of violence, inequality, and oppression.

The ancient Greek philosophers understood the power of peace and the moral duty of individuals and communities to foster it. Plato, in his work The Republic, described a just society as one where peace was the result of a well-ordered and harmonious state, where each person fulfilled their role for the greater good. In Plato's vision, peace was not just a passive state but a vital force that enabled justice to flourish. He argued that a society built on peaceful cooperation was one that allowed for the pursuit of the highest virtue—the flourishing of the soul. In this sense, Belafonte’s words echo the ancient wisdom: without peace, there can be no justice, and without justice, there can be no real hope for the future.

Consider the story of Nelson Mandela, whose life embodied the profound connection between peace and justice. As a leader of the anti-apartheid movement, Mandela spent 27 years in prison, but his vision was always rooted in the belief that peace could be the pathway to justice for all South Africans. Upon his release, Mandela worked tirelessly to bridge divides, choosing to pursue reconciliation rather than revenge. His commitment to peace allowed him to achieve the justice that apartheid had denied millions of South Africans, and through that justice, he ignited a sense of hope in a nation that had long been torn apart by racism and inequality. Mandela’s example proves that peace is not just a political goal, but a moral imperative that sustains justice and opens the door to a brighter future.

The ancient Romans also understood the centrality of peace to the maintenance of a just society. In Roman political thought, the concept of Pax Romana (Roman peace) was not simply about the absence of war but about the presence of stability and order, allowing the Roman Empire to achieve prosperity and security for its people. The emperors, while often wielding immense power, were expected to maintain peace and order, ensuring that justice was delivered fairly and without corruption. Much like the Romans, Belafonte’s quote suggests that peace is the cornerstone upon which all other virtues—justice, hope, and future progress—are built. Without it, even the most ambitious efforts toward societal improvement will falter.

In our own time, peace remains the cornerstone of meaningful progress. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader of the American civil rights movement, echoed the sentiment of Belafonte when he declared that "peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal." King understood that justice could only be achieved through nonviolent means, and that hope for a better world could not thrive in a society steeped in division and violence. His vision of a beloved community was one where peace allowed for the flourishing of justice, and justice provided the foundation for hope and progress. Like Belafonte, King’s words remind us that the pursuit of peace is not just idealistic; it is necessary for the creation of a just, fair, and hopeful society.

The lesson that Belafonte imparts is clear and urgent: without peace, there can be no lasting justice, no true hope, and no viable future. We live in a world that is often fractured by conflict, inequality, and division. The future we wish to build, one based on equity and shared prosperity, can only come to fruition if we work towards peace in every area of our lives—whether on a global scale or within our own communities. The peace Belafonte speaks of is not just an absence of violence but a commitment to the well-being of all people, where justice is delivered, and hope is never lost.

In our own lives, we must ask: how can we contribute to peace? How can we ensure that justice and hope are not just ideals we speak of, but realities we live by? Whether through small acts of kindness, engaging in social justice, or supporting policies that promote equality, we can each play a part in creating a more peaceful world. Just as the ancient philosophers, Mandela, and King understood, we must never lose sight of the fact that peace is the necessary foundation for the world we seek to build. Let us commit ourselves to being agents of peace, knowing that in doing so, we not only serve the present moment but also secure a just and hopeful future for generations to come.