Nobel Laureate Opens Peace Colloquy

Nobel Peace Laureate Máiread Corrigan Maguire spoke to approximately 1,200 people at the opening of the Peace Colloquy in the Community of Christ Temple on November 2. She was brought to the Kansas City area by an ecumenical partnership between Community of Christ, PeaceJam/YMCA, National Conference for Community and Justice, and Rockhurst University’s Visiting Scholar Lecture series. At the beginning of the evening an honorary doctorate of humanities degree was given to Maguire from Rockhurst.

Maguire’s serious message and plea for peace was passionately conveyed with a welcome sense of humor in a down-to-earth manner. She offered insight from her experiences beginning in the 1970s in Northern Ireland to a world that seeks resolution following the terrorist attacks of September 11.

Maguire was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and first became involved in the peace movement after her sister’s three children were killed by a runaway IRA car after the driver was fatally shot by British Army patrol. Maguire, a Catholic, founded Peace People with Betty Williams, a Protestant. Together they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after organizing some of the largest peace demonstrations in the history of Northern Ireland. Maguire continues to serve Peace People as its president.

One month after September 11, Maguire made a pilgrimage to New York City to meet with families who had lost loved ones in the terrible attack. “When sorrow hits a people or a family…we realize that life is indeed sacred-that those we love are those we want to be with most,” Maguire said. As she spoke of human beings’ immense capacity to love and be loved, she urged that people “transfer the love we have for these people [our families and friends] to all the people of the world,” making special mention of people in places including Afghanistan, New York, Iraq, etc.

As she celebrated her announcement of “becoming a granny” two times in the past six months, Maguire also lamented that this is not yet the world she wishes for her grandchildren. “We haven’t got our priorities right.…We’ve become soft on the idea that violence is inevitable,” she said. However, Maguire is ever hopeful that people do not have to live in violent circumstances. “We can create a better world. We can solve our problems a different way,” she said.

Maguire explained that we live in an increasingly “borderless world” where there is growing diversity, which requires that we learn to live in respect and peace. But she reminded the audience that where there is injustice-economic, political, or social-there cannot be peace. “Violence is a symptom,” she explained; “We need to go to the root causes of violence in our communities and try to solve them.”

“I believe the American people are beginning to walk on the road of peace and non-violence,” said Maguire, “-not just Americans, but all the people of the world.” With God’s help--and she reminds us that God is helping in this work--people can change the world. “It’s God’s will for us to have peace,” she said.

Fear and uncertainty has followed the events of September 11, but Maguire urged people not to “get stuck” in the tragedy and suffering of life. “All human beings suffer. You can move through the suffering to great joy,” she explained. Christians are taught to walk through the cross to resurrection. Maguire said, “We are called to resurrection not just once, but every day!”

Maguire’s tone was hopeful as well as challenging. She conveyed that people around the world do not hate Americans-in fact she said, “People love Americans, but they don’t love suffering because of your policies.” She noted that it is important to delve into the issues of why there is so much suffering in two-thirds of the world. Suffering that includes hunger, poverty, and other injustices.

The problems in the world can be solved, but Maguire advocates that solutions must be fair and just. And, she reminds us that patience is required. “Peace processes take time,” she said, “and must be a multi-cultural and many leveled approach.” Maguire does not believe there can be a just war because of Christian principles such as: “Love your enemy. Do not kill. Be compassionate. Feed the hungry. Work for justice.”

Maguire also expressed her disappointment that the Pope and other religious leaders have been “silent on the immorality, injustice, and cruelty of the war in Afghanistan.” She made a plea to U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair “to stop this immoral war and turn all their great energies into helping eradicate the political, economic, and social injustices that give birth to terrorism in the first instance. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, working for justice, and forgiving one’s enemies is not naïve--it’s practical politics. Above all, it is the way of Jesus.”

-Kendra Friend reporting