“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary, the evil it does is permanent.”
— Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), Indian leader and anti-colonial pacifist
Last week, after dawn prayers, I joined a few close friends for an early breakfast. Though it was barely seven in the morning, the mood was somber. The world’s geopolitical tensions — from the Middle East to Europe and even closer to home, in the South China Sea — weighed heavily on our minds. The rhetoric of war grows louder, and it seems the hawkish voices have taken control.
We shared a fear that global leaders might be blindly walking toward another catastrophic war — perhaps even World War III — while justifying their positions with tired claims about who is “right” and who is “wrong.” I was reminded of the bitterly ironic quote: “In war, there’s no right — only who’s left.” Unfortunately, it feels increasingly relevant.
Today, the threat of war is no longer distant. In our globally interconnected world, where supply chains bind economies together, believing that violence won’t touch us simply because we’re far away is dangerously naïve. Wars don’t just take lives and destroy cities — they wreak havoc on economies, destabilise nations, and damage the future. For Malaysia, with exports like semiconductors and palm oil dependent on countries now embroiled in conflict, the fallout will inevitably reach us.
So, the real question is: What’s gone wrong with our world?
Haven’t we learned from history the devastating cost of war? Why do some still believe that denying basic human needs — food, water, fuel, shelter — can somehow bring peace?
Old conflicts are reigniting around the globe, bringing fresh destruction in their wake. Despite our intellectual and social evolution, we continue to respond to threats with the same primal instincts — fight or flight — just as our ancestors did. And far too often, the choice is fight.
We’ve long known that violence only leads to more violence. The urge to retaliate when harmed or threatened is deeply human. “Might is right” and the thirst for power have always been dangerous drivers of conflict. Over generations, the impulse to strike back has embedded itself in our collective psyche.
But today, those impulses are even more dangerous. With modern weapons and new technologies, revenge no longer comes with limits — and the damage is far more widespread. Tribal instincts, often based on ethnicity, religion or nationalism, continue to guide the decisions of many leaders and factions.
But if violence has never truly led to peace in over 200,000 years of human history, why would it work now?
And still, time and time again, we choose it.
No one wishes to live amid chaos or violence. Yet for many, it’s an everyday reality. Still, I believe this might be the turning point in human history where we begin to truly embrace a higher form of consciousness — one rooted in empathy and compassion. To borrow from John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band: “Give peace a chance.”
World leaders, and all of us really, must find the courage to take a more conciliatory path in addressing conflict and misunderstanding. It may sound idealistic or even naïve, but I believe we are all capable of love, even amid grief and suffering. If we can become more self-aware — and move beyond our reactive tendencies — we can learn to respond from a place of love and not fear or anger. This applies not only in our private lives, but in the public and political spheres too.
Throughout history, there have been those who challenged humanity’s destructive tendencies with a more enlightened vision. Many religions have called us to love our neighbours, not seek revenge, even in the face of persecution. Spiritual leaders, philosophers and peacebuilders have preached non-violence and have inspired millions to see others not as enemies, but as fellow humans — interconnected and equally deserving of dignity.
Yes, responding with compassion rather than aggression is often dismissed as weak or unrealistic. But a shift is happening. A new awareness is quietly growing, and it asks: How can any of us live peacefully when violence could reach us at any moment?
No system, no law, no plan can fully protect us from such dangers. Of course, we must stay prepared, but long-term solutions lie in changing our thinking and our actions — not in building bigger weapons or walls.
And anyone — no matter their background, age, race or position — can contribute to this change. We all have a role to play in making the world a safer, kinder place. A future with less violence and terrorism is not only possible, it’s necessary — for ourselves and for the generations to come.
What worries me most is the impact on children — especially the young, still-developing minds trying to make sense of a chaotic world. We are their guides, their role models. It is up to us to nurture their courage, empathy, confidence, and moral compass.
Whether or not we have children of our own, we are all part of the same shared future. We must rise to the occasion, show them how to live with purpose and without fear, and help build a world defined not by conflict, but by peace and unity.
As we finished that heavy breakfast and parted ways that morning, we agreed: the greatest gift we can give the next generation is to become better versions of ourselves. To lead with love, not anger. To strive for peace, not power. That is a life well-lived — one with meaning, hope and lasting impact.
Enough with the aggression. It’s time to choose peace. Everywhere.