Peace through Better Communication

I was reminded lately of a book published several years ago that contained photographs of some of the stunning natural landscapes of Afghanistan. I had read about it in a National Geographic article, but as hard as I tried I could not find the author or the book itself online.

Now, this was not simply a book of well-taken photographs. The author and photographer had a different idea in mind. He was reminded of the breathtaking geography of the United States when he saw the looming, snow-covered Hindu Kush mountains and the crystal blue water of Band-e Amir Lake. He knew that, when one created an idyllic image of America, that image would include the majestic purple mountains and the amber waves of grain, national symbols that define our nation's roots in North America.

Working with this idea, he decided he wanted to show people Afghanistan's natural beauty so that instead of picturing a scarred, war-ravaged desert, they would see a land riddled with awe-inspiring landscapes and breathtaking panoramas. This new image, he hoped, could help the rest of the world, including the United States, see Afghanistan in a new yet somehow familiar light and maybe ease the tensions between it and so many other nations.

This can be brushed off as a typical example of good photojournalism, or one could look at it as having a greater message: that the first step towards peace is really just better communication. We live in a new world in which the ability to connect with people in every corner of the globe is at the tips of our fingers. Yet somehow we haven't yet used this gift to its full extent.

Everywhere you look, everyone, regardless of race, religion, creed, political affiliation, or social status has one thing in common: they are all human. We all share this one beautiful gift that the rest of life on this planet does not.

This gift does not always look the same, speak the same language, eat the same food or live in the same houses. Likewise, in every nation there have been strifes, wars, political upheavals, and controversies. But every nation also has its heroes, its success stories, its pride, and its natural beauty. If we could all recognize this simple fact and look past greater cultural differences, a great step could be taken in the direction of peace.