If I asked a group of random people how they would define the word peace, I would never get the exact same answer. In fact, the word’s ambiguity is one of the reasons we use it so much in our daily lives. In general, peace can mean several different things to several different people. However, despite its multiple meanings, the feelings toward the subject are relatively the same. Put simply, peace is seen as a luxury. People fight for peace, even die for it. It has been seen as not only an incentive, but also a reward. Peace is so much more than just calm and tranquility. The dictionary definition of peace does not do it justice, but I will attempt to show the true meaning behind the word.

     The American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary defines peace as “the absence of war” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company). But if you go deeper, you’ll realize that there is much more to the word than the lack of violent practices. Throughout history, the word has been used to describe the ultimate goal: a society built upon harmonious relations. In his famous commencement address titled “A Strategy of Peace”, President John F. Kennedy states that genuine peace is “the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children--not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women--not merely peace in our time but peace for all time”. President Kennedy’s statement goes beyond the denotation of peace; it emphasizes the importance of order in both our country and the world. His message to the audience is that peace is the objective because it makes the lives better of everyone involved. President Kennedy was not the only one who thought that way. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s Stride Toward Freedom, a memoir of the Montgomery bus boycott, King famously says “true peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice”. The social activist, who was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his actions, claimed that there is no peace without equality. His philosophy was focused around the idea that peace cannot exist for anyone if it does not exist for everyone. Approximately sixty years later, inaugural poet Amanda Gorman reminded us of Mr. King’s statements. In her poem titled “The Hill We Climb”, Gorman provides her audience with her interpretation of a peaceful nation, one in which “we seek harm to none and harmony for all”. Through these words, the American poet and activist highlights the need for unity to achieve lasting peace in the country. She also notes that true peace benefits everyone and hurts no one. All of these speakers communicate the idea that harmony can only be reached if we do our part to make the world a better place for everyone in it.

     When people talk of world peace, they are referencing a world free of wars, free of tensions, and free of unnecessary violence. This is the correct meaning of the word peace. It defines the goal that every world leader, every social activist, every soldier, and every citizen is working towards. However, people often use the word incorrectly. Peace is not silence. If someone is quiet, it does not mean they are at peace, with themselves or the world. True peace includes everyone; it must be beneficial to all of the parties involved. A good leader who truly seeks peace never takes the easy way out. If a solution helps them while hurting someone else, it is not a solution. If someone cannot speak up for themselves, one must advocate for them. This mindset will lead to a better, more peaceful world. Silencing dissenters is not the path to peace; it is the path to protest. And these acts of protest were the basis of democracy along with all of the privileges we enjoy today.

     Throughout the course of history, we have seen times where, using the dictionary definition, the world could have been described as being “at peace”. Nowadays, we would describe these times as anything but peaceful. The Cold War, which occurred shortly after World War II, was a period of political tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union as well as their respective allies. The rivalry between the two superpowers lasted several years and even led them to the brink of a nuclear disaster. Despite its title, the Cold War did not involve any direct military confrontation between the two regions. Although there was an absence of war, the world was certainly not at peace. If we were to go even further back in time, we would see that sometimes, the “peace” in an area only applied to some of its inhabitants. Prejudice and biases within society led to hostility and took away opportunities from people who deserved them. Those who opposed this treatment were often silenced and stripped of their right to fight for peace. But their efforts were not in vain. They brought about change and created a stepping stone for future generations to do the same. We owe it to them to continue to fight for equality in our world today, because if we are divided, we can never truly be at peace.

     When I think of peace, I think of a world in which every person is valued and heard. I think of a society where respect and equality are of the utmost importance. I think of compromises and conferences that make the world a better place. Although it may be difficult, peace is attainable. It may require sacrifices and the willingness to listen, but the end result is more than worth it. In actuality, the importance of peace is only truly understood when there is a lack of it.