'Unlearn skills for violence, acquire skills for peace': Guwahati Archbishop

Speaking to a group of professors and students at the Martin Luther University in Shillong, Guwahati Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, accentuated the need for "unlearning skills for violence and replacing them with skills for peace."

The "philosophies of struggle that include Nazi, Fascist, Communist nationalist and minoritarian might have influenced us and sagged our skills," said the Archbishop adding, "the peacemaker is nothing more than a 'useful botheration'."

"We have to re–discover the lost art of dialoguing, avoiding aggressive language, inviting collaboration, conceding a point of view to someone else, persuading and compromising." CBCI quoted him saying.

Stressing on the need for every citizens to look at peace as an individual responsibility, he added, “We allow ourselves to be taken advantage of by the very persons we have elected.”

“Building on emotions, especially on smothered anger and unexpressed resentment of people, indiscreet justice–fighters can lead matters to such a head that there seems to be no other solution but violence,” Archbishop said.

The state, which is apprehending the need for peace amidst the riots and violence, has growing number of institutions and voluntary organizations looking for inspirational speakers on peace.

CBCI said, it is not often that a Catholic Archbishop is invited to address the students of Martin Luther University.

“It is more important to invite people to think, get them to reflect and make intelligent and responsible decisions for common good,” declared the prelate who is also the Chairman of CBCI Commission for Education and Culture.