Category: IfP

The Jah and Kay simulation mainly tackles two things: the need for diplomacy,  which is caused by the lack of communication, and the need for more mutual understanding. Humans are complex creations, we can either have strict biases or none, however, having none will lead us nowhere. Assumptions drive our daily lives and usually, it keeps us alive. We assume that the water in our kettle will boil, which it usually does or that the bus doesn’t crash, which it usually doesn’t. We assume a lot of things, however, there comes a limit to assumptions. I remember when I first came here, I had assumptions about my peers, which turned out to be false. I had assumptions about people purely because of the negative reactions I have been treated with for most of my school life were all I have ever known. I wanted a fresh start and I got it. Although I was Kay, I truly empathised with Jah (not only because their country is my name), because I understood the feeling of only knowing one feeling towards you. The lack of trust and faith, as well as the overbearing nature of strangers, did not help their situation at all. Jah and Kay, however, is a slightly flawed simulation with the premise being condensed into a short period of time instead of the lengthy amount that happens in real life. I did not want to impose my group’s help onto them because from being in a similar situation I know that someone in the situation needs space. They need to figure out things for themselves, but that doesn’t mean ignorance on our part. It means our continuous supportive presence rather than direct action. Presence rather than presents, because that is what true help means. Be with them, empathise with them, connect them, and improve with them. Trust is built over a long period of time, Jah and Kay was too short. The lack of freedom in actual action also exacerbated the problems. Diplomats are to communicate between people. Becoming equal and becoming like. Help is defined by existence beside and in action for and with someone.

Peace is a word often overused and overlooked in the world around us. Peace is a concept often misunderstood and misinterpreted. Some believe that peace is only achievable through the indoctrination of common concepts which will foster a peaceful environment. However, one’s main interpretation of peace is truly relative to one’s own view, values and vitality. Life has brought us down different paths and passages through the tempest that is time and we have all come out having different perspectives of what the calm would be. We may be closer to the tempest’s eye without realising the calm is closer than it is. We may try to flee the typhoon craving a life without it which we will never get. I do not imply that war is the only way to achieve peace, but rather the opposite. There will never be true peace, it is truly a fact of life. The establishment of government for more than two centuries have been a snippet of this conclusion. There can never be a perfect form of government because there are too many opinions in this place. I do not deny the idea of peace, but rather interpret it differently as someone else might. I would rather interpret as mutual understanding among the human race despite differences because it is easier for me to understand. Peace, for me, is the brainchild of over-idealism. It is the marriage of idealism and realism where we can truly achieve peace. From this harmony of beliefs is where I think true peace can truly be achieved.