“They are Man’s and they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance and this girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.” 
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Peace thrives on understanding and dies on ignorance.  The Dalai Lama is quite clear on this point:  “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”  Helen Keller declared: “I do not want the peace which passeth understanding; I want the understanding which bringeth peace.”    Ralph Waldo Emerson penned: “Peace cannot be achieved through violence; it can only be attained through understanding.”

Understanding is not as easy as it seems especially when we live in a complex, diverse and fast paced world where value systems are being continually challenged.  But “lasting peace” is worth the effort.