Peace with Justice

That was the theme of President Obama's speech this week at the site of the historic Brandenburg Gate. The fall of the Brandenburg Gate was one of those monumental moments in history - as President Obama remarked, " No wall can stand against the yearning of justice, the yearnings for freedom, the yearnings for peace that burns in the human heart."

Wikipedia defines Peace as " a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violence, conflict behaviors and the freedom from fear of violence. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that serves the true interests of all"

and defines, Justice as "a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, equity or fairness, as well as the administration of the law, taking into account the inalienable and inborn rights of all human beings and citizens, the right of all people and individuals to equal protection before the law of their civil rights, without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, or other characteristics, and is further regarded as being inclusive of social justice."

Surely Peace with Justice should guide our actions and interactions in all our roles in life ---- especially our role as caregiver. Those we care for deserve to enjoy peace with justice as they age - they should not fear for violence or hostility, they should be treated with equality and their interests should be our primary concern. They deserve to be treated and interacted with justly -- their age a well as their medical and behavioral needs shouldn't result in discrimination or a loss of those rights that are inalienable for all human beings.

And, we as caregivers need to continue to work at "tearing down that wall" !!

To read President Obama's entire speech, go to: