International Peace Day reflections by Mario Sebok 21 Sept 2023

17 Jan 2024 · 3 min

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In this reflective monologue recorded in Budapest on International World Peace Day, Mario Sebok opens by acknowledging the global tension of a potential third world war and the personal yearning for inner and outer peace. He shares a parable about three brothers who inherit 11 apartments and must divide them according to their father's will—half, a quarter, and a sixth of the estate. The fractional results lead to disagreement, with each brother proposing different rounding methods, causing a family rift. A friend intervenes, adding an extra studio to make the total 12, allowing the brothers to allocate 6, 3, and 2 studios respectively, satisfying the original fractions and restoring harmony. Sebok uses this story as a metaphor for how small contributions and collaborative compromise can resolve conflicts and foster peace. He concludes by urging listeners to take personal steps toward peace—reconciling with estranged friends, family, or neighbors, offering or seeking forgiveness, and recognizing that peace begins with individual actions.

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Go. Hi, I'm Mario Sebok. Warm regards for a happy International World Peace Day straight here from Budapest, Hungary, the city of the bridges between East and West. 500 kilometers away, there is a threat of a Third World War which unsettles us in our inner peace And our outer peace, wondering what we could do individually and collectively to promote peace. This reminds me how every contribution counts. In a story of 3 brothers that inherited 11 apartments on their father's passing, the will of their father expressed a criteria of a half of the estate for the first brother, a quarter of the stake for the second brother, and a six— one-sixth of the stake for the third brother. If you divide 11 by half, you get 5.5 studios for the first brother, a quarter would get 2.75 studios for the second brother, and a sixth would be 1.83 studios for the third brother. Obviously, you can't fraction The studios. So the first brother said, instead of 5.5, let's round it up and I'll get 6 studios. And the second brother said, no, I'm only getting 2.75, I should round up for 3. Third brother, no, I'm only wanting 3 studios, I should round it up for 2. And this quarrel made the brothers not speak to each other and even fight during Christmas and other family celebrations. Until a friend got to know and said, I have a solution. Let me add 1 studio to your inheritance so you add up to 12. And the brothers said, fine. By following the criteria, the first brother could get 6 and the second brother could get 3 studios. The third brother got 2 studios. 6+ 3+ 2 got to 11. And that 1 studio, they They gave back to their friend saying, thank you so much, you have solved the conundrum that we couldn't see, that peace was within our reach. And this is reminding that we can make a difference, we can contribute to peace. And what can you do today to contribute to peace? Making peace with a friend, a neighbor, a family member that you haven't spoken to for a long time. Thank you, Mario. Spoken to asking forgiveness or giving forgiveness. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Thank you.