One day of peace
J Connor
Jeremy Gilley’s initiative to achieve a day of international truce is truly honorable. Gilley took advantage of informational social influence as he traveled around the world, 76 countries in 12 years, and welcomed individuals’ view on his idea in order build his case. As he began writing to heads of states and their ambassadors, various organizations, etc., in the beginning, Gilley started gaining more support for his cause, exhibiting the foot-in-the-door phenomenon. If he had presented his goal on a much grander scale, hoping to gain the same widespread support he sees today, the ambassadors may not have agreed with the idea of worldwide peace. The “key to survival,” as he stated, will realm from different cultures cooperating towards their shared goal of achieving such peace, and with this superordinate goal, September 21st. Gilley’s day of truce, is quite possible. Already demonstrating success, 1.6 million children were vaccinated against polio on a day where violence was temporary withheld. The Department of Security of Safety reported a 70% reduction in violence in Afghanistan. These powerful achievements are steps towards a more unified world.
The results seen thus far exhibits the impact of the minority influence- the Taliban wrote to Gilley promising that on September 21st, no humanitarian workers will be kidnapped. This letter from a well known, influential terrorist group agreeing to reduce tension proves a day of global peace is infact probable. However, even with such results present, Gilley may have been affected with the false consensus effect in believing more people support his case than actually do. To his disadvantage, humanity may demonstrate the bystander effect and fail to take action in international peace if their surrounding peers do not intend to. Nevertheless, as Gilley reaches all groups using numerous means, such as the media, more people will conform to social influence and the message of keeping peace on this day will spread throughout various nations.
I applaud Jeremy Gilley for his actions to create one day of peace which is why on September 21st, I will inform others of the significance of this day and show kindness to everyone I encounter.