Many people seem to think ‘Peace’ is just something for international politics. So they live as if ‘Peace’ concerns only diplomats and warmongers.

But ‘War and Peace’ is something that exists at every level, in our ordinary, daily lives. Our difficult understanding of a neighbour, our petty conflict with family members, our expensive litigation with a supplier. You may dream of a world, a country, a family without conflicts, but that’s indeed an illusion. Conflicts are not the problem, only the way we live with them, and the way we handle them.

Therefore, the best symbol of Justice - and the Justices of the Peace - that so often comes to my mind, is a bridge.

Bridges are strategic in war, and often scenes of tragedy: the assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on the Latin Bridge of Serajevo was the short term cause for the First World War.

Not far from there and 3 wars later, the 16th century Stari Most Bridge in Mostar became the symbol of the division between Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina. Its destruction was considered a war crime by the ICTY .

But bridges are meeting places: people cross them to find each other. They are - or should be - the exact opposite of frontiers. So should Courts also function: people come there from different - of not opposite - directions. The risk of a clash is there. But thanks to the bridge, we have met, and sometimes leave with a wave and a smile.

My wish for this Xmas and the New Year 2011 to my readers, they be fellow - workers in justice or not, is that we all daily try to build those bridges, reaching out to each other.

For a visit of some of some of my favourite bridges of 2010, click here .

Wat u vast niet gemist hebt - Ce que vous n’avez certainement pas râté - You didn’t miss this one did you ?

12 12 2010 Zes op de 10 Belgen heeft vertrouwen in Justitie (Het Nieuwsblad)

17 12 2010 “Un vent d’air frais dans la procedure pénale” (Paroles de juges)

24 12 2010 “Julian Assange, homme de l’année pour Le Monde” (Le Monde)

A quote a day, keeps the doctor away ;-)

“Door onze acties en in ons optreden moeten we allen de moed opbrengen vredestichter te zijn.”

Kerstboodschap Albert II

(translation: “By all our actions we must all have the courage to be peacemakers”. King Albert II of Belgium)

Photo of the day:

Mee-Bridge, near the old Palace of Justice in Bruges.

Song of the day:

“Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down”

Simon & Garfunkel