Let hatred grow or time to offer peace?

I AM deeply aggrieved by the ensuing leadership battle impacting our young nation.
There is obviously a split between our leaders.
There is no doubt people like O’Neill, Abal, Polye, Namah, Ma­rape, Pruaitch, Somare Jnr, Agiru, Parkop, etc, are our future leaders. 
Love them or hate them, they are there. 
What we are seeing is a generational change clouded in disagreement, disrespect, anger and self-fulfilment. 
The worst possible scenario has emerged.
I wonder if our young leaders had waited until 2012 to gain power, would the process have been so costly and painful.
I think not; we would have all rejoiced in the occasion which is only some six months away.
I am saddened that in our desire for change, we could end up destroying ourselves.
Do the ends justify the means?
In this case, it is not worth the price. 
Papua New Guinea will be around long after we are all dead and gone … if we seek to preserve it.
Peter O’Neill and Belden Namah have constantly reminded us that they are the leaders of the future.
Sir, there is little disagreement with that contention. 
You have made your point and the nation has heard and bears witness.
In the process of your ascension, I ask that you spare our icons – Sir Michael Somare, the Constitution and the judiciary. 
I ask that you strongly seek to preserve our unity. 
You are the men of the moment; your people wait with bated breath for your next course of action. 
Will you continue to cultivate hatred and division or will you take your rightful place and offer the hand of peace and friendship? 
Does it hurt your future prospects of leadership to offer peace and friendship to your political enemies? 
I call on the moderates on both sides of the house to repair the rift that has been allowed to grow unattended.
Surely for you to show mercy, goodness and love to your foes would endear you to all people.
I hope that by the same token Sir Michael, the elder statesman and father of the nation, will return the hand of friendship, forgiveness and tolerance to those who have caused him so much anguish and pain.
This is what Papua New Guineans ex­pect of our longest-serving leader and also from our leaders of the future.
I appeal to you to be leaders of all Papua New Guineans, not just your supporters. 
If there is value in this approach, pursue it.
If not then let me warn you that your actions of today, will forever have a bearing on our future. 
The damage has been done, let us pursue the noble work of rebuilding.
The Jews and the Arabs came from one source but 4,000 years later, due to the eagerness of Sarah to fulfil God’s will (to create change), they are now bitter enemies. 
I hope all of you, as professed Christians, show some Christian charity as we approach Christmas and remember the story of Abraham and Sarah.

Allan Bird
Wewak