Peace Begins With You Original text by: Katherine Scholes Adapted by: Jillian Lee and 2013 2014 Division 2, Grade 7 Students What is Peace? Peace is our nation joining hands to stand strong. Peace is a world living in perfect harmony. Peace is making your dreams come true. Peace is a world of forgiveness and a world where people love one another. We can feel peace when we listen to songs. Peace can feel warm, bright, and strong. Peace can feel calm, cool, and gentle. Peace can be found in a place that is busy, and loud. and peace can be missing in the calmest, quietest place on earth. Peace feels like a flame dancing and flickering in the fireplace on a cold, winter s night. Peace means different things, to different people, in different places, and at different times in their lives. Peace is love. So, what is Peace? Where does peace come from? Peace sounds like the Earth singing and waves crashing against a rock. How can you find peace? Peace is a place where everyone lives in harmony. How can you keep peace? Peace is like water slowly making its way down the stream.
Peace can be when you are sleeping. Cheering someone up can be peaceful. There are some things you need just to stay alive. You need food, water, a place to live, and clothes to keep you warm. You need help when you are sick or hurt. Peace is having all of those things you need. There are things you want things that help to make life good. Little things, like a place to play with your friends. Or being with the people that you love. And big things, like not being afraid, or having a chance to study and learn or knowing you are loved by family and friends. Peace is having, or being able to work for some of the things you want. Everybody is different. Peace is accepting every culture and everyone. People want and need different things, in different places, at different times in their lives. Peace is the bond between different people. Peace looks like people from different places getting along. Peace is being allowed to be different.
Peace is letting other people be different from you. Because people are different, their needs and wants don t always fit together. Even when they are not very different, there can be problems. Sometimes, people want to use the same thing at the same time. Sometimes there might not be enough of something to go around. Living with others means sometimes you can t always have what you need or want, exactly when you would like it. Peace is a powerful word that can eliminate hatred. Peace can mean no war, having all current wars end, and having no fears. Peace is having no violence. But peace can also be soldiers fighting for our rights. Peace is wearing a poppy to represent the Veterans that fought for our country. Living with others means you need to know what to do when peace is interrupted. When peace is interrupted, there can be arguments, and silence. When peace is interrupted, there can be fighting, and angry words. But sometimes, when peace is interrupted, something entirely different can also happen. Sometimes, an argument can lead to a new understanding. Sometimes, each side can explain what they need, or want, and why. Sometimes, people can listen to each other and work together to solve the problem,
so that both sides can have what they need or want or at least some of it. Sometimes, people work together in unity to help out others and make things better. Sometimes people outside of the problem can help this to happen. But sometimes, no middle way or compromise can be found. When this happens, there are still choices to be made. The two sides can move away from each other so neither side gets what they want. The two sides can choose other things to share. There are always choices to be made. Some choices threaten people. Some choices protect peace. Every day, people make choices about peace at home, at school, and at work. Working for peace may be harder than using force. Talking about what you need and listening to other people takes courage. It is not always easy. But when you think about how much pain is caused by the breaking of peace, In families, In neighbourhoods, In schools, and in countries all over the world,
Peace has to be the better way. Some people think only about having peace for themselves. They want to stay in their own little peaceful place and keep everyone else s problems outside. They might get away with this for a little while, or even a long while. But in the end, The only hope we have is for lasting peace, In our homes and communities, in our schools and neighbourhoods, and all over the world. A peace that is real for everyone. Peace is people getting along instead of fighting. Or when people are freed from slavery. All through history, there have been peacemakers, People who have worked for peace, By trying to make life better for everyone. They have worked to try and change laws and tried to share things more fairly, So that everyone can have a chance at a good life. Sometimes, being a peacemaker means saying No Sometimes, being a peacemaker means telling people when they are being unfair
If you believe something is wrong or unfair, You may have to speak up, You may have to act. Peace can be found in your life. Our world is full of change. Ideas change. Ways of living change. People change. Even the natural world changes. To help peace, we need to work with these changes, and to think about these changes, So that all people, plants, and animals can live together. Peace is not a gap between times of fighting or a space when nothing is happening. Peace is something that lives, Something that grows, Something that spreads, And something that expands when it is looked after. May each of you live long lives full of peace. May each of you learn to look after peace.
All: In your families, In your neighbourhoods, In your classrooms, And everywhere in our world.