2007 Peace Essay Contest
"Not With These Hands"
Primary School Winners
A Non-Violence Pledge
I would stop people from doing crime. I promise to do my duty and to help my country and to help other people. We would be able to solve our problems in words instead of violence and we would never go to the hospital unless we get sick.
I would take care of everyone and myself and kids, teachers. No one would get hurt if the world was like that and it can be like that because no one would be in pain unless they have a cramp or if they start to get stung by bees, wasp, yellow jackets, and spiders.
I believe promises will keep us safe. I would promise that if someone got hurt, I would give them medicine to keep them alive so that they wouldn't die and I would protect them with all my might and if I die I would tell someone else the same thing so other people would be safe from a cold or a stroke or if they are choking out. If I wasn't dead I would still tell them what to do just in case if something happened to someone.
--Honorable Mention Isaiah Hall Mary Munford ES
If There Were No Violence in the World
I know the world would be safer with no violence. There would be no stealing or fighting because everyone said, , I will do no violence.' This is my number one wish -- that everyone in the world would stop drinking everywhere because no one would go coo-coo!
It would be great if there would be no pushing in school. It would be great if you did not hurt anybody in school. It would be good if you didn't break stuff like windows or library books and say it was not you. It would be good for my grandmother because she would feel safer in her home.
No violence would be good for my mom because she can let the cat out and no one will take her or hurt her. It would better for my brother when he is born because no one will hurt him. The world would be peaceful with no VIOLENCE! ! ! ! ! ! !
--Honorable Mention Sydney Tinker Mary Munford ES
If There Was No Violence
If there was no violence in this community it would be a better place. If there were no violence, kids in school would be acting good instead of hitting, fighting, and pushing or not listening to the teacher. People wouldn't be raping other people or kidnapping other kids. There would be no drugs or' guns.
People wouldn't be drinking or driving or beating up people. We wouldn't have any more wars in Iraq or anywhere else! There wouldn't be anybody running away from the police.
No parents would abuse their children, if all of the people in this community would stop doing these things nobody would be in jail forever. Our community would be really, really better if we had start doing all of that and I hope we can do it.
--Honorable Mention Jayla Thompson Mary Munford ES
Violence is not good because it can hurt people, animals, plants, or other things in nature. Violence is when someone does something harmful that injures or kills a person or something else. It is not good to hurt or kill animals for the fun of it because they are God's creatures.
Animals and plants are an important part of nature because they give us our food. Plants also give us cotton to make clothes and wood to build things. If someone hurts an animal, they might get used to it and hurt more animals. Also, when someone hurts an animal such as a dog, it can feel pain just like we can.
War is a part of violence because many people can be killed or injured. If everyone made peace, then there would not be any chance of starting a war. When countries don't agree with each other, then war starts.
Instead of creating violence, we should make peace. For example, I can promote nonviolence by not hurting my brothers and being nice to other people. This might help me, my community, or my world because if! am nice to other people, they might pass it on and others would keep it going.
Other people could help promote nonviolence by not trying to cause violence and encouraging others to be kind to people and animals. They could also try not to start wars or encourage others to do the wrong things. Sometimes people think that they do not have to do the right thing, or they want to do something that is wrong. However, we have to try to do the right thing and create peace instead of violence.
--Honorable Mention Rachel Le, St. Matthew's Catholic School
No Violence
I think the world would be peaceful without drugs, cigarettes, beer, or just plain violence. So the world could be a better place with out problems like littering, stealing, killing, plotting against our world, breaking the law. We were doing just fine in the old days we had shoe makers, carpenters, sewers, farmers every thing was just perfect. Until Ben Franklin made the kite with electricity. Then our world went whack with polluting, littering, killing, war that made the world violent.
If it weren't for Ben Franklin we wouldn't have these problems. But still it's not like he did it on purpose to make our world to have al these problems.
Let's get back on topic. If we use oil, coal, trees, we'll take the habitats out of our world. When we want to build a new mall, grocery store we just tear an animal's habitats down. That is not fair to them. Having a world without violence would be great wouldn't it? To me it would. I would like for that to happen.
--2nd Place (tie) Daniel Holloman, Mary Munford ES
Not With These Hands
Martin Luther King, Jr. said "Hate can't drive out hate; only love can." He fought for civil rights and won with words and peaceful marches but not with these hands.
How can we young students make a peaceful world? We can learn to be calm inside ourselves. We should listen to our teachers and parents, without interrupting them. Learning to be patient is a virtue. Talking politely will get you more friends. Developing self-control will enable you to express your feelings without anger.
If you lose a game, do not blame your teammates; just work harder to play better the next time.
In your neighborhood, do not litter or trespass. Be honest with your words and actions, just like Honest Abe. If you make donations and feed the poor and hungry people in your community, there should be less violence. If countries respected other countries' freedom, there would be fewer wars.
We can then live in a peaceful world and not fight with these hands!
--2nd Place (tie) Erik Akbar, Marguerite Christian ES
My Vision for Peace
My vision for peace in the world is people should stop treating people badly, and people should start treating each other kinder. People treat each other bad by bullying, using mean words, and showing unkind respect. People shouldn't act like that. They should act responsibly by taking charge of their own life and being in control of themselves and not letting anger get to them. People can act kinder by trying to find something nice to do or say.
Violence isn't a good way to treat others. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Lincoln showed that by defending other people's rights. People should never use fists to solve their problems. People should never bully someone because they don't know how to ask or say something to someone.
I have a friend that once hit me on the back very hard because he didn't know how to get my attention. It didn't make me feel so well, but I didn't get angry. I asked him why he did that, and he told me he wanted my attention. I asked him not to do that again, and we both let it go.
--1st Place Sam Brady, Fisher ES
Upper Elementary School Winners
Not with these hands
The Richmond organizations are asking citizens of all ages to pledge not to commit acts of violence. This is a brilliant idea; it will have a great impact on the world and our society. This is something that maybe Abraham Lincoln or Martin Luther king Jr. would have tried to do. In other words, this is something that we are doing to make our world a more peaceful one, a world without violence or vandalism. This will maintain more peace and harmony.
There are many ways taking a pledge to act non-violently can help you and everyone else. Sure, there will still be vandalism and violence, but this is going to be like a wake- up call. People will realize how far it has gone that we are trying to make people take pledges to maintain the peace! Many will see that this will have a positive effect on our society. Less people will try to commit crimes!
We can even add to the pledge to make it have a more positive effect. We could add at least an hour of community service! People may grumble and think, " Ugh, Community service is so boring!" but when they complete it they will have a good feeling within them. They will wonder what impact they just made on the world and the people living in it. They will understand what one person can do to change the lives of thousands.
Just taking the pledge could impact people. They may have thoughts in their head about how the have just been sitting on the sidelines, the whole entire time while poor people have been starving, or while terrorists have been destroying the lives of millions. Then they will think about the different ways that they can take part in rebuilding our society, and helping to make it stronger. They will realize how much they will want to participate in helping us lean1 from what happens to us, and helping us rise back up after a serious blow, such as terrorist attacks.
Thus, I conclude that taking this pledge will definitely be a turning point for many people in their lives. They will realize how serious the terrors of today are, and will try to make the future a better place. As my teacher sometimes says during our civil war studies about the abolitionist movement " Don't you think that this person/event affected the movement? Its like adding gasoline to a fire, it picks up its flare!" I think that this pledge may have the same effect; it will speed up the fight against violence and terrorists.
---Honorable Mention Yash Tekriwal, Three Chopt ES
"Not with these hands," I said as my friends Po, Gu, Christian, and I walked down to Tokyo Market. "I will never buy a weapon unless it is for decoration only" I said.
"You know," Po started, "if everyone was busy eating food, no one would worry about each other or violence."
"Well I think we should all make chibi music videos." Christian said.
"And I think we should get some Ramune!" interrupted Gu as we walked through the doorway to Tokyo Market.
As we entered the shop we bowed to the cashier and said "konichiwa", or good afternoon. We walked up the steps and turned the corner to the Ramune isle and saw Juj and Itab, two other friends! They were getting ramen and zori, or traditional Japanese sandals. We told them about ideas for world and community peace.
The cashier heard us and said, "Well I think you should put up posters around town telling people not to buy guns and not to promote violence."
"Wow, that's a great idea!" we all exclaimed.
We went back to my house and got out poster board and markers. We made posters saying "No Guns, They Hurt" and "Violence Is A Bad Thing, Don't Promote It." After we finished the posters we went to Po's house to think of more ideas. When we got there, his two cats, Isu and Kisu, greeted us. They followed us inside where we asked his mom, Melissa, if she had any ideas.
"I think you should march around town with banners and flags talking about bringing peace to our community and the world," she said.
"Wow!" we all said in agreement. "It'll be big, but I think we can do it!"
The next morning we got together at 9:00a.m. to discuss ideas. "We should make simple, easy-to-read banners that say, 'No Violence' or 'World Peace, ,,, said Gu.
"And we can include chibis with those same slogans," blurted out Christian.
"You know, that's not half bad," we all agreed.
So, we spent the next hour and a half working on the posters and banners. Itab illustrated, Juj and Gu wrote, Christian drew the chibis and Po and I helped everyone out.
The next day we set up our posters in places where people could easily see them and got our stuff together. "Okay, so we'll walk down Carytown from the Byrd Theater to Ukrop's and back down on the other side of the street." Po said as we ran over the directions.
My Dad drove us all down to the Byrd andwe set up. At 1 :00 we started down the street. With our banners blowing in the wind, our colorful signs and our rhythmic chant we marched down Carytown for 2 hours. We encountered many people and they stopped to stare and think about what we were saying. When it finally ended we stopped by Tokyo Market and got some Ramune. We told the cashier about what we did that day and how proud we were. Over the next few months, crime rates went drastically lower and people seemed a lot nicer. We had definitely touched the souls of Richmond.
---Honorable Mention Nathan L. Illmensee, William Fox ES
Have you ever stopped to think about what the world would be like without violence and mean words? Have you ever thought about how this world would be if everyone was nice? A lot of people would say that this world wouldn't be as interesting without violence and that everyone would be the same, and that wouldn't be that much fun either. Well I didn't say that everyone would be the same. I just said that we wouldn't have as many problems.
I'm not saying that people wouldn't fall off their bikes and scrape their knees. I'm just saying that people wouldn't steal or go kill other people.
Do you think that God put us on this planet to fight over land and other things, or did He put us on this planet to discover new things, to have life and recreate? Do you think that God put us on this planet to have one person control or rule over one another, or did he put us on this planet to have freedom for what we want?
If you made a promise to be more kind to others and even if you fight, you use words. If someone threatens, or challenges you to a fight, you just say "not with these hands."
God probably does mind us using words, but he probably minds us using our bodies even more.
If I mad a promise to keep this earth a more peaceful and calm place to live, I would keep that promise and hope that other people do too. Because without everyone doing their part, being their little puzzle piece to a beautiful picture, the world would still be a horrible place to be.
That is why, right here and now, I want you to make a promise to be more helpful to our planet earth.
And if someone threatens or challenges you to a fight. . . All I want you to say is "Not with these hands."
---Honorable Mention Cristina Peters, William Fox ES
Peace in our Community
Not too many years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. told people across the world to resolve conflicts in a peaceful way. He helped us to understand that violence is not the answer, and, in doing so, ended segregation. However, people are still violent in our community. The best way to solve any problem is with peace.
Albert Einstein said, "Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding." I think that his quote pretty much says it all: take the time to think about people's situations and problems before you act in a way that won't help the community, but hurt it. If we all took a moment before doing something harmful and thought about the choice of solving this problem by peace or violence, the world would be a safer, happier place to live in.
Many people think of peace in similar ways. For example, Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote is very similar to Einstein's. "Peace cannot be achieved by violence, it can only be attained by understanding." In short, both of these people thought that you must understand each other to find the true meaning of peace. I agree. If this world were totally peaceful, we could solve really important matters, like third world hunger or global warming using our minds, instead of wasting our time with small, unimportant problems using violence. Think of all of the wonderful things that could happen if your community alone was peaceful. The world doesn't need to be perfect, but it definitely does need to be peaceful.
--Honorable Mention Anne Carter Bland, William Fox ES
Martin, Mahatma and Marco
"Give me one good reason to pledge to that stupid law," Greg said.
One day after the government passed anew law saying that all citizens should live to commit no acts of physical violence our school passed out a sheet passing the message on. Our school had always been full of bullies, with passed lunch money and 'worse than wedgies' pranks. Not that I was one of them. I didn't like that kind of stuff. My friend Gregg though, he's a different matter. Not only does Greg act like a classic bully. He looks like one too.
Anyway, he and I were walking home from school later that day.
What do you have against controlled problem solving?" I asked him.
"It's not that. It's just, I mean, what in crud am I going to do when I just feel like slugging somebody?" he muttered.
"I don't know any normal people who just punch random people if they flunk a test or something," I replied. "Why don't you just try to figure out a way to get your aggression out without hurting people?"
"I don't know!" he snapped. "Everything would be so different. I wouldn't know what to do with myself. My whole life I've been a bully, and if bullies are like practically illegal, then what's the point?"
"You know, if you kept bullying, people would start hating you and you'd get hurt too. You don't need to use all that violence," I said quietly.
"You want to help them spread that law? You want to hold up a sign saying 'violence causes violence back on yourself?' Come on, Marco, what's wrong with you?" he retorted.
"Nothing's wrong with me. Maybe I'm just able to understand because I haven't helped you bully or hurt anybody," I said. I was getting kind of annoyed.
We kept walking, but on opposite sides of the sidewalk. We passed a trashed shack, a restaurant, and a gas station before either of us spoke again.
"Well how would you feel if the way you always lived just got basically outlawed?" he asked.
"Nothing like that would ever happen to me," I said back.
"It was a rhetorical question, moron," he said. "I'll try it though. I bet you ten bucks I can go a day as the good boy. Okay?"
"Sure. Ten dollars says you get ticked off and blow your top trying to keep yourself from strangling a teacher," I snickered.
"That isn't funny, ya know. Even if it is practically what I did." He faded off.
We split up as we neared his house and I kept walking. I didn't hear a peep from him besides the times he answered questions during the school day. I forgot about the bet after a while and three more days went by. As we walked home on Friday he only said one thing.
"You keep your ten bucks. I just wanted a chance to prove you wrong on something I know you were right about."
The rest of the walk we had our arms draped over each other's shoulders.
--3rd Place Georgina Coffey, William Fox ES
Not With These Hands
One of the reasons the world is suffering is because of violence. If there was no violence there would be no wars or assassinations. Not only is violence hurtful, but also expensive. There might not be third world countries. The world would change drastically.
If there was non-violence there would be no wars. Thousands of people would not be dying on the battlefield every day. They would not be dying from the goodness o(their hearts by serving their country in war. Without wars, people would get so much more stuff done. There would not have been the horrible Nazis or Saddam Hussein. Without war, the world would be in peace and harmony.
Assassinations are great acts of violence. Without assassinations many important people would have done more great things. I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been the first African-American president because of his strong leadership qualities. I also believe Abraham Lincoln would have continued his act against slavery and prevent the civil rights movement from happening. Many more important people would have been alive longer (or still alive) like John F. Kennedy, John Lennon, and Julius Caesar. All of these assassinations were historical moments and had a huge impact on the world.
Without violence the world would not only be peaceful, but would also have a lot more money. If there were not weapons having to be bought by countries we would have millions more of dollars. There would also be no expenses for jails, uniforms, and (as many) police officers and firefighters. We could use that money for finding a way to cure cancer or building electrical powered vehicles. Without violence there would probably be enough money to stop global warming by buying more advanced products. We would probably be years ahead of the technology we have today. We could build more homeless shelters where the homeless could sleep, eat, and possibly even live. The world would be much more advanced with the extra money used for violence.
The earth is cruel and sad because of violence. The world would be a much better place and would have a lot more money. There would be no wars, no assassinations, just peace and happiness. There would be less poverty and starvation, but more happiness. Without violence the world would be a beautiful place to live.
--2nd Place Woody Rogers, William Fox ES
Peace
Have you ever made a truce between friends? Have you ever stopped an argument between your brother/sister? An eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth makes the whole world blind and toothless. What do these questions and sayings mean? If people are violent it will be very difficult to achieve peace.
Peace is something that should be shared with everyone. It can also bring so many glorious and fantastic things. If everyone was peaceful there wouldn't be so much lives and limbs lost. If there was world peace all the countries would cooperate with each other to help one other to grow and progress in many ways. Closer to home, wouldn't you just like to stop fighting with your brother or sister? If we all use this great way of life, many obstacles in are life will be blown away.
Many of the leaders of the world have used peace in numerous ways. Let us take Abraham Lincoln for example. Once Abraham Lincoln was walking on a bridge and then he saw a man holding on to one of the wooden planks. Without another breath Honest Abe was at the man's side to help him and he later was saved. Now you might ask, "But Abraham Lincoln waged a war!" That is true, but he only did it because he had no other choice.
Also Martin Luther King Jr. showed many qualities of peace throughout his life. As you know he never ever picked up a gun to fight segregation. He led powerful marches and gave incredible speeches, but was never was physically violent. He showed that anyone can win something with only using words as he got what he wanted: no segregation.
The most brilliant and incredible leader of the world was Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi was very peaceful. When Gandhi was thrown off a train he did not fight back physically, but in the strength of marches and speeches. When Gandhi was beaten very severely in South Africa for throwing his passes in the fire he did not beat them back. He never picked up one gun in his life, but he marched and never gave up.
Peace is very important in everyday lives. It is just the little hard work of getting along with everyone. One day in the future everyone maybe peaceful and everyone will succeed in numerous ways.
--1st Place Sean Sequeira, Three Chopt ES
Middle School Winners
My Vision For Nonviolence
Violence, the use of physical force, is a huge global issue that affects our world and individuals greatly. Violence sparks fear into the hearts of everyone. Violence causes more violence to erupt and eventually leads to terrible things. Today's society should use violence as a last resort and solve problems by using nonviolent methods. We must remember that violence is not the answer.
In many communities, violence includes gang violence, shoot~outs, grand thief and robberies. In the 1960s, people like Martin Luther King Jr. supported the idea of non-violence to promote Civil Rights during the Civil Rights Movement.
Martin Luther King Jr. urged that violence was not the path to take to be heard and that nonviolence would prevail if we all worked together in a humane manner. He believed that people should communicate verbally to come to an agreement. If that did not work, he would use boycotting methods to voice his longing for civil rights.
I share the same vision for nonviolence in the community as Martin Luther King. I want to have unification and happiness in our neighborhoods. Coming together as one helps because it helps to learn about each other and respect their culture and customs.
War, in my opinion, is the worst and most devastating violence in the world. War causes devastation and kills the lives of many people. War affects the world and the citizens of the world in negative ways, such as global warming and physical, mental and emotional disorders. It leads to mass death and destruction.
My vision for nonviolence in the world is to promoting peace. We can do this by teaching others the problems and struggles within a community and how it is up to others to be considerate to their aspects and customs. We must teach them to communicate in better ways.
Better communication is a trait the entire world must work on and without it, the world may become more violent. In conclusion, it is wrong and ineffective to solve a problem by using violence. Therefore, communication, unity and education can contribute to the increase of nonviolence in our community and our world.
--Honorable Mention LaJuan Neal, Lucille Brown MS
Somewhere in the heart of America, a mother and daughter are leaning over their kitchen table, tears streaming down their cheeks, blotting the ink on the letter that sits before them.
"Dear Sir or Madam," it reads. "The United States Marine Corps regrets the sending of this letter and it is with our deepest sympathies that we inform you of your son's death in the line of duty." All of the rest is illegible.
In thousands of other places all around the world, similar letters are being sent even as this is read. Had people simply been able to put their differences aside, none of these would have to be sent. The world could be peaceful. Peace is an extreme idea, almost unfathomable at times. If only people could accept others and think of others instead of just themselves, maybe it would be easier to understand.
All over this world there is violence and war, all caused by man's resistance to change. Change, though, is not always a bad thing and neither is the idea of peace. Just take a moment to imagine a utopian world, a world where no one cries, no one yells or screams, a world where there are no suicides, no murders, no reason to be afraid at night. No one would have to lock their doors and windows, and no one would have to leave lights on when they went on vacation.
That is peace. Being able to say what you want, love whom you want, live where you want with no fear of consequences, that too is peace.
It is thought that in order to gain peace, we must fight, and yet that is exactly the opposite of what is needed. In truth, peace can be gained through very little effort. All it takes is a small shift in mind. Instead of scorning those who are different or have different ideas, accept the fact that they are different and move on. That's all there is to it. How hard would it be for the world to make such a simple change? Peace is easily within our grasp if only we can open our eyes to it.
--Honorable Mention Laura Deale, Swift Creek MS
Before little Becky Smith strolled home with her father, Robert Smith, she waved goodbye to her Elementary School. Becky's father didn't recognize that there were three angry men attempting to shoot him, and murder him. Becky gleefully skipped in the direction of her daddy, but she didn't get the opportunity to embrace him.
The raging men accidentally shot Becky, missing their target, Robert. They drove off before the police arrived, and Robert dropped down on the ground next to his bareley conscious daughter.
Becky's final words prior to losing her consciousness were, "Daddy, what did you do to make those men so angry? Why didn't they try to communicate with you and settle the argument? Kids in my former fifth grade class solve their problems more peacefully than you."
That was just it. The local community misplaced their peace when bullies appeared, robberies commenced, and crime scenes developed into the most popular site. Even though guidance counselors attend schools daily, bullies are still spread up and down the hallways of numerous schools. They are amused by walking up to innocent kids and heaving their books down to the ground; they are entertained by calling little children names that the children don't even comprehend the correct definition of yet. Also, there was always that one young child that marched up to the lunch line with two dollars and fifty cents to purchase a meal, and then walks out humiliated, with a frown on his face, because the mean old bully stole his lunch money.
Bullying is a major issue in schools. Just think, if there were no bullies, how peaceful would that be for the naive children? Not having to be concerned every time the bell rings, not having to run to one's next class because they are frightened, doesn't it sound terrific?
Obviously, in a number of schools, there is no peace. When youth surf the channels on their television, they occasionally settle on NBC news. They witness the robberies of corner stores, and I do not believe that that is the type of education that is necessary for them.
Offspring ask their mothers and fathers what made people shoot the store owner and rob them. Parents are dumbfounded when asked this question, because nobody knows the correct way to reply. A good guess would be that their life is so unmerciful that they imagine robbing a store right road totravel. Robbers must have no peace in their lives, because that road is the worst on the map.
Unfortunately, murderers roam the earth. Who knows why, but it's accurate that they do. I wonder how one must feel if they had a daughter who was shot and paralyzed for life, how it feels to be widowed, or without a close relative. How do widows survive the day accepting the fact that their loved ones are deceased because some criminal didn't have the right amount of peace in his or her life?
If only there was peace, however, the peace on earth abandoned us a long time ago; unless people try very hard, I would not anticipate its return any time soon.
Becky's dad sat by her hospital bed. He whimpered for the first time in his life. Thinking to himself how this happened, he realized there is no peace left in the local community. He regretted not discussing with his enemies before that horrible event arose.
Becky now has to sit in a wheelchair for the remainder of her life. She cannot walk; she cannot skip.
Becky, however, is very calm. She prayed at night thanking the heavens she is alive, and that her blessed father is alive. I am assuming Becky is one of the few human beings who, in spite of everything, still has peace within them. She is a peaceful inspiration to all.
--Honorable Mention Katy Owens, Swift Creek MS
My Vision for Non-Violence in My Neighborhood
I have a peaceful vision for my neighborhood. Right now there is killing and drug dealing. I want this violence to stop, and I have some ideas about how to do it. In my vision people are safe and not afraid.
There is violence all the time in my neighborhood. On one Saturday night we came back home from playing Laser Quest, and in front of my house I saw the police. My mom had called my cousin's cell phone and told her to park the car in the back because the police were sitting in front of our house. When we were about to get out of the truck the policeman flashed his into our truck and saw that we were all girls. He was looking for a man who had stabbed Theresa who lives next door.
All of us ran into the house. When we got in the house mom told us that Theresa was stabbed by her 'baby's daddy' in the leg. Theresa had tried to grab the knife and cut her hand. After she was stabbed, she came on our porch yelling and crying. She rang our door bell.
My mom let her in and blood got all on our porch and carpet. My mom had to clean all the blood from the carpet. We used bleach and soap to scrub off the porch. The police were still outside investigating when went on the porch to clean Theresa's blood off. Things like this happen in my neighborhood.
Also, in my neighborhood I see people on the corner selling dope. At night I hear gun shots. When I hear shots I get scared. I know that I should not be scared because I know that someone with a gun is not in my house. I get scared anyway because I know that they are near my house.
In my neighborhood the violence needs to stop because it is heart breaking. Someone can shoot and the bullet can hit the wrong person. People can get killed or paralyzed. The family members of victims suffer too.
There are ways to end the violence. Cars that speed through my neighborhood should be checked by the police for drugs and weapons. If someone has killed or hurt someone they need to be in jail for a long time. Every time someone has killed or hurt someone they should be in jail until they know how to keep their hands off of weapons.
We can also stop violence like what happened to Theresa. Family members can talk about their problems instead of fighting to solve them. In my vision people are safe. People can be outside anytime they want to instead of being afraid.
--Honorable Mention Sajada Taylor, M. L. King MS
My Vision for a Nonviolent Community
In a nonviolent world, one might imagine that everything is perfect. The birds are chirping, beautifulwhite doves fill a crystal blue sky, and everybody is hugging, laughing and sharing. Through my eyes, a nonviolent community is a place were everybody knows everyone, not a single person holds a grudge, there are no classification or separation systems, and everybody loves one another like they love themselves. All of these four things have to be thought about in order for there to be a nonviolent community.
The first thing is that everyone knows everybody. Knowing a lot about another person brings familiarity to a community. And with this, nobody has to know all the answers; they just have to know who to ask. This makes lifelong friends and a friendly community. If people were friends with each other, then they would be less likely to hurt one another.
The second thing is nobody holds any type of grudge or discomfort with another person. If a grudge goes too far, it could result in violence and that is not a positive thing. People should communicate their feelings. Also, letting loose of the old and bad lets rooms for the new and good things. With the new, comes interesting and exciting opportunities.
The third thing to a nonviolent community is no separation or classification systems. If you have systems, many people may feel left out or out of place if someone is higher than them on the popularity chain. If you don't classify people say by their color or where they come from, then their "rights" aren't assigned accordingly.
Last but not least, everybody must love others like they would love themselves. This means one must first come to understand and love one's self; all faults and talents. If more people were to do this, there would be more compassion and love for others. This would result in more and new and nicer people around.
With all of these factors together in the minds of the people, our community may become a better and safer place for the civilians. With love, equality, security, and familiarity our city, Richmond, could possibly be a safer ]and more hopeful place to live. To have a nonviolent world, it doesn't need to be perfect, but we can do better.
--Honorable Mention Kyle Brady, Albert Hill MS
The Dream: A Non-violent World
Piercing eyes tip around ever~ corner; waiting for the moment when all else fades in to darkness; thinking nothing, hearing nothing, feeling nothing, just the call asking you to commit a horrible crime. Faces stricken with hatred, covered with black cotton masks; performing hold ups, stealing, illegal drugs and drinking; we as humans, are slowly destroying our world. Breath draining from blood covered bodies; the cold metal gun pressed to the forehead of an innocent man. Violence is everywhere, whether we accept it or not. Freedom and peace is a forgotten motive, for we are never free once we commit to violence. An Earth without crime and poverty is only a dream; but with effort the Earth, our Earth can become a peaceful place
Being able to not lock the doors when you leave your house, to leave your garage door open overnight, to lose your prized possessions and get them back. War would cease to exist in our vocabulary, fights would stop, gangs would never cross our minds, and the only sadness would be when a loved on dies of old age; not from a bullet to the head. You could walk down the streets of Richmond, New York, Houston, and not be pick-pocketed. Why should we be trapped in our homes? Forced to live in a world with no bravery; a planet all for ourselves and not embrace it. Violence has made Earth a horrible place to live- we need sanity, but our world has become Insane.
Politics set two peoples apart, corrupting our "undivided nation". Choosing between sides of rulers and governments breaks out in to verbal violence, making us face each other. Battles of words fly across the court; arguments turn in to war and small differences change the largest similarity. If our world were different, there would be no politics, no pain, no sorrow; we would be peaceful. Everyone would be happy, there would be no poverty, and the streets would be clean of waste. People would be healthier and no one would have imperfections
There are small changes we need to make that don't take a lot of effort and resources. All it takes is a little elbow grease, getting your hands dirty, and a change of attitude. Motivation is the first step we already have a reason That reason is our world is crumbling beneath our feet. If we do nothing to help now it will be too late. Now is the time, to discover what we are really made of. Now is our chance- our only chance, to test our technology to its limits; to create our "perfect, peaceful" world.
--3rd Place Karina Simoni, Swift Creek MS
"Peace"
My vision for nonviolence in our community and our world sounds and seems simple, but it takes plenty of hard work and willpower to get to it. Now, let's get to work.
Wait though. What is violence? We need to know what we are trying to stop. I believe that violence is anything that puts down a person or group of people.
Violence causes pain and suffering. When we picture pain and suffering, we immediately picture physical pain, right? Injuries aren't the only things that can hurt you. Words can put you down harshly. I believe that ''verbal violence" is the absolute worst. The racial slurs and words of hate that other people throw at you, can cause greater pain than you could ever imagine.
I believe that if we are to end violence, we must establish peace with ourselves and others. We must change our own bad habits and work together to create a better world. We could all set a common goal amongst each other and work to achieve that goal. It could be anywhere from donating money to charity or giving food to food shelters. We could all fight against racial slurs, racial slander, fighting, and hatred growing inside of each and everyone of us. By working together to stop racial slurs, fighting (amongst gangs, citizens, and others), and all of the hatred in our community, we c.an make a change today and create a better tomorrow.
Ever since I was a child, my parents taught me (primarily) three things. One: to love God and act in His image. By having that engraved in my mind and by acting upon it, I feel that I have become a better person and Catholic. Also, through the Catholic teachings, Christ taught us that the one who sits idly by and allows a sinful deed to occur is just as bad as the person committing it. Consequently, I try to teach that to my younger friends and classmates to do the same.
Two: Do not bite off more than you can chew. I believe that this has to do with greed. Greed is a terrible "disease". It causes us to want more than we can get and sometimes, people do the unspeakable and unimaginable. Greed turns to lust which turns to hatred and that causes us to become bitter people. So, we could teach ourselves to not have fixations on earthly possessions and we should also learn to give and not take. By doing this, we better ourselves and our community.
Three: Don't let anything stop you from doing what is right. We cannot create a nonviolent community/world by letting ''violent people'~ get in our way. We must fight for what is right. Nonviolence and love for one another, are what is right.
What should we do? We must break down the walls of hatred between each other and create bridges of peace. Only then, can we work together to tackle our problems.
Why should we do this? It will help us and teach us to love one another and we can bond with other people that we would never even dream of talking to. When should we do this? Now! The sooner we create love and peace between each other the better our future will be! Where do we start? I believe that we must start with ourselves and work our ways outward to help other people.
--2nd Place Victor Paul P. Tejada, St. Matthew's Catholic School
Not With These Hands
Often times I have thought to myself, "What would the world be like if there was no violence or hate or crime? Now I ask myself, "How would that affect my daily life and the daily lives of those around me?" I have been told multiple times in my life that if everyone in the world made the effort to do one good deed each day, then this world would be a much better place to live in. Therefore, it really would not be that hard to change the world and the way we interact with each other. If everyone spent half the time they did complaining about what's wrong with the world and instead actually got out there and did something positive about it, we all could make a big difference.
If you turn on NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX or CNN and watch the news for awhile, what do you see and hear about? Hate crimes, bank robberies, shootings, acts of racism and discrimination; the list is endless.
Many people, right along with the media, always try to focus on the negative and lead us to believe there is little good and many more bad things happening in this world we live in. Eventually the negativity piles so high that we begin to believe that there is nothing being done to stop it. Actually, however, organizations all over the world like the Richmond Peace Education Center are trying to raise awareness and get people to help make this world a better place to live in. They are working to build a community where there is no violence, no crime, and no hate. Such a place is something we as people can only dream about at this point in time, but someday I hope that dream will become a reality and that every community on earth will be peaceful and accept others as equaL Life in that community would be very different from life in my community today.
First of all, there would be no racial discrimination. All people would be viewed as equal regardless of ethnicity, race, cultural background, or skin color. Second, any conflicts that arose would be resolved without any fighting or violence whatsoever.
Every dispute would be resolved through negotiation. As Shakespeare wrote, "The pen is truly mightier than the sword." Finally, nobody would be given any reason to feel superior to anyone else around them. All people living in the community would be given equal economic, political, and social rights. This way no one would be given much of an opportunity to feel superior, or inferior, to anybody living around them.
So far, living in this community sounds pretty good for the general population, but how would it affect my life personally? Well, the political, economic and social equality probably would not directly affect me very much considering I am only thirteen years old, but two other things might have a bit more of an impact on my life. For example, I know that I face conflicts at school and at home that sometimes result in pushing or yelling. If I could talk my way through each and everyone of those conflicts without raising my hand or voice in anger, it would take a huge burden off my shoulders in my everyday life.
The fact that in this ideal community there would be no discrimination would also make a huge impact on my life. Every time I am listening to the news or watching a movie and something involving racism comes up, it makes my ears bum and my blood boil. How people could be so cruel and heartless as to physically and/or mentally destroy someone just because they are different? This is a complete mystery to me. People need to grab hold of the fact that no one on this entire planet is exactly the same. We all are different and that is one thing that we cannot change about the world in which we live. In having a strong opposition to racism, I think that a community without any discrimination whatsoever would be the absolute perfect place to live.
When thinking of all these good ideas, the question arises, "How will I make my ideas known and make a difference?" The Homeland Security Advisory System uses an alert system with levels green, blue yellow, or red to make it known to the public that there is possibility of serious violent activity. So why not create a similar system that informs citizens when there is an increased amount of "non-violent " activity to give the ]public reassurance that their efforts are not in vain and that they are not wasting their time contributing to a cause that is going nowhere. Perhaps a "purple" level would be used to announce to everyone that hundreds of church group volunteers have mobilized to help hurricane or flood victims recover from their loss.
An informed community where there is no violence, no crime, no hate. Such a place is something we as people can only dream about at this point in time, but I am sure that through the combined efforts of the government, organizations like RPEC, and ordinary citizens like me we can all work together to make this seemingly impossible dream, a fantastic and incredible reality. Like I said earlier, if everyone did a single, simple good deed each day, we would completely change the way we live and interact with each other. So the next time I feel like screaming at someone who has made me angry or striking out at them, I will sit back and think about it for a second. By choosing to set a non-violent example for the person I am angry with, I can also set the example for anyone else that may also be around me.
--1st Place Eric Ott, Manchester MS
High School Winners
Our community would benefit tremendously if every individual pledged not to commit acts of violence. This would increase the morale and expectations of each individual. Children and adults would feel safe in society and would not have to worry about physical or verbal confrontations. Hands would no longer inflict pain or steal the trust of a young soul. The world would be at peace if a pledge was promised - a promise that was kept. Beatings would turn into subtle touches, theft would turn into giving, and derogatory comments would turn into respectful images of one another. Derogatory hand gestures would turn into friendly hand waves.
Hands of all shapes, colors, and sizes would work together towards building a positive community. These hands would not steal, hit, or intimidate beyond this promise.
These hands would embrace and grasp the hands of others in harmony to overcome obstacles and defeat violence. The people of the world would be at ease and relinquish the stresses and terrifying moments of potential harm of the outside world. If this pledge was enforced, we would be more comfortable in this diversified world. Every neighbor could be a friend, and every peer would accept each other's differences. No person would feel threatened or feel the need to harm or terrorize others.
With this pledge, my world would become a safe haven. This dark, cold world would evolve into a phenomenal place bursting with optimism and tranquility. We would not fear to walk among the streets in our neighborhoods or downtown areas. We would take a stand together and raise our voices to achieve our pledge - our promise. We would slowly channel our anger into positive aspects and no longer lose our temper to fueling extremities.
I will take the pledge. I will stand strong against the turbulent storms of violence and fierce acts of anger. I will request for others to take this pledge as well. I will use my hands to heal the wounds of anguished individuals. My hands will play the piano of serenity for the entire world to hear, and these hands will plant seeds of peace and love.
Gardens of friendship and devotion would expand over the vast areas of the earth. Sandcastles of acceptance and determination built by human hands would stand strong against the roaring seas of destruction. If people gave up on this pledge, they would surrender to themselves.
--Honorable Mention Aphrothiti Kostopanagiotis, George Washington HS
My vision for nonviolence in my community and my world is very simple. Making a promise to act nonviolently would not affect me at all. I'm not a violent person at all. What I mean by violent is that I don't like fighting, arguing, and all of the other unnecessary things that people do. There are plenty of ways to prevent the violence (crime) in my community and throughout the world.
Children around my community have no respect for their elders. Then again all of the drug dealers around my neighborhood are not making it any better. They make the kids in the community think that it it's okay to sell drugs and to walk around with guns. And last but not least there are the regular neighborhood gangs. To me I really don't think that is cute. All of those things are acts of violence.
I feel like there should be more recreational activities for kids in all neighborhoods. There really would not be as much crime on the streets if kids had something to look forward to once they got out of school. But then there comes the issue when the government claims that they don't have the money to start the organizations. But I honestly feel that's not true. As much money as the state and federal take out of people's checks every two weeks. Were does all of that money go? They should give some of that money to different organizations or here is a thought. Start giving it to the Richmond Public Schools.
Every year they give money to Chesterfield and Henrico County Schools. They take one look at the kids in Richmond and just say "no." They just feel like they are some project kids who don't know how to act. But it really does have a lot to do with how the children were brought up. That plays a big part in a person's life. So if there is nothing positive going on at home then they automatically go to school looking for that positive activity and they can't get it there either. The government doesn't give people anything to look forward to when they get to school.
So where do they go? Right back out there on the streets. Doing things that they have no business doing. That's all that they have to look to. And that's not fair. Well I want to change that. I want to start organizations for the youth and older adults. I feel like if they had something positive to do then there would not be so much violence. Not just in my community but also all around the world.
--Honorable Mention Natiqua Charletta Crawford, Adult Career Development Center
We can ask others for pledges of nonviolence, and they may agree to them, but without strong, foundational principles these pledges have a limited effect. Developing a strong family unit is one of the most important factors in the campaign for nonviolence.
he home should be a safe, stable place where love is abundant and children learn the value of respect for themselves and others. Once these values take root in the community, pledges of nonviolence will have as significant impact on the overall well-being of the world around us.
Love is one of the most important aspects of the family environment because it governs our actions in such a way that peace and nonviolence cannot help but follow after it. Love is the fulfillment of God's Law, as displayed in the Bible, because all rules and regulations become obsolete and unnecessary when one acts with love toward all. In order for the power of love to become fully effective, however, a misconception must first be addressed. With so much media influence nowadays, love has become confused with a very different emotion: lust. There is an important difference between the two, namely that lust is self-seeking while love is not. Once love becomes the law of the land, pledges to not commit acts of violence will suddenly become real and meaningful.
Another vital aspect of the family is the development of respect, both for one's self and for others. Respect is tied in with love, and the two go hand-in-hand in a peaceful community. The important aspect to notice is that respect is multi-faceted. One should not only respect others but also themselves, and their actions should reflect these sentiments. When one is able to balance these two components of respect, their lives are changed for the better and their positive impact on those around them also increases. If everyone thought about how actions of violence affect themselves and others around them, then the world would be a safer place.
Where respect is unable to stop violence, love steps in, and vice versa. The solution to violence does not stop with pledges, but should get to the heart of the problem: the dysfunction of the family. When the family is put back into working order, love and respect will follow, and pledges of nonviolence may even become unnecessary.
In this scenario, humankind could join hands, forget their differences, and march forward
to a bright and promising future.
--Honorable Mention Chris Rowecamp, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
Violence--a word spoken so often, printed so frequently, displayed so many times in so many ways. A word so powerful should evoke strong emotions, no? Yet people do not even react to the meaning of this word anymore. Why is that? Violence has become so integrated into everyday life that people have learned to ignore it. We must fight the problem of violence at three different levels: the government, the community, and the family life.
The government- the preliminary step- has already addressed the issue. The government has laid down laws for citizens to follow. The government created these laws to stop social, political, and racial violence. Since these laws, violence has greatly decreased, but it still remains in many parts of the community. Why? It comes down to the simple explanation that the people who initiate the violence refuse to abide by government laws. Of course people who break laws pay the price... if they get caught. But with so much violence in the world today, the government can not possibly catch everybody.
The community, the second step in the process to rid the world of violence, steps in where the government cannot. People in the community must make a stand against the violence that surrounds them. Neighborhoods, churches, schools-all of these places effect people's lives. Kids who grow up going to a school where enthusiastic teachers encourage them take greater pride in their studies. Kids who attend a school where their classmates do not care and their teachers do not care will find themselves not caring. So the school environment plays a huge role in the shaping of a child's outlook on life.
Take one: a kid lives in a neighborhood where drug deals go down daily, gunshots are not irregular, and teen pregnancy is the least of people's worries.
Take two: a kid lives a neighborhood where games of tag ensue until dusk, nobody thinks to lock doors, and the greatest worry is if there was math homework or not. One kid will grow up and probably live, for the most part, a normal life. The other will have to work ten times as hard to accomplish that goal. So much of a person's life depends on the surroundings in which he lives it. Faith provides a hope for those who need it. That is why church is such a vital part of the community. People need to be comforted, to be given a dream, a light at the end of the tunnel. Those communities that lack one of these three components must strive to acquire the component.
People are the key to the end of violence. People must take a stand and decide to stop this horrific thing called violence. It is through people that the great accomplishments of the world are achieved.
The third and most vital aspect of ridding the world of violence is family life, for it deals with a personal connection with someone else. This connection, whether wanted or not, exists all the same. Family is the greatest impact on a person's life. Parents set the example for how their kids will live out their lives.
Naturally, if the parent does not care or show interest in the child, then the child will suffer. If the parent does not care about school, the child will eventually not care about school. If the parent shows abusive tendencies, the child will pick up on those tendencies. This vicious cycle will continue until parents learn how to become fathers and mothers. Sex- education, pregnancy classes, and parenting classes all teach people how to raise families. These types of classes should be made easily accessible to those people who live in poorer, and consequently, more violent neighborhoods. After all, kids look up to their parents more than anyone else; the model their lives after them.
The end to violence lies in the hands of the people. People need to step up to the plate; they need to stop complaining about the problem and take action against it. The end to violence will only come, when we, as a community, make the effort to put an end to it.
Children and adults alike must teach others about the ham of violence. We must make the difference. Without people who care, this world will surely evolve into one huge whirlpool of guns, blood, fighting, and pain. We are above that, and we have to show it through our actions; for the key to nonviolence is the action we take against it.
--Honorable Mention Killeen King, James River HS
Many people allover the world make pledges and take oaths daily. Still, there is no universal peace. Why is the pledge to make our world less violent and more peaceful so hard for some to make? A captious few find more enjoyment in being mean than in being kind and peacemakers. The pledge not to commit acts of violence is not that difficult; creating peace takes much less effort than destroying it. Peace does not always mean the opposite of war; it can mean simply making your environment a happy and kind one for everyone to live in. The saying "not with these hands" helps us broaden our world's awareness of the need for peace. If everyone pledged to improve our world with peaceful deeds and words, the effect would be greater than anyone would expect.
When people think of peace today, the first thing that comes to mind is the war in Iraq. Today's media does not help with the opening of our minds when they shed more than half of their media light on this war. If all of the information and media is controlled by a certain stations and underlying powers then they can twist and provide what information they would like us to know and believe. If everyone could just see the turmoil and violence in his or her own countries, own states, and even our towns, this pledge for peace would not seem so unattainable.
We have bullies in our schools, murders in our cities, and abuse in our homes; we need to look closer to home to find places to start with spreading peace. From there we can accomplish educating more people about "violence: not with these hands."
In my own school, I see acts of violence everyday. I am not talking about physical or verbal abuse, but just the absence of kindness allows for the presence of violence. When I see certain groups excluding others, or people encouraging their friends to leave others out,
I speak up and try to include the "loners" who might not have as many friends. These simple acts of kindness place us farther ahead in our plight to get everyone to pledge not to commit acts of violence.
One of our biggest problems in spreading this longing for peace to all is the mindset that the smallest acts do not help. Several people in our communities feel as though their little deeds will not affect anyone or anything, so they do not commit any acts at all. Not doing anything is the biggest mistake we can make; everyone can help, even if they are helping as an individual. Maybe handing out flyers that encourage peace and caring in your community rather than violence and hatred can be fun and productive for our "peace drive." Something big, like organizing a peace walk at your school with friends and teachers can show how much you really care about spreading the "not with these hands" slogan!
Yes, bigger groups may seem more effective and more easily heard, but every act makes more of a difference than anyone can see on the outside. With the help of our families and communities, we can encourage all to pledge against violence. The world is too precious a gift to ruin and obstruct with violence; we need to show how peace will make our world a much better home. I think the even better, more easily undertaken pledge, is the pledge to commit acts of kindness.
People feel timid and insignificant when attempting to spread the pledge against violence, yet think of how easy it sounds to simply pledge to committing acts of kindness. I truly feel as though everyone would feel capable of pledging to do good, instead of getting rid of the bad, for our families, communities and world.
--Alice Ann Mahoney, Roanoke Catholic School
Not with these hands shall I commit another crime, perform another act of violence or take the life of another human being. I am the future and without me the world as we know it could soon disappear.
Who am I? I am a teenager, a child, a woman, and a man. I am the person who has participated in violence and the person who is a victim of violence. I speak for all when I say that peace is the only path to the survival of future generations. The only way to peace is through peaceful actions.
My vision for nonviolence in my community and the world would eliminate violence to make a more amicable world.
Crime, murder, and other acts of violence are slowly threatening the future. Violence within my community and the world is growing to an unbelievable rate. Peace is the only answer. The first step is for the government and those in higher positions to provide positive leadership. Police and political figures try to stop violence in the city and local neighborhoods, but how can local violence be expected to stop when there are soldiers, everyday, sent to foreign countries to "fight for freedom." The government says that killing is bad, unless it's done on the enemy's soil. A hypocritical statement this may be, but it is also true. The government allows a non peaceful act, such as war, but expects peace within the United States. We should aim for domestic peace before we try to attempt international peace. It makes sense.
Martin Luther King Jr. said," Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goa1." This quote identifies the importance of relating one's vision of peace with the way peace is obtained. Peace can only be obtained if the method of obtaining it is peaceful. Martin Luther King Jr. successfully carried out nonviolent movements aimed at ending segregation and racial injustice. People such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Gandhi offer great examples to those who believe goals can't be achieved peacefully. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi believed that peace was not only the absence of violence, but also the presence of justice.
Justice in local communities can be enforced by police, community leaders, and business leaders. My vision for nonviolence in my city would eliminate the violence and conflicts that exist, build safe communities for children and encourage people to live their lives positively.
Children and teens can learn how to solve and eliminate violence through community and extracurricular activities. Studies show that adolescents who are involved in sports and after school activities are less likely to be involved in violent activities and drugs.
Will the world ever be peaceful? If a true goal, peace can be achieved because we as people have the ability to stand for what we want. People in earlier generations have displayed the courage necessary for obtaining what was needed and I believe that we could do the same.
3rd Place Brittany S. Johnson, Open HS
Not With These Hands
NOT WITH THESE HANDS, I promise to pledge not to allow your heart, soul and hands to bleed, but to spread equality. Permit little innocent babies to breath, not to strip their longevity. Tossing, turning,turning and tossing throughout the twinkling night lights. Strategizing a plan a solution to recover, uncover, discover, WORLD PEACE in the morning dawn lights.
One mind bottled up trying to escape the pressure, creating wide spread news of one soul, one heart, one color, one people. Date rapes, fights, bombs, looting and shouting, nonsense to give up your innocence.
NOT WITH THESE HANDS, enough said. You see, last recorded blood runs thick, cherish the moment. PEACE, PEACE, PEACE, PEACE, help uphold peace and be still.
Embrace it withwarm arms and let it be your refuge, keep us safe from the storm. Take no prisoners, be the guiding light to salvation. Free yourself from the madness and drama, throw away the key. Open up the line ofcommunication between kin and thee. Count your many blessings, even mustard seed small. Touch, see, smell, taste them one and all.
Remember to instill self preservation, at the top of your list. Sometimes my eyes filled with despair, and hopelessness, yet a fearless florescent glow mirrors my inner thoughts out through my pores.
A hidden treasure I posses, not a master of disguise, my heart won't lie. My heart heavy with bricks of wisdom, my skin thin, my toes tingling, hoping and praying to release PEACE.
Release PEACE, PEACE with high steppers, colorful streamers, tolling bells, scorning doves, honking horns, animal rings, ocean flows, fireflies, beauty shop do's, cannons sounding, flowers blooming,
You, Me and our Community. Fear not, make a difference, believe, and achieve. Celebrate the birth of a new day in harmony. Pats on the back for joining the team, different beliefs and styles fused together, eating, sleeping, waving that flag high. Keeping that silencer behind closed doors. Family and friends, finding strength within, spreading seeds of LOVE and PEACE across the lands
NATIONAL PEACE HOLIDAY, oh happy day! Fireworks, bar-be-cues, magical things to win, sunshades, bubble blowing, toe tapping, pied pipers, shared backyards. Going places you've never been.
Winding roads, speed bumps, humps and hurdles with lots of turns and bends. Seeing great sights, soaring high heights, sparkles and lights. Nothing at all we can't conquer, changing the world, takes more than one day to do.
HOW ABOUT A PLEDGE FROM YOU?
--2nd Place, Jodi Tyler Corbett, Appomattox Regional Governor's School
According to a famous Chinese proverb, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Trying to create a less violent and more peaceful community may seem like a big task, but it has to start with a single step from each one of us. When people think of ways to promote peace, they may think of big group projects that require a lot of time, organization and money. These are definitely important, but I believe that peace really can start with one person.
In today's world, the rates of violence and crimes being committed are horrendous. It is clear that citizens need to address this problem. Most of the nightly news reports involve fights, shootings, war, and death. These are not the stories of a healthy and stable society. I want the day to come when I can turn on the news and see that a cure for cancer has been discovered. I want to read in the newspaper that global warming is greatly decreasing. I want people to focus on taking care of each other and the earth, not hurting each other and expressing hatred and anger.
There's a concept called "paying it forward" that describes the act of changing the world one good deed at a time. It involves doing something kind for others and expecting them to do something kind for someone else. It's something I believe in. Even if one person contributes only one act of kindness each day, this small effort can make a huge difference.
There are many ways we could pay it forward and show that one person can make our community a more peaceful place. For example, in am at the supermarket and see a person holding a large bag of groceries, I could hold the door and offer my help. This small act may make that person feel good. On his drive home, he might want to help someone else, and he'll let a car go in front of him. The driver of that car might feel grateful that someone let him in the busy lane because he would have been late for work.
Since that driver is in such a good mood, he may leave a generous tip for the waiter at the restaurant where he eats lunch. When the waiter is treated well by his customer, he may feel appreciated. When he goes to pick up his child later at school, he may give him a big smile at the door because he knows how good it feels to be treated kindly and he wants his son to feel that way, too. When the child is smiled at by his father, he'll feel happy and loved. All of these positive experiences can come from one small act done by one person. Random acts of kindness like these could keep spreading and spreading throughout an entire neighborhood, city, and country.
In order for our community to become more peaceful, something clearly needs to be done. Through my school, friends, youth group, family, neighborhood, and more, it would not be hard to create a chain of acts of kindness.
If people understand that one person really can make a difference, I believe violence would decrease, and our community and our world would become a more peaceful place. I pledge to contribute my time and efforts to making this vision a reality, and I pledge to start with me.
--1st Place, Emily Schenck, Deep Run HS