2009 Peace Essay Contest
Primary School Winning Entries
First Place
Mary Dryden Maio, 3rd Grade, Mary Munford E. S. :
"Peace is costly but it is worth the expense"
Is it? When people tease you, you want to turn around, make your come back and take back your pride. Teasing can hurt much core then anything else, but to make peace you should ignore it. And when you get down to it, it might stop the teasing when it looks like it isn't affecting you. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Pocahontas are examples. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for peace between black and white people, and when fighting for peace he did it peacefully. Pocahontas fought for peace between the English and Native Americans. She didn't make speeches, but she got trading going peacefully and became friends with the English.
Making peace is worthwhile and valuable to the community because without peace many things might still be gong on. Segregation was fought with boycotts and marches, not fists. Women's rights were fought for with speeches and groups who thought it was right. And now, from fighting peacefully, we have gotten to where we now. But it cost Susan B. Anthony lost a lot of friends when she fought for women's rights. It cost Martin Luther King, Jr. his life, when he, himself, had fought without violence. Abraham Lincoln also died helping our country. Peace costs, costs lives and pride and friends. But now, in the 21 st century, we thank everyone who helped us have the peace we have now.
Second Place
Kristen Sink, 3rd Grade, Rural Point E. S. :
Peace is costly but it is worth the expense.
Do you think peace is important? I think peace is the most important thing in the world. If it weren't for peace we would never be able to go to school or even outside! We are lucky we live where we do because there are wars going on in the different places. All over the world people have fear of safety and are sad.
We all have personal comforts. Some around the world and even where we live don't feel safe. They're not warm when it's cold, they don't have a fan or air conditioning when it's hot. Maybe one of your personal comforts is being at home, watching television or eating with your family.
Just think you can help those people near you who don't have shelter, food and clothing. If you have old clothes or shoes that you don't want or are too small you can give them to Goodwill. You can even help give food to the homeless by donating canned foods. Sometimes there are even people at your local grocer stores who are collecting money for the poor. Now that you know how important peace is why don't you go help?
Third Place
Summer Hartman, 3rd Grade, Mary Munford E. S.:
"Peace is costly but it is worth the expense."
What do you have to give up for Peace? Lots, your comfort, sometimes popularity, maybe even your life. Lincoln and Dr. King Jr. gave up their lives for Peace, why not one of us? George Washington gave up his comfort to make us free from the British, why not one of us? People all over the world are losing popularity for speaking up, why not one of us? So do you get my point yet? Good, well here are examples. You should treat people the way you want to be treated. Like my mom's friend got in an accident and now has one leg, people say weird things about him and its very rude and mean. My cat got hit by a car and now is three legged, people stare at him and it makes me so mad. Is it worth it? Yes.
" Peace is costly but worth the expense." Peace Out!
Honorable Mentions:
Rayan Alam, 1st Grade, Bettie Weaver E. S.:
When two countries are at war to make peace both countries have to give in. Countries become friends after they make peace. They both win something in the end.
In school once my friend Casey and I were arguing with each other. I wanted more small bears for my army. Then finally Casey agreed to give me three small toy bears. And I gave him two of my big toy bears. We both completed our armies and we are still friends.
At home sometimes I give up my TV time and read. Then Mom gives me extra cookies.
Sometimes I give in and let my big brother play on the computer. Then he lets me play on his laptop.
Some countries think others are so different that they should not be friends with them, this may lead to anger or war. Peace is costly, but war is more costly than peace. War cost precious lives of young men and women. Some of these people could have been great astronauts, scientists. They could have found out the cure for diabetes, even become president.
In the Civil War the Union had to declare war on the Confederates because they didn't want any black person being a slave. United States was supposed to be known for freedom for all and equality for all. Peace was costly because six hundred thousand people died in the Civil War. Lincoln was assassinated. After he died slavery was abolished. Years later Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated because whites thought that blacks should not have the same rights as whites. But now we have a black president, Barack Obama.
In the Second World War fifty million people died. America was pulled into the war when Pearl Harbor was bombed. America ended the war by dropping two atomic bombs on Japan. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were in ruins but the world was saved from Hitler and Japan. Millions of people lost their lives but the Axis were defeated in World War II.
Kent Dickey, 3rd Grade, Mary Munford E. S.:
I know a kid John who is handicapped but so smart. My friend Sean's sister is goth and whenever I see her it gives me the creeps but I never say it. If I was a disabled person I would be sad if someone teased me so I don't want kids to be teasing other kids or grownups about their disability.
One day I was shopping with my mom. She said that I could spend ten dollars on food. I accidentally put my money into a charity that helps people with disabilities. A few minutes later I realized that I should donate more so I donate five dollars every three months. I don't want kids and even grown ups to be teasing other people of their disability.
Emma Lowe, 3rd Grade, Mary Munford E. S.:
"Peace is costly but it is worth the expense."
To have peace in the world you cross some difficulties. When you work for peace you give up things. You give up some of your comfort and freedom; you also have to put extra effort and control into your making of peace. To help make peace you can use trust, and have a good heart and soul. Every time I stand up for someone or, something,
It is easier to fit into new and different times in life! If there is a disagreement, you might want to use a strategy that Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks used: a peaceful protest. If you learn how to start peace when you are young, it can really make a difference when you are grown up. Peace can make everybody joyful starting from a school community and go all the way out into the way out into the world. Peace makes everywhere a better place. Everybody is accepted in peace!
Jack Proctor, 3rd Grade, Rural Point E. S. :
"Peace is costly, but it is worth the expense"--African proverb
Peace is so important because you have to fight for it. If the whole country gave up peace that would be like giving up all the hard work in the history of U.S.A. wars. I love peace because I can worship and to the things I want to do in my way. I can also learn what I want to learn. U.S.A doesn't have a king so anybody can do what they want when they want. I can be sad when I want. In other countries you may have to move because of wars and fights, and not having peaces causes this. If there is no peace than the place that doesn't have peace can be dangerous.
I can help by giving things and toys I don't use anymore. I can give to the poor. I can also write letters to soldiers. I will respect others. Others can help too, by dong what I can do to help. You can sign a treaty or adopt someone. There are dozens and dozens of ways you can help. Peace is even better if the place is clean. So don't litter.
For my personal comfort I just need needs and not wants. I love to have pets with me in the house and my family. This is all peace and I love it.
Libbie Ryan, 3rd Grade, Rural Point E. S. :
"Mom," said Britney as she packed her lunch, "why do I have to b e nice?"
"Because it shows peace," her mother answered.
"Why peace?" she said, acting like she knew it all.
"Well. . ." said her mother as she turned on the sink to wash dishes. "What do you think it would be like if there was no peace?"
Britney thought for a minute or two. "There would be more fights at school and life would be more interesting," she said. Then she walked off.
"Wait," her mother called. But it was too late.
Later the next day at school Britney was late, very late. She had gotten in a fight on the bus and had to explain to the principal what happened. The last thing she said to herself as she walked away was that she would never like peace. That afternoon she had to stay with the principal till three thirty.
"I'd rather be in jail," thought Britney as she sat down.
"Now," said the principal, "tell me what happened.'
"Well," Britney began, "That boy Kyle kept saying peace was so important and we started fighting . Then I tackled him because he was being so rude to me and not listening." Britney was panting hard now.
"Calm down, child," the principal yelled over the loud panting. "Now do you have any homework?"
"Yes, ma'am," Britney answered.
"Now Britney you really need to work on having peace with other people, and things," said her mother on the way home from school. "Sweetie, if there was no peace you would most likely be in a bum house right now. You couldn't ever smell the fresh air we have," said her mother as she opened the door and went inside. There was an awkward silence.
Then Britney broke it. Okay, I'll try." Then she ran up to her room and slammed the door
That night Britney had a dream, a dream like no other. She was in a box on the side of the road. She had no food, no warmth, and very, very little safety. The world was so bad that she couldn't even poke her head out of the box. There was no peace.
Then she woke up with a start. She looked at the clock. It was time to get ready for school. First she ran down stairs and put some canned goods in a bag for the food bank so she could help keep peace alive. Then she ate breakfast and changed her clothes. After that she ran upstairs to tell her parents what she was going to do..
Britney started to notice how lucky she was, and how important peace is. She was comfortable in her house, with furniture, warmth, safety and her loving parents.
Britney started to give away things that she didn't need to people who needed it. From then on she was thankful for peace.