Sunday, September 21, 2008

Sept. 21, International Day of Peace

The UN declared Sept. 21 "International Day of Peace". In my search for holidays that don't have Christian bases, this has been a favorite. I still haven't figured out any ways to celebrate it, but I enjoy going through my day, thinking about peace, hoping for peace and trying to think of ways that I can help bring about peace--if only in my own home/community for right now.

Karen Katz did a wonderful book for small children about the day. I'll read it to my boys later. I'm also going over to a friend's house to watch Iron Jawed Angels and talk about social issues. I don't know that that really brings my participation down from the theoretical to the practical yet, but hopefully someday I'll be in a position to do more.

Anyway, a quick quote from the book:

All around the world, children want to go to school, to walk in their towns and cities, to play outside, and to share food with their families. They want to do all these things and feel safe. No matter how we say it, we all want peace.

There are a lot of places, even here, where this isn't possible for people. Let's keep that in mind as we go about our day.

4 comments:

galen dara said...

thanks for the reminder!
what a beautiful post. let me know how you like iron jawed angels... I've been meaning to see that one.

Lessie said...

I LOVED Iron Jawed Angels. Oh. My. Gosh. It was awesome. I totally recommend it. Dang this distance, or I could totally have invited you along.

galen dara said...

I would have LOVED that.
maybe next time. :)

Unknown said...

Is that the one about women fighting for voting rights?

Great recommendation, for the Katz book, and thanks for sharing.