The True Meaning of PEACE
Today I want to share a story I experienced in China when I was a little girl.
Unfortunately, there is a long history between Japan and China, and many older generations don’t like Japan. Even the smallest part of it.
When I was in China, I was a little angry after I heard about Japan. I still remember that scary unbelievable moment.
“What are you folding, Kalin?” Asked my old homeroom teacher. “A paper crane from Japan. It represents peace, right?” My teacher’s face suddenly looked very angry. She pushed my hands away and dumped my little paper crane into the garbage bin. Later, she did say sorry to me, but she also taught me a lot about how the Japanese people hurt the Chinese. And from that day on, I started to hate Japan, even through sometimes I would like their food or clothing… But I still couldn’t forgive them.
Then one day, I met a young girl through the Peace Tree Club. Her name is Eisa, and we got along really well: we both like music, and we help each other. After, I found out she came from Japan, and I thought, I can’t still keep that kind of hatred inside me, and we became best friends. I learned now, when you are born, you are born with an opened mind, but when you grow up, many people will teach you negative things, so you have to be able to decide, whether they are right or wrong and use your own mind. Usually, you can feel what’s right in your heart.
I think I learned a lot in Canada, through the Peace Tree Club, and from my friends. I am sure some of you don’t understand the importance of the Peace Tree Club; But when you think about what is going in the world, you may begin to understand why it is important for each of us to create peace.
Like the great peace leader Mahatma Gandhi once said: Be the change you want to see in the world. WE ARE BEING THAT CHANGE!
Kalin Mo, 12