Peace Quotes

If we are serious about peace, then we must work for it as ardently, seriously, continuously, carefully, and bravely as we have ever prepared for war.
-Wendell Berry, Citizenship Papers (2003)

Peace is never long preserved by weight of metal or by an armament race. Peace can be made tranquil and secure only by understanding and agreement fortified by sanctions. We must embrace international cooperation or international disintegration. Science has taught us how to put the atom to work. But to make it work for good instead of for evil lies in the domain dealing with the principles of human dignity. We are now facing a problem more of ethics than of physics.
-Bernard Baruch, Address to the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (14 June 1946)

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Of Self-Reliance", Essays, First Series (1841)

The situation of the world is still like this. People completely identify with one side, one ideology. To understand the suffering and the fear of a citizen of the Soviet Union, we have to become one with him or her. To do so is dangerous — we will be suspected by both sides. But if we don't do it, if we align ourselves with one side or the other, we will lose our chance to work for peace. Reconciliation is to understand both sides, to go to one side and describe the suffering being endured by the other side, and then to go to the other side and describe the suffering being endured by the first side. Doing only that will be a great help for peace.
-Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace (1987)

I maintain, then, that we should make peace, not only with the Chians, the Rhodians, the Byzantines and the Coans, but with all mankind...
-Isocrates, "On the Peace", c. 355 B.C. In Isocrates (1929)

Together we shall save our planet, or together we shall perish in its flames. Save it we can — and save it we must — and then shall we earn the eternal thanks of mankind and, as peacemakers, the eternal blessing of God.
-John F. Kennedy in his Address to the United Nations General Assembly (25 September 1961)

Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, that pursuit must go on.
-John F. Kennedy in his Address to the United Nations General Assembly (20 September 1963)

All we are saying is give peace a chance.
-John Lennon in "Give Peace A Chance" (1969)

Somewhere over the rainbow...

The song, "Somewhere over the rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is a medley of two classic songs, "Over the Rainbow" from the film, Wizard of Oz and "What a wonderful world" by Louis Armstrong. Although the original purpose of the song, "Somewhere over the rainbow" was written to express the main protagonist, Dorothy's hope to find a new place after finding some disagreement with her uncle and aunt. But, I find it ironic that the film was created in end of 1930s, in the middle of World War II. I think that this song could have been the hope for many soldiers, who were fighting out of their homeland to wish for a new place. In the same way, this song sends a strong message to the people, who live in this era. Especially, added with Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's soft and soothing voice, the song brings out a different sensation in each individual.

What kind of a place did the original writer of this song imagine? Or, what did Kamakawiwo'ole imagined as he was singing this song? What kind of a place do we imagine as we read the lyrics of this song? Our emotion would be slightly different than what Dorothy felt as she was singing this song in the film. But, mutually, we all were hoping for a dream to come true. What kind of world do you dream of? At this time, I think the world that we truly need is a peaceful world. A world where there is no war and a world where we are able to share with others. This world of peace has been in our dream for centuries, but it was never fulfilled in front of our eyes.

As the divine being once showed the rainbow to a man as a sign of covenant or promise, we hope that the world can once see its true beauty through its nature and inhabitant after a flood of war. And truly, Mr. Man Hee Lee and the work of HWPL has made the world of peace come closer into our reality. We hope that as more people join and participate in the work of peace with HWPL, our dream would come true.

Somewhere over the rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high

And the dreams that you dreamed of

Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow

Blue birds fly

And the dreams that you dreamed of

Dreams really do come true ooh oh

Someday I'll wish upon a star

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where trouble melts like lemon drops

High above the chimney tops

That's where you'll find me

Oh, somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly

And the dream that you dare to,

Oh why, oh why can't I?