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One
Person Can Make A Difference for Peace
by Miranda
Nicole Johnson
April 25, 1997
Dear Mr. Secretary General,
In conducting research for an essay
that I am writing on constructive approaches to
the problems of war and peace, I read a short, but
thought-provoking fable by an unknown author. I
would like to share that story with you, as well
as my idea as a possible solution for world peace.
"Tell me the weight of a snowflake,"
a robin asked a wild dove. "Nothing more than
nothing," was the answer. "In that case
I must tell you a marvelous story," the robin
said. "I sat on the branch of a fir, close
to its trunk, when it began to snow --not heavily,
not in a raging blizzard, no, just like in a dream,
without any violence. Since I didn't have anything
better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling
on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number
was exactly 3,741,952. When the next snowflake dropped
onto the branch -- nothing more than nothing, as
you say --the branch broke off." Having said
that the robin flew away. The dove, since Noah's
time as authority on the matter, thought for awhile
and finally said to herself: "Perhaps there
is only one person's voice lacking for peace to
come to the world."
In contrast to the several books
I read for my research that detailed the cost and
carnage of war, this one simple story moved me to
want to add my voice for world peace and to think
that maybe one person can make a difference for
peace to come to the world.
My generation may well be the generation
that brings total destruction or total peace to
the world. Therefore, the United Nations should
think about working together with government and
educational cabinet members to put together a unified
educational program in the schools of every country
in the world to teach constructive approaches to
resolve conflicts peacefully within the family,
school, and community environments.
As a student in public schools,
I have learned much about the military, nuclear
weapons, and war, but very little about peace. Through
special program, I have had the opportunity to Send
a Mouse to College, Jump Rope For Heart, Prevent
Aids, Heal The Environment, Just Say No to Drugs,
Tell Someone About Abuse, and be a Student Against
Drunk Driving. However, I have yet to be offered
any kind of compressive and educational program
promoting world peace.
Luckily, as a child, I had the
chance to hear another simple statement that has
empowered me with the means to solve my problems
peacefully and it will work for anyone regardless
of race, religion, sex, or age. Leaning to Do Unto
Others As You Would Want Others To Do Unto You could
be developed into a world peace theme program and
taught in schools world-wide. This simple verse
has become my personal philosophy of life for dealing
with individuals and groups within my own family,
school, and community.
I believe that this verse can be
used to develop an educational peace program for
my generation because it teaches that one person
can make a difference. These words can empower students
with the critical knowledge that in this world there
is no problem so great it can't be solved in a constructive
fashion. It is so important that my generation have
opportunities to develop responsibility and motivation
and to feel trusted to make significant decision.
Mistakes and poor choices must be our own responsibilities,
by learning to do unto other as we would want to
be treated we create perceptions and skills necessary
for developing a generation of reliable and caring
individuals ready to take on the challenges and
opportunities of tomorrow. If an educational peace
program that teaches students to think for themselves
is offered in the world's school system then, as
tomorrow's leaders, we will not allow other governments,
drug dealers, or friends to manipulate us, nor will
we choose to manipulate others for personal gain.
Each day the media details story
after story of youth violence within families, schools,
and communities. An educational program is desperately
needed in the schools to teach K-12 students how
to make positive choices when faced with personal
conflicts. By learning to treat other as we would
want to be treated, strong leadership skills will
be developed in the next generation which will one
day be making decisions that will be needed for
peace to come to the world.
Sincerely,
Miranda Nicole Johnson
In 1997, Miranda Nicole Johnson was a 17-year--old
high school senior in Blount County, Alabama.
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