Day 4:
When I think of revolution and peace now, I think of a coin - one side revolution and the other side peace. If I stand the coin on it's edge, it's in the middle of the two opposing sides. It's this middle "path" that I try to walk, trying to observe both sides. The difficulty for me is that the revolution side seems to be fueled by anger and hatred (towards rulers, politics, injustices, etc.) and the peace side fueled by those looking for peaceful solutions that could benefit all.

Both revolution and peace are active, yet revolution seems to me to be more reactive. Peace, though more of thoughtful action, can have a violent reaction to it. However, when I have done something that hurts someone else, I feel heavy inside; conversely, when I take an action that helps someone or some situation, I feel light inside. I think it's a similar "footprint" in our world. If our world is made up of vibrations, then the vibrations of anger ripple out and the heaviness brings people down; when the vibrations of joy ripple out, the lightness brings people up.

In thinking about repression and oppression, people feel the weight of it and over time, it becomes too heavy to carry. I think it's the same in a classroom where a teacher yells at the students. The environment is so much warmer, more caring, respectful when there is joy in the air! However, I still am grappling with political situations where that heaviness is there and seems like it will never go away (like in China with words and actions being monitored). Maybe you have to shake things up to get the attention of those in control.

Did anyone read/watch The Hunger Games? Once they got rid of President Snow, the next "leader" wanted retaliation which would have kept the Hunger Games alive (and possibly worse). Still, those "Tributes" that went through the Games were never the same. I think the same is true for all those who go to war, and fight in violent situations. Sue Cannon spoke about the affects of war on her father. Our guests (refugees and those displaced by the political upheavals) lost their country of birth, loved ones, a culture in a way that was intact and more.

I want to inspire the children I teach to look for ways in which everyone can win.