2008 FIRST HONORABLE MENTION

SPARKLING, DEEP BLUE WATER
Priya Patel
15 years old, Florida

Sparkling, deep blue water flowed calmly over the dark brown, jagged rocks. No matter how big or crude the rocks were the water seemed to always rise above and flow without any obstacles. The scent of morning sun springing the red roses alive filled the air as water trickled down their petals. Imagine a world that replaces hatred with love, destruction with construction, enemies with friends, malevolence with benevolence and violence with peace. Imagine the want for mankind to provide love and warmth for each other and learning to look beyond the differences. The cry for world peace has been heard for years but has been muffled by shouts of unrest.

World peace can only be established with the achievement of inner peace. As people, we must rise above greed, selfishness, envy, lust, and hate in order to bring peace to a world that is in dire need of harmony. The widespread of peace starts with one man because as humans we have the ability to influence others to do what is right and better for the world. We must ask ourselves, what good can come from violence?

In order for peace to exist we must learn to exhibit a different outlook and adapt to others and the environment. Dividing thoughts such as religion, nationality, and sex create different views, separating us from being a whole. The answer for world peace lies in learning to look beyond what separates us and finding similarities with others which spark of a peaceful relationship. Only when we look beyond the skin color, beyond what religion we are or whether or not we were born in the United States will we truly see the inner goodness that is present in all. Cultural views and diversity do not need to be discarded to achieve peace, merely accepted. Everyone is different with distinct values and views and we must learn to put aside these views and be tolerant of others. Nothing more comes from judging others than ignorance and hypocrisy; everyone has flaws, since no one is perfect. Strength, unity and togetherness of a community can only be seen when we learn to put aside our differences and get along with others.

Peace is a difficult achievement, but the strive for it should never end because we live in a world where the impossible is possible. In the pitch-black sky, the glowing light from stars, provide hope towards bringing tranquility and serenity within. When we truly learn to get along with others and acquire wisdom then we are able to achieve peace within ourselves and assist with its spread throughout the community. Throughout history hundreds of wars have taken place and millions of lives lost, but the names of the peacemakers appears in the history books as respected, unforgettable, and honorable men such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and many others. In order to live a content life with tranquility we must be in harmony with ourselves and others and it starts with one man.