Peace Book Project

Samples From Pearls of Peace,

an illustrated anthology with essays, and short stories that address the three fold aspects of peace: inner peace, domestic/family peace, and world/global peace.

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When Peace Finally Comes

Photo by Richard C. Freeland

When Peace Finally Comes
By Rich Freeland, CA

Photography is seeing. For several days I glanced over the back fence in the farthest corner of the irregular-shaped parking lot behind my Oceanside apartment complex studying the trees, bushes, birds and other living things in this miniture canyon that runs behind the garages. But, I never really saw what was right there in front of my eyes. Coils of very rusty barbed wire had been strung along the top of the fenceline by the owners of the upscale homes bordering the other side of this little living eden that exists as the naturral drainage for this hilly landscape -- obviously to keep apartment dwellers from entering the easement they considered theirs. The bougainvillia had grown over the barbed wire making it seem less threatening. And I thought that someday, the life force will overcome all the things mankind has created that wound, cut and injure the living. In fact, as generations of human beings fainally learn to be at peace with each other and with all living entities, then the manmade rusty, painful barbs will all be covered with new life -- When Peace Finally Comes.

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Rich, a former journalist, photographer, and musical entertainer, past away on April 22, 2005. He was the Peace Clinic's First Volunteer. We miss him so very much.

The Serenity Prayer
Author: Anonymous

God, grant me the
Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, and
Wisdom to know the difference.

E v o l u t i o n o f P e a c e
Author: Dr. Arthur Louis Joquel, II (1921-1974)

Quotations from The Challenge of Space about the evolution of world peace.

"It is through documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the world repubic of tomorrow will be brought about, rather than by constitutions, policical maneuvering, power blocs, national soverignty, or other chauvinistic vestiges of man's immature past."

"The existence of world peace is taken as a matter of course, but it will be a dynamic, active, vital peace, rather than either an armed truce or a stagnant, moribund stage."

"The human of the future, possessing the inherited extensions of the dimensional levels through which he has passed -- existence, growth, motion, and memory -- will through his fourth-dimensional consciousness have an awareness of the future which has been beyond the comprehension of his predecessors, who have possessed only the more limited faculties normal to the space and time in which they live and have lived."
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Read a short biography of Dr. Joquel at our History page.
Dr. Joquel's compassion and vision for world peace was the main inspiration for the formation and development of the PeaceClinic Institute.

What is Not Peace
Author: His Holiness, Dalai Lama

Exerpts from Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance speech,1989

"Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free…

Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually… What is important is that we each make a sincere effort to take seriously our responsibility for each other and for the natural environment."
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Read a short biography of the Dalai Lama

The Wall, Lest We Forget
Author: L.A. Penman

I stood there small before you,
Awe was on my face.
Already I'd known to expect it,
But I couldn't comprehend it,
This overwhelming feeling,
That came from within.

Your blackened depths they drew me,
My heart just couldn't grasp,
The thousands of names before me,
In cold dark marble bound,
That never again would see or walk,
This free and hallowed ground.

The pain and anquish are all there,
Never to depart,
For with a cannons deafening roar,
Their hopes and dreams for life,
Were quickly stolen from them,
For a land not ours by rights.

For all the ones that did come home,
Our shame should always show.
The broken hearts we didn't mend,
The words that were not so.
Instead we turned our backs and spat,
Please forgive us God our actions.

Sometimes I hear them calling out,
The never seem at peace,
Not ready to be in their graves,
Although this had to be.
And when they're ready to depart,
There's sadness in their eyes.
They turn and look straight at me,
And always ask me......WHY?

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P e a c e
Author: Grace Doane

I believe:
Peace is not the lack of difficulties, but an internal state of being resulting from a personal relationship of love and trust in the God who rules and controls all systems.

For example:
We speak of dying peacefully. Dying is one of the greatest challenges mortals face, a most unpleasant state of affairs. However, a person who has accomplished their goals, or someone dying for worthwhile cause will die peacefully.

Children in war torn countries are another example. See them in the newspaper. Cradled in their parents arms, they are experiencing love, trust and peace in the midst of death and destruction.

In our communities we have lost, or been robbed of love and trust, and therefore peace. When we consider; our country is built on the foundation of liberty, love and peace. We at times pay exorbitant prices for these values. Therefore, we are responsible to do our due diligence to maintain these virtues, in day-to-day living.

Peace is a glorious state of being. Knowing that everything in my life is controlled by God, I can enjoy sunrises, sunsets, the moon and the stars in their courses. He who keeps the earth rotating; the seas in their bounds has spoken peace and order into my world.

Flowers Today
Author: Paulette Kelly

"I got flowers today....I got flowers today.
It wasn't my birthday or any other special day.

We had our first argument last night, and he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me.
I know he is sorry and didn't mean the things he said because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
It wasn't our aniversary or any other special day.

Last night he threw me into a wall and started to choke me.
It seemed like a nightmare, I couldn't beleive it was real.
I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.
I know he must be sorry,
Because he sent me....flowers today.

Last night he beat me up again.
And it was much worse then all the other times.
If I leave him what will I do?
How will I take care of my kids?
What about money?
I'm afraid of him and scared to leave.
But I know he must be sorry, because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
Today was a very special day.
It was the day of my funeral.
Last night he finally killed me.
He beat me to death.
If only I had gathered enough courage and strength to leave him, I would not have gotten flowers today."

If you or your organization would like to be represented in this wonderful anthology of works on peace and non-violence, please contact the editor at peaceclinic@gmail.com

All essays and artwork are reprinted here by permission of the authors and/or artists.

Suggested Topics

Inner Peace: Self knowledge, serenity, personal growth
Domestic Peace:Violence free families and communities
World Peace: National, International, Global resources

Helpful Resources for Authors

Favorite Quotations - - Suggest a Quote

Internet Orientation For Women's Studies

Distinguish the different types of resources available over the Internet
Identify some of the key Internet resources for women's studies
Start collecting a list of Internet sites that can support your study, teaching or research

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