Day 8: Pacifist--Wa

Evelyn took us to the nearest school and we were privilged enough to meet hardworking teachers and curious children. The children here are such a blessing and it is so obvious that they are God's children. Whenever they see us, they stop everything, become overly excited, shout "Nasal (white person), Nasal, how are you? We are fine! Thank you!", and crowd around us in wonder. It's an incredible feeling to be able to smile at the children and they become even more excited. The people we have met really value children, even though they still switch them with sharp tree branches. It was difficult to let that pass and not stand up for the children. Violence produces violence. We say a boy at the school beginning to switch other boys because he saw that violence brings satisfactory results. It's not so different in our country. Our government turns to war, bloodshed, violence, and terror to get what we want and then we wonder why children are killing each other. I've always been a pacifist, but I never thought peace was possible. My standards for our government have risen, and I hold them (and us) responsible for the lives lost over the wars we have declared. If we only began to risk peace rather than protect ourselves with war, violence would no longer be a solution.