I'd like to think I'm capable of doing things bigger than me

Tonight at our youth group meeting, we watched a film titled Peace One Day. It is about a man who took it upon himself to run with the idea of a worldwide cease-fire for one day each year. He met with numerous world leaders to discuss his idea and film their thoughts, to be used for promotion of the day of peace and also to show other world leaders. After meeting with the leaders and getting their blessings, Kofi Annan, then UN Secretary General, was set to announce, on behalf of the UN, a day of world peace. The announcement was set to take place outside the UN building in New York City on September 11, 2001.



Literally while a children's orchestra was playing before Annan was to make the announcement, the two planes struck the two towers of the World Trade Center. The film suddenly took a turn from a sense of accomplishment and excitement to fear and befuddlement. Watching the film at this point reminded me of a quote from John Mayer (surprise surprise) in the article he wrote to publicly declare his support for Barack Obama during last Fall's election.


Mayer writes, "I was 23 years old when the nation was attacked on September 11, 2001. I can remember hearing pundits say "this changes everything" and "things will never be the same." Obviously it was a tragic and traumatic event, but that sentiment has carried on through the better part of my twenties. If you were 43 years old on that day, I would imagine it was a difficult concept to get your head around as well, but if you were a young adult just entering his or her individual life, there was an added twist; how can you process the idea of everything changing and things never being the same when you have no point of reference for what "everything" and "the same" is? I was just beginning to put my hands on the world around me, to interact and engage with it, and to actualize the dream of being an adult in a free society. To wait in line for 23 years only to have the "sorry, future canceled" sign flipped in my face was depressing, to say the least."


This quote has to be almost exactly what Jeremy, the man who's dream was and is Peace One Day, was thinking on that morning of September 11th that we all recall so fondly. To have the dream of world peace, if only for one day, almost within reach only to have it snatched seemingly further away than ever must have been devastating. Obviously, our future wasn't cancelled literally, but the future we hoped for was certainly gone.


Jeremy continued with his efforts and September 21st of each year is now officially a worldwide Day of Peace, designated by the UN.


I am not anti-war and obviously not pro-war, as I realize it is sometimes a necessary evil, but the thought of mankind growing within itself to the point of being willing to lay down our weapons for one day is astounding. Keep in mind, no true cease-fires have taken place on this day, but it's the symbolism of it that fascinates me and hopefully several others. In 2003 alone, over 240,000,000 people worldwide celebrated this Day of Peace. I'd like to hope that come September 21st of this year that number will have grown dramatically.