Peace and non-violence

Every year the American International School in Chennai celebrates the International Day of Peace by hanging peace flags made by the students. The flags mimic Himalayan prayer flags. The belief is that as the wind blows the flags, it also sends the message on the flag throughout the world. I think it's a beautiful idea.

 



 

The Day of Peace (on Sept. 21) is only a few days before Gandhi Jayanti (on Oct. 2) (and here), which is the celebration of Gandhi's birthday and a national holiday in India. The United Nations has also declared Gandhi Jayanti an International Day of Non-Violence. The kids spend a nice couple of weeks learning and talking about peace and non-violence. If only it translated into peace and quiet at home ...

Johnny gave a short speech about Gandhi's early life at the elementary school's Gandhi Jayanti assembly this year. He did a great job, speaking slowly and clearly. I was proud of him!

At the same assembly, the kindergarten sang a cute song about how "Gandhi-ji said see no evil," then hear no evil, then speak no evil. In the last verse they "Spread love and peace around the world, because Gandhi-ji taught us this." It was really cute, but I was totally hung up on the fact that the song was to the same tune as the completely non-PC "10 Little Indians." Does anyone else see the irony here? (I recently learned that the original tune is actually to a song called "Michael Finnegan.")

Here's Evie "saying no evil." She's the cutest and shortest blonde in the front row, wearing purple and gold.

When the assembly was over I went to the cafeteria for a croissant and saw these collages on display. I especially like the quotation on the first poster: "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

I love that my kids are getting the opportunity to celebrate the lives of good, inspired people from all nations. It's hard to overstate the influence Gandhi and his principles of non-violence have had in India and throughout the world.