The vision is to build peace, promote tolerance
Published in the November 11-24, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Janet Leach
Janet Leach
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to bring individuals, service groups, councils, churches, synagogues, temples, schools, corporations, youth groups and families together for a common cause of promoting peace within the city? The Morgan Hill Peace Project is a vision to build peace and promote tolerance and non-violence in our community through action, behaviors and commitment.
I started thinking about this project after attending one of the local Veterans Day memorial services several years ago. I felt sad to hear the names of the fallen soldiers being read and I did not want to see one more name added to that plaque on the downtown memorial. Then I went to a peace park in Southern California and it was there my dream was formed. I decided I wanted to create a space in Morgan Hill that represents an embracing of peace and unity. I wanted to see my community have a focus point that brought people together on that level. That’s how the Morgan Hill Peace Project was born.
In our project, peace means caring for each other, our neighbors, our community and our environment. This means keeping everyone safe, anti-bullying, respecting others, caring for our young, our old, dignity for the human person, rejecting violence, supporting others, anti-materialism and equality. The hope is to bring people together to promote tolerance, build friendships and encourage a peaceful society. We will seek to accomplish this through a signed commitment to a Peace Pledge (based on the UNESCO Manifest Culture of Peace). The pledge will serve as an action to draw community members together in a spirit of peace linking them in a common purpose.
A physical reminder of our pledge will be the creation of a monument called a “Peace Pole” as a lasting memorial to our town’s commitment to peace-building, friendship and tolerance. The Peace Pole will have the word “Peace” in English and other languages that reflect our diverse community. These words will unite us in a common vision and be an outward expression of art and hope for a peaceful and tolerant society. Often, monuments are for the commemoration of a war, or battle or memorializing a historic person. Peace monuments commemorate a vision, a hope, a prayer for a better world. Our Peace Pole will show our children and the world that we as a community value peace.
From my first conversation about this project with Mayor Steve Tate, the city of Morgan Hill has been incredibly supportive. When I first explained my vision about this project to the mayor, he pointed me in the direction to meet with the El Toro Culture and Arts Committee to approve the project and the Morgan Hill Community Foundation to enable us to accept tax-deductible donations. Then I took the proposal to the city council for approval of the site for the peace monument.
Funding is an important part of the Peace Pole project. We need to raise $30,000. We are accepting donations of any size but our underlying goal is to have more people give smaller amounts so that we have greater participation from the community at large. The donation and the Peace Pledge go hand-in-hand so more donations mean that more people are committing to peace. Donations are accepted on the Morgan Hill Community Foundation’s website www.morganhillcf.org and donation stations are at BookSmart and Ponzini’s Garage.
I love this town and want us to come together to create a monument that speaks to what we stand for as a diverse, caring and loving people. I am driven by the fact that this project rolls together the best of humanity, social, conflict resolution and empowerment in Morgan Hill. I want everyone in our community to join me in standing up for positive ideals. No matter where one stands politically, socially, economically, young or old, longtime resident or newly-arrived immigrant, political or religious affiliation, we can all stand together for peace. Together, we can make a difference to promote a world of peace.
Janet Leach is a Morgan Hill resident. She wrote this guest column for Morgan Hill Life.
