PEACE PARK
Just say the name Peace Park, and many images spring to life. At least that is what happens for me. Some are memories of visiting real places, like Peace Arch Park, at the border at Blaine, and looking up at the inscription on the concrete portal "Children of a Common Mother" (England), and pondering the meaning of that phrase, and the emotions involved in the annual cross-border children’s festivals. Participating in the sculpture exhibit there, and watching the vigilantes parked in their truck watching us.
We each have our own image of Peace Park, and it is actually made up of many different ideas. A safe place, a meeting place, a space within which we can cast off our fears and prejudices, and slogans and labels, and just be people. To exchange our ideas openly, without trying to convince or convert each other, in a spirit of sharing our common human heritage, with mutual respect and unconditional acceptance. A place we can use to build something, a garden we can tend together.
Because we can sense that we are all, really and substantially the same. We are all born of mother earth, we all stumble through life, trying to take care of ourselves, our children and our friends, we all will wither and die. We all must struggle to overcome our fears, and repent our acts of hatred and greed. We know these things, and we need a way to express them openly, to acknowledge them to one another, to allow each other to drop the shields and swords, and clasp hands. To make peace. To forgive.
The primary function of anything called Peace Park must be to provide common ground. Common Ground. Shared space, belonging to none and to all. Public property in the highest sense. Protected space, through time, a place we can be sure will be available to meet in tomorrow. A special, sacred, consecrated place, wherein we can properly honor Life and Love and Joy.
Natural unspoiled landscapes, and carefully tended gardens. Open space and comfy shelters. Space to play and run and dance and sing. Hearths and picnic tables and bandstands and a stage. Earth , water, fire and air, flowers and playground.
To get there, we must agree to work together, we must pledge our mutual trust and willingness to stand in each others footprints. We must have peace park in our hearts.