You can hire the World Peace Cantata to come to your community. For more information please contact: Peter Stewart P.O. Box 41 Hamilton, MA 01936 or email Peter at: peacecantata@verizon.net

Thoughts on Peace by Peter I’ve been thinking a lot about the Amish. We drove down through Pennsylvania on the way to my parent’s home this past Christmas. There they were I got a glimpse of them as I sped by. They could not help but be who they are Plowing the fields with a six-horse team Hanging up their plain laundry to dry Readying the horse and buggy to go into town Speeding by them in our van, I started to perceive a deep respect for them There they were Living their lives slowly in this hurry-up world Refusing to compromise They could not help it… it was who they are. And then, I remembered what a great role model for forgiveness they were It was in all the papers There they were Living their intentional sacred lives And then, a crazy man gunned down their children right in their community. Unspeakable cruelty. How does a parent forgive a man who kills your child? How does a community? But that is exactly what they did Role models for the world A small place to start for peace There they were. Forgiving him. Refusing to compromise They could not help it… it is who they are. And then I thought… a very hopeful thought. If a person practices peace and forgiveness then it can be taught, yes… But, maybe peace can be passed down through our genes. Peace, like the Amish Maybe that is how they forgave that man. Passing down peace From one generation to another. Peaceful father and mother make peaceful children. Peaceful communities make a peaceful world. We could pass down peace, too. We could be like the Amish. Living our intentional sacred lives. Refusing to compromise. We could not help it… it would be who we are.