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"You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
and the world will live as one."
-John Lennon
I am now a senior in high school. Often in high school, we get caught up in believing we are alone, alien, somehow misunderstood. This was rather easy for me to believe as I found that in the eyes of my peers, I was a "hippie" or some sort of "pinko-commie." As I became more involved in my school's community I found, surprisingly, that faculty members feel these same symptoms of oppression. So, what is it about the high school environment that denies people the right to be themselves? Fear. Whether it is a clique of students, school administrations, mass media, or the Bush Administration passing their fear onto you, I ask you to fear not. One man made this unmistakably clear to me, George "Dubya" Bush.
On March 4, 2002, Dubya came to my high school. As he explained to my high school, my generation, that this "war on terrorism" was just beginning-that this war on "barbaric evildoers" of the world may never end-I watched my peers who were standing on chairs, clapping and yelling with huge smiles on their faces. The president was standing in front of me, calling for the killing of people all around the world in an endless war, and the kids I have grown up with cheered him on. I cried. I cried and I knew that Dubya could never win.
No matter how many countries Bush invades, no matter how many declarations he signs or repeals, no matter how many of my brothers and sisters he recruits and ships out, no matter whom he appoints to what position, no matter what the Gallup polls say, he will lose. It may take awhile, but in the end, George Dubya will lose because he is up against humanity.
Peace, love, and hope will always reign over despair, war, and pestilence. Robert F. Kennedy put it best: "There are those that look at things the way they are and ask, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were and ask 'Why not?'"
With the support of my comrades at the lunch table, I was able to start a peace and social justice advocacy group at our high school in Eden Prairie. It was surprising to see how many people came out of the woodwork once we started to promote it. It turned out that there were a lot of people who thought like we did; they just needed a place where they knew they were safe to grow. Through dialog and education we have turned into one of the largest clubs in the school, but, more importantly, we bring hope to the students of our school. Each time we release a publication, each time we organize an event, each time we stand up and out against violence in all its forms, we bring the spirit of America and humanity a little closer to our dream.
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country," said John F. Kennedy. "Never separate the lives you live from the words you speak," said Paul Wellstone. "Be the change you wish to see in the world," said Gandhi. It is in this spirit we must live and work for change. I've seen the transforming power of peace, love, and hope in education. It can and must be brought to bear as my generation becomes tomorrow's leaders. I have now begun to work with area high school students and staff in creating an environment that promotes compassionate, creative, and independent minds in each of their schools. You are not alone! Become an advocate in your educational community. Please write or call me: Adam Pitman, sasaforprogress@yahoo.com, AdamPitman0@aol.com, or 612-719-5971.
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