As I thought about writing this Hub for World Peace, I wondered what any individual person could ever say in a Hub with such a lofty title. Isn't it rather presumptuous to even consider writing a Hub with the idea of hoping to make some contribution to world peace?

Then, though, I recalled something I read on the Internet not long ago. It was an article about the differences between American culture and Australian culture, written by someone who lives in Australia and was offering his "expert" opinion, based on having one American college student (a friend of a college roommate) visit him. I was amazed as the author made one unflattering statement after another about all Americans, based on only this one visitor. The message was, essentially, that Americans are crude people, who eat cake for breakfast and don't know how to drive. As I read the piece I actually gave the author credit for at least accurately observing the "crude" behavior of his guest; but after thinking about it, I'm even wondering if the guest had good reason for coming across as so "horrible". For example, maybe he thought it was easier to eat some sweet snack for breakfast, rather than expect the kind of breakfast he preferred at home. In any case, whether or not the guest was genuinely a crude person; he was one individual (and a college-age male one at that). Obviously, the writer of the piece lack sufficient reasoning ability to know he shouldn't make such sweeping (and "authoritative") remarks, based on exposure to one guest; but there is at least the chance that someone else will read his article and believe what he had to say about Americans. The trouble is he's not the only one in the world guilty of his kind of thinking.

As I thought about this Hub, I realized that, as an American, and since I have been grown up, I have felt "attacked" because I am American. I say "grown up", but I'm including my teen years. Before that, I enjoyed a sense of feeling good about who I was. Born as a late, Post World War II, Baby Boomer; and reassured by my father that the blue skies over America were (as the old United Airlines commercial used to say) "friendly"; I felt incredibly blessed to have been born American. Living in a peaceful home with my two parents and two siblings, I was raised hearing about how appreciative I should be for things as simple as clean drinking water and food. Going to school and doing well there were emphasized. With a different religion from my mother's, my father brought his children to church with him every Sunday. We had aunts, uncles, and cousins living in the same area that we did, so I grew up feeling very "wrapped up" in a warm family and safe Nation

Growing up just minutes from Boston, where the first stirrings of America, as an independent nation, occurred; I felt particularly close to America's history and to the principles of freedom on which it was founded. My parents had a modest income. My father worked. My mother stayed home. They did own their home and have one car, but they "watched their pennies". At the same time, they always found ways to "do for" others.

I grew up hearing how America (then not even 200 years old) was a new nation, and I understood that it did not have the "ages-old" art and history that other countries did.
Growing up when I did, I grew up with the feeling that what America lacked in roots it made up for by being new and fresh and peaceful and free. Looking back, I suspect that my World War II generation parents passed their appreciation of peace and freedom to my siblings and me. In any case, I felt blessed to have born in America and to have inherited the legacy of its Founding Fathers. I knew that people of other countries had similar feelings about their own countries (for different reasons, sometimes); and I knew that sometimes others wanted to come to America to enjoy the same peace and freedom.

It wasn't that I thought America or Americans were "better" than anyone else in the world. It was that I felt, in my heart, America and Americans were (in general) good (not perfect, but good). After all, I had been raised hearing about how important it is to be well mannered, to respect all other people, and to have integrity. That wasn't rare for an American. It was how things were in many, many, American families. Within the context of the larger picture, it was a sheltered view of America. Within the day-to-day living of my own, and similar circles, it was also, however, reality.

After leaving childhood, I became aware of some of the things that made it clear America was far less perfect than I had grown up thinking it was. A full-blown Civil Rights movement made me aware of real differences between America's North and South at the time. More sobering, I became aware of the gross mistreatment of African Americans, particularly in the South. After being told by a public school, junior-high, teacher that America's involvement in Viet Nam was to "keep Communism from spreading", I (like every other American) was seeing the widespread anger at the Nation's involvement in that war, and hearing very different messages. This may sound like a silly thing, but I saw the innocent love songs of American's early 60's and the upbeat music of the Beachboys replaced first by "bubble-gum type" music of the early Beatles and Dave Clark Five, and later by the less innocent-seeming music of any number of other groups (often not American). It was as if the country in which I had grown up had become "buried" by things that obscured its true heart and soul. Messages about "ugly Americans" seemed to be everywhere - but the thing was, I didn't know any "ugly Americans". The people I knew were kind, well mannered, loving, caring, people who respected other people and other countries (except, I'll admit, countries where tyranny and violence were the way things were done).

In any case, I went on to have my own family. Like my parents, my husband and I gave our children a decent, peaceful, home. My children were raised hearing about integrity and honor and good manners, as well as about the importance of education and life-long learning. My little son was in third grade when he entered an essay contest about "why we should honor the American flag". He started his essay with "why should anyone respect the flag, which is just a piece of cloth"; and he went on to say how the flag represents America, and how if he got hungry in the night he could just go to the kitchen and get something to eat.

My seven-year-old son wrote, "In some countries boys my age can't just go out to play because there are army men in the streets. I can just go outside and play because in America we don't have army men in the streets." My son's essay was indeed an innocent little boy's version of what America is, but he won first prize and got to read it at special Flag Day ceremony on the town common. Innocent essay or not, my son's writing showed that even the youngest Americans are often very aware of the value and appreciation of not going hungry and not having wars fought in the streets. When my shy son stood at the microphone, as the workday traffic noisily passed the town common, his little voice could barely be heard. That's kind of the thing about us, ordinary Americans: Our "little voices" are often not heard above the noise that fills the air around us and our Nation. Like everyone from every other country, we, grown-up and ordinary Americans, are so often nothing more than former seven-year-old children who valued and appreciated whatever "blessings" we were given in this world; and who grow up wishing there were some way we could help others who need our help.

My own children are grown now. In the twenty or so years since they were babies it seems as if I've heard more and more attacks on Americans. On the one hand, some people make fun of Americans by saying we're "Puritans" when it comes to some attitudes. On the other hand, other people belittle (and even hate) Americans for "lack of morals". In spite of studies that have shown Americans are the most productive people in the world, we often hear that we are "lazy". In spite private Americans' having earned the distinction of being the most charitable people in the world, we often hear that we are "selfish" and "not caring". These days (still living not so far from Boston, where the idea of an America with limited government involvement in people's lives began), I hear more and more attacks on America for not emulating other countries and adopting more "socialist" policies. Based on so much of what I've heard and read over the last several years, it would certainly seem as if just about everyone in the world (including many Americans, themselves) hates America and Americans. I can tell myself I don't care what anyone else thinks of me or other Americans, but the other side to that is there are, in fact, a lot of lies "out there" when it comes to who and what Americans really are. You know, this is silly, but it even irks me that online I'm always reading about the poor grammar of Americans, as compared to people in the UK; because even with a public education, I learned (and continue to aim to use) proper grammar. In fact, as it happens, I actually got quite a high score on a "UK English" certification test. The point is that there can even be great exaggeration about something as seemingly "minor" as use of the language that is shared by people of several different countries.

On a more serious note, there are the matters of American involvement in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. To be honest, I, personally, don't know what to think about either war. From here in my home near Boston, and far from Washington D.C., I don't have access to the behind-the-scenes and classified information that goes into many decisions relating to this type of thing. Like other Americans, I have access to the media (which, of course, only presents so much accurate information). Being aware that the average citizen doesn't have access to some of the behind-the-scenes information, I know most of us must form some version of opinions about our Nation's involvement in wars.

Here are my thoughts on that: On the one hand, I don't blame anyone from any other country for hating an American government and military that "shows up, uninvited" and with an agenda that is very different from his. America will be hated by some. I know that. In fact, there's a part of me that thinks America should just get out. As I said, I have young, grown, children. I wouldn't want them sent to what seems to me like "awful places", and I don't want to see any other parent's grown sons or daughters sent there either. There are times when I think, "You know what? Why not just put a big fence around these troubled countries, leave them alone, and let them have their own little world." That, of course, is not anything anyone would really do.

Then I ask whether Americans should be in these places at all. Again, I want to say they don't belong there. Still, I think of how this America has been criticized for taking so long to become involved when Hitler was having so many innocent people rounded up and murdered. Even today, there are survivors of concentration camps who have lived to tell their horror stories; and when I see one of them on a program like 60 Minutes, all I can do is imagine how they must have been wondering when/if anyone would come to rescue them. Aside from all the reasons, benefits, or anything else associated with America's getting involved in its two present wars; as an American citizen, all I can do to justify the presence is to think of how some people in Iraq were living when Iraq had a dictator; and to think of some of the things Afghan people (especially women) continue to go through today. I know that I don't like to see my country engage in wars in other people's countries; but I can't help but think how, if I were living under some awful mistreatment, I would hope that someone who may have the power to do something about it would at least try to stop it. Again, I don't really know what to think or believe about America's present involvement in the two wars. It all looks like a big mess at this point. All I, as an American citizen, know is that it is not within my power to decide whether or not my country remains at war; and if it were (and if I had access to some types of information that I don't know have), I can't be sure I would do things any differently.

I am only one, ordinary, modern-day, American.

I am not the people, of a long ago past, who took land from Native Americans. I am not the people, of the past, who oppressed other human beings in slavery. Neither was I involved in freeing slaves, fighting any war on behalf of freedom, or doing any number of things that have built the United States into country it is today. I had nothing to do with the long-ago disputes between the King of England and the American colonies, or with the matter of Mexican land being turned into American land.

When the United States has become involved with any war, I have had no say in the matter. At the same time, when the recently elected U.S. president apologized for some things on behalf of my country, I had nothing to do with any of the things for which he apologized. At the same time, when my country sends aid to any number of other countries, or when disaster relief is offered by the U.S., even though I have approved of helping others, I, personally, have had nothing to do with any of it. Neither Washington D.C. nor Hollywood represents me - an ordinary American - very well; and although I love Disney characters and stories, Disneyland and Disney World don't represent me either.

I'd like to mention that I'm not represented by any number of American movies or television programs you may have seen. I'm not represented by super models in high-fashion magazines; and even when I was young enough to participate, the Miss America pageant did not represent the "non-beauty-pageant-inclined" Americans like me either. I have nothing to do with the glossy Madison-Ave ads you may have seen for American products; and I have certainly had no say in whether large corporations have polluted any part of the environment.

Over the last couple of years I've been doing some online writing. As a way of organizing some of the different subjects, I began to start blogs where I could post "theme-appropriate" writing. As I was setting up them up, and choosing a "flavor" that I wanted them to have, I realized that I was aware that things online may be viewed by people all around the world. Further, I realized that I was trying to make the "flavor" of each blog one that would "show the world" what a "harmless" and "non-hateful" person I (an American) am. I'm a strong woman, and I'm old enough to have grown kids. Still, I realized that after a couple of decades of feeling "attacked" as an American; and after an equal amount of time feeling that people like me seem to be seen as monsters by a lot of other people in the world; apparently, it has taken some toll on me. In other words, I have, in ways, grown insecure about being an American (at least in some ways).

As I thought about what approach I would use in my "World Peace" Hub, I realized that once again my primary thought was to try to "let the world see" that we Americans are not the monsters we're so often made out to be.

Not long ago I watched the HBO series, "John Adams", which was said to show an "unromanticized view" of the beginnings of America's independence. The series is based on David McCullough's book (which I also happen to have). At the end of the series, after the John Adams character (played by Paul Giamatti) dies, the viewer hears the words of Adams, as he talks about how he will be judged by posterity. The very last sentence of the series is this, "No, posterity. You will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom. I hope that you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it."

Having been born less than 150 years after John Adams (and his friend, Thomas Jefferson) died on the nation's 50th birthday; I will never truly see the full cost to the Founding Fathers, who fought to preserve the freedom I inherited, as an American. (No, Mr. Adams, I will never truly know how much it cost you, but I can promise you that I continue to make every effort to make good use of it.)

I had the luxury of a childhood home where there was only peace - no violence, not even violent words. America has, and has always had, its poverty and crime, but so many of us (of even modest means) have had the luxury of peaceful schools and neighborhoods in a peaceful nation.

It is said the violence begets violence. It's also true that peace begets peace. I've had the luxury of seeing my small son on a podium in front of the brick town hall, by the gazebo on a pretty town common, and reading his essay on how much appreciated living where there is peace. Peace begets peace. Sometimes, too, (and ironically) peace must be defended in a very non-peaceful way.

We, Americans, have grown up taking very seriously the ideas that all people are created equal, and that preserving freedom and living in peace sometimes involve paying a high and not very "peaceful" price. Like most other people in the world, we don't like war and don't want war - not here, and not anywhere else. There is no doubt about it: there have been times when the American government has made mistakes. There have been times when it has stayed away from wars some people thought it should get involved in, and times it has become involved in situations some people think it should not. The American government, like all governments, is made up of human beings; and human beings aren't perfect. Sometimes, too, there is the matter of it being impossible to gain the approval of absolutely everyone in the world. Having said that, it's important to realize that, in spite of its size and power, the United States is not made up a population of monsters.

As an American, I'm not alone in wishing we could all figure out a way to end hunger in the world. Like most other people in the world, I wish that no differences would ever result in violence against any other people. Like most Americans, I respect other countries/regions, as well as my own; although I have to say that I really wish the Middle East would figure out a way to "get its act together" and stop all the fighting. Also, I don't pretend not to wish that Mexico would figure out what it needs to do, and do whatever it takes, to make itself a country its people did not feel the need to leave. Other places needing some attention, of course, are parts of Africa. Like all Americans (and people of other countries, as well), I've had to realize that it is not within my power to bring peace to anywhere other than my own, individual, life.

This is thing thing about us, the world's people, though. Most of us are peaceful until we must defend ourselves, our way of life, or our land. The trouble comes when others decide to be aggressors, which, of course, means we must then defend ourselves. Like so many other people in the world, I know how to be a peaceful person and raise peaceful children. What I don't know is how any peaceful people can remain so as long as there are aggressors among us.

The flip side to that coin, however, is that aggressors are raised and not born - and that means that the idea of world peace (challenging as it may be) does not necessarily have to be a "pipe dream". It would take some years, of course, but here's how it could be accomplished: Every adult today could decide to only attempt to settle differences through communication and never violence. Every child could be raised in a peaceful home, with the same commitment to settling all differences through communication. Violence should be seen as absolutely unacceptable. It's not difficult to live that way. The peaceful among us have been doing it for decades. The challenge for the world, of course, would be to figure out a way to stop the violent among us from raising yet more violent children.

American citizen, or citizen of another country, the peaceful among us continue to try to figure out if there's a way to ever achieve world peace. Contrary to what so many others seem to think in these troubled times, I can't help but think that if ever - throughout all of history - there was a chance of achieving world peace, this time in which we live may offer us a better chance of it than any other time in history.

When we imagine world peace we often think in terms of how it could only be achieved if someone had a "magic wand" and could magically make peace break out all over the world. It isn't realistic to think in terms of creating world-wide peace; but it may be encouraging to think about how each of us lives in our own, smaller, world - and in that world we do have the power to build peace. The larger world is nothing but a planet inhabited by people, grouped together in smaller worlds. As an American, I have had the luxury of growing up, and raising my own family, in one of those smaller worlds that was peaceful. I know how it feels to live in peace, and it is what I would wish for the whole world.

I am an ordinary American, and these are the things I think about.


Oh - and one other thing: Most Americans do not eat cake for breakfast.

If I could change the world
there'd be food for everyone.
If I could change the world
all of God's work would be done.

If I could change the world
there'd be no poverty.
If I could change the world
all people would be free.

No child would not be treasured,
no animal mistreated,
No one who reaches ripe old age
would ever be alone.

No violence in city streets,
no young but lost, forgotten souls,
all music would be beautiful
if I could change the world.

All legs would work,
all eyes could see,
all ears could hear,
all folks could read,
all hearts would beat just perfectly.
if I could change the world.

There'd be a cure for each disease,
and everyone would live in peace
If by some magic I should find
that I could change the world.

Below are more "Hubs for Peace".

If you'd like to write your own please visit the forum thread:

http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/14635

I just thought it may be nice to include in my "peace" Hub some videos that show a sampling of life in Massachusetts. I know I'd enjoy seeing videos of other "peace Hubbers'" regions.