Peace Begins With Me

Nobel Peace laureate Betty Williams spoke at the opening of the ‘Building a Culture of Peace’ exhibition at Columbia University in New York August 13, 2003.

The following are highlights of her address.

 The work of peace is never easy in our world, and at this particular time in our world’s history all of us who want peace and justice both for ourselves, families, communities and our towns are going through an agonizing time. It’s been one of the worst situations in history, that’s going on right now in our world.  

Peace begins with me. If I want to stand here tonight and speak to you about the issue of peace I better be sure inside myself that I am not lying to you. Because peace for me is a daily struggle.  

I used to look at Dr. Martin Luther King on television and as an Irish Catholic I was a Black American, because I knew what that suffering was like. The suffering of injustice. The suffering of never being able to get a decent job, because of your religion.  

If we were to get 1% of the world’s military budgets a year, in just 5 years we would be able to get rid of world hunger.  

Speak your truth clearly and distinctly. Break the cycle of fear because fear cripples you. Say clearly and distinctly to those who perpetrate acts of violence on children you don’t speak for me.  

I decided a few years ago that the only way to do anything for the children of the world is to give them a political voice. Everyone thought I was nuts, but when the lady who formed the AARP [American Association of Retired People] started her work everybody told her she was nuts too. They told her you’ll never be able to get a vote for the elderly in the United States. Now they have a vote and the elderly people use it.  

There is something everyone can do to make a difference in our world.  

I wrote a universal declaration for the rights of children. We have based our legislation on the protection of children on these points. We are very close to having this passed in Italy. They will let their children have a legitimate political voice. The children will come and testify in front of their government and tell them the truth.  

Find out more by going to: http://www.centersofcompassion.org