Is WAR actually a good thing for humans ?



If you had a free choice , right now,  as if by magic – to stop war , to just STOP WAR  ,     get rid of it ,      to just not have it any  more

Would you say “Yes” ?

You could dither a bit – and say things like - “Yes But … “ or - “ It depends” or - “Sometimes war is necessary, to stop Hitler for example “ or - “ We have to defend ourselves “
But I don’t mean that .

And I don’t mean HOW , or WHEN or WHERE or any of those things

I just mean if you could choose , right now. If it was up to you , to have war or not to have war.

What would you choose?

There are already over a thousand children and their parents , at a school in Essex , who can see these words every day (see 'The Idea' below)

So , have a little read , see what you think , and if it is something that touches , moves , or even inspires you, then please join in and Register.

On the Registration page you can just add your name to the growing list of people and so make a small commitment, thats all , doesn't cost anything and there is nothing else you have to do   ( unless you want to!)

"We have seen that we cannot solve human problems by fighting "             Dalai Lama

The idea

I am an artist who was asked to build a war memorial at a school in Clacton, UK, to commemorate 50yrs after the 'Second World War'. I said I couldn't do that but I would, if they liked , build them a Peace Monument - which they jumped at.

To cut a long story short, I worked over several weeks with over a thousand children aged from 6 to 11yrs creating and firing 1000 ceramic tiles.

They had complete freedom of ideas and design , limited colours and in three groups , based on "Love Life, Seek Peace,Stop War" Of course we had lots of great discussions and adventures into these words , and what they meant to the kids. On one day I also invited teachers , dinner ladies and school staff to join in and make their own tiles.

On another day we invited from the surrounding community local councillors, politicians and veterans of the last war through the British Legion. At one point , as I stood in the school hall watching , on one side dozens of children beavering animatedly away at decorating their tiles in bright colours, and on the other side groups of civic leaders and eldery ladies and gentlemen, sitting down at the little low tables , squatting on tiny chairs made for smaller folk , I was amazed at the buzz and energy being created.      

       Then  something magical began to happen.

One of the elderly, but lively and animated ladies , moved across and sat at one of the kids tables , then a couple of the kids also moved to the other side , and soon they were all mixed together, helping each other, admiring their work and chatting away.

And the theme was still "Love Life, Seek  Peace, Stop War"       This was so moving and powerfull . The children listened to stories about the war , what it had been like for the soldiers and the ordinary people at home. 

One lady told how she had been evacuated to Clacton from London during the Blitz  , a small lost soul taken in by a local family , who , because her own family did not survive the bombing , was brought up by them and had stayed in Clacton all her life. 

So now we had a 1000 painted tiles - which we then fired in th school kiln.

And eventually , me and Rob built the monument in the playground , stuck on all the tiles and the stainless steel panels .

And its there still.(Picture below)

Thats where the words came from.

And I like these words. They are a good message .

ray brooks