Photo by Jason Aparicio
By Jason Aparicio
People worldwide want the same thing: peace. On Sept. 21, William Peace University brought the community together for the International Day of Peace, a United Nations-sanctioned holiday dedicated to the world uniting for a single day to commit to peace.
The Peace community gathered for a day centered on peace, kindness and community. The event included a drum performance by Bobby Sherard.
Shortly after the performance, the Peace community was greeted by President Jennifer E. Walsh, followed by a speech on the purpose of the event by Dasan Ahanu.
Ahanu delivered a philosophical reflection on the active pursuit of peace and the inherent worth found in human resilience and community struggles.
“There is pride that beams at a youthful sight, cheers that accompany athletic achievement, a hug that startles pistols, the next glorious gathering of friends, laughter that chronicles the best of times, tears that fall during the worst times,” said Ahanu. “They are all affirmations of the humanity that we carry inside of us all; these are the moments that let us know that there is so much worth fighting for.”
Soon after, guest speaker Lisa Yebuah, a leader in the United Methodist community in downtown Raleigh, addressed the distinction between peacekeeping and peacemaking, encouraging individuals to maintain hope through personal healing and vision.
“Friends, on this International Day of Peace, whether we’re talking about global or personal unrest, I can understand why we want to give up because it’s too much,” said Yebuah. “It’s too much, but there is hope that this is not the world or the lives that we have to settle on.”
Yebuah said that regardless of circumstances, she wants people to keep pushing forward, no matter what challenges come their way.
”I believe that every single person in this room will have the capacity to imagine what life might look like on the other side. We’re going to want to quit, but let there be peace on Earth,” said Yebuah. “Let it begin with me, let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with us. May it be so, and I say on every single Sunday, might we go in peace, might we live in peace, and we might believe it.”
The evening ended with a global dinner at Belk Dining Hall, where the Peace community gathered to share food from around the world, reflect on the day’s messages and connect with one another. The spirit of unity and hope carried throughout the event, leaving participants inspired to continue working toward peace in their own lives and communities.