MT07-05 What It Means to Protect Your Country

05 What It Means to Protect Your Country

/05 What It Means to Protect Your Country

*Skrud was an 12-year-old girl living in a small town in the northern country.

/*Skrud was an 12-year-old girl living in a small town in the northern country.

In winter, snow piled up deeply, and in summer, the greenery was dazzling—it was a beautiful place.

/In winter, snow piled up deeply, and in summer, the greenery was dazzling—it was a beautiful place.

One day, after learning at school about “military forces to protect the country,” *Skrud asked her grandmother at home:

/One day, after learning at school about “military forces to protect the country,” *Skrud asked her grandmother at home:

“Hey, Grandma. The military exists to protect the country, right?”

/“Hey, Grandma. The military exists to protect the country, right?”

Grandma was silent for a moment, then began to speak quietly.

/Grandma was silent for a moment, then began to speak quietly.

“*Skrud, I experienced war long ago. Back then, the military certainly protected the country. But war breaks people’s hearts. Families were torn apart, friends disappeared, towns burned… That wasn’t protection.”

/“*Skrud, I experienced war long ago. Back then, the military certainly protected the country. But war breaks people’s hearts. Families were torn apart, friends disappeared, towns burned… That wasn’t protection.”

*Skrud was surprised.

/*Skrud was surprised.

“But aren’t there things you can only protect by fighting?”

/“But aren’t there things you can only protect by fighting?”

Grandma, with tears in her eyes, said:

/Grandma, with tears in her eyes, said:

“War is foolish and inhuman… *Skrud, protecting doesn’t just mean holding weapons. Talking, understanding, and cooperating are also ways to protect.”

/“War is foolish and inhuman… *Skrud, protecting doesn’t just mean holding weapons. Talking, understanding, and cooperating are also ways to protect.”

That night, *Skrud thought in bed.

/That night, *Skrud thought in bed.

“How do we protect peace?”

/“How do we protect peace?”

The next day, the teacher talked about “international cooperation” at school.

/The next day, the teacher talked about “international cooperation” at school.

“Today, countries talk with each other and create systems to prevent war. The United Nations, peace treaties, and cooperation in environment and education are examples.”

/“Today, countries talk with each other and create systems to prevent war. The United Nations, peace treaties, and cooperation in environment and education are examples.”

*Skrud raised her hand and asked:

/*Skrud raised her hand and asked:

“Then, can we protect a country even without a military?”

/“Then, can we protect a country even without a military?”

The teacher nodded.

/The teacher nodded.

“The military is a last resort. But to protect peace, the first step is to build relationships. With trust and cooperation, there’s no need to fight.”

/“The military is a last resort. But to protect peace, the first step is to build relationships. With trust and cooperation, there’s no need to fight.”

The teacher smiled gently.

/The teacher smiled gently.

“And this is just my personal belief,” he continued, “but if peace can truly be built, then both our country and others could spend less on military budgets. That money could be used for something more meaningful—like education, or welfare.”

/“And this is just my personal belief,” he continued, “but if peace can truly be built, then both our country and others could spend less on military budgets. That money could be used for something more meaningful—like education, or welfare.”

Those words moved *Skrud’s heart.

/Those words moved *Skrud’s heart.

That weekend, a “Peace Day” event was held in the town square.

/That weekend, a “Peace Day” event was held in the town square.

*Skrud joined the event with her grandmother.

/*Skrud joined the event with her grandmother.

There, stories from people who had experienced war and activities of international cooperation were introduced.

/There, stories from people who had experienced war and activities of international cooperation were introduced.

At one booth, children the same age as *Skrud were interacting online with kids from other countries.

/At one booth, children the same age as *Skrud were interacting online with kids from other countries.

“Hello! What do you do in your country to protect peace?”

/“Hello! What do you do in your country to protect peace?”

*Skrud asked the child on the other side of the screen.

/*Skrud asked the child on the other side of the screen.

“We created a ‘Peace Club’ at school and learn about cultures from different countries!”

/“We created a ‘Peace Club’ at school and learn about cultures from different countries!”

*Skrud smiled.

/*Skrud smiled.

“I want to learn more about other countries too!”

/“I want to learn more about other countries too!”

At the end of the event, Grandma said to *Skrud:

/At the end of the event, Grandma said to *Skrud:

“*Skrud, if you become someone who protects peace, I’ll feel safe watching over this world.”

/“*Skrud, if you become someone who protects peace, I’ll feel safe watching over this world.”

*Skrud tightly held her grandmother’s hand.

/*Skrud tightly held her grandmother’s hand.

“I’ll look for ways to protect peace. Not just with armies, but by creating systems of cooperation too.”

/“I’ll look for ways to protect peace. Not just with armies, but by creating systems of cooperation too.”

And *Skrud made a vow in her heart.

/And *Skrud made a vow in her heart.

“Protecting your country means building peaceful relationships. That’s the true way to protect.”

/“Protecting your country means building peaceful relationships. That’s the true way to protect.”

Review Questions (Multiple Choice)

/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)

① What impression of war did *Skrud’s grandmother share?

/① What impression of war did *Skrud’s grandmother share?

A. Brave and proud

/A. Brave and proud

B. Foolish and inhuman

/B. Foolish and inhuman

C. Fun and lively

/C. Fun and lively

② What method of protecting peace did *Skrud learn?

/② What method of protecting peace did *Skrud learn?

A. Strengthening the military

/A. Strengthening the military

B. Preparing to fight other countries

/B. Preparing to fight other countries

C. Creating systems for dialogue and cooperation

/C. Creating systems for dialogue and cooperation

Let’s Think!

/Let’s Think!

① Have you ever thought, “Peace is important”? When was that?

/① Have you ever thought, “Peace is important”? When was that?

② To prevent war, what kind of cooperation do you think countries and people should engage in? What can you do?

/② To prevent war, what kind of cooperation do you think countries and people should engage in? What can you do?