07 To Protect Your Country Is to Build Peaceful Relationships
/07 To Protect Your Country Is to Build Peaceful Relationships
*Suyan was an 13-year-old girl living in a quiet town.
/*Suyan was an 13-year-old girl living in a quiet town.
Every day at school, she laughed with her friends, went to lessons, and spent weekends at the park with her family.
/Every day at school, she laughed with her friends, went to lessons, and spent weekends at the park with her family.
To *Suyan, those days were “ordinary happiness.”
/To *Suyan, those days were “ordinary happiness.”
One day, a person called a “peace storyteller” came to her school.
/One day, a person called a “peace storyteller” came to her school.
This person worked around the world for peace and shared stories of people who had experienced war.
/This person worked around the world for peace and shared stories of people who had experienced war.
“Hello, everyone. Today, let’s think together about ‘what we can do because we have peace.’”
/“Hello, everyone. Today, let’s think together about ‘what we can do because we have peace.’”
*Suyan listened with great interest.
/*Suyan listened with great interest.
The storyteller showed photos on a screen.
/The storyteller showed photos on a screen.
There were images of schools destroyed by war, crying children, and families fleeing.
/There were images of schools destroyed by war, crying children, and families fleeing.
“These children cannot go to school. They cannot play with friends. They cannot live with their families.”
/“These children cannot go to school. They cannot play with friends. They cannot live with their families.”
*Suyan felt her chest tighten.
/*Suyan felt her chest tighten.
“War destroys not only lives, but also hearts. Sleeping peacefully, learning, laughing… all of these are taken away by war.”
/“War destroys not only lives, but also hearts. Sleeping peacefully, learning, laughing… all of these are taken away by war.”
The storyteller continued quietly.
/The storyteller continued quietly.
“But what about peaceful countries? You go to school every day, talk with friends, and spend time with family. That’s only possible because there is peace.”
/“But what about peaceful countries? You go to school every day, talk with friends, and spend time with family. That’s only possible because there is peace.”
*Suyan began to think.
/*Suyan began to think.
“I live in peace. But maybe I’ve never really thought about how precious that is.”
/“I live in peace. But maybe I’ve never really thought about how precious that is.”
The storyteller said at the end:
/The storyteller said at the end:
“To protect your country doesn’t only mean having weapons. It means building peaceful relationships, talking, and cooperating. That is the true meaning of ‘protecting.’”
/“To protect your country doesn’t only mean having weapons. It means building peaceful relationships, talking, and cooperating. That is the true meaning of ‘protecting.’”
Those words stayed deeply in *Suyan’s heart.
/Those words stayed deeply in *Suyan’s heart.
That night, *Suyan told her family about the storyteller’s talk.
/That night, *Suyan told her family about the storyteller’s talk.
“War is really scary. But peace is really wonderful. I never want to be part of a war.”
/“War is really scary. But peace is really wonderful. I never want to be part of a war.”
Her father nodded and said:
/Her father nodded and said:
“That feeling is the first step to protecting peace.”
/“That feeling is the first step to protecting peace.”
The next day, *Suyan made a “Peace Poster” at school.
/The next day, *Suyan made a “Peace Poster” at school.
On it, she wrote:
/On it, she wrote:
“Because of peace, we can smile. Because of peace, we can learn. Because of peace, we can live proudly.”
/“Because of peace, we can smile. Because of peace, we can learn. Because of peace, we can live proudly.”
The teacher saw the poster and smiled.
/The teacher saw the poster and smiled.
“*Suyan, that’s wonderful. Let’s share those words with many people.”
/“*Suyan, that’s wonderful. Let’s share those words with many people.”
*Suyan made a vow in her heart.
/*Suyan made a vow in her heart.
“I will be someone who builds peaceful relationships. I want to create a world without war, together with everyone.”
/“I will be someone who builds peaceful relationships. I want to create a world without war, together with everyone.”
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
① What kind of person was the “peace storyteller” that *Suyan listened to?
/① What kind of person was the “peace storyteller” that *Suyan listened to?
A. Someone who trains for war
/A. Someone who trains for war
B. Someone who works for peace around the world
/B. Someone who works for peace around the world
C. Someone who teaches military training
/C. Someone who teaches military training
② What did *Suyan realize as “things we can do because of peace”?
/② What did *Suyan realize as “things we can do because of peace”?
A. Studying, playing, and spending time with family
/A. Studying, playing, and spending time with family
B. Preparing to fight
/B. Preparing to fight
C. Training to protect the country
/C. Training to protect the country
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
① Have you ever thought, “Peace is something to be thankful for”? When was that?
/① Have you ever thought, “Peace is something to be thankful for”? When was that?
② What do you think you can do to protect peace? Talk about it with your friends and family.
/② What do you think you can do to protect peace? Talk about it with your friends and family.
