You may say I'm a dreamer, but (in Prague) I'm not the only one

I stood freezing my limbs off in Wenceslas Square among thousands of people, warming myself by singing along to John Lennon's Imagine with the others. In a place where 40 years ago Czechs stood to protest the Russian invasion, expats, locals and tourists were now gathered to support the concept of world peace; by singing, lighting paper lanterns and marching through the streets of Prague, while patient trams were forced to freeze on their tracks.

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence arrived in Prague early November, after taking its first steps on the “International Day of Nonviolence” in October from New Zealand. Fun fact about New Zealand – aside from my strong desire to live like a Kiwi and make it my home one day – the country ranks number one on the Global Peace Index, which means it’s a pretty fabulous place to reside… and begin a march for peace perhaps. But more importantly at the moment, for a total of 90 days, the organization’s “Base Teams” will make their way around the world to peaceful and not so peaceful countries alike, uniting gatherers and asking for an end to war, intolerance and violence.

After a day of peace meetings with the Czech Senate’s first Vice-President, a Chairman of the Humanist Party, an expert on weapons of mass destruction and another on international development, it was time to get our march on. On the evening of November 3, 8000 of us marched for peace.

Now, you may be thinking, “That’s lame, marching for peace.” Believe me, it crossed my mind after I told my colleagues where I was going, asked if they wanted to join and then saw the slightest sign of an emerging belly laugh become suppressed by a gracious thank-you-but-no-thank-you smile. That came from the polite co-workers. The others just flat-out said I was crazy, along with the mass-crowd made up of “idealistic peace-loving hippies."

I went anyway. Not to prove a point, not to find any answers, but just to see what these peace movements were about: what kind of people would be there, what would they hope to achieve, where would their journey take them next.

Ah, I should have known. The entire speaking/motivating/engaging part of the evening was delivered in Czech; I didn’t understand a word. But I didn’t need to. I watched families gathered with their kids, dance to the live music and look up to the black sky, eyeing their bright paper lantern in a sea of others, floating away. I listened to a whole lot of very different people sing the same simple words to the same simple song. I let myself get carried away in the emotion. I didn’t expect it to be so, but it was, quite moving; figuratively at first and then very literally. 

We started down the square and turned toward the river. As the group began to loop around, I made my way home. It was late and I could no longer feel my fingers or toes, but all the same I was feeling pretty warm inside. I made up for my early departure by bypassing the trams and walking peacefully to my apartment. I got to thinking. What we did that night may not change the world… but it helped make my world a little bit better. I felt lighter, less tense, more aware. I couldn’t help but smile the hugest smile and wonder, “What if everyone could feel like this?"

Well then, the world might be just a little more peaceful.

Comments

Posted on 11/13/2009 by

Mary Smith

To my special "Kiwi"... the world is a better place with you in it!

Posted on 11/16/2009 by

Beth Mitchell

.....but it helped make my world a little bit better. I felt lighter, less tense, more aware. I couldn’t help but smile the hugest smile and wonder.........can I really have another "shot" of tequilla!!

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