Bragging rights!

Son number five ( Alexander - just turned 15 last week...) has won a writing competition! He is one of five secondary school age winners from Australia.

This was run by Kumon Education Australia and the theme was "World Peace and Me".

Kumon Education aims to contribute to nation building and world peace through education of the whole child. Thus the theme.

Alexander's work will be displayed in Bangkok at the Conference in August. His work may also be used as part of Kumon's promotions.

And here is his poem....

“They create a desolation, and call it peace”
Tacitus*

A desolation they call peace,
Floating on the breeze.
Tearing through the streets,
Softly whistling through the trees.

A desolation they call peace,
Means nothing to you or me.
Peace is sharing, peace is caring,
Education for you and me.

A desolation they call peace,
Disappears without a trace.
A tear slowly forms,
Then trickles down a face.

We look for friendship,
Togetherness at least.
Instead they create
a desolation and call it peace.



* Tacitus was a prominent historian of Roman antiquity, with his style as an author characterized by an uncompromising boldness, and a sharpness of wit. The above quote, from his book Agricola, is influential when thinking about peace.

Funnily enough, the theme makes me smile because I remember the film Miss Congeniality - Sandra Bullock and the beauty pageant applicants ALL want world peace!