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Grace Peterson
17
Pilot Grove Highschool
Senior
What is Peace and Freedom?
What do peace and freedom mean in today's world? I could give a quick Google search,
come to the conclusion that the definition of peace is “freedom from disturbance” and that the
definition of freedom is “the state of not being subject to or affected by (a particular undesirable
thing)”, and call it good. If all I did was Google the meaning though, what would I be learning? I
would be learning nothing of the people who made sacrifices and fought for me to be in the place
where I can find the definition of their life's work with the click of a few buttons. I have been
blessed to be born in a country where yesterday's struggles and growths have led to the privilege
I have to recognize and feel freedom and peace as I am able to do today.
John F. Kennedy was once quoted saying, “Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process,
gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.”
Securing peace is not as easy as one might think, sometimes it takes months, years, decades, or
centuries. Everyone has their own feeling of actual peace and how it looks and feels to them.
You might be at peace sitting back and letting others do all the hard work or you might feel
peace knowing you were a part of a successful protest enacting change within a movement that
you support. I find peace in my community, the role I play within it and the people who help
support me in my decisions make me feel the deepest sense of peace. I find peace in helping