“There ISN’T a way to Peace, Peace IS the way.”

I recently, while visiting friends in another state, witnessed something that has affected my life more than any words could ever possibly express. Over three hundred elementary school children marched, dressed in angelic white from head to toe, begging for peace through a song.

These young children walked marched tirelessly, their handpainted signs held high, searching for what they are rightfully owed, Peace and Happiness. It began small, the march was not announced, there was no media attention sought; these children simply sought to voice themselves.

Shortly after begining the march, the secured doors of homes and businesses began opening, one by one. Within thirty minutes police escorts arrived as men and women of all ages, tears streaming down their faces, stopped everything, leaving vehicles, work, and sorrow to follow these children, determined to change our future.

Almost two hours after it began, the march ended on the stairs of the small town church, it was there, the true miracle happened. Small hands and slight arms began to embrace all around. Children began guiding adults with encouraging words: “Be strong, have faith.”

I couldn’t help but shed tears as I stood amongst the crowd, noticing we, adults, were coming out of our self-imposed prisons of fear, anger, and mistrust. For the first time in so long, I felt my Mexico, as we made long forgotten eye contact with one another and inhaled hope.

I have found the song, Que Cantan Los Niños, the children were singing, please listen to it. It is in Spanish, but I have translated it into English below.

Chorus:

” Let the children sing, let their voice rise, let them make the world listen. Let their united voice rise to the sun, in them resides the truth. Let the children sing who live in peace and those who suffer in pain, let them sing for those who will not sing because their voices have been extinguished.”

Children singing:

I sing for the chance to live.
I sing for my Mother to smile.
I sing because the sky is blue.
I sing for my seas to not be dirtied.
I sing for those who don’t have bread.
I sing for respect for the flowers.
I sing so the world will be happy.
I sing so I won’t hear the bombs.

Chorus:

I sing for the gardens t be green
and so my sun will never burn out.
I sing for those who don’t know how to read
and for those who write verses of love.
I sing for you to hear my voice
and to see if I can make you think.
I sing because I want a happy world
and to see if anyone wants to hear me.

Chorus:

Thanks for listening, let our children teach us love and to live the peaceful way.