MANNAM International Peace Event : World Peace Youth Walk

May 25

International Youth Walk for World Peace & Restoration

 

             Surely, one would be hard pressed to claim an all-out victory for peace this particular May 25, as war was inevitably being fought throughout various regions of the world and violent crimes against its fellow citizens had not suddenly stopped. The world did not inexplicably cease all hate fueled rhetoric; yet in at least one venue there was a gathering of love-filled youth, bound by a desire to demonstrate to the world that love could ultimately overpower the barriers forged from odium many in world feel toward those unlike themselves.

             This gathering took place in Seoul, South Korea at the World Peace Gate within the Seoul Olympic Park. It was comprised of 20-30 thousand youths from approximately 130 different countries. These inspiring youths gathered for a Youth Peace Walk initiative set to rouse and broadcast a sense of world unification; to promote acceptance, consideration, and collaboration among the youth of the globe so that others might know there are those that do not hold to past grudges based on race, nationality, or religious beliefs. So that others would know that there are many that demand an end to hate, violence, and war. So that the leaders of today would understand that their youth are calling on them for change – for a better world.

             Attending this event in person was definitely an awe inspiring experience; at least for this writer. After arriving by bus with an international group, we unloaded and shuffled to a location near the World Peace Gate. The crowd was immense, thousands of people all around. It was not exactly the easiest of days for such a gathering; the sun beat down on us relentlessly. We were soon drenched, not from a fountain of water, but from our own sweat. We greedily drank bottles of water to ward off dehydration and thirst in general. Soon we began wading into the crowd, wedging ourselves closer to the center stage. We were thoughtfully given ear pieces so that the announcements could be heard in our respective native languages. So many people, races, backgrounds, all with hearts beating for peace.

             Once the announcements had been made and the Declaration for Peace given, we were told the actual Peace Walk would soon begin. This is the moment that the event became less surreal, and instead took on a more literal reality. A young woman near one of our international members suddenly fell out from the heat and was dehydrated. Without hesitation, the young man she had fallen next to picked her up and put her on his back and rushed her to a nearby ambulance onsite. The young woman was not a part of our group and obviously not of the same nationality as the young man; he knew nothing about her other than she needed immediate help – and he provided just that, without regard for anything else.

             Personally, I was not immediately aware of what had occurred.  Some of our group began calling out that something had happened and right about then he ran past me with the young woman draped over his back. I could not discern in the rush and crowd if she were one of our own members but decided to follow in order to lend a hand. However, he had a decent head start and people were parting like the red sea. I on the other hand was caught in the tide and took a bit longer to reach the ambulance. Upon arrival, it was still unclear whether she was a part of one of our groups or not, but the young man that had rescued her was no longer present. By the time it was determined that she was not one of our members and was going to be taken care of by her group the crowd had begun to move – the walk was beginning.

It was quite the experience wading through so many people in such close quarters against the flow of traffic. If there was any doubt that the people there did not truly hold a desire to work together for peace, it was erased at this point. There were no glares, no sighs, only smiles and hellos from everyone. All that were there made me feel as if they were happy to have me brush by them and almost seemed to openly invite me to stay and join them – and I passed by many before the leader of our group, who had stayed behind, and I finally found one another and began the walk ourselves.

People holding flags from what seemed all the countries involved and maybe of others were lining the street making a clear path in which to walk and provided a safe barrier from cars sharing the other side of the road. Many of which slowed to take pictures and shout cheers and support for the youth walkers. Performances abounded from several different countries, sporting traditional clothing and dances as we walked along. We were an unending river of people; a living mass, each person a different cell, but all united and working together to create one organism breathing peace.

 

We the united youth of the world, walked for peace. We walked shoulder to shoulder, we held hands, and we hugged. We were all different – and we all smiled. The day was May 25, 2013. It was a day that PEACE won.