On my way to teach a class at Ft. KnoxI stopped in the Fort’s main chapelTo say a prayer for peace.The chapel’s an old brick building, onceA Catholic Church long before there was Fort Knox.Empty, its stained glass windows filled the pewsIn silence. And I prayed:War is hatred and Madness.Peace is love and caring.

Earlier, on my way to give a Career Day speechI stopped in Elizabethtown High School’s parking lot.Two teenage girls Zoomed into parking spacesFlanking me left and right. Each drove towering Grand Jeep Cherokees. One white. One red. Dwarfing my blue compact.We sat there red, blue and white until the white skyscraper’s driver ran out wearing no coat.Her tangled blonde hair fell upon a John Lennon T-shirt which read”Give Peace A Chance.”

Earlier still, eating a fat McDonald’s sandwich at my office desk,(Big Mac wrappers mixing with community college transcripts)I stopped and read a poem on “poetsagainstthewar.org” by Adam, a kid in some Mrs. Kelly 4th grade class.

This Adam said,”What is the difference between war and peace?Some people think you need to be more brave to go into war.That is not true.Peace takes more bravery.Peace takes bravery because peace is to stand up for what is right.Some people are too afraid to do that.

War is hatred and madness.Peace is love and caring.

War is hatred and madness.Peace is love and caring.

War is hatred and madness.Peace is love and caring.

That is the difference.”