Peace is for Kids Too
Posted on July 22, 2007 - Filed Under Reviews, Deep Thoughts, Peace News |
I must admit that although I am a GenXer, I still am behind the times when it comes to YouTube and other video sites on the web. So when I read about Ava and her antiwar home movies, I had to check them out.
Ava Lowry is a homeschooled teen activist who makes quality antiwar shorts and posts them on her website, peacetakescourage.com. Other than being against the Iraqi War, and war in general, I really relate to Ava’s site because of her young age. I remember being about Ava’s age when the Gulf War was happening and I was really concerned about being at war, so much so it kept me up at night. My teacher even called my mom to have her instruct me to stop discussing the war at school because I was scaring the other kids. My reasoning being that maybe we should be scared. I felt like there was something I could do about the war but without support and no Internet forum, I had to just stop. So I really appreciate that Ava, and other kids, have a place they can discuss these issues and make a difference in their own way.
There’s a article in the March/April 2007 issue of Mother Jones about Ava where she describes how persecuted she was in public school, such as the homeroom teacher criticizing her reading choices (Dude, Where’s My Country?). Her missionary parents allowed her to be homeschooled so she would have the freedom to learn about the Electoral College and not the gossip that usually pervades 7th grade classes. Ava’s brother also works on the website as the web designer, and together they are making quite an impact. They attend peace rallys, and although there are some pretty nasty hate mail sent their way, Ava keeps going strong. Part of her appeal to many is that her beliefs of war as wrong is based in the teachings of Christianity, and although her parents are Republicans, they respect their daughters values and keep encouraging her.
So check out Ava’s site and drop her some email encouragement.
Namaste.
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