A Preemptive Declaration of Peace by John Lowe

I declare peace on myself

With all of my imperfections

For I am a child of God

I declare peace on my parents

As flawed as my upbringing may have been

I know it was the best they could do

I declare peace on my children

Even when they rebel against me

For they will eventually succeed me

I declare peace on my community

For this is where I live and work and raise my family

And I need to be an example for others to follow

I declare peace on all women

For they are the source of my life and the portal of my future

They are the connection of humanity to the Earth

I declare peace on all men

Even when the rape and pillage the Earth

For in the end they must lead us to the Promised Land

I declare peace on all who are different than myself

For as I judge them I am only judging me

They are the lesson of tolerance and acceptance

I declare peace on my government

Even when I do not always agree with its direction

For it is the hope of so many around the world

I declare peace on all political parties

As different as they are they are all the same

Deep down they only want what they believe is best

I declare peace on all nations

Especially those who seek to dominate us

For our future survival lies in cooperation, not competition

I declare peace on my enemies

For they are no different than I

We must learn to see each other as One

I declare peace on our history

Filled with wars and violence

Because I know we have the capacity to alter our future history

I declare peace on our Mother Earth

We must all work to support and nourish her

For in failing to do this we will surely parish

I declare peace on my faith

Although it is my faith it is not perfect

And I must work within it to achieve its potential

I declare peace on all other faiths

Because I recognize that all faiths are branches of the one faith

That all faiths lead back to their source, the source of all

I declare peace on those with no faith

For once I was one of them

And in time they will find the faith that is right for them

I declare peace on my God

For creating a world so imperfect and violent

Because deep down I know it is I who has made it thus, not God

Oh, and did I mention I declare peace on myself

For if I fail in this mission

There will be no peace on Earth