STANISLAUS CONNECTIONS

Working For Peace, Justice, and A Sustainable Environment

2003

A Modesto Peace/Life Center Publication

Peace Essay Winners

Peace Essay Contest 2003

 "A peaceful future depends on our everyday acts and gestures."
--Fredrico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

Since 1987 the Modesto Peace/Life Center has sponsored an annual essay contest open to 5th-12th grade students in Stanislaus County. This year 986 entries qualified for the contest, the most ever.

How many times have you thought "if I could do that over again..."? This year's topics prompted students to do just that, to rethink a conflict and its outcome.

In our society and world, we see more and more individuals and groups acting out in anger and frustration through verbal, physical, and emotional violence which hurts or destroys others.

This year's topics instructed students to pick a real life situation in which they or another person or group acted out of anger, fear, and/or frustration. They were to describe the situation, how it ended, and the feelings of those involved. Then the authors were to explore another way participants could have resolved the conflict in a more fair and peaceful way.

Learning to resolved conflict in a way that builds respect between participants, honors difference, and opens avenues for reconciliation are important preparation for creatively meeting the challenges of the future.

And the winners are: Peace Essay Contest 2003

Service is the rent you pay for room on this planet. — Shirley Chisholm

Since 1987 the Modesto Peace Life Center has sponsored an annual essay contest open to students in Stanislaus County grades 5-12.

The awards reception will be held on Sunday, March 23rd, 2 p.m., at Johansen High School.

Division I (grades 11 and 12)

First Place: Brandon Huang, Johansen
Second Place: Carly Towers, Johansen
Third Place: Tyler Young, Johansen
Honorable Mentions: Lexi Shiovitz, Renee Riley, and Cara Chittim, Johansen
Finalists: Lauren Aiello and Andrew Lewis, Beyer; and from Johansen: Fidela Bouatheng, Ross Dickerson, Ochuko Egbikuadje, Danny Herrero, Tim Herrmann, Chris Ho, Vance Lewis, Thomas Li, Amber Lopez, Carly Nagel, Navdip Samra, and Simon Shamass.
**School Winners: Lauren Aiello, Beyer; Jared Nickerson, Davis; Jessica
Garrett, Downey; Brandon Huang, Johansen; and Marisa Copeland, Riverbank.
**These schools submitted ten or more essays in this division and were awarded a School Winner.

Division II (grades 9 and 10)

First Place: Rebekah Fischman, Johansen
Second Place: Natalie Myers, Johansen
Third Place: Alana Cayabyab, Johansen
Honorable Mentions: Denise Reyes, Robin Reidl, Cameron
Lewis, Johansen
Finalists: Sonia Lomeli, Davis; and from Johansen: Rachel Beers, Jordan Coenen, Gaby Gilmore, Jesslyn Kavong, Tyler Lanker, Brad Merchant, Kelli Sargent, Destiny Schmidt, Geneva Skram, Carol Smeltzer, Dylan Tekautz, Cynthia Wootan, Thomas Youga.
**School Winners: Sonia Lomeli, Davis; Rebekah Fischman, Johansen; and Alexander Nabors, Riverbank.

Division III (grades 7 and 8)

First Place: Will Johnson, Roosevelt
Second Place: Brendan Cassidy, La Loma
Third Place: Korie Ross, Teel
Honorable Mentions: Ariana Rhoades, La Loma; Emily Baggett, Knights Ferry; and Mary Persons, Dutcher.
Finalists: Phillip Azevedo, Mountain View; Marissa Cagle, Shalyn Eppler, Roosevelt: Annie Freitas, Rachel Grider, Taylor Lewis, Whitney Wells, La Loma; Emily Goodwin, Teel; Elizabeth Gutierrez, Drew Woods; Dutcher ; Wes Haskell-Kelly, Caitlin Hitch, Bailey Hitch, Knights Ferry; Phoebe Tyson,Waterford.
**School Winners: Krystine Taylor, Blaker-Kinser; Amanda Barnes, Hickman; Amanda Brambila, Hansha; Emily Baggett, Knights Ferry; Brendan Cassidy, La Loma; Mary Persons, Dutcher; Phillip Azevedo, Mountain View; Will Johnson, Roosevelt; Korie Ross, Teel; and Phoebe Tyson,Waterford.

Division IV (grades 5 and 6)

First Place: Matthew Noakes, Somerset
Second Place: Bryan Billings, Fair Oaks
Third Place: Alison Bartow, Somerset
Honorable Mentions: Myra Crimmel and Moana Schietinger, Fremont Open Plan; and Craig Rowley, Fair Oaks
Finalists: Marisol Azpeitia, Lee Fleury, Megan Patino, Lakewood Elementary; Kelly Cearley, Fremont Open Plan; Cory Eddy, Sloan McHann, Chloe Pappas, Lauren Rawe, Somerset; Samantha Higgins, Kyle Ward, Stanislaus Union; Jacob Horton, Fair Oaks; Ariane Mota, Orchard; Marissa Tardif, Las Palmas; Victoria Wameling, Fair Oak.
**School Winners: Garrett Bordenave, Denair; Bryan Billings, Fair Oaks; Moana Schietinger, Fremont Open Plan; Charlie Miller, John Muir; Lee Fleury, Lakewood; Ariane Mota, Orchard; Matthew Noakes, Somerset; Kyle Ward, Stanislaus Union; Sarah Weaver, Teel; Stephanie Gutierrez, Brown; Rigel Smart, Westport School.

Thanks to our PEC judges and screeners: Brad Barker, Jim Barker, Margaret Barker, Jim Beggs, Tom Broderick, Monique Capp, Peggy Castaneda, Indira Clark, Steve Collins, Jim Costello, Tina Driskill, Pam Franklin, Phil Franklin, Simeon Franklin, Elaine Gorman, Nancy Griggs, Dorothy Griggs, Richard Harvey, Fred Herman, Harriet Hills, Ken Kolher, Barbara Manrique, Linda McFelter, Andrea McGhee, Mike Monson, Dan Onorato, Satya Onorato, Kaye Osborne, Myrtle Osner, Sandy Sample, Linda Scheller, Ruth Spencer, Ken Schroeder, Judy Sly, Tim Smart, Nancy Smith, Julie TenBrink, Mark Thompson, Rachel Tyson, Marianne Villalobos, Patrick Wall, Anita Young, and Martin Zonligt.

A project of the Modesto Peace/Life Center 720-13th Street, Suite D - P. O. Box 134, Modesto, California 95354-0134 - 529-5750 - peaceessay@juno.com. Co-sponsored by the Modesto Junior College Literature and Language Arts Department

ACTION: Tax-deductible donations may be made to the Modesto Peace/Life Center, designated to the Peace Essay Contest.

The Goal is Peace
By MATTHEW NOAKES
Sommerset Middle School, Mrs. Borland
First Place, Division IV

Often, conflicts arise in everyday activities, even youth soccer. I vividly remember one such conflict between a soccer coach and a referee.

The conflict arose when the referee thought the coach had yelled a derogatory remark at him, when, in fact, the coach was complimenting a player. The referee might have merely misheard the coach or, perhaps coaches had been angry with the referee all day and he thought that it would be the same with this coach.

The coach and the referee got into a heated argument, the coach saying that he hadn't said anything, the referee ignoring him and threatening to red card him. In the end, the referee red carded him and called the game a forfeit. The coach was very angry at the referee but also wished that he hadn't kept arguing and had let it go. In general, the players were angry at the referee for calling the game a forfeit. The referee was sure that he was in, the right and the coach was in the wrong. In short, nobody was happy. I personally think that the referee and the coach's actions were uncalled for, especially since the referee and the coach were role models for the kids.

There where many ways to solve this conflict more peacefully. If it had been solved in a more peaceful manner, the people involved would have come out much happier.

The coach, of course, didn't yell a derogatory remark at the referee but he still bears part of the fault for the mishap. If he had handled the situation in a more peaceful manner, though, it may never have become a problem. If, when the referee first confronted him, he had just said," all right, I'll stop," his pride might be hurt at first but he would soon forget about the entire incident and be happier than if he had argued. The referee would probably have walked away happy, or might have yellow carded the coach. At first, the coach would probably be furious at the referee for this but he would soon notice that the yellow card didn't really matter because it was the last game of the season and he would soon forget about ft. In the future, the coach would be more likely not to act without thinking about the consequences. Also, he would be less likely to let his pride cloud his thought.

If adults could get along while coaching, supervising, or watching youth activities, it would be a major contribution towards world peace. One reason it would be a major contribution towards world peace is because the adults would be more likely to get along in other situations. Also, if adults could get along during youth activities, the kids involved in those activities would follow their example and grow up to consider peaceful solutions to problems. Lastly, the kids would learn to think before acting, especially if emotions are high and that through their actions they can influence and affect others. Remember, the goal on and off the soccer field is peace.

A Black Hole
By WILL JOHNSON
Roosevelt Junior High School, Mrs. Haskett
First Place, Division III
Peace Essay Contest 2003

If you walk into my room, you'll see my messy desk and my twinsize bed. You'll also see a hole in the wall the size of my fist. A lot of people ask how I got such a big hole in the wall. Here's my story.

"No, Will. You can't play paint ball with your friends." My mom, who was against guns of any kind, was disgusted with the idea of me shooting people with a small paint ball for fun. "There's no way you are going. Not this weekend or ever. Under this roof, you do as I say."

"No. I can't believe your stupid rules. Maybe on my test tomorrow I'll get an "F" just for you."

"If you come home with an "F," you'll never see daylight again, "she screamed back.

"Fine. I'll get an "A" to please you." I was so enraged. "I can't wait to get out of this house." I stormed out of the room. When I got in my room, I slammed the door shut and punched my wall. And I still didn't get to play paint ball.

If I could go back in time, I would have handled the situation with no yelling or screaming. I would have asked my mom why I couldn't play paint ball and then I would have listened to her explanations. I know we could have a discussion with each of us defending our causes but listening to each other as well. I wish I would not have screamed at my Mom and just listened, because then she wouldn't have lost her patience with me and I wouldn't have gotten angry.

Now that I've thought about this incident, I've come to realize that I can never solve anything with yelling and screaming. Now, when I have an argument with anyone, I go in my room and gently push the papers off my desk and write about the way I feel. I also write down my evidence for my defense so that I can better discuss my problems after I've cooled off. When I'm ready, I go and give my writing to whomever I'm arguing against, and once the other person has read it, (usually one of my folks) we discuss it. This usually allows us to solve our conflicts much quicker and much happier. I'm glad I've learned to write things down and not scream and allow anger to take over. I've discovered that anger is always destructive. The evidence to prove this is in my room.

The hole in my room has been given the nickname, "the black hole," by me and my family. The black hole is a constant reminder of how easily anger can take over and it's scary to think it could have been worse. One of these days I know my dad will seal up the black hole, but the image and its significance will always be in my mind.

Violence in Surfing 
By REBEKAH FISCHMAN
Johansen High School, Mrs. di Cristina 
First Place, Division II

Most people envision surfing as a challenging sport conducted in the beautiful and tranquil setting of the ocean. The tranquility is interrupted by riding the wave, which is powerful and can be dangerous. However, nature is not the only source of danger to surfers. There are increasing numbers of news reports of violence among surfers. The violence and aggression that has been caused by greed, jealousy, and lack of self-control is forcing people to forget the true spirit of surfing.

Surfers are usually thought to be calm and easygoing people, but, in some cases, surfers can be violent and brutal. On March 28th 2002, in San Francisco at Fort Point, three San Francisco surfers supposedly pounded and nearly drowned another surfer from Berkeley. These surfers, Ryan Farrell, Yoel Gorfain and Jeffrey Duerson, will confront federal felony assault charges, as a result of the incident. Apparently believing that the Berkeley surfer, Adam Browning, should not be on their "turf', Farrell allegedly tried to break off Browning's surfboard fin. When Browning tried to stop Farrell, Farrell yelled, "What the [expletive deleted] are you doing surfing here?" Then, from behind, Gorfain and Duerson grabbed Browning. Browning was punched in the head by all three while reportedly being warned, "Don't ever surf.. here again." After his leg was caught in his surfboard leash, the others held him under the water for ten seconds or more. In the end, Browning had a broken nose and a cut above his left eye treated with eight stitches.

The incident above is an extreme example of the harassment of surfers by other surfers guarding their "territory", often referred to as "localism". "Localism" has become a severe problem at surfing areas throughout the United States, as a result of the dramatic increase in the numbers of active surfers. The conflict arises because local surfers stake their claim to the best places to surf, not wanting to share with others, with the notion that there are not enough "good waves" to go around. "Localism" at the lowest level would involve a threat from surfers to get away from "their" beach or "their" waves, accompanied by vicious words. At the other end of the spectrum, there have been many incidents of physical violence against surfers. Intermediate in severity, individuals have had their cars or surfboards vandalized.

Violence in surfing presumably results from selfish behavior, with a failure to consider others. There are approaches to ease the tensions that lead to "surf rage". In one part of Australia, a surf rider's code of ethics, or "Tribal Laws", have been introduced to help reduce the violence. These "Tribal Laws" set up a logical and fair system from which to determine the sequence of riders based up on the amount of time a surfer has waited for a wave and his or her position relative to the waves. These laws strongly influence surfers to have respect for the beach and respect for each other. I think that the United States should attempt to implement these informal rules by posting them at beaches where "localism" is present. In another attempt to end this violence, Chris Brewster, the San Diego lifeguard chief sponsored a new proposed bill, which was taken to Sacramento, called the "California Open Waves Act." It seeks to make "localism" a punishable offense. "The goal is to reduce the amount of antagonism in the surf lineup," say Brewster. This law could help discourage people from acting violently, by imposing specific fines and punishment for those who are physically violent against other surfers. Unfortunately, the bill has not yet passed.

A further measure that could be taken is to have more lifeguards or rangers monitoring the beaches. Educational programs directed to surfers in surfing publications could also help to foster ethics in surfing. These measures could help to reduce the potential for violence in surfing. With less danger and less anger, the sport of surfing will be much more enjoyable.

Although this specific problem can be very serious, there are many other situations where people are anxious to get what they want as soon as they can. People need to remember the "Golden Rule," treat others, as you would like to be treated. When one is in a long line for a movie ticket, concert ticket, or a bus, there are frequently instances of pushing or "cutting" in line on the part of some individuals. These incidents may not cause fighting or violence, but they have a similar origin. I could incorporate these ethical principles into my own life by trying to avoid being greedy or jealous of other people and by waiting my turn in any situation. Remembering that you can't always get what you want, when you want it, could go a long way to easing these problems. People need to have strength and self-control, while considering the needs and interests of others.

There are many reported incidents of violence of surfers against surfers. A large part of this violence is over territorial reasons. Several approaches that could help to ease these conflicts include education, self-control, and informal rules. Implementing these changes could help the risk of violence among surfers. The factors that lead violence among surfers also affect every day situations. Taking these approaches could help reduce violence in everyday life. Just remember what the legendary surfer, Owl Chapman, once said, "Be nice, share a wave, give a smile, say Hi.

Bibliography
All information used in this paper are from the following websites:

http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/stuff/surfrage.htm8 
http://www.surflink.com/features/stain5.htmI 
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2001/feb/17/217islandlifel2.htmI 
http://www.csmonitor.coni/durable/1999/02/22/p2s2.ht 
http://www.freenublic.com/forum/a36d9e2efldcc.htm 
http://www.sfgate.com/cizibin/article..cgi?file=/chronicle/archice/2002/04/12/MN197647.D
 http://www.sfgate.com/cizibin/article..cgi?file=/chronicle/archice/2002/02/02MN9

Life Lessons
By BRANDON HUANG
Johansen High School, Mrs. Rutishauser
First Place, Division I
Peace Essay Contest 2003

Discrimination, prejudice, ostracism, oppression, fear — these are strong and ugly words — consequences that most young people in America today have not had to experience to any significant degree. In America, we smugly believe we are more "enlightened" about human rights than in other parts of the world. After all, in America, women are not obliged to hide behind headdresses or restrained in their right to voice their thoughts. Nor do we live in a country where voicing an opinion against the government will risk arrest or death. We cite our progress; from Lincoln's role in promoting the abolishment of slavery, the Suffrage Movement in gaining women's right to vote, to Martin Luther King in propelling the rallying cry for civil rights. Indeed, as this current generation of young people, we have reaped the benefits of our ascendants' efforts toward every man's right to "liberty and the pursuit of happiness." However, we really have only begun the long journey in our country's walk toward embracing diversity with tolerance, if not acceptance.

In America there are still hate crimes being committed against those who live lifestyles that differ from the norm. For example, gays and the transgender community still suffer persecution for their chosen lifestyles. Eddie Araujo, a seventeen year old high school senior from a Bay Area high school was a young man who chose to live as a woman through cross dressing. Dressed up in a peasant top and a skirt, he looked like a very attractive girl when he attended a party one night last October. He caught the attention of many males at the party who were unaware that he was a male. When three of the males at the party discovered that Eddie was not really a "she," they became enraged and brutally bludgeoned and strangled him to death. Then they took his body into the Sierra Valley and buried him in a shallow grave.

Eddie Araujo's murder echoes the earlier slaying of Brandon Teena, a woman who had posed as a man. She was also murdered when her male companions became enraged after discovering that she was not really a "he." Both of these murders characterize a hate crime; two people were killed because others wouldn't accept them for who they were and who felt it was their right to judge and persecute them for their choices.

In an ideal world, these two murders wouldn't have happened because there would have been an underlying understanding and acceptance that no one has the right to dictate what someone else's lifestyle should be. However, in the real world, there are still strong prejudices about what is morally right or wrong. What is right or wrong is strongly influenced by upbringing, religion, culture and environment. Therefore, because there is really no definitive right or wrong, our society has to agree that all humans deserve equal respect and consideration for their feelings.

The only way these murders could have possibly been prevented is through prior education at home, at school, and throughout the community. There was no way Eddie or Brandon could have talked their way out of their deaths because by the time Eddie and Brandon were confronted by their murderers, their murderers were too angry and prejudiced to be affected by any words Eddie or Brandon might have spoken.

Learning to be tolerant and respectful has to start early. Just as the idea of discrimination based on race is abhorrent to our generation because we have grown up in a society that has come to understand its indignity and unjustness, so too we need to start extending this awareness to all people who are different from us. In schools, this is beginning even in the elementary schools with peer mediation programs that teach peers how to solve their differences through discussion, not fists. In an effort to help dispel common stereotypes about certain groups of people, some local high schools have also incorporated the national "Mix It Up" program that is designed to help bring people together in discussion who would not normally interact with each other. Similarly, the Day of Respect program, in which various speakers visit high school classes to share a life experience they lived through that dealt with discrimination, prejudice, ostracism, oppression, or fear also aims at broadening awareness about the need for respect and tolerance.

Through programs such as these, students can learn not to fear differences, and when there is no fear, there is room for tolerance.

In my own life, I try to make a conscious effort not to "judge a book by its cover" although, admittedly, this is hard because like most people, I feel most comfortable with those who share similar values, interests, and tastes. However, being aware that I may have preconceived prejudices about certain groups of people at least helps me to hold my judgments in check. I've learned that when I make a concerted effort to really "hear" another person's side of the story, it helps me to really "see" the person and not the prejudice.

The Modesto City Schools "Principles of Rights, Responsibilities, and Respect," states it best, "Rights are best guarded and responsibilities best exercised when each person and group guards for all other those rights they wish guarded for themselves." Eddie's death is our reminder that we still have far to travel in our destination toward tolerance and respect for all people. Education and ongoing campaigns to heighten awareness is the path we must continue on if people are to learn to accept one another without fear and prejudice. Everyone deserves a chance to be himself; embracing diversity is a big step towards gaining that right.