Top Ten Peace Culture List Activity

List 1: Violence

1. Name a movie about war or violence. 300

2. Picture a war uniform. Breastplate, Bracers, Chain Mail, Helmet, Greaves, etc.

3. Name a high-school course where you study war. Comparative Civilizations 12

4. Picture a war painting. Blood, violence, gore, swords, spears, war machines, fear, death.

5. Name a television show about war or violence. 24

6. Name a war hero. Achilles

7. Name a video game based on war. God Of War

8. Picture or name a war toy. Army Men

9. Picture or name a war memorial or monument. Iwo Jima War Memorial

10. Name a poem, book, or story about war. Realms of War

List 2: Peace

1. Name a movie about peace. Jeremiah Johnson

2. Picture a peace uniform. Buddhist Monk Clothes

3. Name a high-school course that studies peace (okay, okay, I know!!) Hah hah, Peace and Youth Cultures 12

4. Picture a peace painting. Sacajawea leading Lewis and Clark

5. Name a television show about peace. That 70's Show!! Hah hah!!

6. Name a peace hero. Mahatma Ghandi

7. Name a video game based on peace. Beyond Good and Evil

8. Picture or name a peace toy. Frisbee!!!

9. Picture or name a peace memorial or monument. Mohyla Miru Peace Monument

10. Name a poem, book, or story about peace. Most books I read are about war and fighting that finally ends in peace.

1.Were there any differences in the amount of information you were able to fill in on each list? Yes. It was a lot more difficult for me to think of items based on peace than it was to think of war derivatives. I think that's because society has a dread fascination with war and violence.

2. How do you think these messages about violence influence our everyday actions? What do your responses reflect about our culture? I think all the messages of violence in our every day life do indeed have a huge impact on our everyday lives. It makes us desensitized and I think we tend to see violence as more of a solution than we normally would. Our culture is violent and torn up, but we are aware of it now, hence the responses to these questions and even the existence of this course.

3. Does the absence of war or violence mean that we have peace? Why or why not?

Absolutely not. Peace is much more than the absence of war. It is harmony both within people and between people. It starts with the individuals focusing on kindness and goodness, then grows into virtue, then there could be peace. Still, this begs the question of possibility.

A Bit About Me...

My name is Sam, but people call me T.K. And since everyone seems to ask, T.K. stands for 'Takeshi Katsurou' which is japanese for 'Victorious Warrior' (loosely translated). I know that seems a bit ironic for someone taking Peace Studies, but I'll explain more about that later.

This is a picture of me about a year ago. I look a bit different now so I'll upload a more recent photo soon. This is just the only one I have handy at the school. I am on the Kootenay Lake Ferry in this picture. It was a beautiful day.

Now for more of the story behind my name, a bit about my personality, and why I am taking Peace Studies. People call me T.K. because I have a very protective nature. I don't like to see senseless violence of people being picked on or oppressed. When I was little, this looked like going around at recess and beating the mess out of anyone who was picking on someone. After a while I figured out that that wasn't really the best way to deal with it, but I still wanted to use my strength to protect people that needed it. So now I only fight if I have to and only enough to bring a halt to it. I look out for people and try to keep the peace as much as it depends on me. Hopefully this explains to you all a bit about me, my nickname, and the reason I am taking Peace and Youth Cultures 12. (I'm also hoping we get to go to Guatemala! ^_^)

Other than that, the main points about me are as follows: I am a Christian and do the best I can for God, I am a singer/songwriter and an avid guitarist (going to college in Texas this fall on three full music scholarships!!), I love physical training and martial arts (Kenjutsu, Nito, and MMA), I like painballing and snowboarding, and I look out for my friends.

That's me in a nutshell. (^_--)