I had kind of forgotten that there is a corner of Seattle Center, right opposite the Space Needle, that is called the Peace Garden. I ride by it on my scooter nearly every day, but often don't go in as I am on my way somewhere. Today is a lovely day in Seattle, nearly 70 degrees, and I didn't have an agenda other than being out in the fresh air and sunshine. I live three blocks from Seattle Center, and it is a kind of home away from home for me.
Today, while I was just doodling around, I rode by the Peace Garden, and something I hadn't seen before caught my eye.
So I turned my scooter onto the cobbled path to see what I could see. And there was a new sculpture. Well, it was new to me anyway.
I took a picture of it. And then another of its base.
Well, it IS a Peace Garden. And it is peaceful in that corner. So I went to look at the plaque set into the ground, to see what this image represented.
You can click on the photo to enlarge it so you can read it.
How ironic, or perhaps not. Here is a sculpture entitled Middle East Peace, dedicated on Children's Peace Day in 2003. Sponsored by the Arab and Iraqi communities. Eight months after the war in Iraq started. And the war goes on , on, on, on. It wearies me. The sable-rattling on Iran wearies me. So I thought I would give all of us something to focus on in the next little while.
This is the Peace Pole, one of several around the world I believe. Again it is a clickable image. It has the same message on all four sides in four different languages. For those of you who can't read Spanish (the picture of the English side didn't turn out well) it says "May Peace Prevail on Earth." And that's the message I want to share with you today.
Pax
Shalom
Salaam
Peace
Crossposted at Street Prophets