Cinderella Castle Magic Kingdom Disney World, USA

Visiting the Magic of childhood fantasy, with one foot in the world of adult tragedy.

Here all the staff are smiling and friendly, making you believe that all is right in the world. To quote Thich Nhat Hanh: “In our daily life, we can smile. If we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.”

Then my mind shifts to Mariupol, Ukraine. Where Russia is exherting its great power against principals of international law and humanity, and rockets kill 30 people. It reminds me of a Jimmy Hendrix quote; “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

In Michigan my Ukrainian friends light candles and stage a protest against University of Michigan Musical Society honoring Putin comrade conductor
Valery Gergiev, who supports the annexation of Crimea and bloody invasion of Ukraine.

Staging a protest, doesn’t change the world, but it helps to keep us from letting the world change us. We all need to do what we can when we can.