Happiness is not the destination, but the journey. Happiness itself is the state of mind, it’s the way we travel through life. What if it’s the same with peace? What if nothing will ever change if we don’t change within, each one of us?
Peace is the mindset, the feeling of calmness and harmony we need for our inner balance.
In 1982, a young girl named Nicole represented Germany at the European Eurovision Song Contest, which is a big event in Europe, even some countries that don’t belong to Europe participate each year with great enthusiasm.
Back then, her song “A little Peace” made no sense to me. I was nineteen years old, one year older than the girl on stage. I watched the show in my small apartment in Vienna, Austria. Everything I knew about peace and war came out of history books. In 1982 the world was watching The Falkland Crisis and Israel had invaded Lebanon, a country I have a connection with, even though I never visited it.
Now, forty years later I finally understand what Nicole meant. Nowadays I would be happy with just A LITTLE PEACE.
I have given up believing that the world will ever live in harmony. I am afraid it’s not in our nature and the way we are ‘fed’ by the news, media, and social media makes sure we stay hateful, resentful, and distrustful toward each other.
No matter what channel I turn on, FOX News, CNN, or any other news channel, the messages are always the same. It’s a load of negativity that is repeated by the hour for days. Mass shootings, killings, natural catastrophes, we are fed everything that’s bad. Politic has become entertainment. We are divided and the other side is always wrong -even when they are right.
How can we love each other and welcome each other if we are programmed to doubt and even hate?
“A little peace” sounds perfect right now.
Back then, after she had won the European Eurovision Song Contes, Nicole sang the winning title “Ein bisschen Frieden/A little Peace” again and this time she used several languages, almost like she was really trying to reach everybody. When I heard her flawlessly singing in German, English, French, and Dutch, I got goosebumps. Even at such a young age, I understood the significance of the message.
Back then I was convinced that peace would last forever, at least in Europe. How wrong I was.
Why did we not listen? Will we ever?
Just like a flower when winter begins
Just like a candle blown out in the wind
Just like a bird that can no longer fly
I’m feeling that way sometimes
But then as I’m falling weighed down by the load
I picture a light at the end of the road
And closing my eyes I can see through the dark
The dream that is in my heart
A little loving, a little giving
To build a dream for the world we live in
A little patience and understanding
For our tomorrow – a little peace
A little sunshine, a sea of gladness
To wash away all the tears of sadness
A little hoping, a little praying
For our tomorrow – a little peace
I feel I’m a leaf in the november snow
I fell to the ground, there was no one below
So now I’m helpless alone with my song
Just wishing the storm was gone
A little loving, a little giving
To build a dream for the world we live in
A little patience and understanding
For our tomorrow – a little peace
A little sunshine, a sea of gladness
To wash away all the tears of sadness
A little hoping, a little praying
For our tomorrow – a little peace
We are feathers on the breeze
Sing with me my song of peace
We are feathers on the breeze
Sing with me my song of peace
The happy Quitter! 
A good song… something we should all demand, a little peace!
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I think we demand it, but we dont’ get it.
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A beautiful song, and wise words coming from you. I have grown increasingly sensitive to the tensions that are stoked by all of our so-called “news” sources. I am really aware of it because I have a 90 year old mother who is often fearful. She doesn’t necessarily filter out the negative bias and fear-stoking so every problem is magnified. And I end up feeling some of her stress. We all really have to do what we can to sift through the layers that are added to every broadcast or social media account and do our best to not add to the negativity with the bias we develop towards others. It’s a sad thing to see how easily we are manipulated, and I can be susceptible, too. Beautiful post, Bridget. Inspiring.
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“No matter what channel I turn on, FOX News, CNN, or any other news channel, the messages are always the same. It’s a load of negativity that is repeated by the hour for days. Mass shootings, killings, natural catastrophes, we are fed everything that’s bad. Politic has become entertainment. We are divided and the other side is always wrong -even when they are right.”
I hear ya!
Great Post!
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Thank you
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Wonderful inspiration. I was advised recently to get on with living and let the future take care of itself.
This advice came because I was too invested, hung up on those things I couldn’t change.
But, I can change me! 🙂
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Great advice.
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Now that is what Eurovision Song Contest should be all about. As I read your introductory paragraphs I determined to find the song – and you have done it for us. Thank you so very much
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Optimism (and peacefulness) is subversion! Media first wrote about bad news just to “sell more paper”. Now it’s become a weapon of mass destruction against people’s hapiness. And that’s very useful to social status quo… Happily we’re living the end of this.
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I was living in Germany at the time, defending “our side” in The Cold War. At the time we believed that we would survive for only a very brief time should the war become hot. I cannot see that much has changed since then!
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Sadly you are right. Where were you stationed, if I may ask? Berlin?
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I did several tours and lived in Herford twice, Bünde, Osnabrück, and Wildenrath.
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I should have added 2+2 together 🙂 I knew you understand and talk some German.
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Wow, a beautiful song! And I loved your words too. You are so right. Today, when we listen to the News it’s always about what “the other side is doing wrong.” Our party/ people/nation can never be wrong (even if we are, as you so aptly put!)
Thank you for a great piece and song! 😊
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How beautiful. Thank you for sharing this lovely song and thoughts.
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Thank you for this timely reminder, Bridget.
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A beautiful song, Bridget. We continue to be programmed to doubt and hate to keep the 99 Percent of humanity divided. How else will the minority who wield power continue to maintain their dominance over us?
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The programming part gets harder and harder to avoid. You nailed it my friend, big time.
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