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The
original letter for the original date - August 13, 1996 is shown
below.
The
following year, the date was changed to May 5, 5/5/97 and since
then, has remained on 5/5 of each year.
Dearest Fellow Humans, Children of the
Earth included,
Could I have just 5 minutes of your
time? Before you say no, let me take just a moment to explain.
I'm not
selling anything. I don't want your money. I don't want you to
give me anything except 5 minutes of your time.
"What's
the deal," you say?
About a year
and a half ago, I awoke from a dream (call me crazy if you
like)with a very clear message to request that our race of
humans experience just a moment of peace--together.
"What do
you mean?" you ask.
Here's how
it would work: Every human who could be contacted and convinced
would take the same 10 minutes (5 minutes for each awake
hemisphere) to focus or center on, pray for, or act or live in
peace, all at one time. It would take place on August 13,
1996 at two times,5 minutes each, beginning at 5 AM and 5 PM
Greenwich Mean Time--that's the international standard to which
other time zones refer.
Just
recently I received word that a group of folks in Cincinnati,
Ohio, USA, are organizing this particular day as a World Day
of Peace, Personal to Global, with all kinds of events, and
I would like this brief moment of peace to be included in that
day's celebration. In my dream it was requested that these few
minutes transcend national, political, idealogical, religious,
racial, sexual, age, and any other barriers. It is meant solely
to benefit each human and all of humankind.
"Wait a
minute!" you exclaim.
"There are millions of people who
only care about getting what they want through violence or
greed. There are millions who could care less about world
peace. There are millions of others who would think this all a
big joke, and not give it a moment's merit."
My answer
to these comments is simple.
I don't believe that there is a
conscious human on this earth that does not want peace of some
form in his or her life. I also believe that each person is
good, no matter what and how many hurtful actions he or she
may decide to perform. There are many that seem not to care
about global peace or peaceful neighborhoods. Furthermore, I
know there are millions that are full of rage or grief from
experiences in their lives. Someone may not have room in his or
her broken heart to care about other people. However, I know
that within each person, there is a desire to be at rest for a
moment, to feel contentment within. This is opportunity as a
planet of individuals to "give peace a chance" (as
singer-songwriter John Lennon wrote), for just 5 minutes,
TOGETHER.
"What
would each person do for that 5 (or 10) minutes?"
There are
many things one could do in this moment of peace. One could
simply sit quietly in a chair and enjoy the silence, or a
favorite piece of music. One could do something good for
oneself or with one's family or friends that does not take away
good from another human. One could take a walk and enjoy the
beauty of our planet in whatever form is available. One could
focus one's thoughts on how to attain another small step in
personal peace or contentment while allowing others to pursure
their own peace. One could mentally or actively engage in the
direction of a reconciliation, either with another, or oneself.
One could choose to pray for peace in whatever form his or her
religious beliefs direct. One could choose to gather in some
family or community meeting to celebrate the event with others.
One could take the time to think if there might be a more
peaceful means of obtaining what one's heart truly desires, be
that money to enjoy life more fully, self-esteem, or security
from harm.
"Why
should we do this? What's to be gained?"
I believe
that to the extent that each human participates, he or she would
gain something. It might just be the remembrance of a momentary
rest from the anxiety of life that one could carry in one's
heart. It might be a lifelong reminder that peace inside
oneself, and with others, is possible. It might be part of a
daylong celebration of peace. It might be the beginning of a
new era for humankind and opportunity to focus on the acceptance
of our differences and peaceful resolution of conflicts as
positive aspects which enrich our human experience. It's only 5
minutes, just a moment in time, and yet it could ring throughout
the ages as an extremely significant event--a moment when EVERY
PERSON ON THE PLANET worked together for our individual and
global benefit.
Finally,
someone might ask me, "What are you trying to gain by this?"
My
answer: I believe in peace.
All my life, I have tried, in my
limited way, to live in peace, within myself and with others.
As a teacher, I hope that I have helped students find some peace
within themselves and give them the tools to find it with
others. I would certainly gain an enormous amount of
satisfaction knowing that I contributed to the peace of the
human race, or to that of just one more person. My heart has
swelled with joy when I have helped others find some peace in
their lives before. I would love to experience the lightness of
joy shared by millions. Also, I would be answering the nearly
constant call (within me) to communicate this message, this
request, given for all of you from the dream that I had a year
and a half ago. Oh, and by the way, I do not want your
money.
Once these
letters are written and sent, I hold no ownership to this idea
of this moment of peace--it belongs to all of you, the race of
humankind. However, I would certainly help in any way I could.
In fact, I plan to help the organizers THE PEACEMAKERS
for this World Day of Peace, scheduled for August 13, 1996.
If you could
give just 5 minutes of your time, I would be eternally
grateful.Or, if you would like, join those who are celebrating
peace for the entire day. Or join those who are focusing each
day to walk in peace within ourselves, and with each of you.
Please copy,
translate, etc., this message, or communicate it to as many
folks as you wish all over the globe so that we can have as many
humans as possible join together in our beautiful diversity,
just for a moment of peace. May you and all you love live in
peace and joy.
With thanks
& love for each of you,
Dan Erdman
Who: Every human
What: A moment of peace, personal to
global
When: World Day of Peace, August 13,
1996
5 minutes each, at 5 AM and 5
PM, Greenwich time
(I am hoping
that communications media can help organize local times.)
Where: Planet Earth
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