Video: Watch “Say Our Peace with Brownies.”
Sep 20, 2011
Peaceful Tomorrows has announced two winners in its “Say Your Peace” video contest. Mary and Katie Ginther, 11 year-old twin sisters from Sammamish, Washington, were winners in the youth category for their video, “Say Our Peace with Brownies.” "When we heard about it, we thought it would be really cool,” said Katie Ginther. “We love to make videos, and it's nice to put something good out in the world." Her sister, Mary, added, "Some people may think 11 year-olds may not know a lot about peace, but we have to work on peace every day out at recess!" Mother Anne Ginther writes, “My daughters were only one year old when the 9/11 attacks took place. With the girls safely out of range, I watched the 2nd plane hit the south tower on live TV. I turned it off and went to my girls. I remember hugging them tight, knowing that they would grow up in a world very different than the one I knew. I prayed to God that my daughters, and all the children of their time, would be the ones to usher in a peaceful tomorrow. My daughters and I recently signed up for new volunteer duties at our church, and as Divine Providence would have it, we were asked to serve on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 for the first time at a Mass for Peace and Justice. My girls sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth”, the same song I sang at their age at school assemblies. And I read the first reading which was about the importance of forgiveness. After that moving celebration, I reminded them that they had entered this “Say Your Peace” contest. I asked them to consider what “winning” would mean for us. We felt very blessed to be called to play the roles we did at the Mass for Peace and Justice, and if they won the video contest, I challenged them to consider what else God is calling them to. These very sweet girls are great promoters of peace. And whatever they decide to do, I look forward to basking in the light they’ll spread wherever they go. Katie, Mary and I recently opened a special savings account, where the prize money will be deposited. On the year they are confirmed in their Catholic faith (about 5 years from now) we will use the money to go to the country where their patron saint hails from (to be decided down the road). Who knows, maybe they’ll select my Patron Saint, Saint is St. Francis of Assisi, many know him for his peace prayer. Don’t you just love how this all ties together?” September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows’ “Say Your Peace” video contest grew out of our desire to hear how individual Americans think our nation can promote alternatives to war and to offer support to others seeking non‐violent responses to all forms of conflict, hate and terrorism. We believe strongly in the rule of law, and are committed to calling attention to threats to civil liberties, human rights, and other freedoms in the U.S. as a consequence of 9/11 and its resulting wars. We seek to promote U.S. foreign policy that places a priority on internationally‐recognized principles of humanrights, democracy and self‐rule.The “Say Your Peace” video contest is part of Peaceful Tomorrows’ 9/11 Voices for Restoring Rule of Law campaign, funded through a grant from the Open Society Institute.
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