As part of our research, our team conducted a survey focused on the central topic: "What is Peace and how do we Sustain it?" We asked our participants to please answer in their own words what peace means to them. 

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Please answer in your own words what peace means to you. 

1. What is your background? (Name, citizenship, ethnicity, age, etc.)

2. What language(s) are you responding in? We'd like to hear what you have to say in both English and whatever your native language is (if not a native English speaker).

3. When you hear the word "Peace," what meaning does it bring up to you?

4. How do you think peace can be achieved in our society?

5. How do you feel that peace may be sustained in the years to come? 

6. How do you feel about the state of peace in our current status quo?

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Below are the responses our group received. 

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Siyuan. US , Chinese 14

English

When you hear the word "Peace," what meanings does it bring up to you?* It brings up happiness.

How do you think peace can be achieved in our society? - I don’t think it is truly possible, but possibly treaties.

How do you feel that peace may be sustained in the years to come? - A downgrade of military power.

How do you feel about the state of peace in our current status quo? - Bad, since obviously the peace wasn’t enough to stop the Ukraine war.

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I am Phoebe Shatkin; I was born in America to white Jewish parents. I am 16 years old and have lived in Florida my entire life.

When you hear the word "Peace," what meanings does it bring up to you? - I think of a perfect equilibrium of ultimate neutrality; it is not necessarily utmost equality and equity, unfortunately, but it is respect and non-confrontation, at the very least. There is no world in which we can all get along, but a world in which our leaders are mature enough to act with regard for other groups and ideologies would achieve, in my opinion, the most "peace" we can have.

How do you think peace can be achieved in our society? - I believe peace spreads first through social justice. Eliminating societal evils such as gender inequality and large class inequities puts a nation on a path to recognizing international evils, and later having the capacity and hopefully the support to stamp them out. I believe every nation can function perfectly fine without subjugating a group of peoples, and engaging in such an act only makes peace seem that much more difficult. Dealing with international conflict is just as important as domestic issues, of course: having a world full of nations willing to unite for the common good of humankind is as close to peace as I believe we can get.

How do you feel that peace may be sustained in the years to come? - The rejection of great power competition and an allowance for true cooperation and collaboration is immensely important. When tuning into the news, it seems like everyone is at each other's throats. It is difficult to see an end to conflict should we each have this nationalist need to one-up another state, just to prove we can. If we want to look toward the future, we need to mature enough (which is completely possible and, quite frankly, should not be a big ask) to set aside geographical and cultural differences so we can actually achieve something as big as true peace.

How do you feel about the state of peace in our current status quo? - Not too happy. I think the world is in a scary place right now, but perhaps I am just a pessimist. I can't say I grew up expecting to see war, but the Russo-Ukraine War is still ongoing and is just as devastating as ever. China encroaches upon Taiwan simultaneously. Globally, it feels as if one wrong move from America (or wrong thought from me!) will get us into hot water. Even a few years ago one of the biggest trends across social media was the concept of a World War III. Now, nations meant to be our sworn "enemies" are allying, and the US is divided through and through: even holding conversation with family at reunions has become a game of desperately trying to avoid the topic of politics so that nothing ends in an all out fight. There is constant political strife not only internationally, but in our own domestic spaces in which we should have at least some peace. I believe that conditions, in some cases (not really in Florida...) have gotten better, but overall, I can't say that I am proud of our progress.

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German American, 15 years old

When you hear the word "Peace," what meanings does it bring up to you? - Peace means no war, and everyone having a chance at happiness without having to fight or live in fear.

How do you think peace can be achieved in our society? - Peace can be achieved through an actual end to discrimination and prejudice against people, more equality, and nations genuinely cooperating with each other.

How do you feel that peace may be sustained in the years to come? - Peace can be sustained through the maintaining of equality, by teaching new generations to be accepting instead of prejudiced.

How do you feel about the state of peace in our current status quo? - In our current status quo, there is a struggle to maintain peace as many people act in their best interests without considering the lives of others.

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Yan >:), Canadian-Chinese

When you hear the word "Peace," what meanings does it bring up to you? - To me, peace is a sense of security and stability. for example, a peaceful village will be safe, as there is (usually and hopefully) no major or violent conflicts going on.

How do you think peace can be achieved in our society? - no guns for ordinary citizens...or making them much harder to obtain. i feel that in america especially, many people do not feel safe in their own country because there are too many unstable people with firearms.

How do you feel that peace may be sustained in the years to come? - a little hard to sustain something when there's not much of it in the first place. Perhaps the world should focus on making itself peaceful first :)

How do you feel about the state of peace in our current status quo? - Society is very unpeaceful. too much chaos going about

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Daniel Crum, American, Half-Asian Half-White, 17

English

When you hear the word "Peace," what meanings does it bring up to you? - The absence of violence and abuse.

How do you think peace can be achieved in our society? - Through a stronger global association. Countries and political factions are the primary impediments to wide-spread peace, and from a stronger global association, societal issues can then be addressed.

How do you feel that peace may be sustained in the years to come? - It could be sustained if UN grows stronger and countries begin to lose sight of the things that make them different.

How do you feel about the state of peace in our current status quo? - It’s deteriorating, as countries still haven’t made efforts towards global peace, and some even actively work against it, as with Russia and the Taliban in the Middle East. Likewise, the US’s own current political instability could eventually pose a threat to world peace.