As a parent I’m sure you think that your child is special and one of the most magnificent creations in this world. I’m sure that you focus on his or her talents and on the wonderful life your child deserves.

No-matter what your social status is, be it rich or poor and no-matter what your race, or religion the one thing about us all that equalises us and makes us all the same, is the love or pain (depending on the circumstance) that shines from our eyes as we watch our children.

If you see television performances by children where the camera flicks to the parents you will see the same awed expression on their faces. Their eyes will be slightly shut and shining, their hands clasped and they will be smiling. They will be feeling a surge of love and pride for their children. It is the same on the sports field, or at a debating challenge, parents will always be watching their children with love and pride.

Similarly, if you visit a hospital you see the same despair and sadness in the eyes of every parent the world over. They would gladly swap places with their sick child and would give up everything they have achieved just to spare their child more pain.

If We Have The Same Feelings Why Is There Such Division In The World?

I ask myself all the time how, if we all have the same feelings, we trick ourselves into believing that we are so different from each other and need to kill and destroy. What is it that we think we will achieve? Certainly not a better life for our children.

Could our world leaders not use our love of our children as the base level similarity that brings us all together on at least one level? Could we not start focusing on what we have in common rather than our differences.

Rather than funding military manoeuvres and arms why not fund an international mothers group of young mothers who set their differences aside and meet to share ideas on how to make the world a better place for their children. Let them bring their children to the meetings so that from babes in arms they mingle with human beings just like themselves in many ways, yet different in others and grow up in love and tolerance.

Hatred and intolerance is taught and passed down through the generations. A two year old does not hate anyone but throws rocks at whoever his parents throw rocks at. As they grow they adopt the beliefs and values of their parents although they don’t really know why and the world continues on its current crazy path.

Can we not use our children as the white flag we wave to bring peace to the world?