Peace architecture

I don’t remember how I came across The Peace Arch, but I do remember wondering at the time what Peace Architecture might look like. Sentient beings are notoriously sensitive to the spaces they inhabit whether they know it or not.

The thing about the Peace Arch that touched me is that it’s all about space, empty, open space. Peace needs space in order to be itself. One of the reasons we don’t have a consistent peace on our planet is that there isn’t enough space for it.

Here’s a bit of Wikipedia’s history of the Peace Arch:

The Peace Arch is a monument situated on the Canada/United States border between the communities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia. The Peace Arch, which stands 20.5 meters (67.2 ft) tall, was built by Sam Hill and dedicated in September of 1921, and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. The monument is built on the exact United States, Canada boundary, between Interstate 5 and Highway 99, in the grass, "central reservation" median between the northbound and southbound lanes.

The Peace Arch has the flags of the U.S. and Canada mounted on its crown, and two inscriptions on both sides of its frieze. The inscription on the U.S. side of the Peace Arch reads "Children of a common mother," and the words on the Canadian side read "Brethren dwelling together in unity."

Within the arch, each side has an iron gate hinged on either side of the border with an inscription above reading "May these gates never be closed." Peace Arch Park consists of Peace Arch Provincial Park on the Canadian side and Peace Arch State Park on the American side of the border. Within the park is a major border crossing which has never closed, symbolizing a long history of peace between the two nations.

In Canada, the crossing is officially named Douglas in honor of Sir James Douglas, the first governor of the Colony of British Columbia. Because of the Peace Arch monument, however, the border crossing between Surrey and Blaine is popularly known as the "Peace Arch Border Crossing," one of the busiest border crossings between Canada and the United States. It is the busiest such crossing west of Detroit.

As of January 2008, construction is currently taking place at the Peace Arch Crossing. While it is still open, it is recommended to go through the Pacific Border Crossing (#15) as there are fewer delays. One book extensively covers the history of the International Peace Arch. It bears the title, "Sam Hill's Peace Arch: Remembrance of Dreams Past" by Richard Clark (2005).

“Children of a common mother.” That Mother has to be Earth Herself. Spiritually, the energy of the mother is the energy of space. Space to be. Space to live. Space to choose. Space to thrive. An architecture of peace has to be an architecture of space.

Since the U. S. Presidential election, my email inbox has been filled with declarations of “a new world.” Would that that new world be a world of peace. Our first task is to make space for it.

More info: www.wikipedia.org

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