It's better to build a peaceful child than re-build a violent adult.
Creating a world that is truly fit for children does not imply simply the absence of war... It means having primary schools nearby that educate children, free of charge... It means building a world fit for children, where every child can grow to adulthood in health, peace and dignity.
I'm pretty squeaky clean. No big tragedies in my childhood or adolescence or adulthood. I've had a very easygoing, simple life.
I have very fond memories of my childhood in Afghanistan, largely because my memories, unlike those of the current generation of Afghans, are untainted by the spectre of war, landmines, and famine.
I've never boxed in my life, never been in a military base in my life, never grew up with anyone in the military.
When I grew up there weren't any sort of terrible things that happened. I had very understanding friends and my parents didn't live that long. I had a blessedly lucky youth and growing up.
I come from a family of pacifists, so it's not like I was going to join the war. Sweden is not like the States or England where you might get sent to Afghanistan next month.
Mine is an unarmed people, whose children have never seen a fighter or a tank or a warship.
I was one of the many kids in Northern Ireland who grew up in the countryside and had an idyllic childhood well away from the Troubles.
I grew up in Colombo but was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in the countryside as well. Although there was considerable turbulence, even in the 1950s, it did not throw a shadow on my consciousness.
I grew up pretty peacefully, in that Eastern way. You easily solve problems, believe in harmony. Reduce conflicts, take orders until one day you give orders.
It's true that I had a bucolic, truly peaceful childhood, growing up in a house next to our family's orchard. We had a lot of books and art, but no electricity until I was eight years old. Since then, I have seen a lot of inner-city life, though.
The greatest injustice in the world is to bring a child into the world, and not be able to offer it peace.
I grew up in southern Sudan, one of nine children. Our life was simple but very happy.
We had the great good fortune and shortcomings of character that marked every generation that had never seen war.
As a Naval officer, I've been all over the world, and one of the foundational lessons I learned was that parents everywhere would like to raise their children to a higher standard of living in a peaceful environment. That's a universal goal for families.
I grew up in a very suburban neighborhood, so I was used to everything being safe and lovely.
I think if we could raise one generation of kids without violence and shaming, we don't know what might be possible.
Harmless and innocent until they're taught to be violent and militant.
