This feature is free to Rotarians and anyone interested in Rotary. It is provided by Rotary Global History Fellowship.

Our four RGHF features "What Paul Harris Said," "Frank Talk Gems," "Our Foundation Newsletter," and "Why I am a Rotarian," are emailed once each month. Get your free copy www.historycomment.org

Below are the issues of "What Paul Harris Said," as distributed in 2004, with the most recent below. All may be copied and re-used for Rotary Clubs without permission. Links to sections of our larger website have been inserted where appropriate.  Also see our section on "The Founder of Rotary," "This Rotarian Age" and "My Road to Rotary"

What Paul Harris Said - December 26th 2004

“There are no great fundamental differences between men and Peace between nations. None are entirely good, none entirely bad. The great mischief-maker is misunderstanding.”

 Paul P. Harris -Message to 1944 Rotary Convention, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

Our founder, Paul Harris constantly advocated tolerance and understanding.  His penchant for dialogue was important for the family, the business, the associates and the world.

Perhaps we should try harder to emulate him.

What Paul Harris Said – December 12, 2004

DECEMBER IS ROTARY FAMILY MONTH

“I do not believe capital can afford to permit hunger, squalor, or disease. Let us banish the city miserable before we build our city beautiful. Slums are political malaria breeders, and we must not have them in our midst.”

Paul P. Harris True Spirit of Service Can Redeem World, THE ROTARIAN, March 1918

Rotarians are not only participating in President Glenn’s emphasis concerning health concerns, literacy, water and family, but are also raising the capital needed for active participation through Our Foundation’s Every Rotarian, Every Year Annual Programs Fund.

Is your club a Rotary International 100% Sustaining Member Club?

What Paul Harris Said – December 5, 2004
DECEMBER IS ROTARY FAMILY MONTH
A VISION FOR PEACE

“… remember that this is a predatory world in which we have so long lived. As we emerge from the jungle age we cannot, in good conscience, point the finger of scorn at each other. The spirit of tolerance which has made it possible for Rotary to form a world wide fellowship of business and professional men will make all things possible.
My lady Jean and I feel that we have been singularly blest in the opportunity which Rotary has afforded us to win the friendship of thousands of men of many nations and thus assure ourselves of the fact that the concept of "Peace on Earth; good-will to all men," is not an idle dream but that peace is sure to come.”
Paul P. Harris, Pages 270-271 from "My Road to Rotary", 1948,

Purchase your copy of My Road to Rotary
from RI at http://shop.rotary.org/catalog/  

Part of the mission statement of The Rotary Foundation is achieving world understanding and peace.  Our founder wrote those words as the world emerged from devastating wars.  Wars to end all wars.

Rotarians believe that through person-to-person contact; through our strong Rotary Foundation programs (Scholarships, Matching Grants and Group Study Exchange), believe that "Peace on Earth; good-will to all men, is not an idle dream but that peace is sure to come.”

What Paul Harris Said For Sunday 28th November
PEACE OR WAR

"It is easier to interest men in war than in peace; it therefore requires more moral courage to talk peace than war."
Paul P. Harris, Rotary just at the Threshold, THE ROTARIAN, February 1917  

Please re-read the mission statement of Our Rotary Foundation:
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to support the efforts of Rotary International in the fulfillment of the Object of Rotary, Rotary's mission, and the achievement of world understanding and peace through local, national, and international humanitarian, educational, and cultural programs.

The achievement of world understanding and peace! 

Our founder Paul Harris was explicit when he said, "It is easier to interest men in war than in peace; it therefore requires more moral courage to talk peace than war."

He has set the course for Rotary to follow.

What Paul Harris Said – November 21, 2004

 NOVEMBER IS ROTARY FOUNDATION MONTH

 "We also need to strengthen our Rotary clubs. You and I can help and offer encouragement, but our clubs will be strengthened only through their own convictions and actions. We not only need more Rotarians in Rotary clubs, but also more Rotary in Rotarians. We must educate all our members about fellowship and service and caring—about what it really means to be a Rotarian."

 JAMES LACY, Past Rotary International President, 1998-99

Jim Lacy believes that “we must educate all our members about fellowship and service and caring—about what it really means to be a Rotarian."

Senior Rotary leaders need to make every effort to reach the grassroots Rotarians. Visit with them in their clubs, their districts and leadership assemblies.  Be available to educate, motivate and inspire.  

A song from the musical “South Pacific” says you’ve got to be carefully taught.  Carefully taught to “hate and fear.”  

Well, Rotary teaches love and share and care.  Let’s put more Rotary into Rotarians.

What Paul Harris Said – for Sunday November 14, 2004  

"Clearly, we are moving toward a future that will be characterized at once by desperate needs and vast potential. We Rotarians are especially well positioned to serve as a bridge between the problems and the possibilities. We have a strong presence in nations that are technology-rich as well as in countries that can barely meet even the most basic human needs.”                    

 Carlo Ravizza, Past Rotary International President 1999-2000 -From The Rotarian, July 1999

 Poverty is as dangerous as faceless enemies on the battlefield.  People are living in abysmal conditions not only in developing nations and third world countries but also in North America . The need for food, health concerns, literacy and potable water have reached desperate levels.

 Past President Carlo said, “We are moving toward a future that will be characterized at once by desperate needs and vast potential.”

 Rotary is positioned to meet those needs locally, nationally and internationally through Our Foundation. 

 Discuss with your clubs how we can continue to make a difference.  Support Our Foundation and reach out and help.

What Paul Harris Said – for Sunday October 3, 2004

 “If we must be belligerent, let us train our guns on Mars, for instance. It has a bad name anyhow and the Martians are beyond the pale of human pity — as yet.”                  

Paul P. Harris, This Rotarian Age, Chapter 12 

Rotary projects, particularly those in the international arena, give us the opportunity to begin to create world understanding and peace…  by building friendships and defusing belligerence.  We solicit the largess of the “industrialized nations” to provide for life-improving gifts and self-help for the “developing nations”, hopefully not only bridging the gap between their material goods in some small way, but also allowing mutual goodwill to build better understanding. 

We also gather people in common purpose fighting common enemies, like Polio. As people work toward a common goal, their other differences seem to fade away in importance.

 I’m with Paul Harris – let’s unite in the fight against Martians – they are reputed to have green skin and to eat unspeakable things anyway.

What Paul Harris Said - for Sunday July 4, 2004
THE DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHICS OF ROTARY

 “It is not the purpose of Rotary to make social, religious or racial composites of its members. Rotary brings business and professional men differing in social status, religious beliefs, and nationality to gather in order that they may be more intelligible to each other and therefore more sympathetic and friendly and helpful.”
 Paul Harris, pp 233, My Road to Rotary.

Paul Harris’ intention of a diverse demographic membership for Rotary is as important today as it was when he wrote his autobiography nearly 60 years ago. I am reminded of the question I was not asked when I was invited to join Rotary. I was not asked are you a Protestant, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew, a Catholic or a Buddhist, or a Sikh. No one who joins Rotary should be asked what their religion is because all religions are welcome in the Rotary family. Rotary is inclusive not exclusive.

Rotary clubs must welcome members from all religions, races and creeds. The question is not where is the member from or what is their creed, rather the question is will they subscribe to the Object of Rotary and the 4-Way Test.  Rotary clubs should strive to be representative of the demographics of their community.

We boast in Rotary of the number of countries and cultures that are members of the Rotary family globally. Unfortunately often Rotary clubs do not represent the same level of diversity locally as Rotary does internationally.  A Rotary club that is a mirror of the racial, religious and cultural makeup of their community has achieved Paul Harris’ vision of the membership in Rotary.

When Rotarians share a meal and fellowship with members from different faiths, social classes, heritages and traditions, the result is acceptance of differences and friendship.  Rotary’s goals of world understanding and peace are advanced one step every time a Rotary club welcomes a new member who brings diversity into the club. 

Diversity of membership based on age, race, gender, religion and political views builds strong Rotary clubs. Each new member a club invites to join who brings diversity gives every other member an opportunity to start a journey of discovery.  Questions can be asked over a Rotary meal between friends that would never be asked or answered between strangers. At the end of the day we discover that we are all more alike than different. When we realize this, we understand Paul Harris’ goal has been achieved.

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID for Sunday, June 27th, 2004
MAINTAINING ROTARY STANDARDS

"The importance of placing and maintaining Rotary standards and ideals aloft cannot be overestimated. The star of hope in the Rotary ethical firmament must be high. It is hardly possible for it to be too high. May it be high enough so that there will always be something to strive for."  Paul Harris in The Rotarian, September 1912. 

It was almost 93 years ago when Paul Harris wrote those words. Strive to be proactive and maintain high standards and ideals in your communities and to hold your heads high as the uncommon folks proudly known as Rotarians.

What Paul Harris Said for Sunday June 20th
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE

“If anything matches the rapid rate of change in these past few decades, it is the accelerating level of human need in the world. For almost a century, Rotarians have worked to meet those needs. But without a dynamic organization in place, without effective clubs working to improve their communities, and without fully committed Rotarians, Rotary can no longer maintain the level of service it provides and even more human suffering will go unalleviated.”

From an address in October 1999 by Carlo Ravizza, Rotary International Past President 1999-2000

On July 1, 2004 Rotary International Past President Carlo Ravizza becomes Chairman of the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation.  The above words spoken by Carlo almost five years ago ring true today.

Effective clubs and fully committed Rotarians can maintain the level of service needed to alleviate human suffering.  The Every Rotarian Every Year Program is the vehicle. 

It is important that all Rotarian leaders share the vision and the need of the enhanced Annual Programs Goal of US$100,000,000 (plus) yearly.  It is important that Rotary leaders become proactive – become involved.

It is important that all Rotary leaders passionately and enthusiastically help to bring the message of Every Rotarian Every Year to our membership.  Rotary leaders, past and present must be available for club and district programs and at those venues -- to speak to Every Rotarian Every Year.  Clubs and districts must utilize this incredible resource.

Yes, there is an accelerating level of human need in the world and Rotarians must prepare themselves to meet that need.  At that time we can truly “CELEBRATE ROTARY”.

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID for Sunday June 13, 2004

 Creating an ethical culture

 “We all know what sets Rotary apart, what makes it so unique. It is its classifications principle.  To me this is really Rotary’s ‘trademark.’ It is Rotary’s fundamental characteristic, the manner in which it gives each Rotarian the privilege of expressing one’s commitment to ethical principles of which life in society is always in need.”

Bhichai Rattakul,

Past President, Rotary International, 2002-03

From an address to the International Assembly, Anaheim , February 2004

Screaming headlines confront us almost on a daily basis.  Our world is rocked by unethical behavior, scandals, cheating in everyday life, business, education and government.

As Past President Bhichai stated, there are answers for Rotarians in creating an ethical culture “First, exemplifying the ideal of service in the conduct of our job; and second, sharing the ideal of service with non-Rotarians in our business or professions. If Rotarians cannot do this, then the main purpose of Rotary is defeated.”

Ethics must not only be expressed in theory or talk; ethics must be practiced and must be lived in every sense on a daily basis in life.

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID for Sunday, June 6, 2004

 “One winter day I was walking on Longwood Drive in a suburban district in Chicago . The drive skirts a hill spoken of as ‘the ridge’ which extends for several miles in a southwesterly direction, an unusual feature in Chicago as most of the city lies on flat ground. The houses on the west side of the drive are built on the crest of the hill that parallels it. 
 “On that particular day the hill was covered with snow and many youngsters were coasting without regard to the property rights involved. No property owner, however, seemed disposed to question the rights of the youngsters to make common ground of their hillside lawns. The picture seemed so true to the New England life I had known and loved that the thought came to me if ever I was to have a home of my own, it would be on top of the hill on Longwood Drive . 
“The time came sooner than expected... I married my bonnie Jean in 1910, and two years later acquired a home on the hill. We named our home “Comely Bank” after the street in Edinburgh where she spent the days of her childhood and youth.”

Paul P. Harris, from My Road to Rotary

 From their second year of marriage (1912) until Paul’s death (1947) Comely Bank was the gathering place for Rotary socials and committee meetings. Paul and Jean welcomed countless individual Rotary guests into their home, sometimes planting a tree in the yard to commemorate a special Rotary visitor or a special Rotary occasion. 

 “To our joy, many friends we had met in far places and near came to us at Comely Bank. There was Angus Mitchell of Australia , Fernando Carbajal of Peru , Armando Pereira of Brazil , Cesar Andrade of Ecuador , and Sir Charles Mander of England [to whom Paul Harris wrote his last letter]. Sometimes men and women from eight or ten countries would be with us for tea…. Only weeks before Paul passed away, J. C. Penney called.”
                                                                                                                                                Jean Harris

 Current owners of the Harris home recently signed an agreement (A right of first refusal) that might transfer ownership to the Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation, a nonprofit association formed by several past district governors in the Chicago area with a number of Past Rotary International Presidents on the foundation’s advisory board. 
A worldwide fundraising campaign by Rotarians aims to preserve this historic house as a gift to all future Rotarians.  And if Rotarians donate needed funds, the Harris Home might be restored in time for tours during RI’s 2005 Centennial Convention in Chicago .
The stakes are high and time is short. Nearby homes on similar large hilltop lots have been torn down to make room for modern mansions. If Comely Bank is demolished this piece of Rotary heritage is lost forever. We cannot allow that to happen!

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID for Sunday May 30, 2004
The Level of Education

 “The only real difference between people is the level of education.  It has nothing to do with races…. religion…. cultures.  It is the level of education that really affects the stability of the world.”

 From an address to the 1985 Rotary Convention, Kansas City , Missouri by:Carlos Canseco, Past Rotary International President 1984-85 from the Rotary Club of Monterrey , District 4130.

One of RI President Elect Glenn Estess’ emphases in our Centennial Year is literacy.  At the International Assembly in Anaheim (FEB 2004) PE Glenn stated, “…a staggering two billion people --- that is nearly one out of three people --- cannot read or write.”
An important yet simple fact is - if you keep a girl-child in school you can change the course of a nation.  Astounding, yet true! 

The ability to educate females has a rippling effect and syndicated columnists Cokie and Steven V. Roberts recently wrote that the girl who goes to school and stays there results, “…. in a lowering of the overall fertility rate, which means higher per capita income and the increased ability of a woman to earn a living for herself and her family.  And educated women provide better health care for themselves and their children, meaning lower maternal and infant mortality rates.  In fact, a countries investment in education leads to a whole host of results that promote economic development, including more stable and less corrupt governments.”

That’s worthwhile repeating, “In fact, a countries investment in education leads to a whole host of results that promote economic development, including more stable and less corrupt governments.”

As your clubs and districts prepare projects for our Centennial Year Please consider supporting literacy projects and in particular the education of the girl-child. 
It won’t be long before you see that Rotarians do change the world. And Rotarians do make a difference.

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID for Sunday, May 23rd 2004
 WOMEN IN ROTARY

 "Women have brought new life to Rotary. Every club that has female members is more active, more committed, has more vitality than those without. It took us too many years to realize we were wrong. Women will help steer the future of Rotary in a very exciting direction; and with so many women in business and the professions now, we have unlimited opportunities for growth there."

Carlos Canseco,
 1984-85 Rotary International President
  Monterrey , Nuevo Leon , Mexico

 A significant event took place 17 years ago in May 1987, which dramatically changed the future of Rotary International.  It was the controversial acceptance of women into Rotary membership. There is no doubt that every club that has female members is more active, more committed, has more vitality than those without. Women have helped to steer the future of Rotary in a very exciting direction

What Paul Harris Said - For Sunday May 16th
INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING AND PEACE

 “It is the conviction of Rotary International that the lasting peace which the world seeks is built on friendship, tolerance, and goodwill among people. Our instruments of peace are food, education, health care, environmental improvements, respect for all persons, and many other activities we call humanitarian service.”
Past Rotary International President 1992-93 Clifford L. Dochterman

“Rotarians’ commitment to ‘international understanding and peace’ is what distinguishes Rotary from all other service clubs,” stated Cliff Dochterman, and he updated Rotarian Donald MacRae’s Fourth Object of Rotary (see what Paul Harris Said, May 8, 2004) by explaining in the quote above, how Rotarians promote peace.

When we read the newspapers most mornings the headlines scream that this is:  A SORRY, Bloody world. We see Hate and War and Intolerance.

Our service organization has a mission:  To achieve world understanding and peace (through our educational, humanitarian and cultural programs).

Calum Thomson wrote for Rotary’s Global History Website: “And so The Fourth object was to become the engine that drives Rotary’s international service; it has become the watchword of the Rotary Foundation. All the marvellous international service programs in which we participate can be traced to the Fourth Object – Youth exchange, Group Study Exchange, World Community Service Projects, Scholarships, Health Hunger and Humanity Projects, matching grants, peace forums, and the magnificent PolioPlus program.”

We are accomplishing world understanding and peace through Our Rotary Foundation Programs.  Rotarians do make a difference.  We must continue to support the Every Rotarian Every Year Program.

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID….for Sunday May 9th
The Ideal of Service

 "The ideal of service is the real tie that binds. It's the idea that distinguishes us from everything and everyone else. And service means really helping people, not just doing nice things. In a world where people speak different languages eat different food, dress in different clothing, worship differently - for those people to bond to­gether requires a powerful adhesive. In Rotary that adhesive is the ideal of Service Above Self"

PRIP 1987-88 Charles C. Keller, p. 282, A Century of Service: The story of Rotary International  

Most of us on the day we were inducted into Rotary received a framed document titled the Object of Rotary. Many Rotarians have the Object of Rotary hanging prominently in their office.

 Object of Rotary

 The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

 FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;

FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

How is a mission statement of a world service organization developed?

 In 1920, Rotary International President Pete Snedocor appointed Donald MacRae, a recognized expert legal draftsman, chair of the incoming Constitution and By-laws Committee.  MacRae, a Canadian (Zone 22) proposed the fourth object of Rotary which now reads: “The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service.”

 http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/clubs/canada/macrae/

 Rotarian Donald MacRae had been thinking about it for a long time.  In an address to the International Convention in Kansas City in 1918, while World War 1 was still raging, MacRae outlined his philosophy of peace and proposed that Rotary become an agent for the promotion of goodwill and peace among nations - the first time this vision of Rotary was expressed publicly.

 “The ideal of service is needed as much in 2005 as on that cold February night a century ago when Rotary began.” States Rotarian David C. Forward (the author of A Century of Service: The story of Rotary International). “As Rotarians celebrate their gift to the world with the eradication of polio through the PolioPlus program, they know they dare not rest their heads on the pillows of self-satisfaction. Peace among warring nations, drugs, illiteracy, disease, poverty, hunger, homeless­ness, the environment - all present Rotarians with opportunities for service in the years ahead. It is hard to imagine Rotary ever not being needed.”

What Paul Harris Said - for Sunday May 2nd
Our Vital Foundation Programs

 “Polio Plus is just one of many vital Foundation programs. We must not only continue - but revitalize - our great educa­tional and humanitarian programs. The scholars we send to study in other countries are our best ambassadors for creating global goodwill. The aid we send in times of natural disaster is crucial ... The world's suffering grows far faster than we can keep up ...”

 Past RI President AHR (Royce) Abbey, from THE ROTARIAN,  November 1988

 Past Rotary International President Royce stated… “We must not only continue - but revitalize - our great educa­tional and humanitarian programs.”

 Rotarians over the years have given generously to the Rotary Foundation (Our Foundation) to meet a wide range of humanitarian, cultural and educational needs. 

 What is happening today is that Rotary clubs and districts are using Foundation Programs more than ever before and our Foundation Contributions have not kept pace with the steady growth in programs. 

 The numbers of our three most popular Foundation Programs (Matching Grants, Scholarships and Group Study Exchange) have dropped by up to 30% over the past three years.  The problem simply stated is… without Foundation contributions there will be no programs.

There is no doubt that global humanitarian and educational needs will not diminish..

“ The world's suffering grows far faster than we can keep up”

 The Annual Programs Fund is the fuel (the dollars) that supports our Foundation Programs.  An answer to keeping up with human needs is in the Every Rotarian Every Year Program and increasing our Annual Programs Fund contributions.  

What Paul Harris Said- For Sunday 25th April
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOCATIONAL SERVICE 

 "Of all the hundred and one ways in which people can make themselves useful to society, undoubtedly the most available and the most effective are within the spheres of their own occupations."

 Paul P. Harris, The Rotarian, January 1912

 It is within the spheres of our occupations that we can find the very heart of Rotary service, because vocational service is the very essence of Rotary. Vocational service is, in fact, what distinguishes us from other service clubs. The world needs Rotary's vocational service now more than ever. In today's businesses and professions, people are grappling with an overemphasis on competition, the pressure to increase profits regardless of human cost, and the disorienting pace of technological advancements.

 Today, many educational institutions and business environments focus on developing the intellect, while failing to develop compassion, integrity, loyalty, and the other virtues we collectively refer to as "good character."

 So, as President Jonathan has urged us, let us renew our commitment to vocational service. And let us start by looking carefully at the origins and importance of this neglected Avenue of Service, so that we may better understand how it is vital to our work as Rotarians.

 Kozo Sugo, Osaka , Japan
Director 2002-2004 Rotary International
 Rotary Club of Osaka North, D2260

 NEXT WEEK: May 2, 2004
Our Vital Foundation Programs  

What Paul Harris Said For Sunday, April 18th

INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL  

"If there is any one of the many things in Rotary that seems to me to be appropriate at this moment, it is the promotion of international goodwill...  
It is quite natural that we should think of our nations as THE nations...and think that the culture and educational processes of the other countries are essentially wrong if they differ from our own...  
If we cannot encourage that feeling of tolerance in our own country and in every country, only God can save the world".

 Paul Harris speaking to the Rotary Club of Elgin, Scotland, June 2, 1934 as reported in the local press.

 As the world began to change for the worse as war approached, Paul Harris's response was one of “'tolerance” of all peoples, of all cultures, of all political systems. (Harris had recently embarked on a tour of South Africa and this experience was still in his mind).

 Here again, Harris gives us the key word to the success of Rotary - Goodwill. For him, it was that simple.

 Contributed by Calum Thomson,
 RC of Longniddry & District,
 D1020, Scotland ; History Fellow RGFH

The above quote is taken from RGHF History Fellow Basil Lewis' new book entitled "Paul Harris in Britain" 2004.  

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID for Sunday, April 11th

THE WAY TO PEACE -
 Contributed this week, by PDG Takashi “Taka” Uyeno,  D2590, the Yokohama Rotary Club, Kamakuna , Japan

Paul Harris once said, "The way to war is a well-paved highway, and the way to peace is still a wilderness." 
Paul P. Harris, from a recorded interview in Tuskegee, Alabama, USA in 1945 arranged by Rotarians in District 164.

It was an August morning in 1945. My mother was to take me to the barber and we were leaving the house. Perhaps my diaper was wet, I cried and my mother took me back inside. Just as she was about to change it, the house was struck by a formidable shock, unlike anything we'd ever experienced. Although she folded me tightly in her arms and got down on the floor, we were blown into a corner of the room by the blast.

After a long moment, she raised her face and looked up to find no ceiling, no roof but only blue sky above. A flying stone had hit her and there was a gash on her forehead. Pressing one hand to the wound on her forehead, she held me in her other arm, and went to ask neighbors for help. What she found was a completely devastated city of Hiroshima , raised to the ground.

Since I was only 8 months old at the time of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima , I heard all this from my parents. But because this story has been told to me over and over ever since I can remember, I have come to feel as though I had gone through this horrifying experience myself.

Almost sixty years have passed since humankind saw the atomic bomb disasters of Hiroshima and Nagasaki . However, as Rotary founder Paul Harris once said, "The way to war is a well-paved highway, and the way to peace is still a wilderness," it seems that an immeasurable amount of time is still needed to realize world peace.

There is a small stone monument in Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima , located in the area, which was the atomic explosion's epicenter. Words of prayer for the bomb's 150,000 victims are engraved on it, which sincerely pledge, "We will never repeat our mistakes."

I think it is significant that these words were inscribed by the citizens of Hiroshima who suffered the devastating experience. Peace can only be realized when the parties involved in conflict swear jointly, without distinguishing themselves as friend or foe, that they will never repeat past mistakes. Some people might call this idealism, yet I believe it is the only way to pave the path in the wilderness.

The Centennial of Rotary gives us the opportunity to reflect on how far we have come and reaffirm our stand for peace.

As a member of this organization to which I am proud to belong, I have a firm belief that Rotary will do its utmost to promote peace whenever and wherever possible. It is my sincere hope that we will build a world where the 6 billion people on this globe can someday pledge together, "We will never repeat our mistakes." 

Takashi “Taka” Uyeno 
Past District Governor 
District 2590
Yokohama Rotary Club
Kamakuna
Japan

What Paul Harris Said for Sunday, April 4, 2004