In the tribes we call the Cheyenne (they call themselves the human beings), when war was to be talked of in the council, there were War Chiefs who spoke of the advantages of going to war, and there were Peace Chiefs who spoke of the advantages of peace. We have seen examples of war shields that the War Chiefs carried as their symbol of office, but we rarely see peace shields. This is because those shields were rarely captured. They are beautiful.

There was a story I read today about a peace shield. It wasn't a Cheyenne Shield, it was an Human Shield. That's what she called herself, a Human Shield. She died for peace. She was 23 years old. She would have graduated from Evergreen College in Olympia, Washington this year. She was crushed by an Israeli Army Bulldozer while she stood in front of a doctor's house, trying to defend it with her young body and her strong heart. If she were Cheyenne, songs would be written about the young woman Peace Chief and her name would be taught to the children. Her name was Rachel Corrie. Never forget it.

Tell them that it is for Rachel Corrie that you stand for peace. Tell them it was Rachel Corrie who made you a Peace Chief.

The next time you speak for peace, bring your peace shield. Take a very small circle made of some soft material (peace shields are not used to fend off arrows, so they don't have to be large or strong) and hold it up so all can see. Make it beautiful. It would be good if somewhere on your shield you wrote the name Rachel Corrie, and you might want to leave some space for other names; peace is not easy. Ask those who loved Rachel Corrie.