UVU Peace Garden?

My daughter is going back to school tomorrow and I told her that this will be the most educational months of her life. Not because of the courses she is taking, but because of the discussion that will happen on campus and in class. I am so honored to be her father and see her beautiful mind trying to make sense of last week’s event.

Today, while on the phone with her, the thought came to me that our family should find a way to offer an emblem of peace to the Utah Valley University. My daughter is an artist and studying architecture, so she has ideas of sculptures and things we could offer the school.

Then I realized our family has been prepared to do something like this for years. I have visited places around the world were tragedy happened and memorials and healing monuments and art are what remain.

The most impactful on us all was the Memorial Peace Park in Hiroshima. After the tragedy of 1945, paper cranes are created around the world and sent to be displayed at this park. I can’t not think about this story and place without shedding tears of compassion and love. I even spoke about it on my company’s unlisted podcast episode below, go to minute 30 is where it starts if you would like to listen.

If any of you feel moved to help me in this effort, I will be speaking to many of the large donors and administrators of the University this month to ideate on ways the campus could create a memorial. This memorial would not be divisive, instead reach out to the humanity that we all have in common. Just today, I have already had several people commit to donate money and resources for creation of an art installation of peace and healing.

Thank you for growing and evolving with me through these readings.

Happy 420 friends and family.

Scott X

My daughter is 8 in this photo at the memorial in Hiroshima. Travel hack: put air tag on kids shoes in case they get lost (see it on her shoe?)