Fandom High School

Once again, the students would enter their classroom to find a ring of comfortable cushions and pillows arranged at the center, and their instructor already comfortably sitting on one of them, a cup of tea in his hand, a pot and several more cups for the students waiting before him. On the board, scrawled in large letters to take up the space was a quote:

"Peace is always beautiful. - Walt Whitman"

Shunsui smiled quite peacefully himself at the students as the settled into their spots and, once they had and the offer of tea was made, he began.

"Hello, ducklings ♥," Shunsui greeted the students. "Welcome back ♥. I assure you, not every class will be quite like this, sitting around and discussing matters, but it is a rather good way to ease on into our exploration of the Art of Peace, neh ♥? And today, I'd like to ask a very important question that will no doubt guide us on the rest of our journey, and that is....what is Peace, exactly? What does it mean to be peace-ful? Let's explore, shall we ♥?

( Peace is always rambly... )

"But..." Here Shunsui broke off with a faint chuckle, "talk about it is exactly what we'll be doing....for now ♥. This is, obviously, a very large topic, with many nuances and facets, and I'd like to know what you think ♥. What are you own personal philosophies on peace ♥? What does your society say about it? What obstacles present itself in obtaining your ideal of true peace ♥? No wrong answers, of course ♥! Just a discussion to help understand and maybe open our minds and eyes to perspectives that may not be our own ♥.

"Who would like to begin ♥?"

The classroom and the cocoa were back (although, really, one could argue that the cocoa never really left); Shunsui was sitting at his usual spot in the circle, all things that should be a sign to the students that another discussion class was in order.

Although, really, he'd gone and taught an actual lesson that involved doing things last week, so it should be assumed that he figured he'd put in more than his fair share of effort and another discussion class was completely earned

"Welcome back, ducklings ♥!" he gave his usual greeting and smile. "Today I'd like to have a discussion," suprirse!, "about last week's class, where the lovely, lovely Rosa-chan," and here he spared a small little pout for the current lack of her radiant and cheerful presence this week, "and I taught you about Aikido &hearts, and, this week, I would like to hear your thoughts on it ♥. Things like Aikido have its roots in the non-agression principle of pacifism. While nonviolence rejects the use of violence, non-aggression rejects the use of aggression ♥! Aggression is defined as the initiation of a physical force against person or property, and does not reject the idea of self-defense in response to aggression initiated against yourself.

"We saw in class how something like Aikido can be used to still be fairly nonviolent while also being non-agressive, but can it truly be considered pacifism ♥? Does a true pacifist absolve from all physical conflict? Or are there exceptions, as just remaining passive in the face of violence only propagates the violence ♥? Is there a happy medium? What did you, personally, think of the self-defense philosophy of Aikido and how it applies to your own perceptions of pacifism so far? Let's discuss ♥!"

Or just nap.

Napping will always be a valid option in this class. In fact, Shunsui would enthusiastically support the idea that it was one of, if not the best, example of practicing pacifism he could think of.

[[ ocd incoming is all ready to go! ]]

Having the second class of the week right after an absolutely lovely vacation like that was hardly what Shunsui would call an 'optimal situation,' and he considered bestowing upon his students an 'expanded vacation' by just not having class at all, but something in the back of his mind (or in the frequently envisioned disapproving face of his lieutenant in his bonsai tree) told him that doing so would lead to just a whole string of canceled classes in the futurue, so he might as well just go.

It wasn't like they had to actually do anything, after all.

"Welcome back, my little ducklings ♥!" Shunsui greeted them sleepily, tiredly, but cheerfully, once they were all gathered and cocoa'd. "I hope those of you who had gone on the trip had a wonderful time and those of you who may have done something else found something enjoyable to do all the same ♥ Today, actually, since I'm sure we're all still quite in vacation mode and not quite ready to relinquish it to get back to business, I figured today we might as well just share our stories ♥. A vacation is a wonderful example of pacifism in action," sure, Shunsui; it was, perhaps, not exactly the furthest stretch he'd ever made, "assuming, of course, you weren't spending that vacation actively picking fights and punching," since punching seemed popular with this particular batch of students, "people ♥. So that's what we'll do this week. We'll just sit around, enjoy each other's company, and share our tales of our last week, and then next week, we'll get back to it properly ♥."

Maybe.

"Pretty easy, neh ♥?"

[[ ocd is...up! have at it! ]]

Funny thing about a week like this one. While a Soul like Shunsui was hardly going to be affected by what had begun to permiate the air, the same could not be said for the temporary physical body that that Soul currently inhabited. But it also wasn't exactly a difference that Shunsui was likely to notice that much, anyway, all things considered.

Either way, there was a class to be had, and When the students came into the classroom today, they'd find a text sitting beside their mugs of cocoa. "My duckings ♥," Shunsui said with a pleased smile once everyone got settled, "I have quite a treat for you today ♥! Today, we are going to be discussing one of my favourite pieces of literature, besides, of course, my own book, The Rose-Colored Path ♥." Forgive him if he couldn't exactly refuse a perfectly natural little plug there. "Written by a very smart and clever Greek by the name of Aristophanes, this play is a political satire against the Peloponnesian War of Ancient Greece, where the illustrious woman of the play's title comes up with a most intriguing solution to peace: she rallies up the women of the Grecian world to form a pact to finally bring an end to the war by withholding sex. Devastating, I know ♥! But incredibly effective; as the play itself points out, a man cannot concentrate on swinging his sword when his other sword needs swinging ♥."

That was a horrible metaphor even on a normal day, Shunsui, let alone this one, and he should be ashamed of himself, but, of course, he was not.

"It's a classic example of the 'make love, not war' philosophy that had a more recent modern example in this dimension and in this country in the 1960s ♥. It was the Vietnam War rather than the Peloponnesian War, then, and it was an actual movement instead of a parody play designed to make a point, but the idea is the same: it is much better to offer our fellow brothers and sisters love rather than war ♥.

"Naturally, though the play is short, I cannot expect for you to all have it read by the end of the class," especially not with particular...distractions that were more than likely, "and still have time to discuss it, so I have given you each a copy to take home and read over the week." Because, yes, that's what you'd all want to do this week, read. "We will discuss the idea of love over war today, and then again next week after you've had a chance to read through the text and see if it manages to influence your opinion any ♥. Today's discussion, then, shall be a broader one: does love have any place in war? Is it necessary to have love to keep a war humane? Or is there no such thing as humane war, and therefor, love could only interfere with the success of a war? The play was written to make people laugh, but it suggests that the world is a better place when people spend more time with each other than with their weapons ♥. The war is a senseless waste of time, money, and resources, while peaceful times are spent building the nation; wars not only break the nation, but it also disturbs families and relationships. And, of course, in unity, there is strength ♥. This could be said for either side of the coin, but isn't it much better to have that unity in peace rather than war ♥?

"When the Chorus of Men claim, 'There is no beast, no rush of fire, like woman so untamed. She calmly goes her way where even panthers would be shamed,' the Chorus of Women proclaim in response, 'And yet you are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with me, when for your faithful ally you might win me easily.' Perhaps it is just me, but it seems to ask, Why go into war when peace could easily be an option ♥? Or is it not so easy? Is holding back something...anything...that the other party might need, be it sex or be it goods or resources or hostages or treasures, and refusing to give it back without the promise of peace a nefarious course of action ♥? Or is any means of achieving peace, especially if it may avoid violence, acceptable means ♥?

"'We love peace, but not peace at any price,' says Douglas Jerrold, and Marvin Gaye, another personal favourite, informs us that 'War is not the answer, because only love can conquer hate.' But where do you stand on the place of love in war ♥?"

[[and the ocd is incoming!, like the soldiers of Athens, up. ]]

Hot chocolate and comfy pillows to sit on in the middle of the room with a teacher beaming peacefully at his students? Must be another Monday in the classroom designated for the Art of Pacifism, and another one where the teacher was ready to do a lot of rambling talking to promote deep and peaceful thoughts and/or deep and peaceful spacing out.

"Hello, little ducklings ♥," Shunsui greeted the students. "Now, I promise you that not every class will be quite like the ones we've had so far, all discussion and drinking, but I figured we might have ourselves at least one more lengthy discussion, about the very fundamentals of what we are talking about here in this class ♥. We've discussed examples of when perhaps pacifism might not be the best route thanks to our own personal experience here on this very island, and we've discussed an example of taking pacifism to its extreme with Jainism, but what is the main goal in all of this ♥? Pacifism itself is an opposition to war or violence, neh &hearts? Which would stand to reason, then, that the crux of pacifism is indeed the opposite of war and violence, which is peace. But what, exactly, is peace? What does it mean to be peace-ful? Let's explore, shall we ♥?"

(  'Peace is always beautiful.' - Walt Whitman. )

"In general, these are very large topics, but it is important to consider them and look at them if we are to embrace the Art of Pacifism and achieve peace, be it in our personal worlds or in the wider world around us ♥. This has also been an extremely quick overview, which has left out much by necessity, or else we'd be here all day ♥! But that is where you all come in ♥. What are you own personal philosophies on peace ♥? Your societies'? Do you agree with the tenants in which you were brought up, or not? What defines peace to you and how do you best achieve it, within yourself or within the world around you ♥? What obstacles present itself in obtaining your ideal of true peace ♥? No wrong answers, of course ♥! Just a discussion to help understand and maybe open our minds and eyes to perspectives that may not be our own ♥. Who would like to start ♥?"

When the students arrived in the classroom for their lesson, they would find all the desks shoved aside to make room for a variety of cushions and pillows set in a loose circle at the center of the room, and their instructor, all flowing robes and slightly battered straw hat, already sitting there in the circle quite comfortably, pouring himself some hot cocoa...and maybe looking a little sleepy, though he was trying his very best to power through that right now; this was just a bit early for him. But, sleepy as he may be, he greeted each student brightly and enthusiastically as they entered, with varying degrees of "Come in, come in ♥! Have a seat ♥! And some cocoa, while we wait for the others ♥!" until it looked like they were ready to begin.

( Welcome to the Art of Pacifism, ducklings ♥! )

"Now ♥!" Shunsui beamed at them all again. "Who shall have the honors of starting us out ♥?"

[[ ocd incoming! is up! Have at it! ]]