The Active Pursuit of Peace Lessons

Through the case studies of Xia Shuqin and Iva Hynds, we can see that peace is not just the absence of war but an active process of care, truth-telling, and justice. Xia Shuqin, who survived the Nanjing Massacre as a child, spent much of her life fighting for historical recognition. Her efforts to testify and win a lawsuit against denial show how survivors can become powerful voices for justice. At the same time, Iva Hynds, a 67-year-old American nurse, chose to stay in Nanjing during the massacre and cared for orphans and the wounded at Drum Tower Hospital. Archival letters reveal her quiet but determined return to China to serve despite financial and political difficulties. Together, their stories show that peace can be built through both public courage and everyday care. One speaks out so that truth is not erased. The other protects life in the middle of violence. Remembering both allows us to understand peace as a collective responsibility shaped by both survivors and supporters.