# Quote — Maxine Hong Kingston, The Fifth Book of Peace

> When the peace demonstrations turned violent, and doves and hawks were using the same tactics-revolutionary and governmental provocateurs infiltrating parades and vigils, Governor Ray Gun ordering the National Guard and helicopters to tear-gas and shoot up People's Park and Berkeley (they killed James Rector, and blinded an artist)-Wittman Ah Sing and Taña made up their minds to leave America. (first lines)

- Author: [Maxine Hong Kingston](https://www.leafyquotes.com/maxine-hong-kingston.md)
- Book: [The Fifth Book of Peace](https://www.leafyquotes.com/maxine-hong-kingston/the-fifth-book-of-peace.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Maxine_Hong_Kingston#%22Water%22) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/maxine-hong-kingston/the-fifth-book-of-peace/when-the-peace

## More from this book

> The images of peace are ephemeral. The language of peace is subtle. The reasons for peace, the definitions of peace, the very idea of peace have to be invented, and invented again. (Epilogue)

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/maxine-hong-kingston/the-fifth-book-of-peace/the-images-of-peace.md)

> Children, everybody, here's what to do during war: In a time of destruction, create something. A poem. A parade. A community. A school. A vow. A moral principle. One peaceful moment. (Epilogue)

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/maxine-hong-kingston/the-fifth-book-of-peace/children-everybody-heres.md)

> Humans are basically good. That's why it takes so much training to march march march kill kill kill kill. ("Earth" p269)

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/maxine-hong-kingston/the-fifth-book-of-peace/humans-are-basically.md)