Before they're forever banned?"

--Bob Dylan

In 1962, the answers to Bob Dylan's musings on war, peace, harmony and tolerance were blowing in the proverbial wind.

Almost half a century later, they still are.

On the front lawn of Sunnyvale Middle School, almost 800 pinwheels danced in the morning breeze on Sept. 21, as part of the international Pinwheels for Peace project for International World Peace Day.

Under the guidance of art teacher Jackie Shapiro Rosen, Sunnyvale Middle School students spent parts of the week decorating sheets of paper with thoughts and drawings on war and peace.

"I just wanted to know what this generation's concept of peace and war was today," Rosen said. "They're constantly seeing images of war, but what do they really think about it?"

The school's leadership class then organized and displayed the pinwheels as an art installation project in front of the school.

Before school started at 9:30 a.m., students wandered among the pinwheels, picking out their own, their favorites and others that stood out. One was written in Tongan, others contained quotes about peace from world leaders.

Many of the students had their own unique experiences with the concepts of war and peace. For 13-year-old Caroline Vissers--who celebrated her ninth birthday on Sept. 11, 2001 during the terrorist attacks--her birthday has become a day of remembrance and mourning.

Eight-grader Kelly Fuller wrote about war and peace on her pinwheel and said it made her think about the things she sees on TV. She said our country's actions in Iraq could be looked at from either side.

"In a way that's peace because they say we're supporting the country and working for peace, but it's also war because we're fighting for it," Fuller said.

Many of the students said they got their political ideas from their parents. Mikkie Louthan, 13, said he discusses politics with his parents who regularly volunteer to run voting booths during election times.

"I think it was a good thing to do because it got people thinking about war and peace and politics," Louthan said.

For 11-year-old Maya Levine--who moved to Sunnyvale from Israel six years ago--war has been a tangible part of her life since birth. Both her parents served in the Israeli Army, and she plans to do the same when she turns 18. She wants to serve her people.

"I get really mad when I think about war. My idea of peace is a moment where there is nothing on your mind; you're not mad; you're not crying; you're not scared," Levine said. "So I wrote on my pinwheel about that moment of quiet and peace because that moment doesn't happen a lot."