John Deere Middle School in Moline, IL; students, August 27, 2012 Students told to give up hatred

Through a mixture of solemnity, story, song and laughter, about 700 John Deere Middle School students were exposed to messages of tolerance and self-confidence Monday.

The kids were treated to a 90-minute program featuring a brief speech from Dr. Prem Virdi, and a performance by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe from the Chicago area. The name stands for "Messages Which Are Hopeful!"

Anger solves nothing and diversity is a good thing, Dr. Virdi told the students. "Please embrace differences," he said. "Love people."

Dr. Virdi is a Sikh. Sikhism is a monotheistic faith founded more than 500 years ago in South Asia. Millions of people worldwide are Sikhs and about 500,000 of those are in the U.S., according to estimates. Observant Sikhs do not cut their hair. Male Sikhs often cover their heads with turbans and refrain from shaving their beards.

Earlier this month, a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis., was attacked, leaving seven people, including the gunman, dead. Though Dr. Virdi did not reference the shooting directly in his speech, he said the specific motives for many of the mass shootings in the United States may not be clear, but hatred always seems to be a fundamental part. "Give up that one emotion and you will be happy, happy beings," Dr. Virdi said.

Sarah Saltiel, a teen MWAH! member from Willowbrook, mentioned the Sikh massacre and a number of others, including the 2008 shooting at Northern Illinois University and the 1999 attack at Columbine High School. Many of the shooters were young people, she said. "They were all trying to get revenge on someone or overcome by ignorance," she said.

The troupe, made up of young people between 12 and 20, also touched on the grim results of bullying, drug use and violence among young people:

— a teen driver on drugs who lost control of his vehicle, causing the death of his friends;

— a young girl who committed suicide because of bullying at school;

— a youth who committed suicide because he was tormented online.

But it was not all about the negative. Members sang about not buying into the negative things others might say and believing in oneself. They also subjected several students and school staff to spoof love songs after the kids and staffers were recognized for their achievements.

Principal Scott Verstraete told students they can expect a few things at Deere, including the right to expect dignified, respectful treatment; the responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect; that staff and students will work through conflicts together; and that if staff can't help, they will find someone who can.

It won't be long before the students are driving and trying to decide what careers they will pursue in their adult lives, Mr. Verstraete said. Their years at Deere Middle School are the start of that search.

"If you can dream it, you can do it," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


	Addie Sanders, a John Deere Middle School seventh grader, is serenaded by Rob Delgado (left), Jake Smith, and Shawn Conerton of the MWAH! troupe with the Richie Valens song 'We Belong Together.' Addie was recognized for her school accomplishments in gymnastics, cross country, band, and the lego robotics science and technology team and for her future aspirations. (photo by John Greenwood)
	As part of the all-school assembly at John Deere Middle School in Moline on August 27, 2012, MWAH! troupe member Justice Henderson, 14, told of the personal challenges he has faced. MWAH! artists Rachel Plasch (left), Alex Oechsel, and Taylor Oechsel then sang an a cappella arrangement of the Lady Gaga song 'Born This Way.' (photo by John Greenwood)
	As part of an anti-bullying segment of a performance by by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe Monday morning at John Deere Middle School in Moline, Dr. Prem Virdi, founder of the Virdi Eye Clinic/Laser Vision Center in Rock Island and a member of the Sikh temple in Davenport, spoke to the assembly about diversity being the essence of life and how Sikh's are a peace-loving people. On stage with him are school principal Scott Verstraete and MWAH! artist Sarah Saltiel, along with posters of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager in Florida, and George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who has admitted killing Trayvon in self-defense. (photo by John Greenwood) Through a mixture of solemnity, story, song and laughter, about 700 John Deere Middle School students were exposed to messages of tolerance and self-confidence Monday. The kids were treated to a 90-minute program featuring a brief speech from Dr. Prem Virdi, and a performance by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe from the Chicago area. The name stands for "Messages Which Are Hopeful!" Anger solves nothing and diversity is a good thing, Dr. Virdi told the students. "Please embrace differences," he said. "Love people." Dr. Virdi is a Sikh. Sikhism is a monotheistic faith founded more than 500 years ago in South Asia. Millions of people worldwide are Sikhs and about 500,000 of those are in the U.S., according to estimates. Observant Sikhs do not cut their hair. Male Sikhs often cover their heads with turbans and refrain from shaving their beards. Earlier this month, a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis., was attacked, leaving seven people, including the gunman, dead. Though Dr. Virdi did not reference the shooting directly in his speech, he said the specific motives for many of the mass shootings in the United States may not be clear, but hatred always seems to be a fundamental part. "Give up that one emotion and you will be happy, happy beings," Dr. Virdi said. Sarah Saltiel, a teen MWAH! member from Willowbrook, mentioned the Sikh massacre and a number of others, including the 2008 shooting at Northern Illinois University and the 1999 attack at Columbine High School. Many of the shooters were young people, she said. "They were all trying to get revenge on someone or overcome by ignorance," she said. The troupe, made up of young people between 12 and 20, also touched on the grim results of bullying, drug use and violence among young people: — a teen driver on drugs who lost control of his vehicle, causing the death of his friends; — a young girl who committed suicide because of bullying at school; — a youth who committed suicide because he was tormented online. But it was not all about the negative. Members sang about not buying into the negative things others might say and believing in oneself. They also subjected several students and school staff to spoof love songs after the kids and staffers were recognized for their achievements. Principal Scott Verstraete told students they can expect a few things at Deere, including the right to expect dignified, respectful treatment; the responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect; that staff and students will work through conflicts together; and that if staff can't help, they will find someone who can. It won't be long before the students are driving and trying to decide what careers they will pursue in their adult lives, Mr. Verstraete said. Their years at Deere Middle School are the start of that search. "If you can dream it, you can do it," he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.