Begin Again

It has been many months since I paid attention to this project. So many things have changed and evolved since May. the Diversity Link was invited to join The Mosswood Center for Spiritual Life. Pastor Jean Cooley from the Westminster Presbyterian Church invited me to lunch to discuss the Diversity Link project. She had read our mission an vision statement and felt we had similar goals. The Mosswood center has since co hosted it's first series. This was an Interfaith Dialaogue. Pastor Jean along with the Peace and Justice committee from Westminster brought together leaders from the Jewish, Muslem, Hindu and Christian communities for a four week series to learn about our similarities and differences. When we know each other on a personal level we are less likely to judge each other unfairly. The final evening was a forum and panel discussion. This was very well attended and left people wanting to plan furrther projects. We are currently in the midst of planning our next series. The focus this time will be Mind, Body and Spirit. This will be several weeks offering workshops on Yoga, Meditation, Music, Art, Qigong and possibly Sustainable Living. I will be leading a food meditation focusing on mindful eating in February. Kathy Connelly is organizing a youth group for the GLBT. She has done her research through contacts with Equality Florida and PFLAG a support group for parents of gay, lesbian and bisexual children. (I would like to see a day when support groups are not necessary!) In the mean time we are excited to see this project prosper and grow. I hope all of you who were involved with the meetings for the Diversity Link will consider being involved with the Mosswood Center. We need your creativity and passion.

On a personal note our family remains heathy and grateful for the abundace in our lives. December finds us busy once again with the Christmas craziness. Our favorite brother in-law Andrew is visiting from the UK. He is enjoying our warm Florida weather, although today is in the 30's. James will be traveling home this week from New York, Ian is in the Navada desert with his friend Jackie. He also hopes to be home by Christmas. Alison has a severe case of senioritis. She is looking forward to a break from school. She is working hard at our favorite Mexican resteraunt, Chicano's. Mom has been keeping very busy. She is recovering well from her shoulder surgery last summer. She attends yoga once a week, visits with friends and has joined a knitting group at the Presbyterian Home, knitting peace shawls to send to Afganistan. The past week we have been busy with the Christmas cookie extravaganza. We will be hosting a Christmas brunch on the 23rd for family neighbors and friends. Keith is busy with work and finds time to enjoy cycling, swimming and running to keep fit. I continue to train for my upcomming cross country bike ride with The Ride For World Health. The fundraising is going well due to generous support from family and friends. I am working on sponsorships for a local solidarity to happen in March. My good friends from our local cycling club PABA have been helping me with my training. The energetic group rides on Monday Wednesday and Friday lead by Barbara Kelly as well as the Saturday group rides have helped me clock up my miles( 2,436 since August). I have also done some serious hills in Lake Wales with the "fast boys" Rob DiPardo and Bill Abbatoy. The biggest accomplishment so far was riding 100 miles in one day with Jack Emerick. This is only a fraction of what Jack rides on a weekly basis.

I will bring this to a close with a promise to update monthly and wish everyone peace, good health and happiness in the new year. Your Friend in PEACE, Marianne

Meeting Agenda for June 10, 2007

Once again we are preparing for a planning meeting for The Diversity Link. With the help of Marge Cunningham, Kathy Connelly, Peggy Campbell,and Tom Carroll we have nailed down the mission statement.The mission statement is probably the most important part of this project. It will define our purpose to potential benefactors, volunteers, and other groups and organizations we wish to be affiliated with. First and foremost at this meeting we must come up with a plan for a fund raiser involving the sale of Mr. Bark's books. Second we must file the incorporation papers. Third we must file 501c3 application. Fourth we must establish an annual calender. Thanks to all of you for continued interest. This is a worth while project.
The Diversity Link

The Diversity Link is a bookstore and library dedicated to
reading materials and art
with a focus on
diversity, equality, peace and justice.

The Diversity Link will serve the community by sponsoring speakers, discussions, films, fundraisers, readings and cultural celebrations, as well as
providing a meeting space for groups promoting social change.

Here are some real and imagined groups
that may take advantage of this space!

Platform
(a group supporting local artists looking for a home to display their art)
Polk County Citizens for Peace and Justice
Feminist Theology Study Group
Moms Mentoring Moms
The Green Link
Sunday Morning Yoga and Meditation
Knitting 101
Family Movie night and Pot Luck Supper
Birth Network
The La Leche League

(you get the idea, the possibilities are only limited by our imagination)

Arise

The following is the original Mother's Day proclamation written by Julia Ward Howe in 1870. Julia was a Unitarian, poet,writer, and activist working for peace, equality and the right of women to vote. Julia was inspiered by Anna Jarvis an Appalachian woman who started Mothers work Days in1858 as an effort to get better sanitation for the soldiers on both sides during the Civil War. Anna's daughter, also named Anna having been influenced by her mother and the words of Julia Howe, founded a Memorial day for women. In 1907 the first Mother's day was celebrated in the West Virginia church where Anna's mother taught Sunday school. Most states celebrated Mother's Day in some way for several years before Woodrow Wilson declare it an official holiday in 1914. The words of Julia Ward Howe resonate for us once again in this time of war.


"Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of tears!

Say firmly: 'We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.'

From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says 'Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.' Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace."

This plea has been transformed by our free market consumer obsessed society into a buying frenzy. Please visit standingwomen.blogspot.com for an alternative to the "Hallmark" Mother's Day

Virginia Tech Tragedy

The Following letter came to me from The Peace Alliance.
Marianne

Virginia Tech
Our Hearts Go Out

April 17, 2007

Dear Department of Peace Campaign Supporters,

We write to you today with heavy hearts. The devastating events at
Virginia Tech affect us all. Shock, outrage, anger and deep sadness
are present as we recognize the great loss suffered, in truth, by all
of us. We face yet again another painful reminder of the urgent need
for a comprehensive approach to reducing and preventing violence in
our nation and the world.

In dark moments such as this, shock, anger and denial are natural and
normal reactions that can camouflage our deep pain and sadness. Grief
takes a variety of forms, unique to each individual. The important
thing is that we take the time to grieve--whenever we do it, however we
do it.

Many of you have already asked how our local grassroots members have
been affected, and what is being done to provide support in the area.
We have supporters who live in Blacksburg, VA, the town neighboring
Virginia Tech, including Congressional District Team Leader for
Virginia CD-9, Tom Marano. At this time, we have no reports that our
grassroots members have friends or family directly involved in this
devastating event. Virginia State Coordinator Christine Johnson is
working with the local team to define ways to support the Virginia
Tech community. When the Virginia team identifies ways for those of us
living outside the region to help, we will let you know. In the
meantime, they know we stand with them in loving support.

This event also has direct implications to our work in the campaign
for a U.S. Department of Peace. Many of you have asked for guidance on
communicating the vision of the Department of Peace in light of these
tragic events. It is entirely appropriate--in fact necessary--for us to
speak in this time of heartache, to address the ongoing question of
how we prevent this type of violence from ever occurring again.

We know that as a nation we have concrete tools to resolve conflict
before it escalates into violence. The bipartisan call for a moment of
silence in the House and the Senate yesterday to acknowledge the worst
mass shooting in U.S. history indicates our elected leaders' desires to
put aside political interests and become part of the solution. We can
help our government leaders understand the need for institutions that
address the root causes of violence so that we never suffer another
Virginia Tech.

We encourage you to respond to this tragedy thoughtfully and
compassionately. Please consider calling your members of Congress
today and reminding them that we can take a fresh approach to dealing
with violence. Share with them your deep concern about the shootings
at Virginia Tech, and remind them that violence is a global and
national public health and safety crisis that is preventable. Help
them see, as you do, that we currently have the programs and practices
needed to resolve conflict before it escalates into violence. If
you've previously met with specific staff members, be sure to share
this vision directly with them.

You can reach your members through the Capitol switchboard at
202-224-3121. You may also find your members' direct contact
information at www.congress.org.

Thank you for your commitment. It is our privilege to walk in
community with you, holding the shared vision of a world in which this
kind of violence never need happen again.

In the spirit of peace,

The staff of The Peace Alliance


IMAGINE: A U. S. Department of Peace
http://www.thepeacealliance.org/


-- For the latest info about your local peace group:
http://www.polkpeace.org
A diverse group with many ideas about attaining peace--
Take what you like and leave the rest!
To leave this list, send a reply with "Remove me" in the subject line.

Lets start with love and see what happens!

On Saturday April 14th my family and I attended a vigil for a young man we did not know, his name was (is) Ryan Keith Skipper. This is probably the first time we have done this kind of thing. From my perspective as a mother I can feel the pain this family has. But my pain will be short lived because my loved ones are safe for now. When I think of my children I always first think are they safe? This protective instinct was born with them. It took me by surprise when my first child James came to us 27 years ago. There are so many things we as parents do to keep our children safe; put them in car seats when they are babies, we teach them about strangers when the are young children, we tell them not to put harmful substances in their bodies when they are teens and young adults. When they go out on their own as adults we hope and pray they use good judgement and keep themselves safe. This was not to be for Ryan, he was attacked and brutally murdered because of his sexual orientation. There are people in our society who believe Ryan provoked this attack simply by being who he was. I read a quote this morning from a woman commenting on Ryan's vigil, this is what she had to say among other things " No homosexuals means no homosexual haters". Does this also mean no Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, women, children, homeless people etc... you get my drift. Violence committed against another person simply for being who they are is the lowest place for humans to go. What was particularly striking was the small number of community and religious leaders present at this gathering. Are they so fearful of being associated with a "Gay" event that they cannot come and speak out or at least show their support for this grieving family. The silence is deafening! We must all speak out and not tolerate this kind of violence but also the casual remarks and slang we hear every day. We must educate our chidren in an atmosphere of mutual respect and acceptance. Let's start with love and see what happens. Your friend in PEACE, Marianne

Permission to Begin Again

So often we try to change something about ourselves only to fail or slip back into our old way of doing or thinking. We may want to eat better, exercise, conquor addictions, improve our relationships with family friends or co workers. The first thing that needs to happen is finding compassion for yourself by not judging yourself for getting lost. Second you simply begin again! Spend what ever time you use for meditation or prayer to reinforce these two simple things. It is spring a time for new beginings. We are enjoying our time with family and friends, and the perfume of orange blossom, jasmine and gardenia. I have a greatful heart for the abundance in my life. I have a hopeful heart that love and mutual respect will bring peace to our planet.

The following is an attempt at editing the mission / vision statement for our project, (for which we still do not have a name). I hope you will take some time to play around with names and do some editing of your own on this version.
PEACE,Marianne



( ) is a co-op run bookstore and library dedicated to independently published materials and art with a focus on diversity, equality, peace and justice. ( ) will serve the community in the following ways;
Educate and inform by sponsoring events, speakers, discussions, film, fundraisers, book readings and cultural celebrations.
Provide a meeting space for groups and organizations promoting social change through diversity, art, education and activism.
Provide a new kind of public space for anything from, discussion, activism and networking, to relaxation and reflection.

The Power of the Group

Individually we may wish for a better world. We may even choose a lifestyle that embodies our ideals. But we are limited, in our isolation in what we can accomplish. I believe we can have a greater impact for change if we join together with others in a common cause. To start with we must learn to listen to each other. It is only through really listening to people with different viewpoints that we can learn from each other. The other day I listened to the grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, Arun Gandhi, speaking about passive resistance and non-violence. He said his grandfather would pray every day, the prayers from all religions. He said when we think we have found the truth we no longer continue to look for the truth. In other words we stop learning about each other and ourselves. Finding a common ground is not an easy thing, but it is made even more difficult if we think we have all the answers before we start. Another thing I believe is something that was said by Suzanne Arms “birth activist”, “ Information alone does not create change or transform people’s way of thinking”. So if this is true, and I believe it is true, it creates a challenge to the way we approach things. I think we can start with the dissemination of information but we must back it up with actions that are going to impact people on a personal level. So my goal as we go forward with this project is that we approach it with an open mind, an open heart, try to learn something from each other, and let our creativity blossom. An analogy I learned from listening to Arun Gandhi is this; Peace is like a grain of wheat, if I keep it isolated it will wither and die, but if I join it together with other grains of wheat and
expose it to the sun, wind and rain it will flourish and grow. So hopefully we can take these concepts with us as we move foreword with this exciting endeavor.

Your Friend in PEACE
Marianne Power

Initial thoughts

Malakye and Brooklyn


What’s The Big Idea?

A Community Reading Room

Info Shop

Street Library

Alternative Reading Room

Gallery

Meeting Space for Groups

Simplicity Circles

Focus on alternative literature

Health

Life style

Education

Religions and spirituality

Food

Community Development

Music

Story telling and poetry


The time has come for our community to create a place where people can explore a perspective outside the main stream. You might say, the mainstream has gotten us where we are, what is wrong with the main stream? This should be a place for people who want to challenge the status quo. A place where diverse groups can come together, a comfort zone of sorts. Comfort for whom? Any one who has a desire to be a part of the community, to bring people together with a common goal.
The goals may be many and diverse. As long as the goal strives to improve lives in our community.

My daughter Alison is 16 years old she and her friends need a safe place where they can spend time with each other and practice their independence and find out what is important in their lives. Women with small children need a sanctuary, a quiet place, a stimulating energizing place. Somewhere they can explore their creativity through discussion, literature, crafts, exercise, spirituality, music, and dance. We do some of our best thinking when our mind is not cluttered. Working families need a social outlet where adults can gather to enjoy healthy discussions, healthy food, music and laughter. I hope this will attract a culturally diverse group of people. We all have something to learn from each other. If we see each other as individuals we are less likely to wage war against each other. I see this as a resource center of sorts, where any one can come to find out how and where they can make a difference in our community. This needs to be a multi generational place. My family lives in a multi generational household. The benefits are endless. When we isolate ourselves and our children from older people we all miss out. My mother brings her history to my children and their friends. They see her making beautiful clothes from a length of cloth instead of going to the store to buy it; they see her cooking a meal from a recipe in her head instead of micro waving a box; they listen to her stories about when she was a girl and recognize some of the same struggles they are having in their own lives. There are so many elderly people in our community with a history to share. These histories will be lost if we don't make space for them in our lives. Individuals, college students, people new to our community will have a friendly, safe, stimulating place to come; to explore where their talents lay. We have become too isolated in our homes with our computers, televisions, and video games. etc. It’s not reality! The best part is people will not have to spend a dime. Any more we think in order to have a good time we have to go out to a bar, restaurant, mall movies etc. It is all very expensive, and for families on a tight budget they feel even more isolated because they can’t live the glossy magazine life style. Soo it all sounds great but how, where , and when will this be accomplished? The answer is up to all of us here, if you think you would like to be a part of a group of people trying to make a difference in our community, share your talents, time and network with others to find the resources we need to make this happen. I know many of you are thinking, I’m so busy right now how could I possibly do one more thing; here is what I am thinking.
There are people who have time to give, we always need time.

There are people who have special skills and talent, very valuable to the project.

There are people who have things to donate that are not useful to them any more.

There are people who have money or services may wish to donate to the cause.

There are people who know other people who would like to help in any of these ways.

Finally

There are people who will wish us well, think positive thoughts about our project, say good things to other people, and come and enjoy our company any time.