HUMAN NATURE AT ITS BEST

There have been times in my life I have been lifted by what human beings do. Moments when witnessing others being human in most glorious and radiant ways.

It usually has to do with the human spirit shining or something to do with creativity in the arts.

Here is the human spirit being terrific... human beings sending their energy out which in turn creates for us a positive response and a sense of joy and gratitude to be a part of the human race illustrated here....

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The Sound of Music
Central Station
Antwerp, Belgium

More than 200 dancers were performing their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! Those 4 fantastic minutes started the 23 of March 2009, 8:00 AM. It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of The Sound of Music.
Uploaded by saihttam1988
If you click on the little rectangle shape in the lower right corner (to the left of the little rectangle with the arrow pointing upward) of the youtube video, the video will become as big as your computer screen.

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Darfur and Genocide

Stop Genocide Now just put up their i-ACTzine Issue 10: Mother's Day

There are three actions highlighted in the Mother's Day Issue. In light of Carmen's recent post about "Hey tell Barack about Darfur" you all might want to engage your communities the first action! Here's a glimpse:

Mother's Day is a day we honor the mother's, especially our own mothers, for their love and devotion to their children, and in many cases to the community around them. For the past six years the mothers of Darfur have struggled to remain strong in the face of violence, towards them and their families. Many have survived and many others have died. Many have lost children, and many carried children on their backs across the desert with little to no food or water. Today, as the situation worsens, they face death by starvation and disease.

This Mother's Day, take action to honor the mothers of Darfur, and keep consistent and public pressure on the administration:

1. Families: write an open Mother's Day Card to Michelle Obama. When describing herself, she says, first and foremost, she is Malia and Sasha's mom. The mothers of Darfur need our support, and Mother's Day is the perfect day to honor their strength and advocate for their freedom to live their lives in peace.

Send a copy to the editor of your local paper and ask them to publish it, and one to the First Lady. If you want the card to go to a mother of Darfur, send the original to Stop Genocide Now. Here are a few examples for cards and open letters.

Addresses:
First Lady Michelle Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20500

Stop Genocide Now - The Mothers of Darfur
1732 Aviation Blvd #138
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

2. Mothers, sisters, daughters: In solidarity with Darfur survivors, read one or more entries from the collection One Voice: Testimonies of Darfurian Mothers at your place of worship or Mother's Day celebration, with your family, or perform it on a street corner.

3. Everyone: On Mother's Day participate in a global day of Fasting - water only or refugee rations.

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Uploaded by ilovemylifesblog
Double click the video and see the video in High Quality at Youtube where you can benefit by clicking on HQ for High Quality (HQ is found in the lower right corner of the Youtube video).

Or if you want to remain here: You can click on the little rectangle shape in the lower right corner (to the left of the little rectangle with the arrow pointing upward) of the youtube video and the video will become as large as your computer screen.

Genocide by starvation, diseases and other "passive" means have been done before. It was done on the North American continent to the indigenous people: pbs.org - American Experience - We Shall Remain

Now it is being done to the Darfuris.

"A big lie."

That's what Sudan's ambassador to the United Nations calls a U.N. report that there are "over 1 million people at life-threatening risk" due to the government of Sudan's decision to expel aid groups.

Sign the letter to President Obama
action.savedarfur.org/campaign/jointletter

The refugees in Sudan have been cut off from potable water, food and medical attention since March 4, 2009. Meningitis, cholera and diarrhea are spreading in the camps inside the Sudanese borders.

Elie Wiesel says "...to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all...

The collective indifference to this human disaster is numbing and stunning.

Fast for Darfur: fastdarfur.org

Read Mia Farrow's stand: miafarrow.org

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Uploaded by iACTivism
A school in camp Djabal in Chad
where the Darfuri students share songs from their homeland.
If you click on the little rectangle shape in the lower right corner (to the left of the little rectangle with the arrow pointing upward) of the youtube video, the video will become as big as your computer screen.

I SANG FOR MY FATHER ~ PRECIOUS MEMORIES

MY FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT DAD

Dad and my son on the lake that dad made out of a corn field and a natural spring.

Dad around 1954

I was in a play called I Never Sang for My Father years ago. But I did. I sang for my father. When he was alive. We sang together, too. And I have sung for my father since he died seven months ago. There was something special that I had with my father. And now my feelings for him have become even more precious.

I was not allowed to see movies when I was growing up. Not counting the Disney movie, Bambi, that I finally was allowed to see after much debate with my second grade class on a field trip, the first real movie experience I had was when I convinced my parents to let me go see the movie The Sound of Music. My parents went with me and my dad loved Julie Andrews in the movie.
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The Lendler
Uploaded by ArtHistory101

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The Sound of Music movie locations
Uploaded by r2djannes


And then in November 2005, I visited Salzburg and walked some of the very places where the movie was shot. How cool is that!

When I was in Villach, Austria, I stayed at a very nice hostel and one night a birthday party was being celebrated at the hostel. I was walking by the room and heard this fantastic harmonizing singing ~ it sort of blew me away. We have lost that in the USA. We used to sing the National Anthem at events ~ now we mostly just stand there and let someone else perform it without any audience participation. That is sad. Music is such a community thing. A joy we could give ourselves.

This is my first Christmas since my father left his mortal life behind. As sorrowful as I am that I was kept from him at the end of his life by my mother, I spent time with him on his last Father's Day June 18, 2006. When I returned home after visiting him in Indiana I wrote the following to him.

From your daughter Sandy, from Rhode Island

Dad

I will do the remembering for both of us.

I remember the first time you saw me and said my name, “Sandy”, when I surprised you, Sunday, Father’s Day.

I remember you closing your eyes, then opening your eyes, then your eyes looking into my eyes when I sang “The Old Rugged Cross” to you while you were
lying down in your room on Monday.

I remember the slow- moving pain in your eyes when I told you of the day I would leave you.

I remember the big smile that you gave when I showed you the words “Rhode Island” on your wall
and you saying “that will help”.
I remember you spelling the word r-o-a-d.

I remember my prayer to God that we shared in your room and you said “that was a nice prayer.”

I remember the time you were lying on your bed,
I mentioned your favorite song,
“Go Tell It on the Mountain”
And you starting singing the song by yourself
and I sang along with you.

I remember the day we were walking through all the halls on the way to outside and you telling me it was the wrong way, then telling me that I was right three times
as we continued walking on.

I remember you reading the road sign “Roanoke” when we were driving to Roanoke.

On my last day, it was hard on you, I could see.
But you stood and told me you loved me, we hugged,
you walked me down the hall.
You were being my Dad.

We don’t always get what we want in life,
but I still have you and that is my blessing.

You are still doing God’s work, teaching me.

We walked holding hands.
Thank you for that.
We kissed on the lips.
Thank you for that.
We shared love.
Thank you for that.
You needed my help
and I was able to help.
Thank you for that.

Thank you for the time we shared together.
Thank you for your heart that you shared with me.
Thank you for looking at me, eye to eye.
Thank you for saying my name, “Sandy”.
Thank you for the feelings that you shared with me.
Thank you for letting me love you.
Thank you for being so brave.
Thank you for trying so hard.

Your brain is not serving you well,
but your good spirit lives on.
I will have your spirit with me always.
I treasure our time together more than possessions.

I am so grateful to you,
Your Daughter “Sandy from Rhode Island”
Visit: June 18, Sunday, Father’s Day – June 23, Friday, 2006

Dad in the the hammock, my older brother Greg, me and my younger sister, Nancy .

My son and my dad in 1997.