Friday, July 26, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
WORLDWIDE WEDNESDAY: The Roots, "Guns Are Drawn"
Guest Post by Peter Jordan
We're staying at home this week. Whatever the particulars of the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman altercation, no one denies that a 17 year old boy was shot and killed. Questlove (Ahmir Thompson) wrote a column about being black and scary in society. We'll borrow one of his songs with a pertinent message:
We're staying at home this week. Whatever the particulars of the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman altercation, no one denies that a 17 year old boy was shot and killed. Questlove (Ahmir Thompson) wrote a column about being black and scary in society. We'll borrow one of his songs with a pertinent message:
Friday, July 12, 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
WORLDWIDE WEDNESDAY: Miriam Makeba, "Malaika"
Editor's Note: Peter's weekly posts are still actually approaching the frequency of my purportedly daily selections. Let's call it even.
Max complimented me for my regularity, and I promptly missed the next Wednesday. Apologies.
Last week my wife and our older son were at a retreat at a Buddhist temple. Their time at the temple brought back memories of one year ago when our son spent two weeks at the temple as a novice monk. This involved shaving his head, learning chants in Pali/Sanskrit, and wearing orange robes. Just generally looking and acting strange and foreign.
That same week a man attacked a Sikh congregation a few miles from our home, killing six and wounding four before killing himself. Sikh men wear turbans and have long hair and beards. Generally looking and acting strange and foreign.
My response to this kind of hate is to seek justice and stew in righteous anger. "Righteous anger" sounds a bit like justified hate.
I am most astonished by those people who have suffered far greater than I ever will and yet have found a way to move forward in hope and forgiveness. I saw a quote from Nelson Mandela the other day. Something about leaving hatred and vengeance behind as he left prison or he would remain jailed no matter the lack of bars.
This led me to stumble upon a great South African artist performing an East African song in a language foreign to her, yet she brings the song such beauty. Maybe the answer to hate is beautiful songs.
Max complimented me for my regularity, and I promptly missed the next Wednesday. Apologies.
Last week my wife and our older son were at a retreat at a Buddhist temple. Their time at the temple brought back memories of one year ago when our son spent two weeks at the temple as a novice monk. This involved shaving his head, learning chants in Pali/Sanskrit, and wearing orange robes. Just generally looking and acting strange and foreign.
That same week a man attacked a Sikh congregation a few miles from our home, killing six and wounding four before killing himself. Sikh men wear turbans and have long hair and beards. Generally looking and acting strange and foreign.
My response to this kind of hate is to seek justice and stew in righteous anger. "Righteous anger" sounds a bit like justified hate.
I am most astonished by those people who have suffered far greater than I ever will and yet have found a way to move forward in hope and forgiveness. I saw a quote from Nelson Mandela the other day. Something about leaving hatred and vengeance behind as he left prison or he would remain jailed no matter the lack of bars.
This led me to stumble upon a great South African artist performing an East African song in a language foreign to her, yet she brings the song such beauty. Maybe the answer to hate is beautiful songs.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
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