FESTIVAL SUNDIATA BLACK PALLETTE ART EXHIBIT

Festival Sundiata’s 2009 Art Exhibit Black Palette will be on display in the Northwest African American Museum’s main gallery from February 13 through February 15. This juried art exhibition features the works of some truly fantastic local artists. A special exhibit opening will take place on Friday February 13, 2009 from 6:00-8:00pm

Free to the public during the run of the show.
Northwest African American Museum Northwest
2300 S. Massachusetts St.
Seattle, WA 98144 / phone: 206.518.6000     www.naamnw.org

Living Stories - For real.


Sink or swim.  Some of us have been swimming ever since we took our first step and a few have been swimming in mine fields without sweating it.

What are we made of?  I have heard of tales from those who lived through famine, epidemics, war, genocide, drug trade and occupation.  Most of them are now older Americans who saw the Great Depression, World War II, internment camps, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Natives and Mexicans who heard about borders being drawn writing their families out of rights of land and citizenship.  They admittedly were the swimming survivors of circumstances.

All these circumstances happened because of choices made, collectively or invidividually.  They continue to happen and will probably not stop because they are what we are made of and what we are naturally gifted to do.  We play our part in allowing the worst in man to exist then try to turn things around when it's too late. And we forget to remember the goodwill that may have come from some unheard friendship between neighbors and those hard fought policies that attempt to curve some human rights atrocity to find fuel. We play our part collectively or individually.

We thrive on being challenged and learn to master our games of habits and deception.
We sink or swim.  We will find a way of feeding our children during famine or die trying. We take the bullet while we cover the body of the shocked young soldier who is calling out for his mother.  We say nothing if it means we lose our job for standing up for someone being discriminated against but look for someone to save us when it is us who become the victim. We stubbornly learn and accept that being multilingual is a tool of diplomacy not inferiority.

I had to stop cursing as much because I was annoying myself.  It's been over 12 years and I still can't (or wont) take off the extra ten pounds around the belly.  Losing weight is so difficult, like having to quit smoking, or changing habits that seemed harmless at the time we began them.  Now I challenge myself about how I judge people while I listen to the noise coming from foul mouthed youngsters and their parents at the bus stop, or the buffed up actors and athletes who have more problems than the poor, or the clergy people and politicians who falsify their true lusty desires and destroy others instead of changing their habits.  We choose the games and habits we want to master, prioritizing them according to our self gratification.  Some of us are never satisfied unless we share or force our frustration out on others who may just be trying to quietly make it through another day in their personal space.  This is the crossroad where we can choose to create the circumstances that people have to suffer through and swim long enough to tell the tales to the next generation who will repeat the same mortal habits.

The contradictions of life are predictable.  We make choices.   Sink or swim.



Last thoughts.
Mahatama Gandhi explains his philosophy and way of life in his autobiography The Story of
My Experiments with Truth. He was quoted as saying:

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall — think of it, always."

"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?




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Newsletter Content:

"Living Stories - For Real" features selected essays by writers who have stories to share from their daily experiences. 

The "Knowledge/Forum Blog " category offers a glimpse of economics education, and promotes knowledge base and conversation in a variety of subjects, including health issues and links to selected topics.  Well developed ideas and dialogue are welcome in blog forum.

The "SHOP! At The Studio" page highlights products promoted by Calm Rain Studio (fair trade is part of the inventory selection process).

The "Community" section offers a great opportunity to promote and support community minded businesses and activities.

All submissions are subject to editorial approval.