Roxanne Qualls,
former mayor of Cincinnati, will be joining us on June 6. I hope she will just come to talk like everyone else, and come back often, but possibly she would prefer to make a special presentation. I understand she is looking to fund a public policy think tank at NKU. Just needs $$ to set that up. Roxanne is the best! ff ellen)
Salon Weekly
A Weekly Email Publication of The Lloyd House
Circulation: c. 450
Growing out of the Monday Night Salon
For info about the Salon, see the bottom of this email
Join us at the Lloyd House every Monday of the year at 5:45 for pot luck and discussion.
3901 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio
To: Friends on our Pot Luck Salon list.
(to unsubscribe see below, bottom of page).
Saturday 14 May 2005
At the table Monday May 16: David Rosenberg, Roy Euvrard, Steve Slack, Londo Haglund Slack, Pete Altekreuse, Yvonne Van Eijden, Steve Sunderland, Lisa Haglund, Mira Rodwan, Leslie Goldman, Roy Jones, Mike Murphy, Neil Anderson, Spencer Konicov, Ellen Bierhorst
Last week Roy Jones had wanted to discuss racism, and we only had 15 minutes for that, so this week he and Roy Euvrard wanted strongly to have a Big Conversation on racism, so we devoted the entire time to it. Roy Euvrard lives in Mt. Auburn, a mixed neighborhood, and he said he didn't understand the extent of racism in Cincinnati until he moved there and witnessed first hand things like: going to city hall with neighborhoods and seeing his neighbor (black) being "dis'ed" by officials who then treated him (white) with respect. Black contractors unable to get building permits to renovate. City money for neighborhoods going to all - white neighborhoods much more than to largely-black Mt. Auburn. He says the city spends three times as much on improvements in white neighborhoods as in black ones.
Roy E. passed out a sheet with 8 provocative questions (really assertions) about racism in cincinnati, including:
- Does the city spend tens of millions in federal urban renewal funds to tear down houses occupied by mostly poor black people and subsidize the construction of up scale town houses and condominiums by white contractors?
- Do white politicians in Cinti. receive five times as much in campaign contributions as black candidates?
- Did Rev. Lynch receive a lecture on what is wrong with black people when he was invited to speak at the Queen city Club?
- Was a black City Councilmember called a "smart-mouthed little punk" by the Hamilton County Prosecutor? (That was The FORMER prosecutor Mike Allen, since removed due to sex scandal, defaming Councilmember Chris Smitherman, who came last summer to our salon. ) When the Cinti. ppolice use excessive force, do they settle quickly with white victims but seemingly drag out forever settlements with black victims?
- Has the Moderator (of the collaborative agreement) and the Federal district Court (Judge Dlott) found the City of Cintyi. to be in material breach of the Collaborative Agreement?
- Does a white man stand between a white woman and a black man when the black man gets on an elevator?
- What constitutes racism?
- How pervasive is racism in our culture/city/society today?
- How potent a force is racism today?
At the end we invited participants to send in their ideas about the discussion and about racism. Here is mine:
Racism: They say that coal dust seeps into the skin of a coal miner, burying into his very pores, so that he can never get really clean. I feel that anyone raised in, living in our society has negative racial prejudice towards Blacks and Asians that has seeped into the pores of our minds. All of us, even when we are of the group in question. Maybe most hurtfully, this, the internalized racism. Neil calls it the "smelly beast of racism". Indeed. I have been working on myself all my adult life to heal and cure myself of my own racism, like a zealous American suburbanite going after the crab grass.
I know personally how it feels to be discriminated against, disliked, or threatened because of being a woman, a Jew, a Lesbian woman. Hurts like hell. And it is terrifying when you feel the massed power of the whole Society looking down at you. Looking down on you. Telling you to Git Back!
I am 64 years old, damn near 65. I have noticed some changes. Slight improvement re. sexism... we've had major world leaders who were female (M. Thatcher, G. Maier...) and now there are women CEOs of major corporations. A woman mayor of Cincinnati. We've had huge gains in the tolerance of homosexuals. Anti Semitism is a little better, I think. With respect to race, it is no longer socially acceptable in Cincinnati to use the "N" word. There are sprinklings of middle class Black families in places like Clifton, Hyde Park, ... N. Avondale is really integrated, as is Kennedy Heights and Pleasant Ridge, I understand. This wasn't happening in the forties, I can tell you! No one person could say with any authority what the society's attitude is towards any minority group, but each of us can say what is our sense of it. My sense is that it is generally accepted that we are a pluralistic society, and mostly we kind of like it that way. But we still tend to fear other groups. As a Jew I feel that we are tolerated today, and everybody loves Tevya of Fiddler on the Roof, but don't get complacent. If times get hard and folks get scared about survival, this socially acceptable tolerance for Jews could turn on a dime and then watch out! Same with homosexuals. It has been trendy to accept gays. Ellen DeGeneris all over the TV...Queer Eye for the Straight Guy... The L word... But if the right wing religious right gets its way, this will change. And if gas prices go through the roof, and I believe they will certainly, then everybody is going to be running scared. When that happens, simplistic attitudes of blame and the witch hunt are used to make people feel safer. Scares me.
So even though, today, it is hip to be multicultural and to include Blacks and Asians and Latinos in your social circle, (and homosexuals and Jews) and every other household has some adult child who has married outside the race, or at least a nephew or a niece, still there are attitudes lurking in everyone's gray matter. Things like this: " Blacks are more "instinctual" than white people (because they are closer to "nature") which is good when you are dancing or playing sports or having sex, but bad when you are shooting up the 'hood. Blacks are more telepathic and more kinesthetic than whites. Whites are more rational, have higher I.Q.'s, have more self control, but are more uptight." How about this: "Black males between the age of 15 and 45 are more dangerous than white males of the same age". Lots of people (white) seem to feel that these kinds of "differences" are true, and that they are actually beautiful and wonderful and do not represent inferiorities. These people believe they do not exhibit racism. That's a crock.
Remember "Mission Impossible" where there was this brilliant techie Black guy who could do anything with electronics or mechanical gizmos? And he talked "white". That character did a lot to stretch out our stereotypes.
Kevin Cole, erstwhile salonista, once said something like that racism would persist as long as the members of that other group (the Americans of African descent) do not resemble anyone whom you love. He has adopted two --or is it three?-- black children whom he loves passionately. I would have to agree. The real cure is to come to love someone of that group. Then you know them in all their individuality, strength and frailty, and you hate to think of them being the target of these societal attitudes.
I liked the movie "Antwone Fisher". Helped me. All those beautiful black faces. Even though it was outrageously pro-Navy. I fell in love with those people. Helped me a bunch. Living here at the Lloyd House with Neil and his outrageous nappy dreadlocks and philosopher's silver tongue, and feeling how broken-hearted I felt last year when we thought he might have snapped his back, and realizing how much I have grown to love him. Helps me a bunch. Am coming to love all the members of our salon, including you, pugnacious Roy J. with your impertinent passions and sweet arrogance. That's helping me -- coming to love you -- more than participating in a "come up with a definition" think group at the table.
Mike Murphy was raised in Claremont County in a racist family, and today there is all kinds of inter marriage in that tribe. One time tripping I felt I saw that the deal with America was, "Let's all come here to this beautiful land, from all parts of the earth, and get married to each other." We can't resist each other. Racism is still here, Roy, and it is horrid, but look around you. We're kissing in every corner.
(See the blue Articles section below for responses by Roy and others to the Racism discussion.)
Hugs,
ellen
(for Articles: see below. First, the "Announcements" section.)...
•
Announcements:
5/20
Act Now to Enable Alternative Health Care Providers
Letter from Shirley Reischman (my wonderful homeopath- ellen)
Hello Everyone,
Ohioans finally have a chance to follow the example of a number of other states in allowing people to freely choose the type of health care provider they wish to use; and for alternative health care providers to practice openly and legally in the state of Ohio.
You can see the entire bill or a summary of it by clicking on http://www.ohiohealthfreedom.org/ This will not do away with any of the licensing requirements currently set up by the state medical board, but it will allow other practitioners to practice under certain guidelines.
When James and I first moved to Ohio, neither of us was allowed to practice our profession. As a Rolfer, James was nationally certified with many years of experience, but had to go back to school in Ohio in order to sit for his medical board exams. I was not allowed to practice homeopathy until Dr. Jim asked me to work under his license seven years after moving here. Even today, there are many alternative practitioners afraid to work openly in Ohio; even more wonderful practitioners have left the state or refuse to move here because of the arcane laws regarding alternative practice. It was a mere five years ago that licensed physicians were finally allowed to practice alternative care in Ohio without the threat of having their licenses confiscated. And even today Naturopaths are being prosecuted in Ohio for practicing medicine without a license, yet the state refuses to license them!
The Ohio Consumer Health Freedom act would change all of this. We hope that it can be passed in the current session and be signed into law in early 2006. Please see the information below and help to pass this much needed legislation.
Yours,
Shirley
5/20
Tri-State Treasures
Tri-State Treasures is a compilation of unique local people, places, and events that may enrich your lives. These treasures have been submitted by you and others who value supporting quality community offerings. Please consider supporting these people, places, and events, and distributing the information for others to enjoy. And please continue to forward your Tri-State Treasures ideas to jkesner@nuvox.net.
Sincerely, Jim
~~~~~~~~~~
Tri-State Treasures - General:
Think Global - A National Conversation [Monday-Sunday 16-22 May]: WNKU 89.7 FM is proud to collaborate with public radio stations across the nation to bring these very special radio programs, documentaries, & commentaries from May 16 - 22. Think Global features that can be heard locally on 89.7 FM. Think Global is designed to help listeners understand the often-hidden connections between their lives, their communities, and the rest of the world. WNKU & NPR want these issues to be the subject of dinner conversations, schoolyard arguments, web chats, newspaper columns, & talk shows. The goal is to start a “national conversation,” with public radio at the center of the action. Details and schedules @ www.wnku.org/page_wnku.asp?p=0530720.
A Blessing to One Another - Pope John Paul II and The Jewish People [May 19-July 15]: Xavier University will premier the first commemorative tribute to Pope John Paul II will celebrate his extraordinary legacy of improved dialogue between Catholics & Jews, opening on what would have been the pontiff’s 85 birthday. The 1,500 square-foot exhibition is a unique collection of photographs, videos, and artifacts that chronicle the pope’s associations with the Jewish community from the time of his childhood & illustrates how these lifelong associations shaped his papacy, the Catholic Church & the future of Jewish-Catholic relations. The exhibit will take visitors back in time to pre-war Wadowice, the Krakow ghetto during World War II, and the future Pope's ministry in Krakow and Rome. Exhibition is sponsored by Dr. Piotr Chomczynski and his Molecular Research Center. At the Xavier University Art Gallery in the A.B. Cohen Center, 1658 Herald Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207. Exhibit hours: 11AM-7PM Mon-Fri; and 11AM-5PM Sat-Sun. More info @ 513.745.3007, ablessing@xavier.edu, & www.blessingexhibit.org/.
Tri-State Treasures - Specific:
Wine Tasting Party [Friday 20 May @ 7 PM]: Bistro 318 invites you to their first-ever wine tasting party. Guests will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of fine wines normally offered only by the bottle in the restaurant's relaxed setting. The wines will be complimented by a fantastic spread of imported cheeses, canapés, chocolate tartlets, and a few surprises that can't be revealed yet. Bistro 318 (formerly Scalea's) is an upscale, casual restaurant with 5-star food, service, and ambience without the 5-star price; a place to relax & be yourself in a warm contemporary environment. The menu is fun, light, & creative; a contemporary American blend of fusion cuisine. The wine inventory is extensive. Call in advance to make reservations & ask Chef Casey to custom design a dinner just for you & your guests. He will greet you at your table & talk with you to learn your tastes, and then let his creative genius go to work to yield a fabulous entree. A unique feature of the restaurant is the From-the-Grill-Section on the menu that allows the guest to create their own dish from appetizer to dessert. Admission for the wine tasting party is $20 RSVP; $25 at the door. 318 Greenup Street, Covington, KY 41011. More info & RSVP @ 859.491.3334 & http://warm98.cincyradio-deals.com/details.php?pid=2779.
Studio Sessions IV: A Benefit for SmartMoney Community Services [Friday 20 May @ 5:30 - 9:00 PM]: This upscale networking event & fundraiser will showcase a blend of Jazz, Hip-Hop, & a wide range of urban artwork from local Cincinnati artists. A silent auction will be part of the festivities, allowing event goers the chance to bid on items donated from Cincinnati’s finest events, eateries, & shops. Mouthwatering delights by “A Perfect Brew” featuring Chief Dave Dennis. Soulful rhythms by DJ Splotty Kaeco & “Triage” featuring Eugene Goss & Billy Larkin. Captivating artwork by Jymi Bolden, Jason Brake, Mark & Missy Fisk @ Mainly Art, Rhonda Gushee, Damian Hoskins, Michael Hurst, Christine Langford, Reginald Leary, Elliott Jordan, Cedric Cox – Curator. Emcee is WB64 reporter Marjani Coffey. Produced by Hip-Notic Concepts. Attire: Chic. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door; includes admission to The Purgatory, dinner-by-the-bite, silent auction, & 1 drink ticket. At The Purgatory, 221 E. 12th Street @ Sycamore Street, Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, OH. More info @ Call 513-241- 7266 & ddansby@smart-money.org.
FrenchFest 2005 [Saturday 21 May @ 11 AM - 7 PM]: The wonderful volunteers of the Alliance Française of Cincinnati bring you the 2nd annual FrenchFest at Newport on the Levee Riverwalk Plaza. Experience the sights, sounds, & scents of a French country market. Enjoy food, fashion, jewelry, and flowers among an eclectic collection of vendors at this free, family event. Learn more about Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky's local French community. Enjoy traditional French dance & music: Habeeba's Dance of the Arts will perform @ 5-6 PM; accordion music & Cajun band Lagniappe will perform @ 6-10 PM. More info @ FrenchFest2005@sparemac.com & www.france-cincinnati.com.
Green Cuisine [Saturday 21 May @ 11 AM - 2 PM]: Imago Earth Center presents Part 3 of their Easy Being Green workshop series. This workshop will examine ways to make environmentally friendly & socially responsible food choices. Learn what is meant by terms like organic, fair-trade, local, & meatless, & how these products are labeled. Bring an appetite to taste-test organic & meat-free meals. Go on a guided tour of The Gardens at Village Green. Members: $5; nonmembers: $8; registration & prepayment required. Target ages: 12 & up. At Imago Earth Center, 700 Enright Avenue, East Price Hill, Cincinnati, OH 45205. More info @ 513.921.5124, abeck-oliver@imagoearth.org, & www.imagoearth.org.
Second Chance Prom [Saturday 21 May @ 9 PM]: The theme of the 12th annual 2nd Chance Prom is Red Hot Love. Live music by The Modulators. Dress fun, formal, casual, funky. This citywide event is simply a wonderful mix of people enjoying a great party. Partiers range from 5-95 years. At the Off The Avenue Studio, 1546 Knowlton Street (behind the Provident Bank on Hamilton Avenue), Northside, Cincinnati, OH. $15 per person on a sliding scale. BYOB; chips, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks available. Proceeds benefit the OTA Studios, a community space. More info @ 513.542.0088 & urbanvillage@fuse.net.
2005 Columbia Tusculum Historic Homes Tour [Sunday 22 May @ 1-6 PM]: Visit Cincinnati's Oldest Neighborhood, tracing its roots to the 1788 Benjamin Stites settlement. Columbia Tusculum is Cincinnati's oldest neighborhood & boasts some of its oldest houses. Tour some of Columbia Tusculum's exquisite Victorian Painted Lady homes; most houses were built between the mid 1800’s & early 1900’s; styles range from period restoration to contemporary. Visit local historic buildings including the St. Stephen Catholic Church (established in 1867), Columbia Baptist Church (built in 1895; Cincinnati’s oldest continuously operated congregation), The Manor House at St. Ursula Villa, and the beautifully renovated Carnegie Center. On the National Register of Historic Places and designated a city historic district. Art show, musical & dance performances, & an outdoor Homes Festival. Performers will include the Riley School of Irish Music, English Country Dancers, & Midwest Theatre Ballet. The Carnegie Center will showcase an exhibition by John B. Chewning: "Resume Speed – A Photographic Vision of An American Byway," fine art photographs of Cincinnati’s Route 50. Tour begins at The Carnegie Center at 3738 Eastern Avenue 2 blocks east of Delta Ave. Tickets are $15; $12 in advance @ any Cincinnati Provident Bank/National City branch or www.thecarnegiecenter.org. More info @ 513.784.7949, matyi@fuse.net, & www.thecarnegiecenter.org. <http://www.thecarnegiecenter.org.>
Sunday Markets on Main: Vendors, Volunteers & Visionaries Converge [Sunday 22 May @ 11 AM - 3 PM & every Sunday until mid-October]: A sidewalk marketplace, an organic marketplace, blankets on the ground, racks & stacks, not a conventional row of sterile booths, in the tradition of the Portobello Road in London (www.portobelloroad.co.uk/aboutpada.asp). Restaurants & merchants of Main Street will be open for business; street vendors will add to the variety & vibrancy of the experience. A festival of community and talents in the arts district of Over-the-Rhine with unique arts, crafts and antiques for sale. Sunday is the day to grab a bite to eat, explore emerging artists & experience an eclectic mix of mingling & marketing. This is a great opportunity for a variety of vendors, artists, craftsmen & buskers to be exposed to an urban, creative crowd looking for a unique experience. Main Street sidewalks between 13th & Woodward. More info @ 513-236-6242 jhill30@fuse.net, Marketsonmain@fuse.net, & www.irhine.com/index.jsp?page=mom_call. <http://www.irhine.com/index.jsp?page=mom_call.>
Mike Wade Sextet @ Sunday Jazz Brunch @ The Parktown Café [Sunday 22 May @ 4-8 PM]: "Intimate setting, outstanding musicians, the best meatloaf in the world – everyone friendly. I met wonderful people and my compadres saw some old friends again. It just doesn’t get any better than this." ~ Myra Greenburg. Enjoy the best jazz in town with friends - old & new - in a comfortable, relaxing, authentic West End environment. $5 admission buys the jazz & buffet. Parktown Café, 1726 Linn Street near Findlay Market, Cincinnati, OH, 45214. More info at 513.621.5683 & www.jazzincincy.com.
Learn to Check Energy with a Pendulum [Thursday 26 May @ 6:30–9:00 PM]: How does the pendulum work? How to use the pendulum to check yourself, others, & the energy of anything: supplements, appropriateness/safety of foods, help with decision making. How to get your yes, no, and maybe swings with the pendulum. Pendulums available for purchase in class. Workbook included. $35 registration; pre-registration required. At WholeCare, 4434 Carver Woods Drive, Blue Ash, OH. More info & registration: JoAnn Utley @ 502.777.3865 & jutley5122@bellsouth.net.
William Menefield Jazz Recital [Friday, May 27 @ 8 PM]: Your presence is requested at an exciting concert of New Music composed by William Owen Menefield. This free concert will feature an eclectic mix of musical genres with broad audience appeal. This extraordinarily talented CCM senior has thrilled audiences with the maturity, artistry, and variety of his jazz, performing solo and with groups including the Mike Wade Sextet, the Bruce Menefield Quartet, and his own Will Menefield Trio. This free concert will be in the Abigail Cutter Theater at the School for the Creative & Performing Arts, 1320 Sycamore Street, Downtown Cincinnati, OH, 45202. More in @ bigwilljazz@hotmail.com. See attached invitation.
Saved! - Spiritual Cinema [Friday 3 June @ 7-10 PM]: Mary is a good Christian girl who attends a Christian high school in Baltimore. When she learns her boyfriend, Dean, might be gay, Mary offers her virginity to turn him straight, and becomes pregnant. While this comedy derives many of its laughs at the expense of evangelical stereotypes, Saved! offers some spiritual warmth & insight. Discussion leader: Greg Loomis. Directed by Brian Dannelly; rated PG13. At the Friendship Hall, New Thought Unity Center, 1401 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206. More info @ LouFreeman@ntunity.org & www.savedmovie.com/. <http://www.savedmovie.com/.>
The Endless Spiral – Contemporary Celtic Paintings by Cynthia Matyi [thru Sunday 26 June @ 11 AM - 4 PM]: The artist was influenced by her Appalachian grandmother's stories which “really fired my imagination.” She developed a love of history, legend, & the supernatural, rooted in the Scots-Irish tradition. She gives workshops in Celtic art & is one of the organizers of the touring art show "American Celtic." Cindy's work has appeared in galleries throughout the US & Europe. She has illustrated books, CD covers, posters, & websites. She still finds time to play Celtic music with the band Silver Arm, and is the founder & artistic director of the Cincinnati Celtic World Festival. Opening receptions are Friday 6 May @ 6-9 PM with Nancy Bick Clark playing Celtic harp; & Sunday 8 May @ 11 AM - 2 PM. The artist will present a gallery talk on Sunday 5 June @ 11:30 AM on “Celtic Art: Ancient & Modern,” exploring a panorama of Celtic Art from 3000 BC to artists who are working in this art form today. Covington Cathedral Art Gallery, next to the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, 1140 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011. More info @ 859.431.2060 x204, 859.356.2360, foundation@covcathedral.com, & www.covcathedral.com. <http://www.covcathedral.com.>
Northside Farmers Market [Wednesdays @ 3-7 PM]: This week, the popular Northside Farmers Market returned to its summer home in the parking lot in the 4100 block of Hamilton Avenue. The market features delicious produce, fresh bread, garden plants, sweets, crafts, & more. Support local farmers & artisans, visit with neighbors, make new friends, & celebrate spring. There might even be clowns, balloons, a juggler, & live music. Share your ideas about this Northside tradition. More info for patrons & vendors from Kate at 513.706.5401, kate@solidgroundstudio.com, & www.northside.net/GetInvolved/farmersmarket.shtml. <http://www.northside.net/GetInvolved/farmersmarket.shtml.>
Media Skills [Thursday 2 June @ 7-9 PM]: Tired of bias in the media? Learn how to be a change. Speaker: Mr. Byron McCauley, Cincinnati Enquirer. CAIR Office, 2938 Vernon Place. More info @ 513.281.8200 & Cincinnati@cair-ohio.com.
Jesus & Nonviolence - a Film & Discussion Series [Sunday 5 June @ 7 PM & the following 5 Sundays]: This 6-film series will illustrate how the nonviolent teachings & life of a first century Jew influenced the nonviolent actions of the 20th century, & how we can follow the path of nonviolent action. Each Sunday will feature one of the 30-minute films followed by discussion, and readings for the next week. The series tells one of humanity's most important & least understood stories - how, during a century of extreme violence, millions chose to battle brutality & oppression with nonviolent weapons - and won. "These are powerful stories, about truth overcoming lies, love dissolving evil, and life eclipsing death," said former president Jimmy Carter of the documentary. The films draw on stunning archival footage and interviews with witnesses, survivors, & unsung heroes who contributed to these century-changing events. The stories: 1) The 1960 Nashville, TN, campaign to desegregate the city's downtown district, which was emblematic of the American civil rights movement & became what Martin Luther King Jr. called "the model of the movement." 2) Mohandas Gandhi's Salt March of 1930 during which he enjoined Indians to protest the British salt monopoly - a turning point in the movement that paved the way for India's independence from Britain. 3) The consumer boycott campaign against apartheid in the black townships of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa in the mid 1980s, led by the young activist Mkhuseli Jack. 4) The courage & endurance of Denmark's citizens resistance movement during the 5-year Nazi occupation of World War II to commit sabotage and stage general strikes and rescue nearly all the country's 7000 Jews from the Holocaust. 5) The 1980 Gdansk Shipyard strike that won Poles the right to have free trade unions, launched the Solidarity movement & catapulted Lech Walesa, on a path to leadership, a Nobel Peace Prize, and the fall of communism in Poland. 6) The national protest days led by Chilean copper miners in 1983, which overcame a decade of paralyzing fear, showed that public opposition to the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet was possible, and signaled the start of a nonviolent democratic opposition. Free & open to all thoughts & ideas; local leaders from all faiths have been invited. At All Saints Episcopal Church, 6301 Parkman Place, Pleasant Ridge, Cincinnati, OH, 45213. More info & directions @ 513.531.6333, therevken@yahoo.com, www.allsaintscincinnati.org, & www.pbs.org/weta/forcemorepowerful/.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tri-State Treasures is compiled by James Kesner.
To submit Tri-State Treasures, or to request your email address to be added or removed
from the Tri-State Treasures list, send an email to jkesner@nuvox.net and specify Tri-State Treasures.
5/20
Jan(uary) Marx Knoop sends this:
Take two minutes for breast cancer
"I did this in two minutes max!
Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women.
Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a
time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those
times.
If you are receiving this it's because I think you will take the few seconds
to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do
the same.
There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will
require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for
patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the
"drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home hours after
surgery against
the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes
with drainage tubes still attached.
Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition
drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.
PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not
give more than your name and zip code.
<http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html>
This truly only takes a minute or so. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends
and family.
Thanks,
Jan. "
5/21
Sacred Retreat Weekend
June 17-19
At Three Waters Sanctuary
(at Natural Bridge/Red River Gorge, Slade, KY)
with Alan Hundley and friends
Three Waters Sanctuary is a retreat center for small intimate groups.
Take a weekend escape from the demands of daily life.
Realign with your inner self.
Celebrate the sacredness and majesty
of the natural world.
Surrounded by national forest, it is situated in the foothills
of the Appalachian Mountains across the road from
Natural Bridge State Park. Travel time from Cincinnati or Louisville
is a little over 2 hours, and just one hour east of Lexington.
€Meditation & Qigong with Alan Hundley
€Anusara-inspired Yoga with Karen Berger
€Circle Council and Fire Ceremony led by Kathleen Matthews
€Evening Soaks in the Cedar Hot Tub and/or Sauna
€Guided hikes
€Time for reading, relaxation, swimming in the pond
Fee for the weekend:
$235
(if we receive your non-refundable deposit of $50 before June 1. $250 after June 1.)
To reserve a spot, please mail a check payable to
Three Waters LLC for $50 to:
Three Waters LLC
Sacred Retreat Weekend
12 Burton Woods Ln.
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Weekends are limited to 10. Please register early to insure your spot.
Fee includes all of the above and all delicious organic meals prepared on site.
Meals provided include Friday dinner, Sat. breakfast/lunch/dinner and Sunday breakfast/lunch.
Questions about registration or the facility
can be directed to Alan Hundley
(513) 281-8606
ahundley@fuse.net
Lodging off-site at surrounding locations. Very reasonable rates.
Contact Alan Hundley at (513)281-8606 for more information.
Private sessions available for an additional fee:
Massage with Brenda Ghantous
Acupuncture with Kathleen Matthews
Integrative Body Work with Alan Hundley
Private Yoga Sessions with Karen Berger
Treat yourself. Please join us.
For more information about Three Waters, check out the website at
http://www.threewaters.com/retreat_center.htm
June 1
Paul Ravenscraft and Kate Kelly send along the following re. tantrika etc.
Deva Premal and Miten Concert
Wednesday June 1, 2005 at 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Rd
Cincinnati, Ohio
Details on the concert:
Wednesday June 1, 2005 at 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Rd
Cincinnati, Ohio
Concert at 8:30 pm, Dinner at 6:30 pm
-- 350 concert tickets will be sold, with 100 capacity for dinner
-- Event includes concert, cash bar, tables for sponsor information, and optional dinner
-- Concert-only tickets are $25, Concert/dinner tickets are $50
-- Attendees will be yoga practitioners & teachers, Ipsalu Tantrikas, and those interested in chant/kirtan from the Tristate region
-- Sponsors at $300 or more can display their business information at the event
June 3,4
Art Walk at the Essex Art Studios
Friday and Saturday 6-11 pm
Corner Essex Ave. and E. McMillan near Union Institute (where McMillan crosses Reading Rd.)
Call 244-3375
Free, o pen to the public.
scores of artist's studios displaying a lot of terrible art and some really good stuff.
Happens every even number month except not August
Fanchon and Bonia Shur
at the Aronoff
June 10, 11
We invite you to join us:
Jarson Kaplan Theater, Aronoff Center
Choreographers Without Companies Concert
Presented by: Contemporary Dance Theater
June 10 & 11, 2005
http://www.growthinmotion.org/html/growthPerformances.html
8:30pm
For more information on the piece, go to:
http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/tickets/results.php
To purchase tickets, go to:
For any further questions or if you would like to donate, sponsor or support this piece, please reply to this email address:
fanchon@fuse.net
June 25 Sat.
Free Talk: Introduction to Homeophthy
Shirley Reischman
Cincinnati's only Classically Trained Homeopath
Saturday, June 25 1:00 - 3:00 pm.
Wild Oats Market
Rookwood Shopping Center, Edwards and Madison Road
Hyde park/Norwood
Pre registration is necessary as seating is limited. Call 531 8015 to register, or you can sign up at Wild Oats.
Shirley's talk is fascinating, informative, clear, authoritative. AND if you attend the lecture, she will give you a $100 discount off an initial consultation (such a deal!).
I have been under Shirley's care since July 2004 and I am thrilled with the results. Am jogging again after arthritic knees told me fifteen years ago that I would never jog again. Much peppier and happier this winter. This is the berries! ellen
July
A fascinating spiritual journey in Israel this summer: Rabbi Natan Ofir is a marvelous teacher of Kabbalah. Met him in Jerusalem in '96. ellen
Dear Ellen,
Here is yet another reason to visit Israel this summer.
Enclosed is a description of a program slated to take place in Jerusalem at Yakar (where I direct my Beit Midrash Meorot Program). Do you think that your friends would be interested?
Natan
Jerusalem Summer Intensive
Kabbalah & Mystical Experience in Judaism
July 3-22, 2005
Sponsored by Tiferet Institute for Integral Kabbalistic Spirituality and
Ruach: A New Center for Spirituality and Learning, Siegal College
~
Two Core Courses & Special Evening Programs
Kabbalah & God: A Text-Based Introduction
Rabbi Yakov Travis, Ph.D.
Director, Ruach: A New Center for Spirituality and Learning, Siegal College
Mystical Experience in Judaism: Techniques & Testimonies
Rabbi Eliezer Shore, M.A., Doctoral Candidate, BIU
Each Course includes thirteen sessions comprised of a 2 hour academic seminar and 1.5 hour ³Beit Midrash² session devoted to studying the primary sources necessary for the seminar, in English translations, with original Hebrew/Aramaic texts for advanced students. Participants are expected to take both courses, but may enroll in only one, with permission.
Special Evening Programs include lectures by leading scholars, meetings with spiritual guides and mystics, experiential workshops, and evenings of spiritual music and song. Several day-tours to relevant sites will also be offered.
· Six transferable credits (Graduate & Undergraduate Level). Non-credit option.
· Different tracks for students of varying Judaica knowledge and textual skills.
· Open to men and women of all ages.
LOCATION: Yakar Center, Rechov HaLamed Heh 10, Jerusalem
COST: Program $750 Academic credit $500 (per credit hour)
Room and board provided upon request for additional fee.
· Scholarships and financial aid available to qualified students.
For more information, list of speakers, or to apply, visit www.siegalcollege.edu/spirituality
Accredited by Siegal College - an emerging leader in Judaic Studies, with over 100 students enrolled in graduate degree programs. Siegal College is chartered by the State of Ohio to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Universities and is a member of the Association of Institutions of Higher Learning for Jewish Education.
July 8 - 10, 2005
EarthSpirit Rising:Summer Conference
Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
(This is a national, important Eco Conference put on each year by our own IMAGO, that fab. movement up on Enright in Price Hill founded decades ago by the Shenks, Jim and Eileen. Last year it was in the Carolinas. This year it is right here. I will be leading one of the discussion groups on Saturday evening on how to build community in your own locale. See, people will be coming from all over the country and abroad for this. I will talk about building the salon. So this is a great opportunity to attend a great conference. Check out the stars who will be giving keynotes! See below. ellen)
EarthSpirit Rising:
A Conference on Ecology, Spirituality, and Community
All the details are on the web at: http://Earthspiritrising.org
A Council of Earth Elders follows the conference
All the details are on the web at: http://Earthspiritrising.org
For a conference brochure, registration or more information:
E-mail - earthspiritrising@imagoearth.org
Phone - 513-921-5124
Mail - EarthSpirit Rising 700 Enright Ave Cincinnati Ohio 45205
- end of Announcements -
A r t i c l e s
5/18
Roy Jones Commenting on the Racism Discussion
Racism: The New Frontier
---------------------------
The challenge laid at the feet of the Salon on the 16th seemed normal
and easy. A skip through the park. Unfortunately the task was much more
complicated than it initially appeared. Along with that, the Lloyd House
salon group made what seemed unattainable a reality in a shorter span
than I have seen before. Even though the initial goal set was much
broader than what was completed the amount of progress acheived was
refreshing and tangible in comparison to other situations that attempted
to resolve the same thing.
The major goal of the discussion was the challenge of defining an act
racism in a way that was agreeable to everyone with enough detail to
make it something to be considered contained.
To give the beast a name, if you would.
To the bulk of US citizenry this is easy. They open up a dictionary and
come up with answers very succinct as the following:
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character
or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
Unfortunately such simplistic definitions leave a lot to be desired. The
first definition speaks about the institution/concept of racism. The act
of racism is tackled in the second one. There are instances where
discrimination by race is needed so is it racism? There are instances
where the decision process isn't conscience which is implied by the
definition. Furthermore, this definition isn't owned by you or me, it is
owned by someone else who dictated to us. Racism isn't water, something
easily measurable or easy to pick up and share with someone else for
verification, it's an interpretation of a concept that if it is assumed
that the details are interpreted universally you are probably fooling
yourself. The nuiances of what racism is and what it is not is the
challenge. The act of racism is different from the instituation of
racism. The act of racism was to remain the focus.
The aspect that was one of the hardest to properly word was the one of
"The opportunity to affect someone's life". Originally it was proposed
as power, but it was easy for us to identify instances where individuals
who did not have what we believed to be power would act racist. There
was another point that someone could have sanctioned power, such as
those who are using race to make decisions about Affirmative Action
policies. There was also the desire to include "negative" power to make
a distinction as it needing to be specifically detrimental. The
discussion went on a bit talking about this aspect and it was decided
that "The opportunity to affect someone's life" was a good starting
point. It included the possible temporary nature of the power, how the
power could be minor, or seemingly imbalanced but that it could affect
someone's life. Another aspect was to word the phrase to include the
possible scenerio where an invidual can effect their own life and it
doesn't always have to be effecting someone elses'. This meant someone
could justify keeping a resource to themselves or convincing themselves
not to pursue a goal due to how they perceive their race. It was an
interesting subject.
The next part was to include "based on race when race is
inconsequential". There was debate to which aspects were being measured,
such as skin tone, eye shapes, or others. In the end it seemed that we
were trying to define what a "race" was, so we stuck with the word race,
as the definition of race itself seemed like a discussion worthy unto
itself but not necessary seeing as we were defining racism which is
actually based on the word "race". The "inconsequential" qualifciation
is important when considering those rare times when making decisions
based on race is actually relevant to the task at hand (ie; Who to test
for sickle cell).
This might seem like a small task and I hope that it would appear as
such to the rest of the viewers. The intent of the dicsussion was to
whittle it down to a few words that gave the beast a behavior to denote
it was present. If the act does not meet all the requirements set forth
in the definition, it is not racist. If it matches them it is.
"Racism is when something (person/entity) takes the opportunity to
affect a (person's/entity's) capability/life based on race when race is
inconsequential."
Our goal, in society, is to end racism. In less than 1:30 hours the
Lloyd House reached a conclusion in the very civil and focused
discussion. I have seen this same task laid out in front of other groups
and it taken weeks and months and even some where a conclusion was never
decided on. Armed with such a definition we can look at the minute and
grandiose ways we act as individuals and a society to identify racism in
a way we couldn't before.
Now that we have an agreeable definition, we can investigate the
prevelance and potency of racism in our day-to-day society. Without an
agreement to how broad and powerful the force of racism is, we cannot
agree on ways to fight it as a pervasive social issue. Is it national?
It is isolated? Is it in everyone everyday all the time? Is it only in
the hearts of those who are malicious and smallthinking? So many
questions to go through and this is definitely more difficult than just
coming up with a defintion, but the definition will guide us.
- Roy Jones
..........................................................................................................................................
Roy Euvrard responds on Racism
Yes we have come a long way from when a lawless gang lynched a black
man in Richmond, Indiana.
In a way, however, I think that the pain, frustration and anger are
even stronger today. That is because of the apparent hypocrisy.
As you pointed out, the "N" word is no longer acceptable in polite
society, and yet black men are still brutalized by the very police who
are sworn to protect them. We are creating a permanent underclass of
ex-felons out of one in four black men in the name of the war on drugs,
while failing to reduce the availability of drugs in our society.
I know, from my own experience, that I have little anxiety when a known
lier lies to me. However, when some one I believe to be a trusted
friend, lies or betrays me, I feel disrespected and angry.
I can only imagine how a person of color feels when they are repeatedly
told that there is no racism in Cincinnati and they come face to face
with reality. I can only imagine how Rev. Lynch III felt when he was
invited to the Queen City Club and then lectured on what is wrong with
black people. Segregation might be better than limbo where there are
no lines and attacks come from every direction.
The first step has to be for all of us to acknowledge that there is a
problem. In a way, I some times feel like a European refugee coming to
America in the 1930's and saying what is happening in Germany and no
one believing me. It can't be. Germany is one of the most emancipated
countries in Europe. Look at how far the Jews have come since
Napoleon's troops removed the gate to the Frankfort ghetto.
Roy
..................................................................
5/20
Mike Murphy Responds re. Racism
Roy & Salonistas--
Thank you for boldly leading this past and present
discussion, Roy. Of course, one discussion will not suffice. In a major
way, it is beyond discussion. It is not just a mental thing. It is an
emotional thing. Race, race perception, and racism are, in large part, our
projections of our fears, our 'scapegoat' on which we hang our un-wants. It
finally ends when, as Ellen so nicely says , we are 'kissing in every
corner.' It all ends in the bedroom. Or when we become a team of friends,
heading out on some mutually fun exploration, fellow argonauts,
star-questors. Perhaps, on our current mental-emotional level, that is
exactly what we are doing with this 'racism' phenomenon.
Meanwhile, there are certainly books to read, discussions to have.
One book I just picked up is by Amy Chua, a Yale professor, who writes
fascinatingly about 'market dominant minorities' scattered around the world.
Very insightful. Her book is "World On Fire: How Exporting Free Market
Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred & Global Instability."
Another book deals with the 'N' word: "Nigger: The Strange Career of a
Troublesome Word," by Randall Kennedy.
I will continue to give this thought. Thank you, Roy. Mike M
RACISM & SCAPEGOATS
Some more thoughts:
I think racism serves a purpose, albeit a clumsy and cruel one. Racism provides a given community with an opportunity to objectively, tho very primitively, sketch a picture of its fears as well as its desires. It is a rudimentary consciousness-raising technique.
Consider the biblical scapegoat, mentioned in Leviticus 16:8. Note that lots are cast for, not one, but two, goats, ³one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.² Isaac Asimov, in his ³Guide to the Bible² commentary, explains:
³The goat upon whom the Lord¹s lot fell Šwould be sacrificed to the Lord as atonement for the sins of the nation. The other would be led off into the wilderness bearing with it all those sins, so that punishment might befall it rather than the nation of Israel and its people. Because the second goat escapes into the wilderness {where, I presume, it is soon devoured by wolves and such, and so is no real Œescape¹ (note by Michael)} and is not sacrificed, the King James Version refers to it as a ³scapegoat² (³escaped goat²). It is for this reason that the word has come to be applied to any person or object who, himself innocent, suffers vicariously for the deeds of another.²
Religion & psychology play a role here, too. The Judeo-Christian story in Genesis of disobedience in the Garden of Eden resulting in expulsion, translating culturally into guilt or Œorginal sin¹, an Œoriginal sin¹ due to bold act of disobedience by our ancient parents‹disobedience which is, in fact, heroic, Promethean-like disobedience in pursuit of forbidden knowledge; which means, secretly an exciting, desirable, adventurous thing to do!---this Œcrime against God¹ carried out in the heart of the Garden of Eden, anchors guilt at the very foundation of our cultural psychology. It creates an on-going anger and anxiety within us much like rape does. We have all be psychologically raped. Over and over. And the guilt-anger-shame lingers on and on in our culture.
Racism, tho, crude and clumsy as it is, allows a part of society to project this unresolved anger and anxiety upon another part of society. Upon a sacrificial lamb. Or goat. Or race. Or ethnic group.
This projection permits a fanciful escape from guilt-anger-shame for some. We‹or they--just shove it off on those others, and be done with it!
But we¹re not done with it. Because it is anchored deep in our psychology, and thus, like Lady Macbeth, we wash our hands over and over‹or project our racist notions over and over‹crying out, ŒOut! Out! Damn spot!¹, endlessly, Sisyphus-like. The Œspot¹ is in our hearts, our psyches. The fault is our own.
This is, of course, a terrible thing to do. A deluded thing to do. A clumsy & cruel & primitive thing to do. Surely we as a culture can do better. And if we find the fault is with our culture or our religion, well, we simply change it. Right?
There is an insightful guide to navigating this mine-strewn culture-field in the scapegoat website, established in 1997, www.scapegoat.demon.co.uk Michael Murphy
...............................................................................
5/21
Spencer Comments on the discussion at table on Racism
Although, I said the table is a very special place, I thought the discussion was booring. As I stated I am happy to help another deal with the pain in their life. I am just not willing to concentrate all my time and thoughts on a subject I find booring. I hope Roy heals quickly.
By his own statement he said we got extremly further along on the exercise that anywhere else he had worked. This means that the group is light years ahead of other groupes he has worked with. I do not think we need to continue to over work this subject. I have asked good friend and his wife to come to next weeks dinner. Hopefully Henry and Elizebeth Brown will show up.
Sincerely yours
Spencer Konicov
5/20
Sr. Joyce Kahle, R.N. writing from India
Where she is doing Tsunami Relief Work
(Joyce is a Sister of the Precious Blood, based here in Cincinati where she does parish nursing. A friend and a great gal, her congregation gave her leave to work for a few months on humanitarian relief in India.)
Dear Family and Friends,
This was the first letter I wrote about 2 weeks after
arriving here. Don't know if you got this or not.
Joyce
Hello to everyone!
Greetings from India! The first several days in Bangalore we spent getting
to know the Sisters, getting used to the time change, resting and making
plans for our trip to the tsunami area. We taught the sisters some tai chi,
acupressure and other techniques and they really enjoyed that.
On Saturday, April 2 we (four sisters and Margo and I) set out in two cars
piled with our 9 huge duffle bags filled with medicines and supplies and
toys along with smaller luggage of personal items. First we sent to a city
in Tamil Nadu called “Trichy”, short for something I don’t know how to
spell!), where we stayed overnight and picked up two more Sisters for the
journey. On Sunday morning we left for the village where we are staying –
only about 175 km. away, but it took us 5 ½ hours to get here. Some of the
roads were only 1 lane, partially paved and shared with busses,
“auto-rickshaws”, which are 3 wheeled taxies, oxen-drawn carts, bikes,
people pushing carts and people walking with their goats, etc. Meeting a
bus or car coming the other direction meant one of us had to pull off the
side of the road to pass. Our driver didn’t slow down for much, but used
his horn a lot (common here) to get through the congested areas, so he made
good time!
Our living space is in the open “hall” or body of a little church
(sanctuary) in a village called Agasthiyampalli, only a few km from the sea,
the Bay of Bengal. TLhey only have Mass at the church once every 2-3 weeks,
so we have taken over the space and made it home for 3 months. There is a
small room behind the altar (used as the sacristy for the church) which has
a toilet room in it. (That’s the basic home with places to put your feet
and squat!) On Monday, some men in the village constructed a bath house
behind the church for us made of woven palm leaves and sticks and banana
leaves with a brick floor. We set up a tent to use for a kitchen until
another little room was made next to the bath house to use for cooking.
Thank God the native Indian Sisters are with us! Some of them know Tamil,
the language of the people here, so they have negotiated the construction of
these new additions to our home. They have also taken over the meal
preparation and have been wonderful. They spoil us by making special foods
for us at first, but are concerned that we will get sick on other foods.
Actually they are great cooks and we are enjoying the Indian food. Meals
are simple – mostly vegetarian, a lot of rice prepared in different ways
with various sauces, different kinds of chutney, various kinds of Indian
breads, fruit and other dishes like potatoes, eggs, and vegetables. Margo
and I have taken over the job of water-purification so we can do something
to contribute.
It rained from last Sunday through Friday – very unusual for this time of
year but probably a blessing since it kept the temperature down to around 85
or so in the house. The humidity is even worse than Ohio in august, if you
can imagine that, so sticky and wet is the normal feeling. It makes a cool
water bucket bath feel wonderful!! (I say “cool” as opposed to “cold’ water
because nothing is cold here.). When we are home we often plant ourselves
under the one ceiling fan in the church to dry off. This is also where we
eat, pray morning and evening prayer and sleep.
Before we could volunteer as doctor and nurse in India, we were advised to
meet with the Health Minister of Tamil Nadu and to take a priest who works
with an NGO in tsunami relief with us. That was an all-day experience but
when we finally was the Health inister , he was very gracious, and gave us a
letter to have with us giving us permission to minister to the people. He
also said that if we had any needs we should contact him.
While we were waiting around for the priest to be ready to accompany us, we
visited a famous shrine to Our Lady of Good Health at Velanganni, a town
about an hour from our village. It is next to the sea and so we had an
opportunity to walk down to see some of the actual devastation. The Shrine
sustained no damage, but areas around it were destroyed. The beach is still
littered with items displaced from the waters, although a lot of effort has
gone into removing much of the debris. It was a powerful, sad and humbling
experience to stand one the beach and know that that was the burial site for
many, many people. We saw a palm tree there in which a young boy was found
three days after the tsumani. I remember reading about that in the
Cincinnati paper.
We went to the village where we are working the day after we arrived. There
was really no place for us to safely stay in the village (at least,
according to the Sisters here), so that’s why they made arrangements for us
to stay at the church in a near-by village. All the people in “our village”
of Poovamthoppu, have welcomed us warmly. They have lost boats and fishing
equipment, and the rice paddies were flooded with salt water so won’t be
able to be used for 5 years. This people in this particular village didn’t
lose their homes, though, but they are among the poorest of the poor, the
Dalit or lowest cast. Most of the adults have had no education, but they
are trying to send their children to school. That isn’t always possible
because often the children have to work in some way, even watching the
younger children, so parents can work. But right now, work is scarce.
It took us a couple of days to set up a clinic. Actually there was a
one-room house in the village that was not occupied and we are renting it.
There was no electricity, so a flashlight helped out one day when the sky
was dark, but Friday some electricians installed a light and a ceiling fan
(thank you, God!!) hooking up the power from the one house in the area that
has power. We have seen about 45 people there so far and I had some time to
start teaching some Tai Chi to the women and children who hang around the
clinic, fascinated with these new strangers who smile a lot but don’t speak
their language. They loved it, so I’m looking forward to doing a lot more
with them. We have also been having clinic with the people in the village
where we are living and have seen about 45-50 people there, too, in the two
days that we have actually had for clinic. I’m going to have my work cut
out for me doing Healing Touch with many people. They have worked so hard
all their lives that back, knee, shoulder and neck pain is one of the chief
complaints.
There is so much more that I could write about, but this has already gotten
very long. Hope I haven’t bored you. The summer will hold lots of stories,
I’m sure, and hopefully there will be time to write. We do have a cell
phone here that the Sisters in Bangalore gave us, but so far we haven’t been
able to use it to make international calls because there is a block on it.
But if anyone wants to call us here, the number is 011919448124203. The
time difference is 9 ½ hours: 6:00PM in Ohio is 3:30AM here. Internet
access is difficult, and I’m having trouble picking up messages, but
hopefully I can send this one.
Know that I’m doing well, thinking of all of you and feeling all the love
and support that you have given me. I’m taking lots of pictures, but I
doubt if we will be able to find a way to put them on the internet for you.
Hope you are all well and enjoying a beautiful springtime. Keep me in your
prayers, as I do you.
Peace and love, Joyce
5/20
Diane Fishbein ... helping the Africans
Her son Jeremy is the head Soccer coach at U. New Mexico at Albuquerque.
Here's how some j ocs are helping out in Africa:
"Reading about John David Charter, he and others might be interested in this organization
http://goalie.grassrootsoccer.org/
Jeremy's assistant coach Jamie Scott at the U of New Mexico is the brother of the founder. both
men are the sons of the soccer coach at Notre Dame. Diane"
(the link is to "grassroots soccer"...here is a blurb about them. Check it out. ellen)
GRASSROOT SOCCER is an international AIDS awareness and educational organization. Founded in 2002, by current and former professional soccer players, our mission is to mobilize the global soccer community to combat the AIDS epidemic in Africa. We train professional African soccer players and other role models to educate youth about critical life-skills and HIV/AIDS prevention strategies. Our focus is on helping youth to adopt healthy behaviors and empowering them to reachout to others in the community.
Diane is another salonista who doesn't often come to the table, but faithfully reads our Weekly. Way to go, Diane!
5/20
Heather Says "Gas up at Citgo!"
There seem to be so few ways to have a positive influence sometimes. I would suggest that along with buying gas at Citgo, people write a letter of support to them as well. Flattery does work, maybe not as much with large companies, but it does have an effect.
Heather Sturgill (Teagan)
Published on Monday, May 16, 2005 by CommonDreams.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citgo is a U.S. refining and marketing firm that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company.
Buy Your Gas at Citgo: Join the BUY-cott!
by Jeff Cohen
Looking for an easy way to protest Bush foreign policy week after week? And an easy way to help alleviate global poverty? Buy your gasoline at Citgo stations.
And tell your friends.
Of the top oil producing countries in the world, only one is a democracy with a president who was elected on a platform of using his nation's oil revenue to benefit the poor. The country is Venezuela. The President is Hugo Chavez. Call him "the Anti-Bush."
Citgo is a U.S. refining and marketing firm that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company. Money you pay to Citgo goes primarily to Venezuela -- not Saudi Arabia or the Middle East. There are 14,000 Citgo gas stations in the US. (Click here http://www.citgo.com/CITGOLocator/StoreLocator.jsp to find one near you.) By buying your gasoline at Citgo, you are contributing to the billions of dollars that Venezuela's democratic government is using to provide health care, literacy and education, and subsidized food for the majority of Venezuelans.
Instead of using government to help the rich and the corporate, as Bush does, Chavez is using the resources and oil revenue of his government to help the poor in Venezuela. A country with so much oil wealth shouldn't have 60 percent of its people living in poverty, earning less than $2 per day. With a mass movement behind him, Chavez is confronting poverty in Venezuela. That's why large majorities have consistently backed him in democratic elections. And why the Bush administration supported an attempted military coup in 2002 that sought to overthrow Chavez.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0516-25.htm
5/20
-- Bill Wilson, paraphrasing DeToqueville: "DeToqueville insisted that the greatest danger to democracy would always be the 'tyranny' of apathetic, self-seeking, uninformed, or angry majorities. Only a truly dedicated citizenry, quite willing to protect and conserve minority rights and opinions could, he thought, guarantee the existence of a free and democratic society."
5/6/05
Darfur
Do this now: visit links to find out what is going on.
http://www.icg.org
http://www.savedarfur.org
Then,
In One Minute
you can add your name to the "Greater Cincinnati Area List for Updated info and Calls for Action" by emailing darfurinfo@earthlink.net
In just four minutes you can call both senators and your congressional rep. with the current action information.
Got ten minutes? Send a handwritten postcard, fax or email to as many political reps. as time allows. (Letters are a no. Security can delay delivery for months.)
Add one minute more: send what you learn to your own list of family, colleagues and friends.
Contact your representatives regularly and ask, "What are you doing now about the genocied and humanitarian crisis in Darfur?"
Insist that we:
- Call for a civilian protectoin mandate for all peacekeepers deployed to Darfur.
- Incrrease the number of African Union troops on the ground.
- Deploy NATO or EU forces to Darfur to immediately boost the capacity of the peacekeeping force.
- Quickly implement the targeted sanctions as approved by the Security Council and extend sanctions to the oil sector where Khartoum makes most of the cash it uses to buy weapons.
- Enforce the ban on offensive military flights and support the International criminal Court's investigations.
- The US should take the lead in calling for a high-level meeting between the AU, UN, EU and other key international plyers to develop and then act on a structure for negotiations, in coordination with the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
Contact info: www.whitehouse.gove, www.senate.gov, www.house.gov, www.take-a-pen.org (United Nations Organizations).
5/22 from Mike Murphy
Hi, All
—Here is a very interesting 7-page "Proposal for a Green Arts Living
& Learning Institute”. Please review. Thanks. Michael mmurphy10@fuse.net
Proposal for
Green Arts Living & Learning Institute
--or GALLI
In recognition of the widespread need to move toward a more localized
economy based more on renewable energy; (a) [see notes at end]
And with full awareness of the wisdom of fostering cooperative
self-empowerment, business-wise and community-wise; (b)
And with the intention of creating a living demonstration and teaching
location as one more link in the growing network of nationwide and worldwide
sustainable communities; (c)
We propose to form the Green Arts Living & Learning Institute [GALLI], as
follows:
1) Form a Corporation [C] for the purpose of purchasing the 5.69 Acre
Schumacher site in Wooden Shoe Hollow, Winton Place, Cincinnati, the asking
price for which is $225,000, and consists of an 8-room, well-built
165-yr-old house, plus 13 derelict greenhouses;
2) Form a Land Trust [LT] which will purchase the property from [C] with
a 20-yr mtg.
-1-
3) The LT will establish guidelines for the land as
residential/agricultural/educational and to be
carried out in environmentally friendly ways, and
will establish general ‘good land use’ guidelines,
such as regarding tree-cropping, erosion control,
and cover-cropping fallow land.
4) The LT will also purchase and similarly steward additional properties,
as needed.
5) The LT will consist of 6 persons, drawn from three differing spheres
for the purpose of promoting stability: Two from the Wooden Shoe Hollow
Neighborhood Alliance; Two friends of the GALLI from outside Wooden Shoe
Hollow; and Two who are members of GALLI.
6) The LT will lease the entire site to GALLI, with the lease payments
covering the monthly mtg pmts.
7) A 99-yr renewable lease is proposed. Consider, if the mtg is paid off
in 20 yrs, then on-going lease pmts beyond the 20-yr mark, and beyond an
amount needed for maintenance, can accumulate to help buy other nuclei of
other community learning centers. Sort of a revolving loan fund.
8) The general purpose of the Green Arts Living & Learning Institute
[GALLI] shall be to explore, discover, create, share, demonstrate & teach
those methods & systems which the GALLI
-2-
Group thinks are best suited to creating and maintaining a sustainable
society.
9) GALLI will have hands-on, day-to-day, and year-
to-year responsibility for stewarding the land
according to the general guidelines established by
the LT.
10) The GALLI Group will have weekly meetings for the
purpose of self-governance. These meetings shall be conducted in an
egalitarian manner, with emphasis upon listening and hearing clearly, and
seeking the highest good for all concerned.
11) GALLI will be permitted to take up residence; carry
on agriculture; and, in
consultation with the LT, tear down, rehab or
construct buildings; set up businesses; lease
land and buildings to GALLI-approved business-
people; establish a school for teaching the ‘green
arts’ of sustainable living and learning.
11) The ‘green arts’ may include, but shall not be
limited to: meditations; attunements; sweat
lodges; May Pole events; co-creating with nature
spirits (d); organic agriculture; wildcrafting (e);
marketing agricultural products; preserving
agricultural products; creating energy-efficient
cooling and heating of housing; conversion of
vehicles [autos, trucks, motorcycles, etc.] to
bio-diesel and bio-fuel vehicles; constructive
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conflict resolution (f); conferences; and
celebrations of various kinds.
12) Businesses either begun by GALLI residents,
or started by those coming in from outside,
shall be expected to play a teaching role at
GALLI.
13) Businesses begun at GALLI, whether by residents or
outsiders, must be committed to democratizing the self-guidance of the
business, in accordance with the skills and understandings of the
participants. That is, whoever sets up the
business must make it his/her/their business to
help others who may be brought into the business
to mature into competent, responsible managers.
We assert this because usually in the
contemporary business world, workers may be
hired but then they are not encouraged or
assisted in growing into responsible adulthood in
that business. We realize the worker must want
to do so, and must also have the capacity to do so.
But we have to start somewhere, and so we can
at least mandate that the initiator/entrepreneur
make a concerted effort to help lift his/her/their
fellow workers. (g)
14) Examples of businesses that could be established at
the GALLI site may include a “Winter Greens & Summer Squash” greenhouse
-4-
and market gardening business; forest farming (h); “lasagna gardening” (i);
straw-bale house building [In fact, we hope as our first major
construction project to build a two-story, straw-
bale, multi-purpose work area & residence](j);
conversion of conventional-fuel vehicles to bio-
fuels; on-line businesses including
publishing.
15) Unresolved conflicts shall be brought to a conflict-resolution
committee, as soon as either party to the conflict feels it is ‘on-going’
and therefore unresolved.
16) Any other GALLI member may serve as a Conflict Resolution Committee, so
long as each
of the parties in conflict so agree.
17)Conflicts unresolved within GALLI shall graduate to the LT.
18)Conflicts between the LT and GALLI as a group shall go to third-party
mediation, with both party’s agreeing upon that third party.
19)The mediator’s decision shall be final.
20) GALLI House rules shall include maintaining a
shared kitchen; shared bathrooms; no smoking;
no TV in public spaces except for special
occasions when and as agreed upon by all
residents; common meals several times per week,
with cooking chores to be rotated among all
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residents; vegetarian menu for common meals;
no public alcohol consumption, except on
special mutually agreed-upon occasions; no
illegal or recreational drugs.
21) Residents may have guests stay over, space
permitting.
22)Space may be rented out to guests, as available.
23) The 8-room house has four upstairs bedrooms.
On the first floor, we are thinking of creating a
rather free-flowing space by knocking down
three walls, creating natural flow from the busy
entry room/living room, thru the kitchen, left
into the dining room with its view of a great
tree, then back toward the front into a quiet
library/study area.
24) Rents could be $200/month per person, plus
sweat equity.
25) And perhaps $100/month per greenhouse.
26) Some considerations: Zoning may limit how many
‘un-related’ people may share a house.
Also, house rents alone may not cover the mtg +
taxes + ins. So, GALLI residents and/or
businesses will have to make up the difference.
Some creative thinking needs to be done here.
If you are interested in being involved with any part of this proposal,
contact me, Mike Murphy, at mmurphy10@fuse.net
2941 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45225 513-542-7097
NOTES:
a) See the many books, articles, videos and films re ‘Peak Oil.’ For
example, see “The End of Suburbia.”
b) See “Economic Democracy: The Political Struggle of the 21st Century,”
by JW Smith. Also “Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World’s Most
Unusual Workplace” by Ricardo Semler, the owner of this Brazillian
multi-billion-dollar conglomerate.
c) See the 700 or so communities listed in “Intentional Communities:
A Guide to Intentioinal Communities & Cooperative Living.” Or go
on-line with www.ic.org <http://www.ic.org/>
d) See “Findhorn Garden”; “The Medical Discoveries of Edward Gach,
Physician,” by
Nora Weeks; “The Secret Life of Plants” by Tompkins & Bird; the Perelandra
books by Machaelle Small Wright, including “Co-Creative Science”; “The
Elves of
Lily Hill” by Penny Kelly; and “Summer With the Leprechauns” by Tanis
Helliwell.
e) See “Volunteer Vegetable Sampler: Recipes For Backyard Weeds,” by Peter
Gail of
Goosefoot Acres in Cleveland Hts, OH.
f) See “Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In,” by Roger
Fisher &
William Ury.
(g) See Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s “The Change Masters: Innovation &
Entrepreneurship In the American Corporation,” esp. ch. 7, “Energizing the
Grass
Roots: Employee Involvement in Innovation & Change”.
(h) See “Forest Farming: Towards a solution to problems of world hunger &
conservation” by James Sholto Douglas.
(i)) See “Lasagna Gardening: A New Layering System for Bountiful Gardens: No
Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding!” by Patricial Lanza.
(j) See “ The Straw Bale House (A Real Goods Independent Living Book)” by
Athena
Swentzell Steen, et al.
end of articles
The Lloyd House Salon (usually about 15 people) Meets Mondays at 5:45,
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