Comment by Kristina Burbank on October 11, 2011 at 1:58

I will do!

Comment by Stoimen on October 11, 2011 at 16:21

 

Great Tina, Vadim Kolpakov gave me his address a long time ago, but I forgot where I put it. It is very important to include famous artists like Gogol Bordello. I try to contact as many as I can, but it is really better that we all do this. Khetanes, you know, it is also more convincing if we all are involved in inviting. Thanks a lot!

Els

Comment by Stoimen on November 5, 2011 at 21:02

The fight for justice is a permanent one. If we believe that human beings are not ready for responsible power, if we accept that human beings tend to fail, then our fighting for justice becomes useless, for doomed to fail as well. Let's not become cynical. Regarding Germany: I find it too easy to blame Germany. Concentration camps are not a German invention. Evil is everywhere, was always everywhere and therefore needs permanent counteroffensive, permanent fighters, permanent educators, permanent love, permanent art. That is what this website is about. I don't believe in paradise on earth, but I believe in the fight for it!

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on November 6, 2011 at 3:44

Els said, "I don't believe in paradise on earth, but I believe in the fight for it!"

 

Well said!

 

Do not despair, Hans. Where there is evil there is also light, growing brighter.

 

Glenda

 

 

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on November 6, 2011 at 17:25

Ah, shukar, Pit! Nais tuke!

Comment by Stoimen on November 6, 2011 at 20:56

 

Thanks a lot, Pit! Let's keep on going!

Comment by Stoimen on November 7, 2011 at 14:33

In a democracy elites are those elected by humans, as elites have the skills to govern. We need to organize ourselves and we need control through parliaments on the elites. If we lose control or replace the control by interests, things go terribly wrong. Read the book by David P. Korten (neither communism nor capitalism are fair systems, very interesting book: when corporations rule the world). And please Hans: in emergencies we must act. One of the reasons for which we face crises now, is that we have neglected basic and essential values for commercial fun. We can learn from this and do better. I believe we are more than clay. We have brains and we have responsibilities. So, let's start acting when there is still time.

Comment by Kristina Burbank on November 9, 2011 at 19:16

Hello, one and all! Sorry I have been away the past few weeks; I had to attend to family and home. I have been catching up on the past few pages of comments - thank you for putting it all out there. For you to chew on, I just wanted to share my initial impressions, kudos, and  thoughts of the latest threads as a partner in AIK and IRADL.

 

Efforts to increase tolerance are good, yet stressful, especially when we are already worn down and wounded. To know that more insults are being added to injury is so painful for all of us, again, especially because it tears at our old wounds that have yet to fully heal. And, yet we know, somehow, that we must rise above the fear and hate and act in love in order to teach tolerance. Turning the other cheek time and time and time again gets old after a while, no matter who we have to do it for...

I want to thank you, pat you on the back, shake your hand, give you a high five and a hug. I want to tell you that what you are doing is making a difference, one person at a time. One person at a time goes a long way because like a U.S. shampoo ad of the 70s "...and she told her friends, and she told her friends, and she told her friends..."

So, this is today's little reminder that you are appreciated and to keep the faith!

On another note - take this with a grain of salt because I am writing this without having checking the group for our funny guys and gals to see who they are and what they are up to AND I touch on psych-ed... the thread on jokes and human dignity, brought to mind a Richard Pryor bit my man put on recently for us to watch from hulu.com. At one point he jokes, "Who do Blacks hate more than Whites? Themselves!" I had to laugh out loud and then I think a tear or two shot out of my eye because, as I’ve mentioned before, I've experienced it as a mentor/teacher of south west U.S. inner city - wealthy adolescents and their counselors and teachers! And, I have to admit, it felt good to laugh, I felt released, like I am not alone, its fucking funny because its so sad and true and I’d rather laugh with Richard than cry alone and bitter.

You could insert any race, religion, gender, human in Richard’s joke, because maybe the real joke is we are all emotionally wounded, taking it out on each other, identifying it, apologizing, accepting, coping, transgressing into forgiveness and tolerance in our effort to make the changes required to heal. I understand how offensive it is to hear jokes sometimes -and in the recent situations mentioned the Chana charade - way more than just a joke, was insidious and out of line.

But humor in the right environment, is one way humans cope and deal with pain through to healing, Not only that, laughing helps keep us happy and healthy! It’s been researched - it decreases stress and gets us to a place we can process forward emotionally on some levels, just like a good book, movie, film.

When we can’t laugh at ourselves we are hurting about something. We do have to be able to laugh at ourselves and let others, otherwise we will be repressed, an internal form of intolerance, if you will, different but similar to a government that controls our thinking and speaking. It’s hard to do good work when you are hurting, especially this type of work, it is so touchy, because people are people, people by nature and design are flawed. The rub is that most people find value in being viewed as perfect...but that is an impossibility.

Mature comedians know this and work it to help folk heal. So, who will be the great stand up comedian to represent and bust up these hideous shades of intolerance from that corner of art?  

 

Comment by Stoimen on December 30, 2011 at 13:47

Sarenge, dear all,

2012 is going to be decisive. Words have to be turned into deeds. People must learn about our goals and methods. This goes in particular for a group like this one, that spots racism in press and culture and sends out official protests. We will create a special Unit in our Daily Board and prepare letters that can be adapted to all specific situations. Not only American or English producers are spreading false and sometimes shocking images, as is the case with MBFGW and Bloodlines. Also individuals post racist statements on their own or public websites. Recently an Italian professor did this on FB. There were protests, but also quite some supporters and fans! The danger of defamation and slaunder that more and more is accepted by an increasing number of people. There is a limit to what can be stated, but if we don't draw the line, who will? Society will get used to grosser and grosser insults. And this getting used to will mean accepting it. We'll "simply" have to react. Glenda, Ciuin and Valery are prepared to take a lead, but we need more assistance. With a group of, let's say, 5-7 Members, the work can easily be shared and won't take more time than one hour per week at the highest. Also we need an official regulation, that settles this activity in accordance with the Statutes. I hope that Niko will help us here.

Happy New Year, Baxtalo Nevo Bersh!

Comment by Glenda Bailey-Mershon on December 30, 2011 at 22:43

Baxtali Nevo Bersh, amale!
I hope we can collect all
our letter writers for new actions, after the holidays. Enjoy all your events!

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