Big parental warning for this video- may be too intense for some viewers:
What are you afraid of?Shopping; global climate change; swimming; finding a job; snakes; nuclear proliferation; the start of a New York Knicks season; death; the future; or, Saw VII.We spend a lot of time, effort, and resources dealing with our individual and collective fears.And, most of us will not take a moment to figure out what we’re scared of and why.Instead, we run.
It’s the season for scary things.Today during Coffee and Conversation, instead of running away, let’s talk about fear.What’s the worst thing that can happen?See you in the Howard Thurman Center from 3-5 p.m.Face your fear right now – write down your fear(s) in six words or fewer and bring it.I’ll have plenty of coffee, tea , and cookies (an ensure you that we will keep the lights on).
My first response when I saw this video was, “Oh, snap!”I knew this had to be political satire (pretty good stuff, but I couldn’t find the names of the comedy writers).This is real and “keepin’ it real.” Politicians don’t do this kind of thing – show their families, especially when they are not in keeping with what’s believed to be traditional in American society?In America, people who want to get elected do not make tape like this and slam them on the tubes:
True – I never thought I would see this type of ad during my years on this planet.I’ve reconsidered.
This is “gangsta” – maybe the kind of campaign ad that can only fly New York (City); the old school spot where people from all over the world show up and where nothing is traditional. No, maybe this is the result of that era – we gave ourselves to during the last presidential election cycle – that is young, more racially and culturally experienced, and understanding that many folk worked hard to create.Is this the sign of that new America I’ve heard so much about, lately?Or, is this just the usual and time for me to declare the old racial cold war over?
Peace.
P.S. – This is not meant to be an endorsement of the candidate in the video.
I like my inspiration like my coffee – usually straight up, strong, and, at times, with a little flavor.What inspires me? People who find a passion and show it in their life.
Each year I look forward to recognizing seniors who have distinguished themselves through their campus work—their passions—demonstrating it to us each day. I am inspired to hear the stories of hard-working, intelligent, and thoughtful students making this campus a vibrant thing. It always makes me proud to say that I am in the company of, as my parents would say, “good peoples.”
Tonight, I have the honor of recognizing Jordan Cumper, David Gargulio, David House, Colleen Huysman, Kelly McCarthy, Margaret McKemie, Sean McQuarrie, Emily Pallotta, Lauren Prince, Kelsey Bucher, Jonathan Scagos, Jeremy Schein and Francine Whu – thirteen members of our BU family – for their outstanding work at the University in a Scarlet Key Tapping Ceremony. Come get some inspiration and applaud these students with me – 6 p.m. in the Trustees’ Ballroom, One Silber Way (9th floor).(It’s a unique ceremony that includes a dean wielding a sword – true story!)
Congratulations to our honorees – people who show leadership and inspire straight up, in strong ways, and with a lot of creativity – and I hope I see you tonight.
Just don’t get Iran.I read that we misunderstand the place – that is largely secular and liberal both socially and culturally; and, that the majority has a secular attitude towards politics and is open to the West.I also read of the troubling grandstanding, trash talk, and outrageousness of the country’s president?
In some ways, a revolutionary community and one that seems backwards to my Western, East coast educated, university-working, mind.
This summer, I watched the beef with elections in Iran on the tube (television and YouTube), read about it in the papers, and followed it on the net (especially through tweets).For once, I was confused about where to stand and whether to make a green solidarity avatar – I just didn’t understand the country and the issues enough.
So, let’s talk about Iran. Is it worth the energy and resources to be tight with and hang with Iran? Are we focusing in on the right issues? Quashing protestors v. a perceived nuclear threat? The secular centers of power v. a theocracy? Should we continue to sanction the country or push for more engagement?Is the president of Iran relevant? Have our country’s and Iran’s politicos used Iran- and America-bashing to advance unhelpful and unnecessary causes? Can we separate the musings of its president from the feelings of the people of Iran? Should we have a say in how Iran runs its country?
This Friday, during Coffee and Conversation, we’re talking about Iran.Have you been or do you have a connection?Let’s figure it out and send President O a note with suggestions.See you at the Howard Thurman Center, 3-5 p.m.I’ll bring the coffee and cookies; you bring your thoughts.
Here’s a great tidbit from BU Today on our celebration of words (with my reply at the end):
Finally, It’s National Writing Day
GSU hosts celebration, workshops concerning that crucial craft
BY SETH ROLBEIN
Aspiring writers, unite!
It may not be a holiday on the level of Independence Day, or even Columbus Day, but today, Tuesday, October 20, is National Day on Writing, and Boston University is celebrating.
The lineup of events being offered at the George Sherman Union is intended to showcase writing, help aspiring wordsmiths move onward and upward, and highlight writing’s impact on every aspect of our lives.
A writers fair kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. Stop by the GSU and help create a giant fridge magnet poem (see those arbitrary words come together in the collective subconscious) and make a 30-second writer’s testimonial video. Who says it’s a solitary craft?
Also from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., writers workshops are being held at various locations around the GSU. Topics include advice about poetry, screenwriting, rap lyrics, family biographies, flash fiction (beating writer’s block), film reviews, and PowerPoints. Don’t tense up about making a choice — there’s time enough to attend more than one session. Space is limited, so advance signup is recommended.
From 7 until 9 p.m., beatnik days return with coffeehouse readings in the GSU Back Court. Food and drink are on the house, but in return expect to read for about five minutes (no longer). The reading can be from original work or something inspirational, fiction or nonfiction, poetry, plays, stories, letters, or some surprising combination. And remember, if people snap their fingers, that means they like the performance.
Seth Rolbein can be reached at srolbein@bu.edu.
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My quick comment:
Love it! Celebrating words.I’m in. Planning on slamming a short portion of a James Baldwin essay with much meaning to me (during tonight’s coffeehouse at the GSU) – My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation.
Words and writing make me think of music.With an ode to some of the great, modern wordsmithers: KRS-One; Lyte; Latifah; Marshall Mathers, and Speech, here’s my playlist for tonight’s reading and writing:
Move – Miles Davis
Lush Life – John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
Fables Of Faubus – Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy
Last night, our office was happy to help the Howard Thurman Center host human rights activist John Prendergast, co-author of the groundbreaking book Not on Our Watch. John has shared the following blog post with us about his visits to our campus and Miami University this week. Thanks, John, for being an amazing speaker and an all around awesome guy to meet! You’re welcome back anytime! – Trusty Assistant Kat
John Prendergast with some of you Thursday night in the HTC.
By strange coincidence, this week I had the honor, on back-to-back evenings, of speaking at the two universities that played each other for this past year’s national collegiate hockey championship: Miami of Ohio and Boston University. Although their loyalties may be divided when it comes to hockey, it was amazing to see how united the student bodies of the two schools are in their activism around ending the suffering of people in Sudan and Congo.
At Miami of Ohio, we focused on the “good news stories” emerging out of African peace processes. Contrary to the doom and gloom of most news coverage, Africa is actually full of success stories, of countries that have transformed themselves out of war or crisis into peaceful democracies. There is no reason, with the right diplomatic support from the U.S., that Congo and Sudan can’t be the next ones to transition from war to peace.
At Boston University the students honed in on Congo and how our demand for cell phones and laptops inadvertently helps fuel the worst sexual violence in the world. We focused on what people can do in response. Rather than feeling guilty, angry, or sad, let’s use these same electronic products to call or email the companies that sell us these devices and tell them we want them to produce “conflict-free” cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, and video games.
Students have been at the vanguard of the movement to end the genocide in Darfur. They are again leading the charge in helping to catalyze efforts to end the world’s deadliest war in Congo. This week I had the chance to witness how the campus-based human rights movement continues to grow and seek new ways to help change the world for the better.
A few things keep me up at night: getting the word out to our communities; the unreachable; whether our programs are designed to meet the right needs; transitions for people new to our communities; helping the student starting with us to finish on our team; balancing care we can give against the responsibility that we should demand of individuals; whether we’re struggling with conversations about big, messy, tough, important issues and ideas; balancing liberal learning against professional learning; diversity; the economy; the future of colleges and universities; whether any new joints will exist for true funk soldiers; and, weather the Knicks got game this season.I also worry a lot about alcohol – great in some social settings and a disaster in others.
There is a constant call for change to the drinking age in America.Should I be more worried than I am now?This Friday, let’s talk about the drinking age – should it stay or should it go?Twenty-one or 18 – the best way to deal with health, crime, poverty, and drunkenness? How about we just repeal the Twenty-First Amendment?This Friday, I’ll meet you in the Howard Thurman Center, 3-5 p.m.Let’s talk about alcohol and the drinking age.I’ll bring the coffee and cookies; you bring the conversation (and your parents, too).
Lots to discuss — so little time. Free your flow for a free flow Friday Coffee and Conversation. I’ll bring the coffee and cookines, you bring topic suggestions and your conversation. See you, today, from 3 – 5 p.m. in the Howard Thurman Center.
Big news. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to President O. He received it for “extraordinary efforts” and “vision.” The announcement sounds more like a coming out gig than it does for an accomplished diplomat or for someone who has put together the plan that decreased nuclear weapons on the planet.
I will get a charge out of seeing this President sporting a tuxedo and rocking the gold – he’s a role model to many young people.How wonderful that an acknowledgement of peace be a symbol for so many people.I am sure he will throw down in his acceptance speech and I’ll burn a copy or two to share and for inspiration. Will this inspiration make us better?Has it made us better?
If the President picks up this prize, does that mean we all get a share?If so, is it just too early? It’s great that on the world court, we’ve got game, but are we just talking without being able to bring it?In the last year have we really done the job to make this a more peaceful world?
No peace without compassion.No peace without us getting together.As an nod to the Nobel Committee’s announcement, I accept our award by promising to do better on the peace front with a focus on how compassion in my life might be the idea that helps to move the world.I’m looking to get together and talk about compassion:
Congratulations to us and thanks President Obama for bringing the Nobel home.
No baller had the body control and sweetness of Connie Hawkins.I was that dude who thought I saw the greatest athlete and hoopster – ever!Along came Julius Erving – the Doctor.Surely, no one would ever play ball with the smoothness and commitment of the Doc.How great that I could see the heights of basketball in my lifetime!
Enter Michael Jordan. It took me a while to admit it, but he was good.Might have been better than Doctor J! He was so good that he got real, Old G baller status. Mike perfected the shot calling; jumped higher; and showed us how to really play above the rim – every game.Jordan reminded us that you’ve got to be there and be ready – he showed up for work even with the flu (be in trouble today with the H1N1 prevention crowd).MJ gave his best and was real cool doing it.I have seen the greatest ball player (and maybe second greatest athlete) Ever?
I was stunned by his commitment to hoops but, moreso, I was taken by MJ as a pop culture figure.He and Mars Blackmon introduced me to a different world.Despite being a lifelong Knicks fan, I rocked the high-top, leather, black-white-red Jordans with my suit (fifty-dollar sneaker, but I had a job).It had been a long time that I followed an athlete.Jordan’s image gave me a look at beauty, precision, style, and intelligence in a Black athlete.With help from Spike Lee and others, MJ’s image was smooth, cool, and hip, high-class street.I was willing to put up with his imperfections – he gambled, didn’t say profound things, and was amazingly apolitical – and got pulled into the hype.Mike, basketball, and the entire culture connected around MJ connected me with others – I played very little hoop at the time and rarely went to a game, but I wanted to own the Chicago Bulls so I could hang with Mike — sports was an important part of my life.
Around the way (Springfield), a few weeks ago, Jordan took the spot we’ve saved for him in the Hall of Fame.With smooth David Thompson sponsoring him, I was ready for a meaningful, best-ever, induction speech.Hoped that Jordan was going to say something that would make me rush out and change the world.Hoped that angels would sing and I would confirm that Mike was the best ever.It just didn’t happen.Like his brief baseball stint, Jordan couldn’t bring it. Had to remember that he was just an actor and the soul of his pop image might have gotten more meaning from the rest of us than from any vision MJ might have laid down.
No matter – big ups to Michael Jordan. Who got next?
