excerpt from RACEUNITY@ (see Aug 31, 2010)
response to above question: July 18,
"Dear .......,
Your thoughts are very much on target! I would like to comment on your comments on intermarriage. In the joining of two souls attracted by love (which is how I believe all marriaqges should start out) there is an immediate need to figure out how to lovingly come together and work out sharing space, thoughts, maybe even toothbrushes occassionally. The need to find comfort and acceptance with another's differences in style, music taste, food preferences, communication nuances, etc. is so daily present that each becomes less selfish, less ego-centric, more patient, more giving (if they really want it to work). Don't all those actions seem to be good ways to eliminate the false barrier of the differences in skin color? Don't they give the possibility of a blending of cultures into a new culture based on love and respect. This is my understanding of why Baha'is are encouraged to intermarry. And when they produce beautiful children who have inherited the best of both we see a new race of humankind.
Love in the struggle,
Anne"
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
TRIBAL DANCING
excerpt from CHEROKEE DIARY(see Aug 31, 2010)
Tribal dancing is passed on from one generation to another. I was glad to have been able to see many such dances both in powwows and community life, in Chicago, Illinois, Florida and Cherokee, North Carolina. One such time was a presentation by the American Indian Dance Theatre. This group has been entertaining and educating audiences all over the world since May 1987. It has achieved a unique position in both the international dance world and in the American Indian world. It includes dancers and musicians from many tirbes thoughout the US and Canada. The program not only announced the dances and dancers but gave a short description of the story behind each dance. I will attempt in a small way to convey some of the meaning in some of the most common of the dances seen. Many of the traditional dances recreate the old myths, tell stories of the hunt and battles and often incorporate animal movements.
The grass dance movements convey the story of the young men preparing a field for the community to have a community dance. The motion is a sweeping gesture to smooth and mash the prairie grass flat. The dancer's movements and their outfits simulate the grass rippling in the wind.
Many animals are honored by being represented in dance motions. For example:
The buffalo is honored for the sacrifice of their lives to provide the tribe with food for nutrition, skins for warm in clothing, blankets, and hide for the teepees. The bones were used to make tools.
The eagle is sacred to all tribes and is a symbol of wisdom, strength and power. It is believed that eagles are messengers between Man and the Creator.
Old style War Dance and Fancy Dance - The steps of the modern Fancy Dance are based on the older Warrior Society dances. Modern warriors challenge one another using their most intricate footwork, spins, leaps and brilliant plumage.
Traditinal and Modern Hoop Dances -Throughout the eastern woodlands socials are held in the Long Houses. The Smoke Dancer helps fan the smoke from the center fire out through the roof smoke hole.
Fancy Shawl Dance - Women rarely entered the dance circle as soloists until recently. The dance traces it's beginnings to the Butterfly Dance. After her mate is killed, the female butterfly mourns her loss by retreating into her cocoon, represented by the shawl. Her emergence celebrates freedom and her new life.
I hope this small attempt to familiarize those of you who don't have an Indian background with what I feel is the poetry in motion of a people maintaining their culture in a beautiful way. Those of you blessed to have this be your culture, please be forgiving of my feeble efforts to honor you.
Tribal dancing is passed on from one generation to another. I was glad to have been able to see many such dances both in powwows and community life, in Chicago, Illinois, Florida and Cherokee, North Carolina. One such time was a presentation by the American Indian Dance Theatre. This group has been entertaining and educating audiences all over the world since May 1987. It has achieved a unique position in both the international dance world and in the American Indian world. It includes dancers and musicians from many tirbes thoughout the US and Canada. The program not only announced the dances and dancers but gave a short description of the story behind each dance. I will attempt in a small way to convey some of the meaning in some of the most common of the dances seen. Many of the traditional dances recreate the old myths, tell stories of the hunt and battles and often incorporate animal movements.
The grass dance movements convey the story of the young men preparing a field for the community to have a community dance. The motion is a sweeping gesture to smooth and mash the prairie grass flat. The dancer's movements and their outfits simulate the grass rippling in the wind.
Many animals are honored by being represented in dance motions. For example:
The buffalo is honored for the sacrifice of their lives to provide the tribe with food for nutrition, skins for warm in clothing, blankets, and hide for the teepees. The bones were used to make tools.
The eagle is sacred to all tribes and is a symbol of wisdom, strength and power. It is believed that eagles are messengers between Man and the Creator.
Old style War Dance and Fancy Dance - The steps of the modern Fancy Dance are based on the older Warrior Society dances. Modern warriors challenge one another using their most intricate footwork, spins, leaps and brilliant plumage.
Traditinal and Modern Hoop Dances -Throughout the eastern woodlands socials are held in the Long Houses. The Smoke Dancer helps fan the smoke from the center fire out through the roof smoke hole.
Fancy Shawl Dance - Women rarely entered the dance circle as soloists until recently. The dance traces it's beginnings to the Butterfly Dance. After her mate is killed, the female butterfly mourns her loss by retreating into her cocoon, represented by the shawl. Her emergence celebrates freedom and her new life.
I hope this small attempt to familiarize those of you who don't have an Indian background with what I feel is the poetry in motion of a people maintaining their culture in a beautiful way. Those of you blessed to have this be your culture, please be forgiving of my feeble efforts to honor you.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
ALL OUR RELATIONS
Excerpt from ONLY BY YOUR TOUCH, by Catherine Anderson
"Jeremy (six year old) asked, 'Did God make those baby chipmunks, Ben?'
"' He did ', said Ben (Shosone veterinarian).
"' Are all of them my brothers and sisters, too?'
"'They are,' Ben said in that same oddly quiet way. 'And if you remember that when you become a man, Jeremy, you will be extraordinary.'
"'What's 'strodinary mean?'
"Ben thought for a moment. 'It means you may have to walk through life alone, that few will come behind you and only a very special person will chose to walk beside you.'
"Won't that be lonesome?'
"Ben fllicked Chloe (Jeremy's mother) a searching look. ' Sometimes, yes. But if you know you're walking the right way, you grow to accept the loneliness'"
"Jeremy (six year old) asked, 'Did God make those baby chipmunks, Ben?'
"' He did ', said Ben (Shosone veterinarian).
"' Are all of them my brothers and sisters, too?'
"'They are,' Ben said in that same oddly quiet way. 'And if you remember that when you become a man, Jeremy, you will be extraordinary.'
"'What's 'strodinary mean?'
"Ben thought for a moment. 'It means you may have to walk through life alone, that few will come behind you and only a very special person will chose to walk beside you.'
"Won't that be lonesome?'
"Ben fllicked Chloe (Jeremy's mother) a searching look. ' Sometimes, yes. But if you know you're walking the right way, you grow to accept the loneliness'"
Friday, July 8, 2011
ORGANIC UNITY-WORLD IN NEED
excerpt from RACE UNITY@ (see Aug. 31, 2010)
My understanding of organic unity can be best illustrated with the example of the human body. It has many parts, some less important than others as far as being life sustaining and some so vital that without them we die. Our organs, such as the heart, the liver, lungs, stomach, skin, brain, intestines cannot be removed and the human body still live. If they all are healthy and work together as they should the body is in a state of unity.
If our society's vital organs, such as our families, our workplace, our community life, our government have a unity of spirit (oneness of love and support for all) this is what I think organic unity means. We are working on it in fits and starts but we have made some progress. We have a long way to go though. Sometimes, as in the birth of a child, it is very painful, inconvenient and time consuming but the end result of the sweet baby is worth it. We are in the throes of giving birth to a new world and as long as we hold on to the vision of what we can be we will stay energized and continue in our efforts.
Love in the struggle,
Anne
Dec. 11, 2000
My understanding of organic unity can be best illustrated with the example of the human body. It has many parts, some less important than others as far as being life sustaining and some so vital that without them we die. Our organs, such as the heart, the liver, lungs, stomach, skin, brain, intestines cannot be removed and the human body still live. If they all are healthy and work together as they should the body is in a state of unity.
If our society's vital organs, such as our families, our workplace, our community life, our government have a unity of spirit (oneness of love and support for all) this is what I think organic unity means. We are working on it in fits and starts but we have made some progress. We have a long way to go though. Sometimes, as in the birth of a child, it is very painful, inconvenient and time consuming but the end result of the sweet baby is worth it. We are in the throes of giving birth to a new world and as long as we hold on to the vision of what we can be we will stay energized and continue in our efforts.
Love in the struggle,
Anne
Dec. 11, 2000
Friday, July 1, 2011
A PLACE IN THE SUNLIGHT
excerpt from CHEROKEE FEAST OF DAYS, DAILY MEDITATIONS, by Joyce Sequichie Hifler
"Speak to me of serenity, of treasures yet to be found, of peace that flows like a river. Tell me of tranquil places that no hand has marred, no storm has scarred. Give me visions of standing in sunlight or the feeling of spring mist against my cheek as I live and move and breathe. Show me paths that wind through wild lilies and beds of buttercups. Sing me songs like the mingled voices of wrens and meadowlarks, the lowing of gentle cows, the soft mother-call of a mare to her colt. Lead me past a glass-smooth pond where frogs croak of coming-out parties, their graduation from frisky tadpoles to squat green frogs. Find me a place in the sunlight to sit and think and listen to the sweet inner voice that says so quietly, 'Peace, be still.'"
"Speak to me of serenity, of treasures yet to be found, of peace that flows like a river. Tell me of tranquil places that no hand has marred, no storm has scarred. Give me visions of standing in sunlight or the feeling of spring mist against my cheek as I live and move and breathe. Show me paths that wind through wild lilies and beds of buttercups. Sing me songs like the mingled voices of wrens and meadowlarks, the lowing of gentle cows, the soft mother-call of a mare to her colt. Lead me past a glass-smooth pond where frogs croak of coming-out parties, their graduation from frisky tadpoles to squat green frogs. Find me a place in the sunlight to sit and think and listen to the sweet inner voice that says so quietly, 'Peace, be still.'"
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