I want this site to be a retreat from “the awfulness” of the world but I must admit, I myself am having a hard time letting go of this one. Benjamin Scott, a fellow Oakland community advocate drove me to see Benazir Bhutto speak in San Jose in 2003. Bhutto was speaking to the annual lucncheon of the YWCA. She was a mesmerizing force. I had long been a fan since my geeky teenage days when I thought that everyone should start high school with a subscription to TIME magazine. I am just heartsick over her assasination. I was delighted to see her return to Pakistan this summer and with such pluck and determination as seen in this article.
Season of Giving December 26, 2007
The idea behind this blog is to identify inspiration in the world and lift it up. The world is filled with such drek, tales about what latest crazy thing Britney Spears did or that couple from “the Hills” fight for headline space with mind blowing, lump in the throat creating scenes from Iraq or locally, in Oakland, the homicide rate and its spread across the city from points impoverished. Despite “the awfulness” as I commonly refer to all the negativity that can seem to overwhelm us, there are so many good things going on. We often vocalize a desire for “good news” and still yet rush over to the magazine racks to see if “that IT couple” are really faithful/fighting/drinking/adopting/breaking up.We need a space from all that and resource to here about something that will make us go “Really? that’s going on? How awesome, I wonder if I could do that too?” The intention of this blog is to be that resource for such inspiration.And so then why me? Why do I think I can do this? What makes me a seer of all things good and believe all things possible?Ahem,Each day for the last decade or so I have born daily witness to positive self transformation of the really down and out, those really struggling and those who have nothing but themselves. They lift themselves up. They get a little help in the process.They fall down a little bit too.They get back up again.And so not because I am an optimist but a pragmatist who has seen it to be true do I write based on that I know that there is much good in the world, that better days are ahead of us and that there are as many folks out there trying to have positive impact.It is through this blog, my friends at Novometro and perhaps my friends at the Globe that 2008 will yield me the opportunity to call attention to the good that’s going on around us.In he meantime, you can check out WeeklyPhil.comHang out there until I’m back with something more.
Hello world! December 25, 2007
And unto the world was born this blog, a mighty blog, whose hope was to profile the day the lion lays down with the lamb and the meek inheriting the earth but until that fine day chronicles the baby steps we all take towards that more just and mutully supportive world. And for now, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
