A year ago, an artist approached the men and asked to use them in his painting promising to get them tickets to the Olympics if he could sell the painting for enough money. The workers agreed, but doubted they would really ever see the artist again. After selling his piece for close to $5,000, the artist tracked the men down and treated them to a mini-vacation including new clothes, a trip to the Great Wall, a day of dining at gourmet restaurants, and of course tickets to the Games. It was definitely a day these workers will never forget.
This picture above is one of the posters from the Hello Neighbor project we told you about earlier this week. As a teacher, I was very impressed by the learning opportunities this idea provided for the students involved, but even more, I liked the way that it brought together people of all races, ages, and socio-economic positions. I think the comment on this paticular poster is key, because it really sums up what it was all about. Once you get a chance to really know someone, you see how much you actually have in common.
So, the challenge for this week, is to get out in your neighborhood and meet some new people; especially the ones that you think are the most different from you. Give them and chance, show them that you’re really interested in them. You never know what valuable relationships you might develop when you choose to say, “Hello Neighbor”
I was really intrigued this week by the news from MIT about the big advancements in solar power. We’ve been talking about alternative energy for so long, but to hear experts in the field say stuff like “a giant leap” and “enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind” makes it seem like this is really going to work.
Besides the scientific aspect of it though, there are two things about this story that really stuck out to me. One, is the fact that the $10 million used to do the research was donated by one family. To me its cool to know that there are people out there using their money and resources to help make things better for the rest of us. I applaud the Chesonis family for their generosity and hope their example inspires others.
Secondly, I was impressed by the fact that the process they discovered for harnessing the solar power and being able to store it was based on the natural process of photosynthesis. To me this shows how important our natural world is, and how much thought and detail was put into every part of it. God had a plan and purpose for everything he put here, and the more we learn to understand the processes and functions of nature, the more sustainably and comfortably we’ll all be able to live.
Every August churches in cities across Italy see a big drop in attendance as regular members head to the beaches for summer holiday; so this year, the church decided to join them by setting up an Inflatable Beach Church. The church, which is 98 feet long will offer night services from 10pm-1am, as well as music and confessionals throughout the day.
Churchgoer or not, you have to admit its pretty cool of these guys to meet people where they are at rather than just stick to traditions like many churches so often do.
Yesterday we finished reading The Tipping Point, our July book for the MajorityMag Summer Reading Series. Hopefully some of you had a chance to read it and follow along with the summaries and discussion questions I posted on here. In wrapping up our discussion of the book I wanted to mention a thought from Chapters 7 that really inspired me.
First, in Chapter 7 Gladwell is talking about suicide and how it is contagious. According to the book, statistics have shown that when suicides are highly publicized there are several days of increased suicides that follow. Obviously at any given time many people may be dealing with depression, stress, etc. and there are many possible ways they could deal with it, but when they see someone else commit suicide it’s almost as if they subconsciously feel that they now have been given permission to do the same. If you think about it, its really true. How many times have you been waiting at a cross walk when the sign says “DON’T WALK” and then when someone else comes up and starts walking across, you follow. I know I’ve definitely done that.
I guess what I’m trying to get at here is if this stuff is true, if people are subconsciously looking for “permission” to act in a certain way than we can use that to encourage positive behavior as well. For me, that is honestly is the motivation behind MajorityMag; that people would see the good going on around them and realize they have permission to join in. I hope people look at stories like Bill Wilson’s and realize they don’t have to respond to pain with hate, they can respond with love. Or look at an organization like Rosa Loves and believe that just by tapping in to the gifts and talents of a few friends around them they can impact people around the world. As people are inspired they will act, and as they act they will inspire others, like Gladwell said:
“Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push-in the right place-it can be tipped.”
This week CNN aired a special documentary called Black In America. The show has sparked a real varied response on the CNN site and on our blog as well. Some have really enjoyed the series and applauded CNN for airing it; others have said its too narrow and that they should make “White In America” and “Latino In America” as well. Some have also said that this type of show increases racial issues because it just emphasizes differences and that we need to just stop talking about it.
Overall, I thought it was pretty good, and definitely opened the door for some great discussions by bringing to light a lot of issues that are not often talked about, but I also think since the focus was so heavy on disparity, they missed out on a lot of other aspects of “being Black”. It would have been encouraging to see more of the good things Black people are doing, and the positive aspects of being Black, especially since they talked about how there is such a lack of that on TV, but I understand the goal was probably more to open people’s eyes to some of the inequalities that still exists for African-Americans in our country today, rather than show an encompassing cross-section of Black people in America. That being the case, they did a good job of showing some of the challenges blacks face, and at the same time highlighting how some have been able to overcome those challenges. I was excited to hear how there have been great increases in Black-owned business and also Black women attending colleges, but its sad to see so many kids grow up in single-parent homes and have little access to good education. I also really loved the whole “family reunion” aspect, and I admire how in so many situations, extended relatives in Black families take such a hands-on role in helping each other out.
More than anything, I think that the idea of being an “extended family” is what we should take away from this. The fact is, while in some ways equality is improving, there are still disparities that exist, and nothing is going to change if we just keep arguing about whose fault it is. No matter what race or ethnicity we are, we can make a difference; if we are willing to stop judging and put others before ourselves. Whether its providing assistance to a single mom, tutoring at an under performing school, mentoring some teenagers, or even just sticking up for someone who is getting a bad rap, everybody can do something. We just have to make a choice to love, because that’s what family does.
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tight to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Also, we wanted to let you know that Aaron will be appearing on the X-Games August 1st on ESPN, so make sure to tune in and check out his run. In the meantime enjoy the video.
I apologize that the posts have been a bit sparse this week, I’ve been in areas with minimal to no internet connection, so I’ve been doing my best to keep up and I appreciate all you faithful readers!
Hopefully you all heard about the Senate passing the billthat authorizes nearly $50 billion for AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, prevention and medications in foreign countries, especially in Africa. I was very happy to hear that one of the major focuses of the funding will be to help children. I love kids and the hope and opportunity they represent. Get around kids for a while and you’ll find yourself thinking more creatively, laughing more, and probably looking more at what you can do and less at what you can’t. Kids are believe anything is possible, and we should all do the same.
I’m excited to see the great things the younger generations in Africa and other continents are going to contribute to our world in the years to come, and I’m glad our country is investing in that future. Hopefully we continue to increase that commitment over time. Its up to us to make it happen.
This week I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Tal Ben-Shahar, Havard’s Professor of Happiness. I know sometimes that whole “don’t worry be happy…think positive” thing can come across as cheesy, but I think there is something to be said for making a choice to take control of your attitude and making a decision to control yourself and not be controlled by the circumstances you face. To me that’s what Ben-Shahar is really talking about. I love the concepts he talks about in his Six Happiness Tips and I encourage you to look at them and see how you can apply them to your life.
I’m starting today with an idea from Tip 2 where he talks about engaging in enjoyable activities; I’m heading out with my family for a few days of fun and relaxing at a beautiful lake over in Eastern Washington (that is the lake in the picture above). Hope you all have a wonderful weekend as well!
Every week or so we put up a new video on the MajorityMag Myspace. We try to pick something encouraging or inspiring that we know our readers will enjoy. This past week there were two clips we really loved from our friends at Invisible Children. IC is an organization that is helping to bring peace and rebuild Uganda after nearly 30 years of war. These specific videos are promos for their TRI Campaign which focuses on making changes in three major areas: Culture, Policy, and Lives.
If you want more information about Invisible Children click here, or here to find out how you can get involved.
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