Late last year, Time Magazine broke with an 80-year tradition of singling out one individual for its traditional end-of-year honor, declaring that the Person of the Year is YOU, "for seizing the reins of the global media." So much for pretentious award shows, exclusive interviews, featured artists and magazine centerfolds. You are the chosen one, celebrated for living your ordinary life in extraordinary ways and sharing it with the world.
PeaceXPeace, YouTube, Wikipedia, Flickr, blogs, and social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, are making your stories, home movies, expertise, photographs, and relationships the equivalent of headline news. YOUR voice, not that of media conglomerates or powerful politicians is now recognized as the most accurate barometer for the human condition. In the past we relied on such traditional media to inform and guide us, but now, we now rely on one another to get… the truth.
There is power in our stories. We birth worlds with our words. We demonstrate peace through our dialogues, share resources by way of open source technology, tear down walls of mistrust and hatred through building up Global Network relationships. As equally important as our actions themselves are our convictions that we have something to say. We fear not our voices, but the outcomes we’ve witnessed when we’ve chosen not to use them.
Our hunger for peace cannot be sated by a policy of isolationism. Our thirst for knowledge is not quenched in solitude. Building peace, like breaking bread, is best achieved in the company of others.
Welcome to the table. It doesn’t matter what fork you use to eat your salad, what is important is that you showed up. Whether in person or virtually let’s dine together and make financial equity, restorative justice, equal access to education, democracy, communication, and health realities for us all.
And until that is achieved, we’re always ready to pull up another seat.
8 comments:
Hi - I'm so glad this blog exists! Beautifully said. Can't wait for more posts.
Hey Kristen! Congrats on getting the blog off the ground! Look forward to reading more!
Mandy
I want more of your words and the insights of peacexprose. Once a month is really not enough. We need constant infusion, all the time and at any time.
I started a product line in order to raise awareness and raise money for organizations working for a more peaceful, non violent world. Currently I have two products supporting Save Darfur and Trees for life (planting tres in Africa). The great thing - in addition to making donations - is the repsonse and feedback from women all over the US. The personal stories and notes are so uplifting... we CAN "be the change we want to see in the world."
I have had the privalege of an ongoing dialogue with a young man from Kitale Kenya who is enlisted in our Navy. His name is Joshua, and I have learned so much from his letters... I am convinced that if we can touch people on a personal level, then it is easier to remember that we arre all neighbors... even when we live across oceans and have never met face to face. Keep on keepin' on!
Deborah (www.happymonkey.biz)
What a great post.
We birth worlds with our words - that is so true and also so easy to lose sight of. Thanks for the reminder!
This is a wonderful blog. I look forward to reading more of your posts and to participating in what I'm sure will be some very interesting and enlightening discussions with all of you.
Hi Kristen:
Thank you for reminding us about the need for PEACE.
"We cannot be sure that all we do will generate peace. But we can be absolutely sure that if we don't do what we are doing there will be no peace" - Soraya Deen
Thank you for your BLOG. Building and being a part of peace and inclusion is the key. Please Blast my InWORD OutWORD, Conversations about Communication BLOG to your list www.hci-global.com/blog I will also blast yours and would like your permission to add your blog as a link. We are on the same page. www.hci-global.com Visit soon
Well said.
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