tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32585520533639742212024-02-24T02:12:28.373-08:00Nightbird
Commentary on current affairs. The literature that runs around us everywhere, unwritten, the songs of bird: mockingbird, sinsonte in Spanish, Soccoro Mockingbird. Etterligne. Sounds, tunes and words that inspire. Reactions that inspire. Sometimes take a U-turn, U-vingsomBolt. Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-22309465399753519262020-02-08T12:46:00.001-08:002020-02-08T13:06:33.519-08:00Maryamu, Feruary 2 2020 Medjugorje...Celestial Mama is every one's pride! Mother of Humanity, Transfixing Her enemies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird wearied of a world without leadership... and then she found a different dimension! Awesome!</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Some people fear Our Lady, but how can you fear your Mother? She herself says She sees something wonderful in each of us. It does not take long to be Her friend. She just helps... <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQMNQQpHBllZvjnL1d0kEP7oLqDOEnk0dv_a40QOnFMJghMH9bULZTVz67kzcX7xlunG6ePV-0nyp9dGKHxMioOUohJ1ENKZasZx-Rbi-eCxXezOpMXYQQXCmvpXQrS40t_gasQL5AkFt/s1600/20200208_011323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQMNQQpHBllZvjnL1d0kEP7oLqDOEnk0dv_a40QOnFMJghMH9bULZTVz67kzcX7xlunG6ePV-0nyp9dGKHxMioOUohJ1ENKZasZx-Rbi-eCxXezOpMXYQQXCmvpXQrS40t_gasQL5AkFt/s320/20200208_011323.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Bakhita</td></tr>
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and if you fear apparitions, She is best known as a perpetual presence.... Our Lady Help of Christians is open to all humans. But don't be Her enemy no matter what you are... She, in a very gentle way speaks of love and REPENTANCE, Reconciliation, Sacraments. Not threats. She and Her Son want us happy also on earth if we follow their steps... </b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>On the right is St. Bakhita who was a great friend of Mother Mary. Serene and happy. She died on the 8th of February 1947 far from home after being kidnapped many years ago by slave traders in Darfur, Sudan. NIghtbird wants to tell her story another day and marvel again, if you are willing to fly along!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Elsewhere, it is written and foretold...that, In the latter days...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Some people will appear... and no matter how secularised the world will be, no matter how seemingly divided... they will just speak the truth... These will be slaves of Maria. Not in the sense of a slave like Bakhita was, as we shall mention her soon, not like the ones stolen to work in different parts of the world, but slaves of who willingly give themselves to the only person who can in many ways mediate with God. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>"But what will they be like, these servants, these slaves, these Children of Mary? They will be ministers of the Lord, who like a flaming fire, will enkindle everywhere the fires of divine love. They will become, in Mary's powerful hands, like sharp arrows, with which SHE will transfix her enemies." True Devotion to Mary by Louis De Montfort ( read pdf version online)</i></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">This story is told in a different way in various languages...It is a story about a woman - Maria- who on earth was simple and even poor but who knew her way and had a sharp practical focus. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">But just like we have many things in the news, Nightbird has seen that Maria is in world news especially urging the world to pray for peace and this began long ago. However, Nightbird has been out in the bushes and found that She - in a few chosen eyes - but there are many other senses of all others that can capture Her, is visiting the world for many, many years. In some places, it is Vatican official, in a few others, it is going on .... and therefore, cannot yet receive the stamp of recognition for that is a process that requires that She has stopped her visit. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>If you say Medjugorje, quite a few ears will be in tune if not the tongues. Bosnia-Herzegovina. A remote village. There is a book from the hands of one of the visionaries named Mirjana Soldo:<br /><i>My Heart will Triumph..</i>. is the title and that is Maria saying that her heart will triumph but we must pray, pray, pray and that her children the priests must work with her... and so why does she come to us... Because of the Mercy of God the Father who pities us in our ignorance of Love and who we are. We are children... no matter how modernist, rationalist or whatever... just children. I have to say, I often think the soul is a 'child... '</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>So what am I talking about? The same Our Lady who appeared in Lourdes of course. In 1858, February 11th to a sickly girl now St. Bernadette. And in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917 pleading for prayers for the end of World War I. Now she is asking for prayers for peace in the world. Fatima's themes are continued in Medjugorje.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February 2nd 2020</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>She said: </b></span><strong style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana, "TIMES NEW ROMAN", TIMES, serif; font-size: 15.84px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.medjugorje.ws/en/messages/200202s/" style="color: navy; font-size: 15.84px;">Latest Medjugorje Message, February 2, 2020 - Apparitions to Mirjana</a></strong><br />
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<a href="https://www.medjugorje.ws/data/olm/images/messages/apparition-mirjana.jpg" rel="floatbox.autoGallery" style="border: 1px dotted white; color: navy; display: block; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 5px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Mirjana during an apparition"><img align="top" alt="Mirjana during an apparition" border="0" class="imageThumb" height="120" src="https://www.medjugorje.ws/data/olm/images/messages/zx-apparition-mirjana.jpg" style="border-color: navy; border-image: initial; border-style: solid ridge ridge solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 3px; padding: 3px;" title="Mirjana during an apparition" width="91" /><span class="thumbDesc" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: "verdana" , "microsoft sans serif"; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 3px;"><img alt="^" border="0" src="https://www.medjugorje.ws/data/olm/images/__mt/magnify-zoom.png" style="border: 0px;" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="bq" style="padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">“</span><span class="d" style="color: darkmagenta; display: inline; font-family: "monotype corsiva" , "palatino linotype" , "times new roman"; font-size: 30.24px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 0px; padding-right: 3px; text-indent: 0px;">D</span>ear children! By the act of the decision and love of God, I am chosen to be the Mother of God and your mother. But also by my will and my immeasurable love for the Heavenly Father and my complete trust in Him, my body was the chalice of the God-man.<br />
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I was in the service of truth, love and salvation, as I am now among you to call you, my children, apostles of my love, to be carriers of truth; to call you to spread His words, the words of salvation, by your will and love for my Son: that with your actions you may show, to all those who have not come to know my Son, His love.<br />
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You will find strength in the Eucharist-my Son who feeds you with His Body and strengthens you with His Blood. My children, fold your hands [in prayer] and look at the Cross in silence. In this way, you are drawing faith to be able to transmit it; you are drawing truth to be able to discern; you are drawing love that you may know to love truly. My children, apostles of my love, fold your hands [in prayer], look at the Cross. Only in the Cross is salvation. Thank you. <span class="eq" style="padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">”</span></div>
Here is the website...<a href="https://www.medjugorje.ws/en/messages/month-february">Messages of each month since 1981 and more news...</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">This is Someone that everybody should know because if we talk about people being proud of what women have achieved, Mary of Nazareth cannot be left out. And indeed She is not the Mother of Catholics as some people have often thought, no, She is the Mother of Humanity. All over the world, She is known to visit. Egypt, Rwanda, Portugal and many unofficial sites exist. I think it is hopeless trying to lock Her and Her son out of thought because She says She is always with us even when we do not see her. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Well, Jesus did not become a Christian, he became man. And so everyone has something in this...</span></b><br />
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<i>"1. It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her
that he must reign in the world.
2. Because Mary remained hidden during her life she is called by the Holy Spirit and the Church
"Alma Mater", Mother hidden and unknown. So great was her humility that she desired nothing more upon
earth than to remain unknown to herself and to others, and to be known only to God."</i><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">This was written by a man called today, St. Louis de Montfort. This man along with some others such as St. Alfonso di Liguori, have a special place for Maria's all pure Heart but so does St. Bakhita a freed slave from Dafur, Sudan, who rose to grace the altars and indeed to share with the world too something about our great Mary of whom all men and women should be really proud...(And don't bother about color or language... She appears in all of them and the language of hate is defeated.... )</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdokkAebN66rMubt3sijNzszKkGh5Ecgryt4L6tabGO4EIPXQ3yovWnW-eXE-vK6m4ZhwLlhTsEmYN_yaRoXVoZCrid6V6Apl2NjPQwYZ4gQ9Ysxo0wTIStNfWdJFfZCZFKoO6gKB6rXN4/s1600/20200204_135253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdokkAebN66rMubt3sijNzszKkGh5Ecgryt4L6tabGO4EIPXQ3yovWnW-eXE-vK6m4ZhwLlhTsEmYN_yaRoXVoZCrid6V6Apl2NjPQwYZ4gQ9Ysxo0wTIStNfWdJFfZCZFKoO6gKB6rXN4/s320/20200204_135253.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Mary with Child Jesus in Mariakirken, Lillehammer<br />
Norway... in the light of the sun</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><b style="font-size: x-large;">Nightbird reasons that if we are so shocked by the misery of the world and its sin and its rottenness... we are always complaining ... and we know that deep down this twisted thing comes from sin, why not clap on top of the mountains when you hear that someone, was born without sin? That Maria in particular was born all pure because the Mother of God had to be sinless? </b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nightbird is tired of flying over dead innocent babies and people, trafficked beings, hungry beings, lonely beings, unhappy souls. Why, she claps for Maria is that this celestial Mama does not care how rotten you are when you ask Her for help. She gives it even in last moment of life. Nightbird saw that. Why, simply because She is a Mother and which mother likes her child out in the cold or near the teeth of wolves? Or Lions?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Since Nightbird went on a long holiday of weeks, months and years, since 2015, we a</b><b>live ca</b><b>n say</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">"Once upon a time!" </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, 'Once upon a time' there was this bird that still is alive and sitting on a fence it sensed a fine wind blowing down in circles. It was as if the circles came from time immemorial and they were so swift and swirling, they touched memory.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The memory of Maryamu, Maria... Yes a woman mentioned more times in the Quran than in the Bible and one all humanity should be most proud of. For there is nobody like her among women, truly. So</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The memory was of beauty untouched, unreproduced, pure and really beautiful mixed together ... <i>tota pulchra</i>...All beautiful. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Naaam... ni mrembo wa kupindukia! Here is a song... in Kiswa</i></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opMUaV1VRtU">Wimbo wa kumsifu Maria...</a></i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And this beauty you hear about is also truth for in her, there is no way of separating any quality. You say gentleness, you find wisdom. You find Wisdom you find fullness of knowledge. And so it is said by many who cared to find out... most of them men like one called Louis (Marie Grignion) de Montfort wrote books about Maria, the Blessed Virgin Mary. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>He was born in 1673 ( 31st of January and died on April 28th 1716) and all manner of people are still celebrating him and not only that, using his consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary to make sure that every bolt is tight for their journey in life.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Unlike many think, the first and most important thing in this life is to save your own soul. And how do you do that? One way is to look and carefully follow those who are believed to have found a new life after their deaths. There are many who have done so and many who have not. From the ones who have officially made it, there is light. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Louis de Montfort made it by following closely what the Mother of Jesus did and wants Nightbird to do in order to sing forever. Why learn a song and notes if they are only good while we are on earth? Nightbird wants her song to last eternally. Since she learnt that there is an eternity to come, she became more quiet... She almost stopped dancing on her keyboard to become a hermit... you see, that is what nightlife leads to! But no, her hermitage is not yet here.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>It was St. Bakhita whose heroic love of God amidst such huge contradictions is celebrated today on 8th February. I will not say much about her now but one thing, I must say.<br /><br />When she was dying... and she knew she was, despite the sweet words of getting better which came from her doctor... and which she sweetly went past... her fellow nuns came to her room. The story is told that in the last instant she looked up smiling and said "Our Lady!" For that is the title many people know her by. Madonna. Our Lady!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>As for Louis de Montfort, he fortells times when people who love this Mother will be so strong. End Times. When such people with her Rosary in the left hand and their Bible in the right, will be strong unstoppable preachers of the Word Made Flesh. Nightbird has met some of these and her song cannot be stopped. You thought you could not stop Reggae and Nightbird agreed with you... Nobody can stop reggae... but now Nightbird tells you all... Nobody can stop this gentle Regina, this queen. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ave Regina coelorum!</i> Hail queen of heaven! <i>Ave Domina Angelorum! </i>Hail queen of the angels... At night Nightbird just gazes at her invisible presence nowadays! That is where Nightbird eyes are!</b></span><br />
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-73713082149024675262015-12-01T07:01:00.004-08:002015-12-01T07:01:59.670-08:00Christmas is neither white nor black, the Mother of Sorrows keeps talking... A BLACK VIRGIN MARY appeared in Kibeho, Rwanda<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #f8faf7; color: #666666; font-family: Palatino, Georgia, Baskerville, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;">An image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding </span><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Palatino, Georgia, Baskerville, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: #f8faf7; color: #666666; font-family: Palatino, Georgia, Baskerville, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;">the Christ Child is made out of African butterfly wings. (CR Staff/George P. Matysek Jr </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uVnRuiEMRxm7F9sp4vZ7XOGYhKXRrpyVEL0ntwhHwDrSHkqviYREi7aZd7syHLcOCIjKfNF2YExGGrtAfEaq-Dk0qWuOB_WyvVjm_VGBhlfeuo5pa-km8Y6Ke6T9U-0dDwwL0jrOEkAd/s1600/Our+Lady+of+...butterfiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uVnRuiEMRxm7F9sp4vZ7XOGYhKXRrpyVEL0ntwhHwDrSHkqviYREi7aZd7syHLcOCIjKfNF2YExGGrtAfEaq-Dk0qWuOB_WyvVjm_VGBhlfeuo5pa-km8Y6Ke6T9U-0dDwwL0jrOEkAd/s320/Our+Lady+of+...butterfiles.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>When your butterflies flutter peacefully and become my Mother, then does Nightbird sing of some joy for the sun in us, on earth. No one wants to be orphans</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>without you we are ...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Let it rain!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>There was a time our dry banana fibres also became you and we loved your warmth. You filled our homes with rainbows. We walked everywhere in awe as the floor showed it has seen you passing on a cloud. You took the home of tobacco and turned it into that of silent conviction. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>But when the time to speak came, you were not silent. History is selected. Privacy has hidden treasures. It is necessary but not permanently? And not when it protects tomorrow´s explosion!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Ah, would silence reign for peace!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Long ago people shook hands to show that they were friendly and not armed. In the part of Afrika where Nightbird conceived, a peace branch is waved BY MEN to stop war. Signs means something more than words. The women live in the hope of not attacking them and children. Never.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are peace trees. What about this? Are there signs to stop poverty and hunger, other wars? Now arms are more in the soul and in the mind? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird thought hard and answered, </span><span style="font-size: large;">"I</span><span style="font-size: large;">t appears that we have to get bare. We must tell one another what really is inside there, what we have been teaching and hiding at the same time? Does it match? What we really think and what drives what fear? Why are we so private when it comes to our roots as souls? Should that separate us that much or so dangerously? Nightbird is just trying to find out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last week Nightbird and her friend Fatuma were discussing the attacks on Paris, Garissa, Beirut and so many places as well as crusades by Christians in the past and conversions by force. Nightbird agreed this was ugly and so much has been so. But they focused on beauty. Fatuma said beautiful is the sura on Maryamu in the Quran, very beautiful, she said because it explains so clearly how Maryamu was a single mother who conceived by a miracle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird was rather intrigued. How little she knows. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fatuma told Nightbird that when she is depressed she goes to St. Michael, a church in the city where she comes from and finds a corner where she said Maryamu is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It turns out that it is the statue of Lourdes Mother that is there. And then Fatuma said, all the doubts disappear, the pain and the confusion and for a while, she feels a soft breeze consoling her. Nightbird could only stare. When she was there last, she only saw a dark reflection of the same statue. Or so she thought. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She considered it strange, but when Fatuma, a refugee, got her permission to live in that city, she run straight to the Lady, to thank her. She said she learnt from Eastern Europeans whom Maria is. They came from a land where they were fighting each other on ethno-religious differences.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Why are we so concerned about what moves a radical to terror... if we hide our own convictions so much, or even visions unless they are being reported for funding? There is a vacuum then? Nature does not respect it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or why do we always show our ´mission´ and ´vision´ in a mathematical way which suits the economy if the result we want is freedom and social cohesion? Who steps out when it comes to ´what do you believe?´ which seems today to be the same as ´what do you think?´ Are these the same things, to think and to believe?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I revere your silent secrecy, and not having everything, everywhere is key too. We need oases of peace and privacy but only when their results are a surprising impetus for good in our lives and those of nature. Like that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We try to transform other materials into new and beautiful things. Who can teach us to transform inhumanity to humanity and defeat inhumanity of violence. Nightbird carries words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>When your butterflies flutter peacefully and become my Mother, then does Nightbird sing of some joy for the sun in us, the world. No one wants to be orphaned.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Everyone wants to be enveloped by happy nature in which one can see the images of things one loves. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i> Like a tall giraffe walking as if on a cloud. Like an ocean coming home as if it is leaving ....</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the night, Nightbird sees trees becoming elephants and rivers singing silvery tears ring. In the morning buildings are part of the sky in harmony with the stars as the celebrated feast of Christmas. Has it got anything to do with faith for many? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Who said a certain friendliness is not faith? Happy Diwali, we all love light? But nightbird manages. Where does she begin to tell the story of how...interesting life can be? From being a foetus?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hearing takes priority in the human being that is yet unborn not sight. Nightbird listens. It is said to be the same about a faith, one might have, not have or may have heard about, but sometimes both come into play, Nightbird has learned at the same time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Nightbird calls on, again... for a mother...and now Nightbird wills that she turns all colors. Nightbird is happy in their darkness they share. Nightbird loves her black and tells her..that so black she should return to Europe where her songs could be louder. Her hugs. Her mystical ways. These are not about any one teaching. To be mystical you touch all by touching one. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird, stop getting so preachy and excited, just wait!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No she answers, there is here a story that is interesting since NOBODY is pushed to believe it or in any apparition.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">From the middle ages to this day, a figure of someone referred to as Mother, woman, Lady... Virgin... keeps appearing to different people with the same messages. Those who see her report great joy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She warns of the loss of joy through her tears. Wars, genocides, lack of peace, ethnic hatred, hungry power, greed... all the anxiety that results from these she does NOT at all like. She suffers and sheds tears all the time. But freedom is her key and not force. Her dazzling light does not take away the responsibility to see with plain sight.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Who is she? She loves flowers and colors, who is she? She does not like it when people are sick and tired and heals whilst reminding of the pain that all human beings must suffer, in her words, the cross. Whose daughter is this?</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBsz1tyUxA5ch5c92E3S-D5Wl-oVG9Se41YrU3awUkhAaomyVBAnDWz5fPyME3cka-EQ7jNT0qsgUsOAwW1asJo8xVKGTSBjadaHo3Boo7EUzBLsAmBHZGoDzwLy4qGoch0U9GVOUy-RF/s1600/Our-Lady-of-Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBsz1tyUxA5ch5c92E3S-D5Wl-oVG9Se41YrU3awUkhAaomyVBAnDWz5fPyME3cka-EQ7jNT0qsgUsOAwW1asJo8xVKGTSBjadaHo3Boo7EUzBLsAmBHZGoDzwLy4qGoch0U9GVOUy-RF/s320/Our-Lady-of-Africa.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lady Of Afrika</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird has been wordless with world news which are amplified by long nights like sounds in darkness. Why do we not understand the power of color? Another one downed, yet another group killed in terror. What color is joy? Nightbird reads today about the theology of color, where black means life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Restless beyond what any fiction or truth can tell Nightbird is. Is there a new coming? She kept asking. So, then Nightbird took a long break, and in silent darkness she listened. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Sometimes in the darkness of the night<br />
an owl sings how she knows.<br />
And we all say she hoots,<br />
and many yell foul,<br />
as if in sport competition.<br />
But still be the midnight´s silence,<br />
the owl just sings,<br />
and the moon washes her tears.<br />
She is an owl bright and clear,<br />
a star whether elf or giant<br />
...<br />
<br />
One night, the owl hears<br />
the only answer,<br />
from a little flower struggling to grow<br />
in a forest beneath so many huge trees.<br />
To sight the moon is gentle,<br />
my love,<br />
the owl hears.<br />
To look the sun --<br />
is hard even where it shines,<br />
all day.<br />
The whole sun to see in a ray,<br />
a rare gift,<br />
of her sharp sight.<br />
<br />
The owl shares the moon with the little flower sun<br />
and we do not understand,<br />
their sweet caress,<br />
and their silent sound,<br />
they fear us!<br />
Philo Ikonya, Out of Prison- Love Songs, Locker, Wien. 2010<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"To sight the moon is gentle. The whole sun to see in a ray."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird is awake when the moon begins to meet the sun. The Morning Star has fascinated her with its absolute beauty on winter mornings, no matter. Stars still flicker. And she turns north and south. Back to the woman, Lady...Mother.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird understands her concern with social issues is what many people fear is political and very sensitive. In Fatima, named after Mohamed´s daughter who was married to a Christian there, the Lad left a message about the conversion of Russia and told about the problems of 1917, the revolution. It was so serious that St. John Paul II did what the Lady wanted in 1985. He consecrated Russia to her. What does that mean? Nightbird does not know. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird has also discovered that the Lady is revered as Mother of All Nations. The Lady is concerned for all history and powers of nations.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This one, she does not make the news the way First Ladies of the world do through reporters. She, herself brings her own news. Nightjar was reading by the light of the moon and asking her why she was always in one part of the world. The North.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Why not dark, why not African? Now Nightbird has seen records of that is where she started showing up. She knew Egypt on foot. And then it turns out that some months before Nightbird asked her that she had been there, back there in her mystical form and beauty. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many of her visits are not recognised but they persist for years even when some thought that it was all hysteria... but the people say she was there, is there, and everything aligns itself in order. In Kenya she has a village in Subukia. The waters there heal or comfort and there is a way of cross in the trees. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Mukuyu- Ini </span><span style="font-size: large;">or Mũkũyũ-inĩ, Koma Rock in Kayole Nairobi and now in Machakos somewhere, there is always her sound. She is there. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMWDf4sRZ9H5uPbb2gus3gajmQNJ-wjQOvz9h11BuM2q3Bee5uodp9_IBE1W5ZDnj6H9jH20N4H0pvk7h0HWAAOPBY-w0jc5Tg90xMqT2lIKZZEc_Op5UEvGMw8m0qZaOTtqklesxLUjM/s1600/Our+Lady+of+Kibeho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMWDf4sRZ9H5uPbb2gus3gajmQNJ-wjQOvz9h11BuM2q3Bee5uodp9_IBE1W5ZDnj6H9jH20N4H0pvk7h0HWAAOPBY-w0jc5Tg90xMqT2lIKZZEc_Op5UEvGMw8m0qZaOTtqklesxLUjM/s200/Our+Lady+of+Kibeho.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">In a place called Kibeho, in Rwanda, she appeared speaking of the terror that would come if the people did not pray hard enough. Her message there, in 1982, is just as she gave it in Sweden to a woman later to be known as St. Bridget of Sweden in 1343. Her message: Think of my Seven sorrows. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In 1876, her visit was approved in France and she became a public entity for those who will at Lourdes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She was always pleading about nations, economic problems, wars, genocides like someone who had read history before her story was on earth. And now at Medjugorje, Bosnia where so many Serbs died and where again religions clashed, she is attracting millions. Terror repels. She attracts like a magnet. People run to such a possibility and will even crawl there to see where it is said she stood and is waiting to bring about something that will baffle all nations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird belongs to the world which wants stars, no matter how far one has to go. The world that aligns with light and victory no matter how dark the night is. For actually the most amazing miracle Nightbird knows right now is how the dream of possible peace and a happier world fights inside most people. Never dies. Can never be terrorised. Millions of people have hope. That is not news. It is the story of Nightbird blogging gone nuts!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-77288436357911953372015-08-22T13:21:00.001-07:002015-08-22T13:25:48.246-07:00Zimbabwe don´t cry for poet Chenjerai Hove....Zimbabwe left him... he never left Afrika...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfnmlRU2EzqvXS7f-keXD0_UdJfJs3pf0bE5iAsP7_5Mf25rJocT5eFULR33avbdhem4ZdDQXYgjaxPzS9E-S5KosvYxvoohjeFooqxQbay3G-sdCP-iEMUFzIRkgGpsQEycxRBaUWXg-/s1600/chenjeraiarj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfnmlRU2EzqvXS7f-keXD0_UdJfJs3pf0bE5iAsP7_5Mf25rJocT5eFULR33avbdhem4ZdDQXYgjaxPzS9E-S5KosvYxvoohjeFooqxQbay3G-sdCP-iEMUFzIRkgGpsQEycxRBaUWXg-/s640/chenjeraiarj.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1956 - July 12. 2015. Chenjerai Hove, belongs to humanity as always... so Zim, don´t cry for him, cry for Zimbabwe....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.philoikonya.com/poet-in-exile.html">http://www.philoikonya.com/poet-in-exile.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.3;">Oh, but he loud and clear.... can say...</span></h2>
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<br /><span style="font-size: large;">"Don´t cry for me, Zimbabwe, the truth is I never left you.... all through my life time, I kept my promise." His promise to letters and the arts, but not to </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />authority that cripples, not to police that manage books as he writes here in this brilliant essay: Beautiful Words are Subversive: <a href="file:///Users/philo/Downloads/chenjeraia_hove_beautiful_words_are_subversive%20(2).pdf" style="color: #fc7b1b; text-decoration: none;">file:///Users/philo/Downloads/chenjeraia_hove_be autiful_words_are_subversive%20(2).pdf</a>... </span></h2>
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-48194385370320292512015-07-25T04:56:00.001-07:002017-03-31T04:19:13.905-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-36846330470801192172015-07-04T05:08:00.002-07:002015-07-04T05:11:18.882-07:00Woman in Exile, Nightbird on Micere Githae Mugo's Exile, a story of a woman undaunted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiYr3_3IH8nsL2Tf-Mhda0kxVqSOQC2LwAR3pKeCrh759_lJXVgEMa8C7EmBi0qYuDBNvRkXhZUyUPR_5fNdZlhKLV1K4V56DMh80Ye4B8iqLfAFORmGiP8ilhaCDZz-RlbECdB5IP67B/s1600/Micere+Mugo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiYr3_3IH8nsL2Tf-Mhda0kxVqSOQC2LwAR3pKeCrh759_lJXVgEMa8C7EmBi0qYuDBNvRkXhZUyUPR_5fNdZlhKLV1K4V56DMh80Ye4B8iqLfAFORmGiP8ilhaCDZz-RlbECdB5IP67B/s200/Micere+Mugo.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Micere Githae Mugo of Syracuse USA</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<i>The spirit of woman that lives in the play titled The Trial of Dedan Kimaathi by Micere Mugo and Ngugi wa Thiong'o.... palpitates from Micere Mugo's gentle and brave heart as I know it now.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And of travellers we were all born.. on that journey. And travellers look for the next nook and the water that may be there in a silent cave or cove... still flowing, still. Still and silent waters of oru thirst demand now. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tell me about her now who fills my soul, who pours libation to our women African ancestors... tell sing her to us now and not later.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And tell Nightbird why a woman so immense can pass through the world without some stars falling in her path to just remind us that beyond the sun.... beyond the sun... and the rain, there are still universes... Sing Micere, sing!</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When some friends of Micere Mugo gathered in April 2015 at Syracuse to celebrate her, Nightbird would have liked to be there, but travel on bird's wings is not always light.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But her ear is never filled and she could hear the voices of the world that speak about Micere and to Micere and that are in many ways children of Micere.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird wanted to be there but she sent a letter in which she shared from her heart. A thing Micere Mugo does in such a special way and with so much humility. Micere Githae Mugo, a child and mother of Kenya who to Nightbird is a return of Isis, an African goddess. Amost always invisible do the women go and come, are in exile and later, we sing of their godliness. Nightbird wants to sing her now. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird has been silent for a while, quite shocked by the rediscovery of some people who live among us as angels, always open to share, to give and to urge life on. And that is not easy when the idealism and glory of youth have been abused by a nation. Kenya, did not treat Micere Githae Mugo well and Nightbird is not ready to take little change for that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She went into exile at the same time as Ngugi Wa Thiong'o and she too was arrested and traumatised. She first went to live and luckily work in Zimbabwe before leaving for the USA. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Her life of success and losses gained and endured in her times away from home is touching in its silence. For a woman fleeing intolerant authorities with children in her heart and mind is the limit the hardest extreme of exile.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Where should I hide my heart in writing about Micere here, and where will my often praised words, when will and how can they fly high enough to touch her dignity. Not just because she has been personally kind to me and also taken my work seriously but also because she does that with a whole lot of people who have not much time or chance to ever say it! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is like that...stars, bear me out.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nights can be so dark but they will never beat strong spirits. The real dawn is not the one Nightbird sees. She means, the one you see in the morning or in your mind. The dawn is greater than that.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It comes with splendor no doubt but in her, there are sunrises and dawns that never fail because they are lit up by meetings with persons who light up souls. Prof Micere Githae Mugo is one of these. We have to sing our world of the beauty of mind and soul of many women. She is one of them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The point is that even before I delve into sharing on the beauty of the life and the spirit of Micere who is still working hard in this world, the point is that women in exile are often forgotten. Even that is gone out of our Tweetlives. Find me there @Philowriting...sometimes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Many writers and readers, activists, philosphers and
commentators even just wayfarers ... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She
took her son by the hand... in that poem and yes, Daughter of our
People sings, and there Nightbird recalls her beloved works. It is easy
to forget about a woman in exile. It is easy. It should not be!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>In the name of Ngai...</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Nightbird cannot
shut her eyes but she is not here to cry but to remind us of a our own
Mother in exile who was celebrated at Syracuse University recently, and
decked in a golden dress that women whom am checking if to acknowledge
publically sent her. What a beautiful sign. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For women have found it hard to show love women, Shailja Patel, says in another message and this leaves us all weaker. Here women are not afraid to stand up and say it. Micere deserves many accolades. For her work as a teacher, for her poetry and other writings and for ever being ready to write back and lend a hand, to anyone from a nation that rejected her, and a world she learned to embrace in pain.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nighbird remembers a little girl asking her mother if any woman in Kenya was a professor. Well she looked at her and said... "We have Wangari Wa Maathai!" It matters for all of us that there are role models we can relate to. I don't know what became of this little girl but for sure, she learnt something. She was watching TV and all these men, always, were being mentioned with titles in every part of the news. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">From the presidency to agriculture. An area in which also in Zimbabwe whereNightbird watched news for some days, the President's visiting activities were more important than the big fact in Africa. Agriculture and so much lies in the hands of women with and without degrees. Prof Wangari Maathai was a vetrinary doctor. The giant mind which sang "Lauda Si" before Pope Francis did.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, I laud, although in the hurry of travel blogging.... Micere Mugo.... in exile whom I shall write to and about again. Her words have fed Nightbird's exile</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">in a way that only holy food can. I write this with joy knowing that no word is enough to capture the spirit of a human being, and definitely not one like Micere Mugo. Read her life. Read her works. A woman in exile goes to the world like an open page.... read... read!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-4607253540206520102015-05-18T10:01:00.002-07:002015-06-16T01:12:47.551-07:00The power of place and us, here is a shadow of Eva Pĕtric, does it touch you? It has touched Nightbird<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuspE5vlDxGktr6AmYEf6akOFeVgyBb9L-BmPGI6dYoA-39a7LfC547dL3m4obbbbPYQXGWFbfnpswDLVfa6_9iMugCCxSMBYyvwu-NaoadmYI3kHXrjP4zqL96Xj4R_26JRz58tzryVhu/s1600/EvaSky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="I am a birdie... photo credit, Eva Petric" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuspE5vlDxGktr6AmYEf6akOFeVgyBb9L-BmPGI6dYoA-39a7LfC547dL3m4obbbbPYQXGWFbfnpswDLVfa6_9iMugCCxSMBYyvwu-NaoadmYI3kHXrjP4zqL96Xj4R_26JRz58tzryVhu/s640/EvaSky.jpg" title="Eva Petric and her poem birdie..." width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eva Petric towering, flying... I am a birdie, poem by Eva Petric, below</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">In our times, Nightbird likes finding some deep questions which sound quite familiar ...yet they seem to fly away... Birds. Originality you cannot put down. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Only upohold</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To connect with poems and to disconnect. To move with the shadows and to abandon them. This is her new heartbeat and it goes on. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So Eva Pĕtric caught her attention. Eva writes herself as a pronoun with a small 'i'. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqJrcp5ZoF8GKmNgMw80XveDfljfANgY6gYz79L1MCe3Nz6OQgt7NXZV4EI811cAaDdl0vhPNlwtR0XTEmUbWKVOOsvteQIAazYKh5yXdzWPluRhzw0b_WLAu58u8RFEAdcyDJegoEtER/s1600/Evapet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqJrcp5ZoF8GKmNgMw80XveDfljfANgY6gYz79L1MCe3Nz6OQgt7NXZV4EI811cAaDdl0vhPNlwtR0XTEmUbWKVOOsvteQIAazYKh5yXdzWPluRhzw0b_WLAu58u8RFEAdcyDJegoEtER/s320/Evapet.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to her questions you might imagine you know the answers but do you? </span><span style="font-size: large;">To know them you have to read her 1215 pages... of her.. <i>Gr</i></span><i style="line-height: 100%;">@</i><i style="font-size: x-large;">yMatter language of shadows. </i><span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird has only just began. But it is exciting to read...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Me and the other?" Asks Eva. "Why am I I and why am I not you? When do I become you? When does you become I and I become you? Is the shadow that I see mine or yours? We all have shadows, whether we want it (sic) or not, whether we notice them or not. Shadows belong to each and everybody, regardless of age, sex, education, social status etc. Shadows always tasteless, odorless, immaterial, are great equalizers...My installation of shadows is an open box, box without skin, floating.... ?" Nightbird reached out to Eva to hear her own answers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird was once invited to an art exhibition by Eva Petric in Vienna. It turns out that she could never sleep because of the shadows of hope and change that Eva's art cast on her. And so it is, so it is. We all leave something and Nightbird is very sensitive to these things as well as footsteps. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />So, she watched Eva tell everyone that women have used needle and thread for years to do what surgeons do without hearts when they operate. Did I skip a beat? Did you? Nightbird liked Eva's originality and power and followed her. She had questions not so much about gray matter but many other things. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Eva was born in Slovenia in 1983 when Nightbird had already written her PhD in Spanish after studying Latin, Kiswahili, Literature and Linguistics. </span><span style="font-size: large;">She wanted to know if Eva, now a hard working and focused artist remembers her early days in Africa. She travelled far to reach her. Not in the way of kilometers but in the mind. Nightbird wanted to see how a girl with four continents for wings, flies. Eva is a poet too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another bird in flight...and when searching beyond shadows she is lost... and we if we do not search with her will be lost even more...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Birdy*</span></b></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">searching</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">for
the lost in me-</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">searching,</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">for
what I lost inside me.</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">searching.</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">i
am lost inside me.</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">i
am birdy.</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">i
wish to no longer be.</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">i
wish to rewind.</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">i
am forward.</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">i
am not i.</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">i
am birdy, flown ahead…</span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
*Eva
Petrič, <i>This Space
Is a Box</i>, Drava
Publishing House 2007, Klagenfurt, Austria, p.65;
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="de-DE">Eva Petrič,
</span><span lang="de-DE"><i>Dieser
Raum ist eine Schachtel</i></span><span lang="de-DE">,
Drava Verlag, 2009, Klagenfurt, Austria, p. 63.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="de-DE"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The birdie is strong ... she says..she uses words that carry you away...and lean between philosophy and art... is there such a space for play?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="de-DE"></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
"I take space and develop it further, by extending it, changing it, adapting it to an already existing<br />
<br />
space, out of which or inside of which potential exists for even many more spaces. I am interested in<br />
<br />
the phenomena of exponenting - on how may exponents I can reduce a certain existing physical space<br />
and/or transform it into many more. By “playing” with various perspectives that are enabled to me by<br />
using various media, from photography, performance, literature, installation to video and film, I try to<br />
acquire the characteristics of a bird, <i>aiming for the clouds!"</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="western" lang="de-DE" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a long journey which also involved the silencing of Nightbird's wings and so it has been months. In the meantime as Nightbird flapped around, Eva flew to many places with her art work. Then Nightbird threw some arrows like spears at her to try and see if she could find out what is in this great love of art in Eva. Who is Eva?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="sl-SI" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="en-US"><b>Eva Petrič</b></span><span lang="en-US">, b.
1983 in Slovenia, grew up and attended schools on four continents
(Africa, Asia, America, Europe) and now lives and works in Vienna,
Austria, and in Ljubljana, Slovenia. She is engaged in art
photography, video, performance and writing. In 2005 she graduated
cum laude from psychology and visual art at Webster University
Vienna, and in 2010 graduated MFA in new media at the Transart
Institute Berlin/Danube University Krems, Austria.. She is a member
of the Kuenstlerhaus Vienna as well as the Association of fine
artists of Slovenia.. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" lang="sl-SI" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="en-US">Her visual work was displayed at 27 solo
exhibitions and at 37 group exhibitions in Slovenia, Argentina,
Austria, China, Germany, Italy, Philippines, Spain and USA. She has
received numerous recognitions and awards, among them the recogntion
of the 2011 Pfann Ohmann Preis Vienna, Austria, the 2010
Vordemberge-Gildewart award, grant of the Ministry of Culture of
Slovenia for 2010, "Art critics' choice" for February 2008
by the Association of the Slovenian Art Critics, "Artist of the
month" for June/July 2008 of Art Lab, Hilger Gallery, Vienna,
Austria, and was Finalist (as Z+E+M art collective) in 2009
International open call of ID Consonni, for public art intervention
in Sondika, Spain. In 2006 she received the Čižek award for the
best short digital video in 2006 in Slovenia, as well as two grants
of the Film Foundation of Slovenia for the development of two of her
screenplays. In 2012 her work Solar Cell was selected for the 2012
Beijing International Art Biennale and in 2013 she was one of the ten
nominees to represent Slovenia at the 2013 Venice Biennale of Art. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" lang="sl-SI" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="en-US">Eva Petrič is the author of two novels (</span><span lang="en-US"><i>Box
without skin, floating </i></span><span lang="en-US">and </span><span lang="en-US"><i>They
all ate sushi), </i></span><span lang="en-US">published in Slovene,
English, German, Spanish and Macedonian languages as well as of the
poetry book </span><span lang="en-US"><i>This space is a box</i></span><span lang="en-US">,
published in Slovene and German language, illustrated with her series
of black and white photographs. The covers of her books contain her
artwork. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="sl-SI" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="en-US">Her 1215 pages book of the artist </span><span lang="en-US"><i>Gr@y
Matter - language of shadows, </i></span><span lang="en-US">from
which the present display at the BergdorfGoodman shop-windows stems,</span><span lang="en-US"><i>
</i></span><span lang="en-US">contains 300 black and white analog in
dark room manipulated photographs and is part of the permanent
collection of the International Centre for Graphic Art in Ljubljana,
Slovenia, as well as the Salon for Artists Books in Vienna, Austria. </span>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Black and white make gray...Nightbird thought that Eva was most original in her approach to things we grapple with often and fail... some borders we create and boxes we like to sleep in? Nightbird asked Philo Ikonya to ask Eva three questions and just report them verbatim and here you can read them and see why Eva fascinates.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Philo I (PI) How has place impacted on your art? Or can you explain the power of place?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<span style="line-height: 25.5599994659424px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eva Petric (EP) </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">Ever since i have been little i remember moving around to different places, houses, names, people surrounding me, from Ethiopia to India to Washington DC to New York City to Vienna to Slovenia and back again to Vienna and Buenos Aires....so naturally being small i searched to connect these "differences". In this "self defensive action" i came to see and realize, that we are not so different at all, but in our base very similar! We all have emotions and we all have a body and senses...but the way in which to bring about these emotions in each and every one of us differs. No one person, no one lifetime is replicable, identical, as we all have different experiences. But paradoxically i think, even though the experiences are various and vary so much, the emotions resulting are similar... This fascinates me and shows me that we are more similar, more connected then might appear to us... And naturally this inspires me to think, to hope to continue working with the idea in mind that greater harmony is possible between us all as a people and also us in relation to our home, planet Earth.... I think that art should strive to bring its viewers into such emotional states where this is made apparent, obvious, and thus believable and with this bringing about the yearning for more and a prolongation of this felt state -to ensure greater possibility of its materialization as well as sedimentation amongst us as a people and inhabitants here of planet Earth...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;"><span style="font-size: large;">PI </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;"><span style="font-size: large;">You have lived in many continents, what in art draws people from different backgrounds together?</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #000099; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">EP </span><span style="line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">I think it has to do with emotions...like we all have a body and thus a shadow, we also all have emotions, which we unfortunately too often place in the shadow...In my work in art, I deal a lot with emotions, with shadows...precisely because I am interested in that which is common to all people, because it is that which is able to bind us together into a tight network of what may be the human pattern... The medium of art are emotions and it is exactly emotions which draw people together! Because it is through our emotions that we are aware of our being here and now, in this space and time.Thus i am interested in emotions and emotional states and how they are built up. But even more so, I'm interested to CREATE emotional states, emotional landscapes for people to walk into , submerge into and in</span><span style="line-height: 25.5599994659424px;"> this way travel to places where their inner voice leads them to ...</span></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<span style="line-height: 25.5599994659424px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<span style="line-height: 25.5599994659424px;"><span style="font-size: large;">PI </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 25.5599994659424px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Name one or two problems that you think all people on earth share. Has your art brought testimonies of impact on that same level of such a problem?</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">EP</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
Not being aware of their emotions, the emotional level of their being , which is a pity because if we look closely, it is really only through the emotions that one can really be HERE and NOW and get the most out of our current material reality, exploring it, experiencing it, and sharing it further through a reinterpretation of it...</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
Borders, barriers, mental, physical as well as psychological. This is why i was fascinated to explore the crossing of, the surpassing g of borders in all possible ways. The concrete one which i focused a lot on was that of transplantation...in search to find the answer to "where does i end and where does you begin and where does you begin and where does i end" i asked for a co operation with Vienna's main hospital the AKH - if i could take part in their transplantation sessions and document what i see and what i experience. I feel it is very important for artists not to only document the visual, via various apparatus, the camera and the idea, but also in terms of feelings...this offers a view into how we ourselves might have changed...</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 25.5599994659424px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">PI</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What is inspiring for change?</span></div>
<span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">EP</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For me, what is inspiring for change is that which is invisible, especially hematomas, weak and pressured spots in society, the body, the psyche ...as well as taboos, and cliches, because it is HERE that i see room for reinterpretation in todays context of living here and now. If anything, i feel it is art which has the ability to initiate change as it subtly opens the doors for change to even be possible, giving it the chance to leak out into the greater common worlds....So it goes to say, all the things lacking in something, that which needs fixing....the imperfect because it is so much more full of potential for transformation, which I feel is the key role of art... like a destination, a refinery... </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And the Nightbird can fly off ...with much fuel and food for thought from the ever creative Eva who does these astonishing works... with a stroke of genius. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bildrecht.at/news/eva-petric-eroeffnung-24-juni">http://www.bildrecht.at/news/eva-petric-eroeffnung-24-juni</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nightbird will be back... with some more knowledge of German which is keeping her <i>zwischen dem blog und Gramatik Bücher</i> in a language that cares very much not only for where every capital is but also for every single sign. <i>Das ist alles! Nicht Alle! Kein Artikel!</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="sl-SI" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-66240747379750291162015-04-05T05:43:00.003-07:002015-04-08T14:57:07.741-07:00Racism in ideas keeps all of it alive, Dark Matter might redeem us... Higgs Boson...Super gliders... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkscOkVi9KJL7WG4_DqKFffELemYDoiSvbX1m9Kjb_in8JHx8EWg_F-QBrf71TvIm_l3JjvQN2SeFjI2K_w-rp5sOYhqb9VOcpZiLrfvqhq0FIQDns_erb7NZkMwlhlZgWoXVClA63o59c/s1600/scottshoteighttimesin+the+back...jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkscOkVi9KJL7WG4_DqKFffELemYDoiSvbX1m9Kjb_in8JHx8EWg_F-QBrf71TvIm_l3JjvQN2SeFjI2K_w-rp5sOYhqb9VOcpZiLrfvqhq0FIQDns_erb7NZkMwlhlZgWoXVClA63o59c/s1600/scottshoteighttimesin+the+back...jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EIght bullets for Micheal Slager and... killed by cop in North Charleston<br />
Killed. Eight bullets... is this not an epidemic... In the mean time.. science is far<br />
advanced. Where is the balance? April 8 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird has been thinking about the absent of some ideas from some parts of the world in what the world passes as books on thinking....and then it happens that just when she wanted to write about it, some very bad news is out. And apparently good news on Dark Matter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird never thought that the matter of understanding that black life must have dignity in America, in America and everywhere, would be much more advanced. Much more by now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Searching for Dark Matter begins. Science. Five beams around the tunnel. New insight into Dark Matter is exciting. It may come from one man but Nightbird really hopes that one day, nobody will write about thinking without pointing out that all people of all races think and write and speak out. And thoughts should not have color. But one wonders if all this is just above the surface. What is underneath the perpetual treatment of black males especially like this? Treatment? No? Shooting them dead. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But Nightbird can ask some questions on the side. Nightbird know how much value there is in inventing, working hard on sciences and philosophy. Nightbird also believes that we are caught up in not showing how and about what people think in the world unless they are at the centre of big prizes and inventions. There are many inventions by black people that are simply downplayed. If everything you use is made only elsewhere by others then who are you? And yet, should production determine who you are?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is nothing or pretty Nightbird can change on who invented what at what time and where they came from. As long as some people are presented as absent in the world of thought, of philosophy. As long as their achievements are only in the body, in Football and sports and even there they are abused for it, then forget about any meaningful liberation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To find out more and more about the universe and where we are and who we are is welcome. Have we found out who we are on earth and where we are and where we are going. We are going to learn far more about the universe. The topic is on BBC as Nightbird writes this... and these are the words. It is a huge investment and yes, technology goes up and Nightbird is for it.... but questions linger on earth. What have we done with light and darkness in the world so far. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The speed of stars, how they look, how they swing... the gravitational pool.... mass. Can Dark Matter benefit humanity?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Beauty hits us everywhere. But Nightbird does not forget that in the middle of pure degradation, the Shoah, the killing of the Jewish people for reasons nobody has ever explained and never can fully explain, people were listening to the best of music of their times. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven... so many. <br /><br />Let Nightbird make this simple. Check your books, the people who represent your media, look around your hut and find out where you are with understanding of a thinking humanity reaches. I mean your hut in every continent. </span><br />
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-47579740254146518102015-03-18T02:42:00.001-07:002015-03-23T03:32:41.114-07:00The importance of tolerance in our world …. for whom is this intolerable?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCj2wEdT8pdMyVnq74_UKWxYJhoKBILLr5u6h1nN4gfhZ1Oc4-0vo850W3tqRs-VS1URckpUZnAh-iLVujHjhx_bO1KzrYdv7stEqtqPG-iM_eiiBQlL9ld-kncvr3VFSOtg3hyphenhyphenohQ79wU/s1600/Ruins@G+%C2%A9philo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCj2wEdT8pdMyVnq74_UKWxYJhoKBILLr5u6h1nN4gfhZ1Oc4-0vo850W3tqRs-VS1URckpUZnAh-iLVujHjhx_bO1KzrYdv7stEqtqPG-iM_eiiBQlL9ld-kncvr3VFSOtg3hyphenhyphenohQ79wU/s1600/Ruins@G+%C2%A9philo.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright, Philo Ikonya. Subtle watermark within, ask before use if keen.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is this the picture of what it takes to tolerate? Strength? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> There is cement down there... rocks... water...Who will allow some naked roots for tolerance to grow? Who will show us our see through bodies belonging to all? The hole in us?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Who is tolerating who here? Is it the cement? The ruins? The sky? The leaves? The people- there was a wonderful guide. The monkeys? Isn't that more about ecology then, ecosystems?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This photo is taken at the ruins at Gedi in the Kenyan coast, near Lamu. It is near some ancient mosques and houses of the Arabs who lived there. But...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me confess that this blogpost title, the first part... "The importance of tolerance in our world..." was written in a totally artificial moment because a TV journalist asked Nightbird to forget her blindness and sit upon a chair and be filmed working Nightbird. I was meant to show something. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbirds are mistaken for romantic birds of the song of the nightingale sometimes. No. I have always included the owl and sometimes bats in my thinking. Blindness and perfect sight. Birds know both like us. Nightbird feels her way blindly, she thinks. She wants to travel or fly around differently and now always with all the lights on. But here was the camera and it has a different story with light.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird had just answered the question what she thinks tolerance is in this context of talk of people learning to tolerate one another in our world. "Tolerance", she said, is the <i>recognition </i>of the beauty of diversity, the strength it has and the reward it gives. She added one could see diversity and love it but that even if one did not love it, one should feel compelled to at least let it be... let things be because they are, let others be. She also said it is not a passive thing. It includes hard, hard work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Letting things be in one thing but where tolerance is worked, and this is the burden of it and perhaps the sound that makes some dislike the word, is visible. If there is tolerance, there is something growing, blossoming, maybe with thorns but we can talk about thorns without hurting.... " She had been told she could be asked to repeat her answer but in this case the camera was at once pleased and she could go onto the next step which is to write on her blog. There was no rehearsal to be done. Later she thought she should have opened the post she has on Albert Luthuli and Maksim Gorky and explained a few things about our world. But she was already free of cameras.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now Nightbird reflects. She has to say this word 'tolerance' is one of those she has often wondered about. She can hear the Latin part of it. Sometimes she felt as if this word belonged somewhere else, to the words that get tired despite the urgency of their meaning? Did this word have enough of the 'long intestine' in it in spite of being so long. Do words have limbs, heart and all? All of them? Standing alone? So Nightbird is still thinking. Freedom. Love. Work. Recognition.</span><br />
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-41590475692679997272015-02-18T22:39:00.001-08:002015-02-18T22:39:07.122-08:00Are we all blacks like we were Charlie Hebdo? Nightbird has been clinging to bats on the ceilings of Paris Metros, "We are racists, they chanted, racists and that is the way we like it!" Is this about football?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Reminiscent of the Mahatma Gandhi being thrown out of a train in South Africa back in the 20th Century is what happened in Paris only yesterday in 2015! Here a black man is prevented from riding the Metro <a href="http://goo.gl/tqz5JR"> goo.gl/tqz5JR </a><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLBMGZms93xYn8zLmTG9ke8PhyjSMoPuMPofsvN-icb35jTBAaxe5SxGByql_VGQcgd8S9yYjt4EiCTRIzOahr97Y8uYUCNPvVSzCvJakcUh3alpJ4s_1wJf7J62DVu2NOd9FU1Z5gszn/s1600/Simply+knowledge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLBMGZms93xYn8zLmTG9ke8PhyjSMoPuMPofsvN-icb35jTBAaxe5SxGByql_VGQcgd8S9yYjt4EiCTRIzOahr97Y8uYUCNPvVSzCvJakcUh3alpJ4s_1wJf7J62DVu2NOd9FU1Z5gszn/s1600/Simply+knowledge.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This drawing is the property of Knowledge is Simply Knowledge<br />writers of biographies. Find the company on Internet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A woman cringes and recoils from the entrance of the Metro. Nobody is mentioning her. This are public means of transport. Terrible this happens. But it did. Many will tell you it only happens that brazenly where Football is involved. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird says help the world stop all forms of discrimination including the ones the discriminated practice on themselves after experiencing hate. Let us acknowledge that hate exists. Nightbird dislikes the word but has to acknowledge that it does not go away just like that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Should Nightbird be grateful to those who make no secret of their hatred, make her see it in so many other subtle forms? Football fans put it out on the pitch. Not a care. And that is where many young black talented people are, putting their best foot, actually both feet, forward. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nighbird cannot see world leaders marching in Paris or taking a metro ride in that city and declaring like they were Charlie Hebdo, that they are all black. The game of the haters. A word Nightbird dislikes to write but it exists. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We, those who love are too far from seeing the urgency of this, and the creativity we need to STOP racism particularly as it manifests so openly against black people. Those who go for it are too energetic compared to those against it. It is terror. It seems they beat us at networking. They attract people to wanting to give their lives in death for their cause. Obama has spoken well and said in the case of terror this is not about Islam. We know that. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird knows there are many types of behavior. But that of two types of persons make things happen. Those who love to tremendous levels burning with their silence and burning in their words, and those who go for destruction. These are fewer but they always get everyone else running behind them. They are able to manipulate situations so fast that those who are lovers of justice are found still on the spot by the time things blow up. How can that be, Nightbird often asks herself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How many people will blog on this incident, how many Tweet it in full condemnation? Are we all black people now? Or are we running away from even mentioning the word race, racism? Pacifying the language in order to cheat reality?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In London, a individual interviewed about the terrible event of a black man being shut out of a Paris Metro repeatedly and the chants for racism said on BBC that he is terribly saddened. Above all, the said, now we shall all be called racists because of this event. You may not have watched that but Nightbird did. But should this be the main concern? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Could it be that as Nightbird wrote before that we shall continue not to understand that racism is deep within most of us and among us? Is this part of the reason why it is fought mainly or strongly by the survivors of it? Strong voices we see on TV against racism are often black. The civics rights defender in Paris interviewed against the same was black. I can't understand. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I can understand that Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was he was, I do not need to repeat color. I can understand Rosa Parks, I can I understand Mahatma Gandhi but today in 2015, I cannot see why creativity has not changed here. I cannot see why it is still the black man saying, look at what they do to me? Do you know why? </span></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-81719538836661687562015-01-18T11:32:00.003-08:002015-01-18T11:34:09.450-08:00Nightbird's plea..It is late tonight and dark, but Sign! and Sing! The collective experience of our existence is what Museums do best...help save the World Museum in Vienna...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Please save the WORLD MUSEUM In </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Vienna, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Austria. Sign this petition </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">here! </span><a class="twitter-timeline-link" href="http://goo.gl/FwVzvw" role="presentation" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0084b4; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none !important;">http://goo.gl/FwVzvw</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-91481764276643402242015-01-06T11:26:00.000-08:002015-01-06T11:28:54.985-08:00Says light to darkness, I see best through you! We have not been creative enough against racism, Pope Francis agrees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird is hovering around the Cologne Cathedral, in Germany. She had seen it before in spectacular lighting. It is in darkness now. The lights are switched off to protest against a protest. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Don't say you could not be there...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Were you here for holidays?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPXJPON8btsw1cZnmpIj2WvT3tQrMSVDPlH_NvvNqVumjpoE4QtrjHDCLjZxCir6D2SchAmXYj9IFkYasyKZ9Oh0F6dhcfL_vmUy-UM1PvwbwBBWLUKOPpbzzf-xxLEobISv7hDNOKHrw/s1600/Giraffe+Centre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPXJPON8btsw1cZnmpIj2WvT3tQrMSVDPlH_NvvNqVumjpoE4QtrjHDCLjZxCir6D2SchAmXYj9IFkYasyKZ9Oh0F6dhcfL_vmUy-UM1PvwbwBBWLUKOPpbzzf-xxLEobISv7hDNOKHrw/s1600/Giraffe+Centre.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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Entrance exam to reading this...<br />
Anne Braden a topmost activist against racism died on 06, March 2006. She left an institution for education against discrimination. Please write and tell me who is the face of anti racism in the world today, or the faces. Are they all the same color? Which news media owns this as a subject in the world? Who tweets about it most before and between and after the deaths of Benjamin Hermansen of Norway and Mike Brown of Missouri, U.S.A?<br />
Please don't tell me over there it is still Mahatma Gandhi. And least of all, don't let me hear again that Dr. Martin Luther King would cry if he ROSE from the DEAD today. Where are your tears? And... and... and... why after all those presidents since the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s would you like to pack this neatly on Obama's in tray?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Things you can do about discrimination around you today, racial or otherwise:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A) Accept it exists. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Call it by name. Don't be afraid of it</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One thing you might want to do with others</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> A( Read the history of racism in the world</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> B) Tell someone how it harms the perpetrator and why we all need to act against it especially economically, in employment and education. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ3HTiZKEebMtgEq_ynec75yLuyT5EFyyX7hSdXRk4FTVF-scPXRWk434Oy_ph-nCrit_aBG2RGs8ESyn1BOtVoOiuhe_rJYUh8fFXsheZsFBrLy4TXL84DRBbIeB-gvQgibaO6cO5z29/s1600/Carter_G_Woodson_portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ3HTiZKEebMtgEq_ynec75yLuyT5EFyyX7hSdXRk4FTVF-scPXRWk434Oy_ph-nCrit_aBG2RGs8ESyn1BOtVoOiuhe_rJYUh8fFXsheZsFBrLy4TXL84DRBbIeB-gvQgibaO6cO5z29/s1600/Carter_G_Woodson_portrait.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carter C Woodson begins Black history week in<br />
the U.S.A in . Curtesy of Wikipedia ( donate to Wikipedia. I am not employed there<br />
...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_History_Month</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Those in Germany are using light and darkness to protest those protesting against immigrants based on Islamophobia. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lights went off and on in Germany so that people can see. In most places Nightbird has been, she cared cared for the moon and the sun, the stars, the ecosystem. There is room for everyone. Our lives ensconced is in the universe. Look.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"In the horizon, the moon rises gently. Fist she gleams her soft rays. When her powerful rays strike the ground, rings of hope rise into the air. The moon is fully visible now." </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Still Sings the Nightbird, by Philo Ikonya </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird is thinking hard. How all this comes to hit all weak points in us including inviting racism. We are not in an easy place. Therefore it is important to keep flying and talking.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird flies to Mahatma Gandhi. He suffered discrimination in South Africa, particularly. He was thrown off a train. When Nightbird first read that, she never slept a wink again. She was horrified by the evil done. Gandhi hypnotized her.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He said he was a Christian, a Muslim, a Hindu, and himself all in one. Some people got rather angry. He had weaknesses. He had much moral strength. Has the idea that somewhere in the east life is more like sunrise for nights are varied days of wisdom. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird met the owls of questioning status quo in the womb of her mother. Her grandmother, barefoot like no other, had left many question marks in her mother's womb. She sucked them. She learned to read and swallowed U<i>p from Slavery</i> Booker T. Washington's book, later in life. Read again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are copyright rules on Wikipedia. They include that you can use the links anywhere but you must acknowledge them. Nightbird checked that at night.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She read more. There was a poet and teacher in Kenya. She found his words. Kimaathi wa <a href="https://www.blogger.com/Wachiuri.%20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedan_Kimathi">Wachiuri. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedan_Kimathi</a><br />Nightbird is looking for the remains of this poet and teacher whom the British hanged in Kenya's colonial days. Hanged? No. Executed. He went singing love in poetic stanzas Kimaathi wa Wachiuri. He too was himself, a traditional man, a modern man, a Christian man, himself again, and a fighter for justice and peace; in war, peace. Why do humans have to agitate for justice, peace? Can't it be there just like the air?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird thinks hard. There must be those who cannot see it any other way. Nightbird thinks, well, sometimes one has to turn off lights to see. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She tweets to her soul...@PhiloWriting...#StopIslamophobia. What are the risks? She adds #Stophomophobia #Stoptribalism #Stopnepotism#Stopracism. She trembles on big words and a new found branch called hashtree..hash tag# She is #chirrupy #todayandalways. She hears a friend call her out... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">#Kerengende! That is a dragonfly in Kiswahili. <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/103340800887993076561" target="_blank">+Linda Cracknell</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some lights are from so far. Some nights are so long.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She remembers when she used to ride freely on grasshoppers in villagers where nobody spoke her language. She was free. But now she speaks Latin if she wants to. Everyone is going back to their root language. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Arabic and Latin are in vogue. She takes refuge in singing, avoiding war cries. War songs. She remembers that languages are free, free but dangerous bridges. She remembers people lost their lives in Kenya and elsewhere for not knowing how to answer in a verse from, from.... out of ... a Holy Book!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Other darkness has been on in the light. "Go home!" They yell at all immigrants. At home they yell too at one another. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird was in the London underground, she who never felt at home in England. Never. She was only there because her plane landed there and she ventured out. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Her first greeting was from a man. It should not be written down here because it perpetuates hate of a people because of where they come from. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But <i>Herstory</i> becomes unfair so let her say something close... She was told ... "I hate... ... People... Especially the ones from ...are you from Jamaica?" She laughed actually. She had only asked for Westminster Abbey. What answer could she give? In those early 90s days it was not possible to ring up cops for that and if it was, she had no idea. Luckily the menacing man had no gun. Everyone she told of her panic both in London and in the world answered that was a mad man. She always retorted and snorted. Mad?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But fast forward to 2014. Mad? Guns and men. Mad still? Colors and blood, mad? Apes? Bananas? Monkeys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird has perched on a branch. There is a tree in the London Underground. She read lines of poems by poets from different lands or if from the UK from different stocks. She felt better and she sang. She sang online and on the phone. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Guess who answered her. Christine De Luca. He poem on turning 60... the bird twitters on a branch. I was balancing lines. After the Scottish referendum, and because of blogging... I love this, I found her poem The Morning After...As for Scotland, may it be so for all lands. ... She is the Makar of Edinburgh...Poem here. <a href="http://www.cityofliterature.com/the-literary-city/meet/meet-the-makar/word-christine-de-luca/morning-christine-de-luca/">http://www.cityofliterature.com/the-literary-city/meet/meet-the-makar/word-christine-de-luca/morning-christine-de-luca/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />A hundred years are not over since Nazi times. The Fuhrer of Germany, Hitler. 1933. It is 82 Years ago but still now. There are those who are saying Gegen Nazi, Against Nazi... but others are not. They are pro Nazi... they do not want foreigners. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird notes they do not see the foreigner in themselves. We all have one inside us so what are we running away from she wonders. She sings ruefully but she has been thoughtful for a long, long time. Create.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately, nothing can resist creativity. Nothing. Not even faith, for it came of it, dogmatic or not. Pope Francis has been rather frank. He was a good Fr. Christmas 2013. He brought with him live coal goodies for the Roman Curia stiff -boned cardinals. He told them that we are chocking on our own errors but looking for terrors out there in others' eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He told them to own up to their terrorism. <i>Philomena </i>is a movie, just one little piece. There has been serious betrayal in religious circles. Abuse too. But we have been pointing at somebody else. Nightbird had seen Pope Francis washing the feet of a Muslim girl in prison. Meaning?<br /><br />Nightbird heard told and retold the story of Mehmet Ali Agca in 1982. John Paul II forgave him who wanted to dispatch him faster to his place <i>subito</i> before he could say <i>subito</i>!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Before all this came to mind and happened, there was one thought nagging Nightbird. Creativity has failed in addressing racism. It is not a color thing on its own though it hides there. It is a fear although it escapes there... It is in glances although it might be imagined there. In figures it is palpable. There is a scarecrow shouting at Nightbird.<br /><br />"Don't you dare say it is only white to black!" But Nightbird knows about both Blackbird and Whitebird. Morning has broken!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Night has healed!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was not enough for someone to note that Black presence was being left out of history and start a Black History Month in the U.S.A. I wish slavery had lasted only for a week, and its consequences obliterated forever. But that remains a wish.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Slavery might be the biggest motivator for dark color stereotyping, also in Asia. May be so. But if you do not think so, find something to think about it.<br /><br />In centuries that have blown the mind in technology and other advancements, we have been slow to open up. Children in Germany, heard of one recently, are still asking if a dark color person is a monkey. I mean toddlers. Pointing at them in buses. And the parents are professionals...'educated'? They know the animals from around the world pretty well. Panda, rhino, buffalo, elephant, giraffe... and more..not to mention the canines and cat families.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxplYjU4luq_pj1co6-qTgwVdDgMEegIKomwIsXF5ynhap6YkuW9pLY4C_7ZnvZXC9cD9Eey8Sbtm4HWLjLCRAuMc9vdrTKUxZNwtKGw4M43H7cnfDWQk7utH2PKF5ZwcYA2kUsyA-sOw/s1600/Children+from+Kogelo+where+Obama+Snr.+was+born+read+from+Philo+Ikonya's%2Bbook%2Babout%2BObama.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxplYjU4luq_pj1co6-qTgwVdDgMEegIKomwIsXF5ynhap6YkuW9pLY4C_7ZnvZXC9cD9Eey8Sbtm4HWLjLCRAuMc9vdrTKUxZNwtKGw4M43H7cnfDWQk7utH2PKF5ZwcYA2kUsyA-sOw/s1600/Children+from+Kogelo+where+Obama+Snr.+was+born+read+from+Philo+Ikonya's%2Bbook%2Babout%2BObama.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">21.01.2009 Children in Kogelo the birthplace of Obama's father read from<br />
The Kenyan Boy who Became President of America. Kogelo is near Kisumu<br />
© Linda Cracknell</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, in Australia, a 13 year old called Adam Goodes, an ape. She never saw an apes football team? But racism, has been the rave ... football and racism. This discussion should be over. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How on earth, name calling and all!? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There must be ways of introducing people of different types to children. We are not even going to mention dolls. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Everywhere I go, in Europe they talk of Black History Month or Week. Where as Carter G. Woodson and others started this, it is ridiculous in the first place that it HAD to be started in order to be ... started!<br /><br />Everytime I read books, there is often the absence of the history of black people. That happens in Afrika, Europe, Asia, America and Australia. Yes, Afrika learns about Europe and America in detail in many places, before learning about home. Of course people are going to imagine Europe and America are havens on earth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The thinking of the world is shaped vertically. Knowledge is about the North usually. Often. Except for independent places like China. South and North Korea.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is a shame that we do not mix cultures and philosophers, thinkers of today often quoted or seen on media are of the West. The Internet has come... Nightbird. Try. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If messages are to be passed around the world then let them come from all over. Everywhere Nightbird has been, it is people who are discriminated who fight most against discrimination. Is that not right? But, how come? Why is it that way? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Time all people took it very personally, and the more people in the peoples that are associated with being at the top of it the better. We say even domestic violence and discrimination of women will not end until the perpetrators become the inhibitors, the fighters. More role models please!<br /><br />What Nightbird means is that the world in her flight is round. Take messages from all around. When she saw the Cologne Cathedral darkening, she heard words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr ring in her mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hate cannot drive out hate: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">only love can do that.” </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23924.Martin_Luther_King_Jr_" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Martin Luther King Jr.</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/52037" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches</a></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">More thoughts from different peoples and their pictures then need spreading? </span><span style="font-size: large;">And sure those whose ancestors went long a go as slaves or immigrated became part of those lands? How not? Not so long ago a long BBC TV had this as its topic. Some steps have been made but it is still news. Yes, news. #Stopracism. Take this around the world. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPXJPON8btsw1cZnmpIj2WvT3tQrMSVDPlH_NvvNqVumjpoE4QtrjHDCLjZxCir6D2SchAmXYj9IFkYasyKZ9Oh0F6dhcfL_vmUy-UM1PvwbwBBWLUKOPpbzzf-xxLEobISv7hDNOKHrw/s1600/Giraffe+Centre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPXJPON8btsw1cZnmpIj2WvT3tQrMSVDPlH_NvvNqVumjpoE4QtrjHDCLjZxCir6D2SchAmXYj9IFkYasyKZ9Oh0F6dhcfL_vmUy-UM1PvwbwBBWLUKOPpbzzf-xxLEobISv7hDNOKHrw/s1600/Giraffe+Centre.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©Philo Ikonya Giraffe Center Kenya 2013</td></tr>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"To come to the boundary line and hear a 13-year-old girl call me an "ape", and it's not the first time on a footy field that I've been referred to as a "monkey" or an "ape", it was shattering,' he told the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Australian Broadcasting Corporation</span><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-2331552/Aboriginal-Aussie-Rules-footballer-confronts-13-year-old-girl-allegedly-called-ape-escorted-stand-racist-abuse.html#ixzz3O44ZelOz" style="color: #003399; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-2331552/Aboriginal-Aussie-Rules-footballer-confronts-13-year-old-girl-allegedly-called-ape-escorted-stand-racist-abuse.html#ixzz3O44ZelOz</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bBOTTqvd0r3Pooab7jrHcU&u=MailOnline" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@MailOnline on Twitter</a> | </span><a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bBOTTqvd0r3Pooab7jrHcU&u=DailyMail" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">DailyMail on Faceb</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ook</span></a></span></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-7309639862593026572014-12-10T15:10:00.000-08:002014-12-10T15:17:35.463-08:00STOP touting the end of the era of Human Rights, we have not had any! Check impunity in the world!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird cried. For things were hard at her domestic level. One is part of one's sister somehow and when a sister dies, a part of one lies immobile too. But soon good flipping of wings taught Nightbird to get up and fly. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird has been flying from night to night in deep observation. Meditation. Long live the owls, they greeted her with wisdom.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Where was she to start? Not so long ago Nightbird wondered at where the world was leading itself from. Who would have thought to hear things like if Martin Luther King Jr. were alive he would cry? </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ-wnQKUSVPN005p2SJWIn52P1Yy6hgsiKaN2UtThtFG1bOIeu6RH9T_J0HrfB5_klC6gAOPL6O-0b1zbmnpZfIDIpl_-v7WTfTirlC3XMO5b9BB5prkKRDqKjEpo8VJ_5u5ndGfHKC2O/s1600/Eric-Garner-killed-chokehold-NYPD-071814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ-wnQKUSVPN005p2SJWIn52P1Yy6hgsiKaN2UtThtFG1bOIeu6RH9T_J0HrfB5_klC6gAOPL6O-0b1zbmnpZfIDIpl_-v7WTfTirlC3XMO5b9BB5prkKRDqKjEpo8VJ_5u5ndGfHKC2O/s1600/Eric-Garner-killed-chokehold-NYPD-071814.jpg" height="340" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look what they do! May a million Dr. Martin Luther Kings arise! 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">A</span><span style="font-size: large;">nd this from one of Nightbird's favorite programs, HardTalk? Well, why on earth are not millions of Dr. Kings crying and of all colors? Why has this been so? Must it be black to cry for black? How when we buried Mandela a year ago speaking about a rainbow? Do we say rainbow only thinking of colors? It cannot be.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">No. Every president ever anywhere, not just Obama, every person of authority should have been Dr. King Jr all this time. We have tried to be him. Nightbird did. Everyone regardless of gender. It is imperative for every one of us to stop pointing fingers elsewhere and ask ourselves what we are doing about racism. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird wanted to write that we are not being creative enough when she realised through Fergusson and others, Mike Brown, Gayner that this is a heavy loss to the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On human rights. Nightbird wrote about Mexico and disappearances. This week some walls have fallen. All of us must stop at a moment that could remind us we are so far away. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The President of Brazil Dilma Youssef was weeping as she read a report of torture in Brazil years ago. We saw those torture chambers. No denial here. They are facing it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mr Hyden former boss of CIA on the other hand seemed to happy to ask what was wrong with banging a fellow who was secured on to a wall? It was meant to make noise, more noise than cause harm. What part of the body was hit? He asked. This is terrible. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Who does not know that police cause noise to harm and still traumatise? It seems to me you cannot know until you are that person. The victim in this case does not know what is happening minute by minute and that is what is wrong. This is torture. The Guantanamo 6 are out after so much suffering. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mr Hyden justifies some tactics... but CIA and America as told by China this is so wrong and not possible. At the same time Kenya too has been involved and guess who was training in Brazil and in Kenya for torture. The UK of course.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe someone might hear Nightbird, or many people. This is a moment we cannot lose. We have to agree that we are helping create terror with these deeds. We all have to acknowledge including those who fuel planes for renditions to Guantanamo and other places. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We have to accept that we have made mistakes. We cannot sit there and wait for terror to stop. Beheadings will not stop. We have to live up to our beliefs if we so believe in human rights. This is a shocking moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For if more life, even one is lost it is us to blame. We have to stop this depravity which has led us to wonder if there is any moral authority left on earth. We have to hear Malala Yousoufzai say the same. If we continue to torture and even kill while asking others to respect our rights will they? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We have to act and believe first and show that we believe that the killing of one person is the killing of all humanity. This is possible for us before we can ask if it is possible for the others to believe and live it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The struggle for Human Rights has only began. We cannot with some experts start believing that their era is over. How can we when the Millennium Development Goals were undeliverable. Good morning 2015!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is time to see what we can do, what must stop is the taking of any lives, the torturing of individuals. The world must hear that this has stopped. People can be tried peacefully. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird is flying around the globe again. Nightbird is searching. Nightbird is believing that yes, we can stop these ugly ways. That with color or without, with terror or without we never put the rule of law second. Stop all forms of torture and stop it first those of you who claim civility before you tell others who are acting in retaliation to stop. Stop this now. Enough of impunity!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-15529853174894895722014-11-20T09:36:00.003-08:002014-11-20T09:50:23.650-08:00Chilling Ayotzinapa killing: #EyeOnMexico, Will revolutionary Mexico remain the same? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></b><br />
<div class="p1">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></b>#EyeonMexico <b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: red;">Fragor</span></span></i></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">¿Qué trazar a los muertos, qué borrar, qué inclinar? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDNGGroDgorkZ5suYAoqbUDaL5uitCuXIBWrF_n2Hav7eR0KY1zFLIMKZWqg-hqX5vL54aEeMUGkaHGIHXeVfN2DpoQTWAVqjdS8SRK-O3FYuxpm7vZAObkxkpWBgr61IW4Gy2x13V1Wk/s1600/Shout+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDNGGroDgorkZ5suYAoqbUDaL5uitCuXIBWrF_n2Hav7eR0KY1zFLIMKZWqg-hqX5vL54aEeMUGkaHGIHXeVfN2DpoQTWAVqjdS8SRK-O3FYuxpm7vZAObkxkpWBgr61IW4Gy2x13V1Wk/s1600/Shout+out.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Iguala_mass_kidnapping" style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span class="s3">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Iguala_mass_kidnapping</span></a></td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What remains to trace the dead, what to erase, to tilt?</span></i></div>
<div class="p2">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">¿Ese sobre de órganos equivocados? </span></i></div>
<div class="p1">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">That what is on their corpses mistaken?</span></i></div>
<div class="p2">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">¿La imagen detenida en pacientes frentes? </span></i></div>
<div class="p1">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The image stamped forever on their patient foreheads?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">(pienso en una pradera donde el hoy difunto estuvo feliz) </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">(I think of the prairie where today's dead was happy)</span></i></div>
<div class="p2">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">¿Qué recuerdo detenido invocar? ¿Hasta qué? </span></i></div>
<div class="p1">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What memory still remaining can be invoked, until what?</span></i></div>
<div class="p2">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">¿Cómo reduce el pasado sus ahoras?</span></i></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><i> <span style="color: blue;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="color: red;">How to reduce the hours of the past?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">¡Llénese el país de manos!</span></i></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><i> </i></span><i><span style="color: red;">Let the country be filled with hands!</span></i></span></div>
<div class="p4">
F<span style="font-size: xx-small;">rancoise Roy, </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Guadalajara, Mexico</span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
The Day of the Dead in Mexico 2014 was filled with more pain than ever. </div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<i>
Leo ni leo Mexico!</i> Now is now, we say in Kiswahili and we say it for Mexico today. Years of bloodshed. People in Mexico are demanding now: STOP KILLINGS and </div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
expressing still, their hopes for peace, need for it, a society free of racism, need it. A society free of hunger, must be it. A society free of killings a must!</div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
Years of the disappearance of so many people as the world went on, years of losing journalists, years of terror and now:<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
The military parade on Mexican Revolution day celebration today makes no sense today. It is stopped. Tonight, Mexico stops and everyone I know marches into the streets of different towns.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
Ayotzinapa killing is chilling and even when all the other killings were stilling souls every day as Nightbird flew... this time we join the uprising. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
Nightbird received a letter from Guadalajara and she is here blogging at the same time to join the demonstrations:</div>
<div class="p2">
Today (20th November) is the big day: Massive demonstrations all over the country and the entire world. To demAND peACE, to demAND and eND to governMENT corRUPTION. I am sure there will be at least one milLION mARCHERS in MEXICO City. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
People are FINALly AWAKEning to the horrors they have been living since 2006, which produced a country filled with MASSGRAVES. Juan and I are going to march in our city. Mexico is UPRISING. I have never seen such a thing. Such indignation, in a very subdued people... but the 100 000 victims of that war and the 30 000 still missing seem to deny the fact that Mexicans in general are very sweet people non-violent people.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
Let the world know: the fact that news of this message went around the world and caused an uproar, I am sure, prevented more killings and saved lives. The government cancelled the military parade of November 20th (today is the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution) for the first time in history</div>
<div class="p2">
...............</div>
<div class="p2">
and not dared touch anyone because the eyes of the world are on us. Not a single shot will be fired today: they just cannot ruin their image (Nightbird hopes so as she writes as it happens) more than this Ayotzinapa killing has already done. I have seen very moving gestures of solidarity, love and caring since these unspeakable acts happened. It is encouraging. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
An interesting thing is people have come out not just in Spanish. Nightbird got information just when she was asking where we are with all these languages...That people are talking in their own languages about their pain: Nhauatl, tzoltzil, Maya, Zapoteco, Zoque and Purepecha and more.<br />
<br />
Yes, pass on that microphone and make it louder. </div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
"Maybe this is the awakening of a great and battered nation. People are still demanding that the students return alive, hoping against hope and knowing that when they are asking for this, they are, hopefully preventing other deaths. Eye on Mexico please, it matters for the world..."</div>
</div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-53314738302675693752014-10-08T12:36:00.003-07:002014-10-08T13:07:17.226-07:00Philo Ikonya wins Aidoo-Snyder Book Award 2014, Honorable MENTION. This blog's favorite book wins for a very "transformative and innovative work!"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqJptoNheeiaT6gMXibuaSvET_-GRYv72zv-2wICEcPJzV_keJvPhwXglHISKHsBQ2VDacWMM9Exm-LrSiuG_ltCM_YmFRk8cqeT1-tDyQHv3N5hlZ7Db1m2sFlC6CKKvtjSZbqyV7IYB/s1600/CoverStill+Sings+the+Nightbird+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqJptoNheeiaT6gMXibuaSvET_-GRYv72zv-2wICEcPJzV_keJvPhwXglHISKHsBQ2VDacWMM9Exm-LrSiuG_ltCM_YmFRk8cqeT1-tDyQHv3N5hlZ7Db1m2sFlC6CKKvtjSZbqyV7IYB/s1600/CoverStill+Sings+the+Nightbird+.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<a class="" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Philo-Ikonya-Publications/112797722129643?ref=hl" id="yiv6804984205yui_3_16_0_1_1412793070187_108094" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #196ad4; cursor: text !important; font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Philo-Ikonya-Publications/112797722129643?ref=hl</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">Aidoo-Snyder Award, Honorable Mention, 2014.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
"<i>Wololo koyo ng'ich, wololo koyo ng'ich! Abiro nindo kanye?" Dholuo</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.5636348724365px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Philo Ikonya © 2014 Award for </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Still Sings the Nightbird</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 13.63636302948px;">
<br /></div>
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The author wrote...</div>
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I did not know that Langaa Research and Publishing Common Initiative Group... had entered this book for a prize, therefore I am in a sweet surprise mood. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrKVxj1_iXjkJ2ZI-rxMFSuyIPgaDLZQAFneXOf6BsagUj5WK4mKLPewmf_k-YVn1wpHr3SqeDE-y77HeFYYlGrL-UOwQHEuOX-oR6oJyq2dpp4zG6ESltBMBguzEvy1r6beI9oOp_XS7/s1600/Bio+Philo+Ikonya+pic+by+Helmuth+Niederle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrKVxj1_iXjkJ2ZI-rxMFSuyIPgaDLZQAFneXOf6BsagUj5WK4mKLPewmf_k-YVn1wpHr3SqeDE-y77HeFYYlGrL-UOwQHEuOX-oR6oJyq2dpp4zG6ESltBMBguzEvy1r6beI9oOp_XS7/s1600/Bio+Philo+Ikonya+pic+by+Helmuth+Niederle.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a>I received an elating call from Nwando Achebe, a professor of History and this is what she said: </div>
<div style="font-size: 13.63636302948px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 13.63636302948px;">
" I am calling as the co-convener of African Studies Association, Women's Caucus on behalf of the panel of the Aidoo-Snyder Book Award 2014 to let you know that your book: Still Sings the Nightbird has won Honorable Mention 2014. Congratulations! This is a big accomplishment, I am so proud of you!"</div>
<div style="font-size: 13.63636302948px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 13.63636302948px;">
Named in honor of Amat Ata Aidoo, the celebrated Ghanian novelist and short story writer and Margaret Snyder, the founding Director of UNIFEM. The prize seeks to acknowledge excellence of contemporary scholarship being produced by women About African women In alternate years the prize is awarded for best scholarly book or for the best creative work.</div>
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The author went on, "Of course I had to tell Achebe's daughter that Eneke the bird said that since men had learned to shoot without missing, she (we agreed on this gender) has learned to fly without perching. Igbo Proverb! </div>
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Nighbird sings: Writers, work on... even when nobody seems to notice. Be brave too. Someone is reading!</div>
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<i>"Vuveri ohh, Ohh vuchindo vuveho mno, ningoke hena vudiko?" Luhya</i></div>
<div style="font-size: 13.63636302948px;">
<i>"Oh, ki bhishon thaandaa, ki bhishon thaandaa, kothaay ghumote jaa?" Bengali</i></div>
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<i><a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/106516912624224571041" target="_blank">+Christine Ikonya</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/106781652555132240661" target="_blank">+Chenjerai Hove</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/107725570402038820457" target="_blank">+christopher mwambingu</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/113795517721463894279" target="_blank">+Justin Cox</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/117339751516788479113" target="_blank">+Srilakshmi Adhyapak</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/114543562459768751639" target="_blank">+Abera Lemma</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/113293834507946710861" target="_blank">+</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/100980360060991026847" target="_blank">+Shailja Patel</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/115266677407930003918" target="_blank">+Patrick Ngugi</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/115882642310269378117" target="_blank">+Mike O'maera</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/114001308977515353564" target="_blank">+Patricia Redsicker</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/100323608585079495412" target="_blank">+Kimani Njogu</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/104371388970628855513" target="_blank">+Karoli Lwanga</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/113597944264611012448" target="_blank">+Tore Lange</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/116001729792954252507" target="_blank">+Zaib Mahsud</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/103776552185010681369" target="_blank">+G. Wakuraya Wanjohi</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/107215849730166229198" target="_blank">+Eric Odanga</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/109135264153351304185" target="_blank">+Hiba Qasas</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/111233730951031568987" target="_blank">+Iida Simes</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/102409063436037808333" target="_blank">+Ingeborg Volan</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">+Ingvild Burkey</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/107147797033528355441" target="_blank">+Dennis Greig</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/107404097879856269003" target="_blank">+d'bi.young anitafrika</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/117810998392796271480" target="_blank">+Trudy Brand Jacobsen</a> <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/103697077272231392281" target="_blank">+Saul Williams</a> </i></div>
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-50076129949326068982014-09-24T15:30:00.001-07:002014-09-24T15:35:11.523-07:00Wangari Wa Maathai left us hope and a dream: "I will be a humming bird, I will do what I can!"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibq1u5Z_PCyNonq5TIICVgGu5laLG8t0wnaWlitfZliTfSZQnoEiQegkT65eQleWvtUSn2_W3mCaBcKLyGXHbI2HBAr4jzPfnn18wLPAHwbCmHDMyiMY4JktYHqvAfCrHFTdPh6KdnJmC_/s1600/Wangari+and+tree+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibq1u5Z_PCyNonq5TIICVgGu5laLG8t0wnaWlitfZliTfSZQnoEiQegkT65eQleWvtUSn2_W3mCaBcKLyGXHbI2HBAr4jzPfnn18wLPAHwbCmHDMyiMY4JktYHqvAfCrHFTdPh6KdnJmC_/s1600/Wangari+and+tree+.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wangari Maathai<br />
This pic was taken from Fb from my sister´s site. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird says that the world is still trying to do what Wangari wa Maathai did years ago. Kenya too. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And she is still a beacon of hope!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The world is full of complications right now, 2014. Beheadings! Actually the face of Harvey shook me today! Kidnapped girls #BringOurGirlsback!, Imprisoned writers...voices shackled and hidden from sight so long, what happened to Swedish Isaak Dawit of Eritrea?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Rape by police. UN soldiers. War in South Sudan, CAR. Did I forget SYRIA up to now? And all that Middle East bombing and blasting recently? And all that, and all this Ukraine and Putin? And so much more!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So much so that Nightbird was dizzy looking left, right and centre continuously for three months. Yes, three. Wangari still inspires me. Read through to below and hear her recorded!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What do you say at home when things are so tough? I will try. You might say something more or just be silent. You go to your room, you think as you read or speak now and again with wiser folk when you can find them. </span><span style="font-size: large;">One consults and wonders. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I want to see the world from another point. In Kenya, our wildlife is getting abused largely in the killing of elephants for ivory. Yet we have many lessons to learn from nature. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When I saw a lioness bringing up oryxes several times, I wished, how I wished our political leaders could learn. I saw Wangari in this lion. I saw good leaders or at least those who try to do their little thing as we say. I wrote a poem. It was about Namunyak as the lion that did this was named. It means the lucky one. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> NAMUNYAK
OF THE MAASAI</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> ©Philo Ikonya, This Bread of Peace, Lapwing UK, 2010</span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">They
called her Namunyak.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">I
would have called her Sankara,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">Makeba,
Wangar</span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span lang="en-US">ĩ</span></span><span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">
or Ellena.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">Me
katilili or Nyanjir</span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span lang="en-US">ũ</span></span><span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Who
mothers Afrika?</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">In
Namunyak is all these.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">She is
the mother lion,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">hidden
in Samburu Park,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">in
Kenya, under a bush</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">and
sun bathing</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">her
dusty golden coat.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">They
call her Namunyak, the lucky one.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">She
spreads peace to all, not greed.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">Yes,
Bahati, Bakhita, M</span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span lang="en-US">ũ</span></span><span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">nyaka.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Ma
Lion what is your secret?</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">You
feed and adopt six baby oryx,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">six
even times, quite odd.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">You
know the oryx are usually your food,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">but
you feed your victuals,</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">and
not to make sumptious</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">a
feast later.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">You
protect with all your strength.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Maybe
you should claw us!</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">You
are greater than</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">greedy
presidents.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">With
the focus of a cat,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">you
feed and care for those,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">outside
your clan and plan,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">tribe
and specie,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">the
dearth of Somalia,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">and
the diamond sides of Congo.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">In
Kenya,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">three
presidencies you beat,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">all of
them fallen, on the sword</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">of
tribal discrimination,</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">the
rim of the nation weakening</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">till
collapse.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">You
beat countries giving visas</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">with
grudges, strings attached and</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">humiliation,
I say often, of the poor people.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Would
you redeem humanity?</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">One of
their own,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">is
always, the rejected,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">prophet,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">rubbished,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">and
offered gall</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">for
wine.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">With
love you are so powerful,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">your
neighbours they kill human Albinos</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">to
get rich of a sudden on death!</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Would
you cut our own chains?</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">The
misery we tie around our necks?</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">You
come home to find,</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Mzee
Lion has eaten your oryx.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">For
one, you mourn and fume,</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">for
long. You get five more</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">to no
harm.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Have
you seen how our fear has ‘children’ these days,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Fear
with grandparents and roots?</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Have
you seen the fears of children today?</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">You
sit there six times,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">a
puzzle, posing they think.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">To
your lesson,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">We
are here to give honour.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">I
dress you with a mane.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">Incredible
mother of beauty.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Karibu
Mama</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><i>Hakuna
matata.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">Come
Japanese to see your Nisei,</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">San
with Nikon,</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">snap,
snap.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Another
face of Africa.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Eyes
open wide,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">People
of all races are back,</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">do
they turn to make Africa?</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Is
pigmentation enough?</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Come
American Indians,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Australians.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Come
all to take an image of harmony home.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Come
they with verses spoken long ago.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">But
you just sit there Namunyak,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">And I
award you for feeding your food,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><span lang="en-US">sensing
life in disaster.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">To
peace and freedom.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">You
challenge we give to suckle.</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><i>Delicadamente</i></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><i>Dedicadamente</i></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><i>Na
upendo wa amani,</i></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="nb-NO" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;"><i>Mkate
huu wa amani na wa uhuru.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Feed,
house,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Water,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Keep
it,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">Like
in safe villages or,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">cities,</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">in the
jungle,</span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Aldine721BT;">in
your style.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> ©</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Philo Ikonya from second poetry anthology book</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This Bread of Peace, Lapwing, UK, 2010</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Remembering Wangari Maathai´s advice always helps Nightbird. Why forget her positive spirit. Kenya can still learn so much from her. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The longings of a people captured in deeds is so impressive. The longings of a world captured in small actions too is amazing. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird likes to remember Wangari Maathai of Kenya. Tomorrow is the third anniversary of her death on 25 Sept 2011. Many know her and of her already so let Nightbird speak with heart. And briefly. Nightbird met her in life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i> Kwa Mama Mpendwa, Wangari</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>To Beloved Mother</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I look back I can say you gave us a dream and for that I thank you. Let those who try to say they did not see what you gave begin to marvel. You made us dream and hope for a better country, Kenya. For a better world. You did. Have you seen how politics has divided people into hating ethnic enclaves in Kenya? Why is there so much insecurity there? Whey are people not equal before the law? Of course humans are and can be insecure anywhere but Kenya your nation could be much, much better. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We fall into serious killer divisions so easily. In politics people often take sides, and that is fine. I do not know if you would at this point in time have taken sides, Kenya needs unity so much. So does much of the world. Look how some are merchandising death in terror!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What I know is that you did not let the temporal matters of choice and voice make you disregard anyone, not a people certainly. You knew these were temporal matters. Not that you often spoke of eternal ones as divorced from a tree but you had enough wisdom to know that we cannot because of a current system dismiss and hate people. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You saw people as central to life even if forests mattered so much to you. You addressed issues a practical way. You were candid. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A system, a political office, power is often misused. A system or support may be bought, but not people. You influenced us to remember that as part of dignity. You gave us a dream as a people.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I can still see this dream in the form of a tree. You gave us a dream in the form of a tree like all mothers do when they birth us, our roots is what concerned you. These days we are lost in tribal hate and the world is no better. Racism is rampant.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wangari you so often shoed us how branches relate with the trunk and when speaking about leaves that fall you told me never to forget how important each one of them is, as important as the palm of our hands, all the veins there, and nerves! They are many!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So that Mother, it mattered how one looked at a person. That is how one natured a tree. How you hated betrayal! You told Kibaki he could not betray an MOU, that he could not say, you went into your Mother Tongue for that with me, "Thiga (A man) ni arua ( Is already circumcised) gutiri marara nja! (there are no celebrations)" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You used this proverb as is commonly used in the Kikuyu language to mean that fair is fair. That I cannot ask you for help and promise something and then turn around after it is done and say no to our deal. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You were disappointed that the MOU with Raila Odinga was not honored. How sad you would be now. The split caused by this in Kenya has perpetuated itself to this day. You coming from a totally different region did not think that people should be abused due to their customs or origin. You loved them as they were. You were not threatened by diversity. You may have had other weaknesses but NOT this one that is now strangling us!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is terrible to hear how ethnic groups express their differences by showing dislike for the persons and not the issues involved. That is what the people inherited from others. I do hope that they will remember your dream and remove manifestations of hate for one another because politicians used them temporarily to achieve a selfish goal. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">No. I wish that politicians will stop this irresponsible behavior. That they honor your land with your ways. That the people learn , we learn from you. Look how stunted we are getting as a nation. This is not like your dream. No. It was bigger than that! You wanted more! And you said, we only had to do very little without fear of the big animals. Take our little drop of water to put off the fire. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Like this you put it... </span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGMW6YWjMxw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGMW6YWjMxw</a></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-59002246379946860922014-07-02T14:50:00.002-07:002014-07-02T14:51:50.778-07:00Hunger knows no words, Act!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCBRDAHdGmYbew0hdoWANRXPSIFh9R5rfTR6p_8sZkQJe2mSQlUOeZftXb-XZGJJ8s_DbZRGU-_tATf2gfui1KxdiT35ttE-hkQQ_WHE8Ay6dEBsGB4mkt3TuulH2l8gK5_LLWMYD7i_9/s1600/Rights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCBRDAHdGmYbew0hdoWANRXPSIFh9R5rfTR6p_8sZkQJe2mSQlUOeZftXb-XZGJJ8s_DbZRGU-_tATf2gfui1KxdiT35ttE-hkQQ_WHE8Ay6dEBsGB4mkt3TuulH2l8gK5_LLWMYD7i_9/s1600/Rights.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Samson Ojiayo looks on gladly as Mbugua Muriithi, lawyer greets Philo I</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">author, after 28 hours of detention and lost files for decampaigning</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">corruption. 2009, the question of famine in Kenya</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Since time began for some of us Nightbird knows hunger has always been somewhere near. And famine stalks us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you know what it feels not to know what to eat next? I have known hunger but not of so many days. So many that people become thirty years older if they are adults and children become brown haired adults with extended bellies when their hair was black before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have known hunger on my way to a library even after eating, hunger that would not let me read or think and that was just between hours. Hunger and thirst for days on end. Hunger and thirst, famine that recurs every few years, five and we are never ready for it in Kenya, hunger known for generations. Can you bear to look at this video?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/video/-/1951480/2367158/-/fs9yw2/-/index.html">http://www.nation.co.ke/video/-/1951480/2367158/-/fs9yw2/-/index.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Shall they hunger and thirst always, then? Why? Who is not providing?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">No questions?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">They hunger for food, water, education, freedom from mutilation, genital mutilation, early marriage and the rest is not easy. Can they at least be sure of food so that early marriage will not make sense.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Can we assure these people of food security so that they do not live only thinking of a few hours time. Will this be the last famine for which the government is not prepared?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For I was there in 2009 and we were arrested for shouting out </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">" Corruption is Death!" There is the hunger for justice and the hunger of the eyes, the hunger that we must no longer only speak about but act. I know others hunger elsewhere but for this hunger</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">we can never be sad enough. No.</span></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-1148016574218619682014-05-18T13:16:00.000-07:002014-06-21T06:28:45.067-07:00The Sound of Silence : Speaking light to darkness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEL2B3zaKJ2blcCq-8Fm1zD_dRukcj9F-QMLTyRqd832PSyigygPQrax_OL2ahBRJ1Q2F4AH6gr-e9lpHnzS35PDmYnvlJSKLoqL6trn3UGBhzFxHNEl6JB_2nZsCb5R16UBF8flDVltEc/s1600/Gandhi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEL2B3zaKJ2blcCq-8Fm1zD_dRukcj9F-QMLTyRqd832PSyigygPQrax_OL2ahBRJ1Q2F4AH6gr-e9lpHnzS35PDmYnvlJSKLoqL6trn3UGBhzFxHNEl6JB_2nZsCb5R16UBF8flDVltEc/s1600/Gandhi.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speak out and let your actions follow your words and dreams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The silence that is not quiet hears your sighs and makes no noise. The silence that is not quiet urges you on to keep on asking questions. They sometimes speak about a pregnant silence.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> It is therefore alive. It demands reflection. It sighs and screams. The surprising thing is that you may not hear its sound its. Yet silence can awaken you. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The song "Sound of Silence" makes me think deeply. And connect.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird is listening to the world's sighs. You could argue she should hear the laughter too. But Nightbird is only trying to keep her heart beat healthy. That is not not easy. She seeks that silence that is resourceful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">In February 1964 after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 on</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Friday, Nov 22nd </span><span style="font-size: large;">at 12.30 pm at Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A, one of the world's best song writers, Paul Simon, wrote the Sound of Silence. The silence after shots ring? Maybe so and more. This song is an all time favorite for its poetic strength. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a greeting to darkness and its personification! It ends up lighting up so much. Nightbird loves to hear this song. For there are many restless dreams in the world. And there are many times we have to ask ourselves just how many gods we must make. You can go on with the song as much as you like. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Our lives begin to end the day we are silent about things that matter" Dr. Martin Luther King</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It seems we are more alive then if we are not only quiet but singing about what is important to us. </span><span style="font-size: large;">These words should wake up us if we are napping. One has to know what makes one tick. Nightbird is moved to act by many things and to speak.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Are you one of those who believed that a Tweet is a waste of time? Have you heard the silence of trouble when you cannot Tweet for yourself like when you are down under in a mine. Soma in Turkey?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Did the whole Boko Haram abduction of the 270 girls go past you because you thought that is just a small little group of militias out there and that is Niger... ria and you have nothing to do with it because you are from Vanuatu? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What about Flight MH370? Why should you have compassion? That is not your national carrier? Or you simply know nothing about it at all because these days you do not even watch news because you have had enough?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird learnt that we do not even get most of the stories both good and bad happening in the world. Next time she is bringing good news.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird believes that your words and attention matter. Yes the do, regarding Somalis in Kenya too. It was never right anywhere at any time in history to target a people based on who they are as human beings. Hard to say bet we have to look for crime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Loving The Sound of Silence is just so natural. It is the agony of a spirit that is in touch. It does not matter that when it was written Paul Simon was not going through a personal struggle. Somewhere it touched and it still resonates with human beings who connect at invisible levels. You know Nightbird will love to say and sing <i>"Hello Darkness my old friend</i>!" She is not afraid of difficult circumstances because she writes about a bird that sings at night. In what might be seen as the hopelessness of a hard season or seasons. <i>Still Sings the Nightbird!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird switches on to a part of the world called Burma. </span><span style="font-size: large;">There are of course many parts of the world that need a beam of light. They abound. If only we could find more proactive people that point at where trouble is about to come so that efforts can go into prevention rather than picking up of pieces. Unfortunately these pieces are usually human bodies and as Nightbird normally says, souls have no spare parts as far as we know. Bodies yes, maybe. But souls no.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not to forget Burma. The constitution of this country bars anybody who has relatives who are foreigners from running for the presidency. This is a strange law. It goes directly against the family of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She would like to be the president of her country but she was married to an English man and so her children are foreigners in her own home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so what is this all about when for years she was under house arrest on the island. How come it was not forbidden to have under house arrest a person who had got associated with other lands? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And if this is not only against her but others how is a country to recover against its own divisions when it does not allow those who are somewhat different in? For the world in war time had already opened up Burma to other influence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My uncle from Afrika fought in Burma through no fault of his own. I would have imagined even I should be welcome there were he to have left some unknown relatives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I see the men there, the serious men of Burma stand up and say change should not come to the island very fast? I think the speed thing is a lost cause. Change came very long ago and very fast. The Nightbird has seen the Ruhingya crying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Even though Suu Kyi did not speak up for them, Nightbird knows that with such limitations who stands to lead, their problems become even more foreign. Nightbird sends a strong beam of light to you Burma. Take it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The way to go is to review that constitution that is stifling Suu Kyi who would like to be president and whom I think may easily get elected. Yes. Just do it. There is no other way of changing but changing. And change has been arrested for too long. It is not true that it must always tick like an ancient clock. It can move digitally.</span></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-76881253501928097122014-05-06T09:46:00.000-07:002014-05-06T09:46:56.697-07:00Politics of circumcising power, Why do you persecute Korir and some members of Bunge la Mwananchi? Violence gives birth but is there justice? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rape: child of a militia gang rape safe- Why do you persecute Kenyans for their views?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why do you for example, persecute John Korir the President of Bunge La Mwananchi (one of its chapters)? Why? For Korir is entitled just like all Kenyans who have different views to peace and justice. He is entitled to time with his family and nation just like the President of Kenya is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maurice Odhiambo of Bunge La Mwananchi is also under threat for a long time now. The list is longer. There are many who live on the edge wondering what next. But all they did was to</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird was on a lonely journey that found out Korir was having sleepless nights. And he is not alone. John Korir was attacked by some people who claimed that he is a witness at the ICC. Who are these people who go round intimidating others for this reason? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We know of others who have reported similar incidences? Why and how come nobody speaks out for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why are there hordes of people who go about listing some as supporters of the ICC and reaching out to them and their families for harm? So young people who discuss useful ideas in this Bunge belong to the group of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) who are deeply intimidated. Silenced almost. And yet everything they know if shouted from the top of the Kenyatta International Conference is everything all the people know about, the very things they whisper perhaps in<i> matatus</i> and in their homes. What is it? We are refusing to learn from our people who were deeply harmed by the violence we are talking about. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Government of Kenya, The County Senators and all its Bunge needs to speak out clearly on this intimidation and to see to it that anybody disturbing others and therefore depriving them of their constitutional rights is in the wrong. The Constitution of Kenya 2010 is strong in the defence of Human Rights. And the people are crying and trying to heal their wounds. Look.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A child of militia gang rape is breastfed and loved by a father who watched his wife being raped as he lay on what he thought was his own deathbed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A militia meets gentleness in the worst of circumstances for their child is not aborted. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The couple have chosen life having seen their own at a time of utter futility. Moments that saw a nation lose sanity. Moments that became hours of history written in blood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was during the hearing of the Status Conference on the ICC case that I heard this. Is this child a sign or icon of possibility? How can I call this one a sign of justice if that way he landed into this world? How? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Will poetry not err if I say that maybe this is the kind of icon that can heal a country that is still badly injured by the violence we experienced? For there was a couple. The man was left for dead and his wife raped as he watched before he was clobbered senseless. This was by a militia gang.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I did not know that she conceived and chose to keep the child. I was completely speechless when I heard of the couple's tough decision. For they knew she was raped by a militia gang. This is so moving. Violence. I believe they saw their own lives almost end and therefore, decided to save this child. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now they say, they would like justice, only justice because then they can forgive and live. Will they get justice? Why can't violence engender justice or how could it? Can it? One is torn apart upon hearing all this. They are not stories anymore. But the judge said in Kiswahili.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Haki huinua taifa</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Justice makes a nation. Where is it? Where is justice? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Circumcision</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have to stop seeing some ethnic groups as people set apart, marked physically for good or for evil. This is a first point of all leadership. That we are all equal and so much so before the law.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That circumcision is a topic of politics reveals that we are acting on a herd mentality and this does not work for humans. It works for swarms of bees and cattle. People were forcibly cut in the violence of 2007/2008. That was the saddest thing Nightbird was reminded last week by proceedings at the ICC.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Circumcision of men who do not belong to a particular ethnic group. Humiliation of the highest order. It was tough to hear that description again. That people who came from an ethnic group that does not circumcise men were cut and laid out in rows, mutilated parts up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I remember Sam Ouma a photographer with a Kenyan newspaper breaking into tears at the memory. He was being interviewed on the violence that gripped Kenya in 2007/2008 after the election.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also remember a very long call from Ida Odinga. I received it when I was talking to a friend on Kijabe Avenue. She was so torn I thought she was breaking down. Ida Odinga was speaking about her visits to where people were wounded like this. About what she saw as the face of violence in Kenya, its irrational ways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She spoke about the rape of women in other parts of the country. She wept. She wondered why some leaders had forgotten to keep talking about this. She was caught up in loneliness on searching for answers. She was blunt. She was sick of it all and longed for justice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, the politics of circumcision is so crude but it went to these levels. Why? Who can stop such thinking if churches over more than 100 years have not? Why did Kenyans forget so many ties that bind us in such a short time? What was really at work then?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How do we forgive and heal a nation? There are other nations to learn from.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But violence has given birth to much more violence than ever before. The nation is challenged by low morale. I read about Gava militia with consternation. A fourteen year-old- girl robs an adult man at gang point. These are children of such deep violence hidden in the rotting womb of our nation. Children at school learning how to be in gangs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is only that I know for each one of these there are thousands in many good organisations:<br /><br />Writers' groups</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Democracy organisations such as Bunge La Mwananchi</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Scouts</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dancing groups</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Music groups</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Festival groups</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Individuals trying to make a mark</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Young Farmers</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Prayer groups</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Village youth groups and so many others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Only one question. Why does the police spend so much time investigating those who gather to dialogue on democracy for example at Jeevanjee Park in Nairobi? Bunge la Mwananchi? Their President is on the run right now. His life is in danger.</span><br />
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-44984931380736063252014-04-14T05:15:00.003-07:002014-05-16T08:26:29.101-07:00Inspiring the world was never easy: Don't put God to sleep ! Leaders chose China over the Dalai Lama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXqiKSEFyz4eeb5F9lxJzThewyq7unmPLZCH7xPyjeAxaXpa3-KByq2XqBE_Yg8bflg9JzTZmFzsZqUyCcKP7Mt61Dn8nDo-UtiiiFTO9qpVPWmpE9nGJfbD_kOOIcqEDJLaANEB2IscW/s1600/Mandela+and+JP+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXqiKSEFyz4eeb5F9lxJzThewyq7unmPLZCH7xPyjeAxaXpa3-KByq2XqBE_Yg8bflg9JzTZmFzsZqUyCcKP7Mt61Dn8nDo-UtiiiFTO9qpVPWmpE9nGJfbD_kOOIcqEDJLaANEB2IscW/s1600/Mandela+and+JP+II.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JP II and Mandela. Source CNN Mag</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you thought that John Paul II was a superstar you have to closely watch Pope Francis today. Did you see him take that cup of traditional Argentinian tea from a person in the audience? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year he already got a mate gourd and a straw from Cristina Fernandez Kirchner, President of Argentina and he kissed her. She was excited and spoke about this. Who would not be? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird was kissed by John Paul II in her own days. So the that Pope already heard the song of this Nightbird from her own lips. Nightbird used to sing in an orchestra and sang to him more than once- but that is another story. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGRgKJOopDvfeLpcmEbHrHwibAUTv0v3BjgVekyTBfqOO8RRkPXG47_y-RfdTVxpmfFkJ_3ZNRejh7j8QyVzUEuixGqJ-cOojO3ztnmd9DyFZK_qzohy2X92qTgZtUUY6g4qJz8mPGfTo/s1600/PFrancis.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGRgKJOopDvfeLpcmEbHrHwibAUTv0v3BjgVekyTBfqOO8RRkPXG47_y-RfdTVxpmfFkJ_3ZNRejh7j8QyVzUEuixGqJ-cOojO3ztnmd9DyFZK_qzohy2X92qTgZtUUY6g4qJz8mPGfTo/s1600/PFrancis.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope Francis starring</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis is at ease with <i>selfies</i> and almost all that you can say makes contemporary times and yet he does not cease to reflect the poverty of Francis of Assisi, it seems. What makes some leaders work much harder than others?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis is fast on the Internet and I am sure he knows that FOMO was Internet slang before it became the not so attractive formal abbreviation to be found even in the Oxford Dictionary. Fear of Missing Out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But is it really fear? John Paul II's first words to the people after his election and knowing fully well that people looked at a Polish man as a stranger to the Papacy were "Do Not Be Afraid!" He stepped out on a different path.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Years after John Paul II sent the first e-mail from the Vatican and even earlier, he had told the world that to be missing in the media is not to be anywhere. What is called a very traditional church, apostolic for being founded on the Apostles moves with the change of the times and they do it with originality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What there is to fear is not to be wise and original. Well, most leaders know that there is nothing that makes you get there than beating your own path. If you copy as an artist called Elimo Njau of Kenya has on a big board at Paa Ya Paa, you put God to sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Original is what artist Njau is, he and his wife Philda Njau. He has a new perspective for everything you know!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIjoLgw2nYS3KoVG-YoIPvlL9HIHLZgZTtxz4TP2aAROQQrKigtagRvUmcEcsgaZlVljEVoKJq-fM1S6vBvVlrsT_7R1j_xddDC3ikJH2aLbKFCvo4wtaZttqL_1a4-hfsdsJ80Z_n2ad/s1600/Philda+and+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIjoLgw2nYS3KoVG-YoIPvlL9HIHLZgZTtxz4TP2aAROQQrKigtagRvUmcEcsgaZlVljEVoKJq-fM1S6vBvVlrsT_7R1j_xddDC3ikJH2aLbKFCvo4wtaZttqL_1a4-hfsdsJ80Z_n2ad/s1600/Philda+and+.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Njau and Philda at Paa ya Paa</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But long before that, you can put God to sleep, you bore everyone else to death. So Pope Francis coming too from a far country like John Paul II has kept his originality alive despite all those dogmas one hears about. And many in the world, it would seem love to find and meet someone who stands for something. Someone who is or was but who sang his song out loud for all to hear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, Pope Francis' virtual life is way up there as his own is so down to earth. Washing feet of the sick on Holy Thursday and last year of a group of prisoners that included a Muslim woman. Headlines blared: Pope washes the feet of a Muslim woman <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9960168/Pope-washes-feet-of-young-Muslim-woman-prisoner-in-unprecedented-twist-on-Maundy-Thursday.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9960168/Pope-washes-feet-of-young-Muslim-woman-prisoner-in-unprecedented-twist-on-Maundy-Thursday.html</a> His tweets </span><a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link" href="https://twitter.com/Pntifex_es" style="background-color: white; color: #0084b4; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #66b5d2;">@</span>Pntifex_es</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> get worshippers and admirers clicking in faster than the speed of light. And they are little sermons!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">John Paul II (Between the two Popes Benedict XVI who in his own way did the untraditional, what might add up to much more than Tweets and visibility for greatness in the church) was unique in so many ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even if he was often called the Pope of Sorrows for he had much suffering in his life, all said when he smiled, it was as if the sun rose. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And yet his predecessor was the smiling Pope John Paul I who broke another kind of record, not intentionally of course, dying after a month in office. The smiling Pope was Italian.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Polish John Paul II was at first looked down by some for being a man too immersed and only belonging to his country, Poland. There had not been a non-Italian Pope for years before he came along. He astounded his critics by taking the globe by storm not only physically kissing many airports grounds but also revealing a man who espoused a most profound intellectual take on the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A poet of his times and would have been a great film actor were it not that he chose the robes. He is canonised a saint pronto in April 2014. The call <i>Santo Subito</i>, saint quickly or fast, has been heard by the church in our times, normally it takes years. John XIII who gets canonised along with him, another cheerful man knows that. Yet his process was even faster. There are others that have been lost to memory. But there has been a change in speed on this since John Paul II. Speed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With these few strokes it looks like running on the beaten tracks is not what the Church is doing. Every leader knows that it is best to be cordial with the Pope. Take tea with him if you can. All leaders meet the Popes and the Popes like to meet with them. They only do not go where they are rejected otherwise they want to be everywhere. I remember when Lithuania would not, in the 90s have John Paul II as a guest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Taking a stand even if it conflicts with others and why should there be a chorus in every view is original and it marks one's own path. However, positions that diminish one's moral authority are not viable. They just are not original. To be original in this case means to break barriers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis and Fernandez Kirchner differ on gay marriage. They agree on the good treatment of all people regardless of their sexual orientation.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The world's influentials today</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird likes to feed on inspiration. Recently it has come from poet Rabindranath Tagore. One could say that despite the greats, there is a vacuum of leadership in the world. There are racial, ethnic and religious diversities that need management at a positive level. A gush, not a dash of fresh ideas is needed. New people pronouncing them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most of the secular people in whom we invest hope for the interpretation of meaning are fast failing us. Nightbird does not easily criticise women for it knows the efforts thy make. But sometimes one has to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Differences seem not to have towering figures who speaks to them for healing. The high hopes pegged on Aung San Syu Kyi seem to fail when we think of the killings of the Ruhingya Muslims. She was and remains rather quiet on their deaths. This Syu Kyi could talk about as a Nobel Prize laureate not as a Member of Parliament. I hear that is her dilemma, that she will be marginalised. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXjapy1zC89KkjxinTpLGexs2DvtzyMWoAq7UGSWBLqffsEM8muOXPiPUVwhYtzm2KQIjwOzkSFZ-7glp6gGiLtiIYZMS3dZmhHb5UVFJ__s9xZ5bdOTNLvy9YVML1xrxUW5vuu8dLawL/s1600/Aungsan.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXjapy1zC89KkjxinTpLGexs2DvtzyMWoAq7UGSWBLqffsEM8muOXPiPUVwhYtzm2KQIjwOzkSFZ-7glp6gGiLtiIYZMS3dZmhHb5UVFJ__s9xZ5bdOTNLvy9YVML1xrxUW5vuu8dLawL/s1600/Aungsan.jpeg" height="332" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Popes cannot say everything about everything to the world. Speak!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But are there not times when one has to take the risk of losing a podium one has by throwing in their lot with a people who suffer? Can one not leave fate to decide how one's action will be judged? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nelson Mandela's moral authority would probably have been lost if he had stayed longer than five years as President of South Africa but now he had power until the end, and yes, his death led the world to troop together and the words of leadership there spoken need to be heard again. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, there is the Group of Elders that I see often on FB The Elders<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theElders">https://www.facebook.com/theElders</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">with words of inspiration and every village must develop its own leaders, but this is limited and we need to hear strong voices in more channels. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Graca Machel is still in mourning. We wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is a man whom everyone is refusing to meet these days. Nobel Prize winners are refusing to meet him too and he is one himself. Obama did. Now the President of the Norwegian <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6j2rgHALlKem0u_KFs7RKiphu8eDraInmBiliZJgEs4dbZy7zstJtfQP-6oHudI1X8ComhvQ5JEFoIBGQLsH8MhA8SO1BNJQqZV60kV3EPtxVi43UA25AbhknQ5SsDLLdbnLPONCA0q5/s1600/Dalai+Lama.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6j2rgHALlKem0u_KFs7RKiphu8eDraInmBiliZJgEs4dbZy7zstJtfQP-6oHudI1X8ComhvQ5JEFoIBGQLsH8MhA8SO1BNJQqZV60kV3EPtxVi43UA25AbhknQ5SsDLLdbnLPONCA0q5/s1600/Dalai+Lama.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalai Lama</td></tr>
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Parliament has also said he will not meet with this man, the one Monk that shakes a superpower called China. Olemic Thommessen would rather have China's blessing and the sales of Salmon fish to China rather than meet this 'Solomon' and have Norway sidelined by China. The Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit Oslo in May 2014. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Doesn't the world need to see all these teams playing together in fact, in order to benefit China? Be sure the Popes are keen to have more Chinese converts as of any other group. In Easter the Catholic church prays for the conversion of everyone, everyone to the Catholic faith.<br /><br />But now again, if we emphasise differences and therefore the need for conversions what are we saying? Yes I know there is a tremendous inter church and other group dialogue always going on but what if we looked at what we share more in common than what divides us? There you go Nightbird idealising again? You by the way were already offended that Kenya's Moody Awori then Vice President would not allow the Dalai Lama to visit Kenya. He was denied a visa. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78arg5uC4wc4RM5pvxXeNELocsux-Lgdb_uubEA3FsgmT04BEnsvs2bV6UkuO6owAN3qu4St4h9RHTiFPlAdE7UqoVuejStomOaL246300i-r3Ct_8HwMRoTa_CL6DHqsVgdZb1xDMU8b/s1600/Tutu2t.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78arg5uC4wc4RM5pvxXeNELocsux-Lgdb_uubEA3FsgmT04BEnsvs2bV6UkuO6owAN3qu4St4h9RHTiFPlAdE7UqoVuejStomOaL246300i-r3Ct_8HwMRoTa_CL6DHqsVgdZb1xDMU8b/s1600/Tutu2t.jpeg" height="320" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desnond Tutu has an infectious laugh! Heals!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And that children could not see him do a simple thing like sing with Tutu and friends around many candles representing all peoples: Happy Birthday to you....! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">...and if you come from my part of the world poke fun at where you were born too and laugh till your ribs crack when they tell you where you were born! Oops.. I better say barn!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And of course it is clear that women are missing in all this leadership of the world and own paths. Perhaps they are busy writing stories, leading their nations but honestly Lema Bowie and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the world still waits for your voices? Are you on Twitter ala @Pontifexs or WAZ UP? I heard more from you before you joined the Nobel Prize League! Come on LOML, let's have more COED!</span><br />
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-83930674589809987882014-03-13T14:11:00.001-07:002014-07-02T13:53:17.026-07:00Oh Mountain Bull is gone! The elephants sings her tragedy, how many elegies have you read?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who can take his place? None.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As if she did not have enough pains</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">as if her mother had not died before</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and her children all for tusks... ivory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How I wish that Mountain Bull had been</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">found, found alive</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How I know he was found dead, how I know</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The elephant that disturbed but had a mind to share</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How I wish</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How I wish if you had been found dead at 46 you would</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">have had your tusks on</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Your six tonnes lay there and no tusks, Mountain Bull</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">You and I have had our bad times but the worst has</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">come for you Oh, Mountain Bull</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Your Exodus begins my song of pain, the book of books</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">for your story too must be heard Mountain Bull of Mt. Kenya</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Elephant-that-symbolised-Kenya-wildlife-conservation/-/1056/2318778/-/i51e9r/-/index.html">http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Elephant-that-symbolised-Kenya-wildlife-conservation/-/1056/2318778/-/i51e9r/-/index.html</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">How shall we conserve, whom shall we conserve</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Who can play reserve in your place?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She, the elephant died before...</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I the elephant have died again</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">She the elephant that did not resurrect, died again</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">and again as presidents talk about mini skirts</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">for Afrika and forget the mini shirts that steal</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">with only skin on. I saw no girl</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">come to her, our dead elephant but only men</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">with knives of fear and no tears for her rear</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't help the elephant carry her tusks, do you hear?</span></div>
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Some people behave as if</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">they never heard that I the elephant</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">never gets tired of carrying my own tusks</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">my own sweet burdens they are, not your ivory</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">so greedy you, since you started</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">building houses that rivaled my size</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and became sky scrapers forgetting their African tongues</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">had no name for State Houses,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">An elephant never tires of carrying its own tusks did you not hear?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her children have been left alone</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">no elephant mother stares with two slowing eyes</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">they have pushed her into the bush and taken her big</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">thighs leaving them one upon the other, a people </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">so afraid and in hatred of their Mother Tongue </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For mother</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">she is this elephant and memory she never borrows but</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">they want her only to remember her death of pain</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We cannot bear her sorrow so strong: An antelope is not big enough to carry the tusks an elephant bears...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who will hide her precious ivory where greed has grown wings and feet?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Politicians will not protect me when I am peaceful on the land</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">they like to be big and to be big they make war and kill us</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They like to swat us like flies and to be in power they take ours</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They like to be big like my tail so that nobody can catch their deeds. They may call me a wall like the third man of Hindustan</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They may even pretend am a fan and that all I am different things</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">for me but one fact is real they only know me money and none of</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">them weep my cause as they ride in jumbos free and I.. count my votes in vain</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"An elephant does not die from one broken rib" It dies</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">when lawmakers are persistent lawbreakers</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They say that their brains are big and that rationality is theirs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">but I remember so many times the thoughts of pain and wonder</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When an elephant kills a rat is not a hero we say, what heroism is</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">is yours when all you do is aim and pierce taking my ivory to land</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">distant? It is your children you starve when you kill me, what wisdom is there in that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am pregnant for twenty two months and I do not bring my child to you who steals my life for the sake of ivory. I stay where I belong I do not come to your towers, why then do you come to mine, hiding behind trees, trapping and shooting me and taking my</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">tusks from me and for me as if I asked for help. I still have my memory it is you who loses yours. Why do you think I should not multiply when you are going everywhere in this world?<br /><br />Have you heard that I flew to space to look for a new place?<br />Have you seen me crossing rivers and deserts to take your parts</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">to other lands? What have I done to kill your conscience of nature</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I the elephant who knows what value an ant has for none other</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">can scratch my hooves or eat the generous droppings of green kilos</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I give back even after I eat? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I allow the nightbird to perch on me so she can see far and keep me safe when I doze in the heat of the night and the afternoon stillness of the day waiting for night. Watch out for me, watch out for me alive. Feed your hungry and remove all those poachers from my way. I am the keeper of every park and jungle and without me rocks will cry and I never forgetting cry at every spot of death and robbery of my tusks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">An elephant is never burdened by its own tusks why do you take mine? You should know my dung better. Think about my dung. Worry about my dung the home of many seeds I scatter. Think how I make food for others and even if I eat trees, I plant seeds galore. Think me and think you who robs my tusks only to dry them. I have them to keep and you can wait until I die after I spread my seeds for the generations that have loaned you this land for now. Think many African proverbs about me the elephant. I cry not only for myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When two elephants fight, since you fight me you pretend to be elephant, it is the grass that suffers. You injure me, I lie there dying and so many trees die with me, and there goes your rainfall.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Generations suffer dryness when you kill me. I have my role to play, play yours with me. You just can never seem to know and acknowledge. You can find me in the desert following water and keeping people watered. I tell you, you have no idea how connected I am to your gas, oil and even, computers! Think my minerals. Think why the best and most important are found in the stomach of this land so vast and others. Think. Just think. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And let live</span></div>
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-20518885865531916752014-02-07T06:56:00.000-08:002014-02-07T06:56:16.586-08:00Who will pretend then that we have to wait for apologies to gay people if we watch them persecuted?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anti Gay Russia, Sochi, Valentine's Day, there is a huge wave about the rights of a people whom many do not want to hear about much. The gay and homosexual communities. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I followed with interest what happened when writer Binyavanga Wainaina of Kenya came out with his story. He told the world that he is gay. He released a lot of information online. Social media and other media in Kenya took up the issue.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The divide is clear and sharp. There are no such people that exist and if they do, they are from the deepest or the worst of evil one can find. Many called upon human rights activists to classify these people as worse than animals. It was dark. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Theology was used for scathing attacks. Friends were lost on Fb and some continued to write how let down they felt that this person whom they have "trusted" the blogger her is not CONDEMNING this dirt hard. It was a night to remember and to be remembered. A time to keep on saying... our concern is the human being, the human being. Human Rights. Human Rights. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It only got darker. We quoted good Pope Francis to no avail. We were slammed for changing God's command that a man shall leave his ... and to a woman. It is so plain to some how people must be they are envied. We stuck on at least that the Pope has said love homosexuals, but we were still hanged. In fact, not so far away are we from some excommunication from our friends doors. The church does not matter any more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In <i>Still Sings The Nightbird</i>, there is a chapter titled Lesbian. It is about homophobia in the church. In this chapter, a church lay leader takes on Wam and tells her that she is a lesbian. Wam is astounded as she listens to a telling off like she had never heard before. One cannot say she is not guilty without erring. She just is not a lesbian. But this makes her learn there are some people who are. She is talking about a crush. They are talking about onany, lust, sodomy and bestiality. She is told Africans have to be protected from the possibility.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And then she wonders what if she had been one of them, would she have had to die?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was just in time to hear the last words on news: " They are persecuted, killed because they are like you and me..." It was plain but it was powerful. I learned that it was a You Tube video against homophobia which had gone viral. Speaking was a gay person and listening was the world. Who is who was sending a support note to the speaker. I did not follow all the names.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But I woke up with a thought. A disturbing one. It was made up of several pictures. Here is the first one. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Homosexuals were also persecuted by Hitler. Hardly anyone stood up for them in particular. They were in there between the Jews and the homophobia of the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were taught in church that this was not something that people were but a socialisation which makes them so. The Catholic priest said it had nothing to do with a genetic formation. But why was it still something very peripheral and which needed justification if it was and in great numbers as the church says now? Was it something everyone tried to sweep under the carpet?<br /><br />Desmond Tutu is outspoken on homophobia and supports gay rights. I read about a political party DRAAMA formed by gay and lesbian people in South Africa. They are killed there and lesbians raped to make them straight. These shocking facts have been reported and still Nigeria has made a law against them which includes imprisonment. So they are there and they are people everywhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Uganda stopped short of a similar law last month. It will be amended to include maybe not such a punishment but here again, people who say they are who they are will be arrested and imprisoned. Many of them have been stoned before, killed even.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In my work and travels, I have observed that there are people who cannot say they are anything else but homosexual. Every time the topic comes up we are told not to speak about them because they will disappear and leave the normal people around.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So the conclusion for me was, are we coming to a time when someone, many people will have to apologize the way we do or try to do in some places to the Jews and peoples who were persecuted? Have any of us been free of homophobia truly? How horrible is it to feel that we are of a kind which believing ourselves to be chosen, hated and mouthed anger, killed and tormented others. What do we know? Is there any pride in any homophobia whatsoever?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Is it impossible for so many to understand that you cannot defend humans and leave out some? Then you too will be discriminating?<br /><br />As for those who say the gay and lesbian should just shut up and stop popping up 'to star' here and there with confessions of being this or that, have they ever belonged to a group that was not allowed to do some things or was discriminated upon when discovered to be this way or that? Have they felt how horrible it is to wear the disapproved tag or skin? If they have not, then they cannot know how important that these have claimed their power at least to show up, sometimes with fear yes, but stood up to say: I am this one, the one you cannot stand. Whose test is this? Who is on trial?</span></div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-46094372999527560502014-01-26T03:45:00.001-08:002014-02-07T11:49:57.883-08:00Peace evades us into 2014: Nightbird the Dawn Must Come!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68jQVGGktX4Qq5qK3PqTvbPceCBlNGWJgjBYwyzmZZEG0zcetSVwNsjsnnr_4LYq0-oaDAxR6DnleOIPjZ3UIkfTGJvtXnIb7gPjwWU_Ephvj5hJ8acqbt97meCQt5c3d1pRfYaFg03dy/s1600/S1190010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68jQVGGktX4Qq5qK3PqTvbPceCBlNGWJgjBYwyzmZZEG0zcetSVwNsjsnnr_4LYq0-oaDAxR6DnleOIPjZ3UIkfTGJvtXnIb7gPjwWU_Ephvj5hJ8acqbt97meCQt5c3d1pRfYaFg03dy/s1600/S1190010.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peaceful night in Hamar, Norway summer 2013</td></tr>
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<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As the old year let its failing arms out slowly to hug the new, we tried to listen for peace. <br /><br />The passing away of Mandela left me with a desire to reflect. This blog is still on reflections, despite a change of name to suit my kind or writing. Singing despite of darkness. Hoping to inspire more, Still Sings the Nightbird. <br /><br /><br /> "I stressed that the use of violence in our struggle would be both impractical and immoral. To meet hate with retaliatory hate would do nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the universe. Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love; we must meet physical force with soul free. Our main aim must never be to defeat or humiliate ..." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A Testament of Hope.<br /><br /><br /> After such a long life of hope and struggle, Mandela left his message clear. So have many others. Today am reflecting more on the thoughts of Dr. Martin Luther King, for January to me is his month.<br /><br /><br /> So the old year went out and embraced a new one. The ideas of these two people and may others did not die. It was painful though. I sat on New Year's eve with loving souls that would weep each time the media made us witness to what we knew, the reality of war in some countries.<br /><br /><br /> The bridge between 2013 and 2014 is war but love peace must get stronger. Violence has gripped a good part of the world. It is heart rending to see the conflict in the Central Republic of Africa get fueled so, along religious lines. This is always the worst of signs.<br /><br /><br /> Politics that is pegged on divisions that are more than in policy and ways of addressing issues, politics based on naked ethnic support, based on religious leanings can only be lethal especially in continents gifted with great diversity. To find a common thread becomes impossible. And this common thread has to be so deep that it ceases being figures of the economy and so on and spells great bonds of unity. <br /><br /><br /> The word love is reduced to so little so often, a fleeting emotion but Dr. King taught what is still applicable over the years, no matter the scandalous days, that this is the only way.<br /><br /><br /> How naive some would say. How can you count on Love in times of military force? How in the days of Nuclear war? The only place we all meet is in our humanity and we have to 'undress' until we reach common ground. If we do not do it ourselves in our planning and ahead of the negative, we shall be stripped naked like many are experiencing now in Syria, Egypt, Central African Republic, South Sudan and many troubled spots in the world.<br /><br /><br /> How and when will political powers learn to praise those who clearly speak out about themselves and them, those who tell what is going wrong? Why mute them? Politics needs to be tamed. Power needs to listen. In all places when I hear the problem the people at the grassroots point at it goes: If he leaves, we can think of building peace again. Think of Assad. Michel Djotodia. <br /><br />Salva Kiir and Machar must agree in South Sudan. John Garang united and still unites this nation in death. <br /><br /><br /> See how South Sudanese go to his shrine without mention of tribe. But not so at the table of Kiir and Machar for they lay different tables. The people are chosen to eat, to come to the table, on grounds that defy wisdom.<br /><br /><br /> How well did you know the former president of CAR, Michel Djotodia? Faults make all nations small. <br /><br /><br /> And steps in a transitional president now to make up all the damages.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKV4vZd5R0WLFtOYXB415uIQaze-1M9KwUhE6MvQnED1ZF3U_9dWircu9I1L5ROntM-ER4uCH_XTMB0BXQvnBv_RO-s6yg8khcsOgPws0ua-Kp5tJbGYyqDwzSxYMLweUrnDaVCBPNkev/s1600/Catherine-Semba-Penza-375x252.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKV4vZd5R0WLFtOYXB415uIQaze-1M9KwUhE6MvQnED1ZF3U_9dWircu9I1L5ROntM-ER4uCH_XTMB0BXQvnBv_RO-s6yg8khcsOgPws0ua-Kp5tJbGYyqDwzSxYMLweUrnDaVCBPNkev/s1600/Catherine-Semba-Penza-375x252.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Catherine Samba-Penza at work</span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> I am not a fundraiser but this is Catherine Samba- Penza's most popular link now...I hit upon it fast. <br /><br /><a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/01/20/catherine-samba-panza-former-mayor-of-bangui-elected-as-transitional-president-of-central-african-republic/">http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/01/20/catherine-samba-panza-former-mayor-of-bangui-elected-as-transitional-president-of-central-african-republic/</a> . <br /><br /> We say the women can do it and in a normal world should always have been more present. Who is supporting this upright and sincere woman Rebecca Mabior Garang in South Sudan? <br /> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_wmKIfc3KVLmP7N3lYdaeUksY3K08JN0MxaSdeaY3xaIyE7eeS4OaEcNGRdBj5uhqlXDMfhrHZSyEfAJYO1MLISwf9XfpVSgnHmD7JjGwB_7aCGYdB4Qt5NIbJKriQaSS1hv1O-mKbGk/s1600/Becca.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_wmKIfc3KVLmP7N3lYdaeUksY3K08JN0MxaSdeaY3xaIyE7eeS4OaEcNGRdBj5uhqlXDMfhrHZSyEfAJYO1MLISwf9XfpVSgnHmD7JjGwB_7aCGYdB4Qt5NIbJKriQaSS1hv1O-mKbGk/s1600/Becca.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rebecca Garang key to peace in South Sudan</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />She says "We have failed our people!" <br /><br />In the CAR the people sent their president off and then he resigned. They danced on the streets. But when the Christians were dancing, the Muslims went behind closed doors. I dare say that Africa was better placed for peace before people found homes in faiths that have so much in common, beginning with monotheism, but faiths in which we choose to shred into differences. Who sets one table and who fails to recognise prudence in nation building?<br /><br /><br /> The passing year 2013 needed not just a tight embrace, but also very practical things. Our thoughts were in Syria and the Central African Republic. For the children in Syria and the women, the people of Syria things had reached to almost a point of no return. For the people in war zones, what picture can we conjure? Images of peace and stability must win, regardless.<br /><br /><br />Many Tweets decried the world's indifference to the war in Syria, the longest. Indeed no country can say all has been done to help Syria. Children with dried out skins will haunt us forever. We have seen photos of how they looked up to the sky in their last days, thirsty, hungry and lonely. And gun fire raging.<br /><br /><br />But are these situations unavoidable? What is it that goes so wrong and for long before a nation reaches the point of no return? Are there no early warning signs? <br /><br /><br /> Observations shows that where a country has had war before, there is likely to be another war, no matter how much the opposite seems more logical. In the management of diversity today, many are failing. South Sudan fits here.<br /><br /><br /> Where power has been in the hands of one person, one group or ethnic group ignoring many others, war might eventually erupt. Power in the hands of the same people or peoples corrupts. WHen one listens to Syria today as the meetings go on in Geneva, the question of power is central. It is the same in South Sudan and in the Central Republic of Afrika. <br /><br />In nations that are not able to distribute national resources well, war is knocking at the door. In nations where water is a challenge, peace is not easy to preach for people reach their limit. In nations which have rich oil reserves, minerals... the crisis gets worse.<br /><br /><br />So that we are back to national and international greed. Nothing so alien is eating us up just the fact that it is too difficult for us to carve space for another, to see others like ourselves. We put political power on a high pedestal, an altar of shame!<br /><br />Nations that will have heart failure show all the symptoms early. Stress, division and poor exercise, meaning of the law. High level consumption by some. I do not insult anyone who suffers disease but all these ailments can be diagnosed early. But this is how far we frustrate voices we do not like because they show the wounds in us : Kurdish poet sews his eyes and lips because he is not allowed to write in his Mother Tongue.<br /> <br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMBUs1LggKBfoQPxTweK16uYzvKFs_wJa-gKa-zqrvJglUcBYZ-CjyngxiRSXf4riWKvnaInmwgPOhtUckCyKs9O6vDEpkVtbyTT-qT2aNjC0eD23YPUI1DmVpaSSgnc0iMl_hCLScYnj/s1600/syrian+poet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMBUs1LggKBfoQPxTweK16uYzvKFs_wJa-gKa-zqrvJglUcBYZ-CjyngxiRSXf4riWKvnaInmwgPOhtUckCyKs9O6vDEpkVtbyTT-qT2aNjC0eD23YPUI1DmVpaSSgnc0iMl_hCLScYnj/s1600/syrian+poet.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not allowed to write in Kurdish, his Mother Tongue he sews up his eyes and his lips</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A</span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">dHelbestvan Emin Abbas ku ji Rojhilata Kurdistanê ye, ji ber ku bi zimanê kurdî nivîsandina helbestan hatiye qedexekirin, wî jî guh, çav û devê xwe dirûtî ye û bi vî awayî, rejîma tehdekar, înkarok û paşverû şermezar kiriye. Em silaveke jidil lêdikin û em jî wê rejîma paşverû û hovane, şermezar dikin..d caption</span></i> <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The problems in the world are human and they are made by some people almost on purpose. People who do not see that power is not for one to hold onto for long. This damages societies, including small organisations so much. Not least because everything that goes wrong in the society is focused on that power and the people often forget then to look at themselves and contribute what they can to their nation. When war breaks out how can they do this anyway. When there is no war, they are driven to sycophancy. Creativity is lost. It takes the creative power of all the citizens to run the city or the country and the people at the top are only meant to be giving guidance and following the rule of law and constitution that the people made.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> The shortage of goodwill is appalling. The understanding that to lead one must try hard to be above board and beyond reproach so that the others have no excuses to under perform. In the ways of great leaders in history and in life including in our homes we want to find peace and justice. To find:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> Wisdom</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Love for all and women impacting</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Humility and detachment</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Undying search for capacity to give</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Deep respect for the other</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Plenty of imagination</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Spirit of adventure set upon discoveries</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> From the Chapter Wise and Beautiful in Still Sings the Nightbird</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"In the same place in the last day of the year people wait for a brand new year. This happened in Kenyalini too. The clock ticked and then someone began to beat pots and pans Women quickly contributed their sound of joy. Many villagers joined in. Shouts of 'Hapei niu yia' began to steal into the village from different corners... Ulalations furiously parted the air from the mouths of older women.."</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Still-Sings-Nightbird-Philo-Ikonya-2013-Paperback-/168601190" style="font-size: x-large;">http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Still-Sings-Nightbird-Philo-Ikonya-2013-Paperback-/168601190</a><br /></div>
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12th January 2010<br />
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Dear Nelson Mandela,<br />
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I am writing to you to firstly thank you for having worked so hard for freedom. I always feel that I have you to hold up in many places when much of what comes from our different countries is not very good. I am a Kenyan recently moved to Oslo as a guest writer under ICORN ( International Cities of Refuge Network). I am a human rights activist and writer.<br />
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I grew up and went to school in the Rift Valley and not in Central Province where I was born in Kiambu and somehow, my identity in terms of pronunciation of words in my mother language was modified by exposure. Now I speak my mother spoken Gikuyu, English, Kiswahili, Spanish, a little Italian and French and now am learning Norsk. I studied Linguistics and I understand Latin as a root language. I long very much to learn Lingala and also Maasai and once am comfortable with Norsk these are the languages I want to learn this year.<br />
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Thank you again. When I, sometimes like today read about Mau Mau in Kenya and remember the stories my father used to tell us about his time in Manyani camp, I miss my father very much. He died in 1991 at a time when I had not analysed things enough for me to thank him for his part in the struggle which seems he passed on to me in a special way with his actions and words.<br />
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So, in this letter, I want to thank more than one hero through you. I thank my father, and so many people I have met who fought for freedom. I thank many women who suffered untold things and whose sufferings when told even by a third party leaves one shattered. I have been reading Britain’s Gulag ( the end of brutal empire in Kenya) by Caroline Elkins recently. I thank also the children of Mau Mau times. So brutally were many of them treated, dying on mothers’ back sick and without any form of relief.<br />
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The other day I watched Amandla. I thought so much about Vusifyile Mini, Thandi Modise ( the woman who got a baby in prison just before she killed herself), the children of Soweto, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and your letter to him outside prison..and the workers especially the free on Thursday nannies.. and I thought you too and this is partly why I have written. I thought about the long struggles of African people to be free. I thought how Kenya has never found the remains of Kimathi Wa Wachiuri and reburied them with dignity like South Africans did with Mini’s. I thank them for that. And I thank those who wove the struggle with song and brought it to us in Amandla. Thank you for song in the struggle South Africa. For perhaps only in her song and literature can Africa show its true brilliance to the world.. before it overtakes in other fields such as technology and on discovering the cure for many disease still incurable, Aids included.<br />
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I have been reading the memoirs of Ahmed Kathrada and see so many people of Asian origin in Africa struggle to help us weave like Gandhi did, a cloth of perhaps cobwebs which as the Ethiopians say, can tie down the marauding lions which I sometimes see as those leaders who refuse to behave like good lions..<span style="font-style: italic;"> simba</span> and guard our homes..our countries. I therefore want with this background and a little more to ask you three questions. But before that, a little more.<br />
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When I arrived in Olso, I have been here only two months and one week, I hardly used to dream. Not even about my Mother whose last embrace as she sat on a couch in my flat which I was soon to vacate lingered on me like the 'physical' memory a mother has of the clinging of a child whom she had to abandon at a tender age to go to work or to a trip, did I dream. I still remember that feeling of something is missing from my chest, what one feels after putting a baby down particularly we in Africa who are so used to carrying babies strapped on our backs. But I did not dream of her. Instead, I regularly, when I remembered my dreams, they were of police attacking me or us in demonstrations. I do not think I dreamt out of fear as am very courageous and was often talking ot them to see why it was wrong to torture people or not to allow us to demosntrate and that it was a pity they went against us with such roughness when we were fighting for principles which if they disappear on a society- when no one is vigilant- irreparable damage is done, damage which haunts a society for generations as you well know.<br />
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Well, I had one more dream in those early days and I recorded it as I used to record my police nightmares. It was a dream which only had one word in my Mother tongue and you are the one who said it. The word is, ‘huranira’, which I would translate as ‘struggle for me’ although the root of the word, hura, mens beat..which also includes struggle as in many languages of the earth. This dream was short but so clear, I sent it to a friend. And it is this dream and the history of my mother language that has made me write to you. But still before my questions, let me share with you a little more.<br />
<br />
I would like to write a happy letter to you. The kind of letter which you would celebrate, a letter which would leave you smiling and not recalling the pains you have had nor the pains of Africa. I always see in a bracket that a time of greater happiness for Africa was knocking at our doors when you were in prison and that we failed to seize it and keep it intact, for you and for our children, so that when you came out prison our celebrations would last. I refer to the time one breathed deeply hearing Nyerere speak, the time of Nkurumah, the time of Pan Africanism with all the names in it from Blyden to Marley and in between all those powerful people like Lumumba Patrice, Sankara, Seko Toure and our American and Latin American brothers and so on.. Azikiwe Nnamdi.. and so many others.. and yourself.<br />
<br />
Today we also have voices we can glory in; the elders of Africa: Mandela, Koffi Annan, Graca Machel, Wangari Maathai, Desmond Tutu, Ellen Jonson and others I may not know and perhaps of some in the list we may not all agree.<br />
<br />
Now, my three questions. Africa has disconnected itself from its ancestors as a continent.. what do we do when it is so obvious for instance that Kenya prefers to forget persons like Kimathi wa Wachiuri, Me katilili wa Menza, Somoei Arap Koitalel and then rush in to call for help when things go wrong because we have destroyed the silent place in every leader/politician that must be distilled to know that Africa cannot play around longer with issues of justice and freedom? Why should there be Africans in exile now, after your own imprisonment and the exile of many others in the past? Why so many refugees even? Why should Somali children be happy to fall and play in the snow.. if they cannot return home too to play in their little rivers and sunshine? I would not mind if they could play in both countries. Doesn't the blood of famous children such as the children of Soweto and other martyrs such as Biko and Chris Hani suffice?<br />
<br />
Africa is so blessed. So full of resources, so full of human love.. ubuntu. .but what prevents us from spreading the power of liberation that vibrated with song from south to north and east to west?Who rules the world Mandela? Who makes DRC such a pittance to look at when it is so rich? Who makes Somalia fail when for 15 years she resisted the British attacks at Darvenish?<br />
<br />
My other question how will we save our languages of ancestry if they are spoken by people who refuse to use even traditional democracy to help integrate us all? Why should we, women be proud of my ethnic group that first of all does not count on me and then when there is trouble am suddenly thrown into its brackets to be blamed for being this or that tribe and sometimes even killed? Yet,if I forego my mother language and links with culture, does that mean that my ancestors will abandon me? Who will help us make clear that ancestors like Shaka Zulu fought for justice for the people they belonged to as they knew them then but now will fight for all of Africa. Who is helping us define our identity in the struggle? Who can unite Africa?<br />
Do we agree that our languages are weapons of war when they conserve so much wisdom in their proverbs? Who is stealing us?<br />
<br />
Now, then, the last question refers to your message in the dream. Are you looking for young Africans, the other generation like Obama’s that is not showing up with enough strength in my country, to go and meet leadership at the grassroots and generate hope for a world in trouble? Are you truly saying to me and to many others, huranira.. struggle for me? I hope so. Your brave words encouraging new leadership even if few are badly needed and will always be remembered.<br />
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I urge you to stay with us Mandela. Do not go. The night and the day are both as long as the evening shadow, the sun has refused to stand still at midday so that we can show the brilliance of Africa with her skirt spread out proudly yet decently carrying her children on all her sides.. making strides. Do not go and if you must, as we all must, tell Dennis Brutus to make a team up there or down there with the ancestors because still the struggle is long. Still it has not started. Stay with us, Mandela, do not go the going of the gone. Stay in our dreams. Let me hold on to mine. And work to teach the children that all of you did not labour in vain. This then, is my message to you. I must give it in tears and in pain, but I am a word, a story and I was born to tell.<br />
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With all my affection and with my wounds open sincerely, to heal Africa, if you bless me now, because after, I may stagger with doubts. I ask for that blessing now, father of our people.<br />
<br />
Your daughter,<br />
<br />
<br />
Philo Ikonya</div>
Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-14096403457666918232013-11-15T02:08:00.000-08:002014-03-24T10:16:22.646-07:00Seasons Greetings to Paul Biya and Pope Francis: Open Kondengui Prison and let out historian and writer Enoh Meyomesse!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />The Nightbird told me that "Africa cannot afford brains behind bars, it sang me that Enoh is fixed! WHO will change the world of writers deprived of Freedom of Expression?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzzp8k8ybFWLPhLchfknLam5QmJd5g_JkKfyzieNrhcYINLtqh2JpUgmIo5gQaOBSeNJf0aham3VDJuXihpxzYYY9slkrUTFj_6w_R-0Jm6YnzwZfYHuU19EYt9jvbPJjCKCXsHhZxJYL/s1600/Francis+with+Biya.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzzp8k8ybFWLPhLchfknLam5QmJd5g_JkKfyzieNrhcYINLtqh2JpUgmIo5gQaOBSeNJf0aham3VDJuXihpxzYYY9slkrUTFj_6w_R-0Jm6YnzwZfYHuU19EYt9jvbPJjCKCXsHhZxJYL/s200/Francis+with+Biya.jpeg" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Pope Francis and The President of Cameroon in October 2103</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U4fHlX6HTe21DFLtEylYL7QD2If31yCVva5UMFu9o7y9sY7EUsY2FgFWY0sZKMOFMmt24VdNTROUh59Io9wfqpl8krtklX90TazKO2qFy32HzCkRc2nz6kYgn_l0g2NaXGR6D5tW36hL/s1600/Enoh+Meyomesse.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U4fHlX6HTe21DFLtEylYL7QD2If31yCVva5UMFu9o7y9sY7EUsY2FgFWY0sZKMOFMmt24VdNTROUh59Io9wfqpl8krtklX90TazKO2qFy32HzCkRc2nz6kYgn_l0g2NaXGR6D5tW36hL/s320/Enoh+Meyomesse.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enoh Meyomesse in prison for 7 years </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At first I did not believe this could happen in Cameroon a country whose civilisation I heard about many years ago. <br /><br /><br /> A place where our greetings were once long and loving, full of aaahs and eeehs and come and visit us again. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> Pope Francis loves to answer letters and he rings people, and I know now he can ring Enoh Meyomesse in prison in Cameroon because he had "Colloquial talks and has good bilateral relations with Cameroon's president, Paul Biya and his wife, Chantal Biya. <a href="http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-receives-president-of-cameroon">http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-receives-president-of-cameroon</a></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Reuters. Now we want Enoh and prisoners of Conscience free in Africa, all of them for Christmas!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />"For I was in prison and you visited me!" <br /><br /><br /> Release Enoh release, he does not belong to prison ....<br /><br /><br /> I was wondering how this world is working and I looked everywhere for signs of change. I consider myself friend of all writers and I had written to Pope Francis about poets and freedom. And I asked him why he sits with dictators close and if he reminds them of certain things. Is their authority from above too? <br /><br /><br /> I....I am just a poor woman who was once mesmerised by John Paul IIs poetry, life under Communism and lack of freedom. I have to say I still love the poetry he wrote and I wondered if Enoh and people who have seen prison walls in Afrika for reading and writing could stand up at the canonisation of the poet and read poetry? In Ethiopia and many places now they are calling them terrorists of the first order! Who brings sanity to this continent and the world? I am paining in the delivery, the rebirthing of Africa, anyone to help out there?<br /><br /><br />Are you mad oh? Some asked. So I, as I was myself in the snow, I looked for a neighbour as we do in Africa, A neiba of Enoh, I mean a country woman or man. <br /><br /><br /> I went from city to city with a little lamp lit asking: Have you seen Enoh? Enoh Meyomesse? Do you know Enoh? Enoh Meyomesse: Historian, Writer, big brain, University, universitiiii I added as I do not speak French. <br /><br /><br /> Are you pretending to be Socrates they asked?<br /><br /><br /> Have you? Have you seen Enoh? I heard of his fame on my ancestors' lips, fame in a land they called Kameruni. Land, they said where both French and English are spoken. One man far, far away finally said, ' Yes we know Enoh!'<br /><br /><br /> They added that my ancestors were right, that Enoh was not a push over, he kept his eye on history. I asked again, where he is and they hissed at me:<br /><br /><br /> Kondengui! Kondengui! Kondengui! Kondengui! Kondengui! Prison, because he speaks like our original grandmothers in Afrika: Freely! <br /> Prison I asked?<br /> Prison! Prison! Prison! <br /> This neiba told me Enoh is fixed. He told me in the snow. It cried the snow did, until it went red. Oh eh Enoh, No!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /> That prison of yours, I told them sounds familiar. I know Kondele in Kenya and Ngui... ngui... ngui... I will not even dare tell you the meaning of... But I should I tell you, No, I sing...<br /> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freedom for all dear! First Lady of Cameroon, Chantal</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />I swear by Plato's aunt, the man should be out, we do not have enough brains to imprison inCameroon, we are already marooned. Oh Cameroon! who sings the big word there like the big chief, big word without the wind of freedom? Who sings! Qui? <br /><br />Eee neee keeeh inyue?<br /><br /> Ask Aristotle whose uncle is not Kenyatta... he too needs to learn, I know that is East Africa. Kuuliza si ujinga. The land where our ancestors said one should not get imprisoned for a question. There they are making people pregnant with fear and death too, for asking questions? Hehhhehe? Guku ni kwau? Whose land is this? From East to West?<br /><br /> Now you know the man in power in Cameroon has a lovely kind wife. I dreamed that she kissed him dearly when he went to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican early this month. She told him:<br /><br />"My Dear Paulo, </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">land is sad, Freedom of Expression is a must!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You know, you are almost named like a Pope. Paulo witu wa Afrika. Our own Afrikan Paulo. Now, Paulo I tell you, tell the Pope this new Francis to set us free in heaven for he was given key. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Do you hear Paulo? Biya, do you hear? He was given key of heaven he tells us in this world". She was trembling as she said added:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"When we see him fall on our knees in case the locks the doors like we locked up.... and then she did not dare to tell the dream she had. Like we locked up Enoh Meyomesse, who is also president, the Nigerian neighbours heard and added Ooh... they said, </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Enoh is also president Oh, President of The National Cameroonian Association of Writers. Who can breathe there in Cameroon as a writer oh?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To the lovely wife, Africa is tired oh! Get your sisters together for freedom oh!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pope, our ancestors are questioning good bilateral relations with you oh, they love Meyomesse. You had colloquial talks and drinks without mentioning they languish in prison so many and you have the keys with you oh? And then you open for Paul Biya and we here on our knees oh, telling Mary Rosary on African beads oh? Make this easy prayer to Twitter oh@PONTIFEX because in days of today with Tweet all formality is going home ...getting lost. </span><br />
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258552053363974221.post-79307956200685615862013-11-08T01:53:00.002-08:002014-01-25T15:38:05.910-08:00Nafissa Sadiki becomes Nina Simona and she gets to view a flat and some job interviews in Norway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She changed her name from Nafissa to Nina Simona and. This is DittOslo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nightbird, when cometh the dawn? You don't know, so just sing on! Song of liberation is on. Switch on the light of the mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I feel like I enter into small veins and tunnels of life no matter how big the canvas. And search for light, not a flat. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Who is there in the universe of which we say we are all children of to say some things? Is she also a child of the universe and does she have a right to be here? Where in the </span><span style="font-size: large;">world can one not play free and black but just be?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And inside there, I see her seated. I imagine it is me. I imagine explaining to my children that am no longer officially called Nafissa say Sadik for a man? My friends now hesitate to call me Naf as they always have. Or Sad. My son looks angry. He is 17. He gets angrier every hour, every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">But there is something to celebrate. I come home with a new name and more interviews each day but still no job. He gets furious. In the end he does not seem to see us. He is in a world of his own. I know I cannot excuse every crime, I am so deeply frustrated that a man should shoot people on a bus in Årendal and I cannot excuse him, for his misery. But was he looking of a different face to wear in this society? That is a question we must ask. Destruction and rage come because one wants to replace something they cannot name. Perhaps it leads to madness but that is not the point. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It should never, ever be excused, please understand me when I say this for it was the same thing we said of Anders Breivik. But let me go back to the name thing and the loss of the self you need to be confident and to serve without fear, to belong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I love Shakespeare but there is a lot in a name, and more than in a name as such, so much in people knowing who you are. Your identity. And that has nothing to do with what your skin looks like or name sounds like the advanced world wants to say with one mouth but then, there are contradictions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I saw two photos of her sitting there in the local newspaper Ditt Oslo, which is also online <a href="http://dittoslo.no/">http://dittoslo.no/</a>and the first thing that came to mind was 'Ho! today someone of darker skin is in a long feature!' This is Norway. This is a small publication named Your Oslo. But you do not see all yours in Oslo often. And the media is the first place of the creation of that thing we call <i>integrering <a href="http://snl.no/integrering">http://snl.no/integrering</a> here, Integration in English. </i>This is not America ( by the way is one of the tunes you hear when you ring UDI that is the Immigration police here and that's funny. I wondered how an American takes that?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is not another part of the world. It is Oslo, the capital city of Norway not Stockholm. This is not Sweden. It is Norway. Why repeat? Well, one reason is that a certain Minister for Culture and Entertaiment in Sweden found hideous cake good to cut and show how it gets cut, it was shape of woman.. that is another story if you missed it am sure this big Internet field for the world has it for you. Just tweak a little. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, Nafissa: She changed her name so that she could get positive replies to if she could view a flat and also get a job interview. It sounded too Muslim she said. But the paper affirmed something that the authorities of today in Norway call non-existent here. Racism. Don't talk about that. We are like stilled here. Likestilling. Social equality!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So did Nafissa remain who she was? Was she going to hit the headlines if she remained Nafissa? Some pilots hit the headlines on TV channels for changing their names too. They said that when some passengers heard soon after 9/11 words such as: "Good morning ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain Mohammed Nuru speaking..." Well, they did not hear the rest. I think if you change your name for the flight it is no problem but forever? To get a job? To get a house? Well some people argue it is fine. They will say to me. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Come on, Nafissa is clever, <i>hun er så f</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>link slik at...</i>! Some Norwegians have said in this interview that this is the one thing that makes them totally ashamed to be Norwegian. Others say, well.</span><span style="font-size: large;">There are many others who do it and then they get a job. Like Mr Terje Tordvel who was actually Singh Babaji who came from Stavanger to Oslo. At the aiport where his interview was, it was hard for the Norwegian man interviewing him ( it would also have been hard for me) to identify him and believe anything about him. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some people changed names and got the job and then they kept it only for a while because of <i>likestilling,</i> equality, social equality? Well, the employer will tell you that they were not up to the mark, not quality material. Likestilling tongue in cheek, a famous woman here.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Norwegians often tell the anecdote that some people remark, 'Oh, the capital of Sweden!' When they say the come from Norway. And that can't be fun. For many years precisely upto 1904 Sweden occupied Norway. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now one would like to say, especially if Norwegian that Norway is independent, and it is. That it is not a part of Sweden and will never be. You never know about that. I suspect that some people in the world would more often think that Stockholm is the capital of Norway even when they live in Oslo.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just imagine if Norway had to change her name to Sweden just to get a little more famous. Go on, let's try. Let us change all the letter heads tonight, stamps, constitution and all laws and wake up and say... hmmm, treat us like this because we are now Swedish. Extreme? Not at all. Black people were mainly colonised or slaved by Europeans and now they change their names. But she was clever.. .hahaha! Nina Simona music and background, not bad at all... but see Norway saying just call me Namibia today because I would like the world to know I can really tap sunshine from the highest mountains these days. I won't even move to the South of the Sahara, just call me Namibia and when you are tired, call me... South Africa.. Oh, no, don't, there is Jacob there and his ladder of women .. no and that thing we fought about so hard in Norway and sang it out and went to meet Mandela.. that thing, Apartheid.. racism. No, no, Oh No! Don't say that. But my angry boy was saying it so loudly last summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Why do you keep us away from Norwegians in your classes?" Happens only in Oslo they say. He went on.. really so tired and sick of it.. "I did so well to learn your language, to get good marks but I cannot be with you!" Talk about welcome teenage rage. Teenagers want to, demand to belong. Say on there... go on! Teens make a different nation. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I love Oslo. I do in my own ways. But you see when there is even a Somali bus to go for food shopping in Sweden and others who drive there back and forth, well many peoples' capitals start in the stomach and for that you cannot blame me. It is so. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I would like to say that racism is over. That is a wish. No such thing. What is also not heard enough is different approaches which this nation of Norway, by now you are confused which one am talking about surely or just maybe, needs to do a lot more. What I see is that people who talk about racism in Norway are often the ones who suffer it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And then, in a conference say, like one in which the Mayor of London came to hear and help Norway to deal with what they all called Multiculturalism, you begin to see that when these people speak they already show they have a chip on their shoulder. This should not be their battle. Or mine but we have to squeak when the shoe pinches because nobody else will know it does. That is folk wisdom and actually they say there is no racism here. That is not just they but the State leaders of 2013. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I just want to add if you are still reading that soon after Erna Solberg <a href="http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erna_Solberg">http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erna_Solberg</a> and her team beat Jens Stoltenberg's. <a href="http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jens_Stoltenberg">http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jens_Stoltenberg</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That means a swing to the right, there was an ad at bus stops soon after. It was the first time almost in my life that I saw women in an ad that were not slightly nude. I don't know who they were. By the time I thought to take a photo it was gone. Two women tightly clad in a Norwegian flag and woven into one like a mermaid below. That might not have been the right way to say we are right now but freedom is here.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racism equals the trashing of all search for equality. Don't tell stories of equality if ...<br />
Sigrid Undset is saying in her time, there is no equality between men and women but she sympathises with all who search for it. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, just a thought. I have written elsewhere. Do not speak to me about the equality of women if you still entertain racism. Forget it. It cannot work and never will. Racism divides women and men to a level which makes all the fight for other rights just nonsensical. And young men dislike very much to see disempowered mothers and fathers. I cannot give you the root of radicalisation but I know it does not start too far from here. Adults, parents are people playing games with systems to survive, to make a point. Young people do the same. They want them to belong. Can they? Could they?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am for non-violence and will never bless a radicalised person, but I will ask myself where they came especially if they are so near me. I will not ask what race they are, nor religion so fast. </span><br />
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Nightbridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906220651341854612noreply@blogger.com0