Peace Rain in New York City

Submitted by michael stanley - February 15, 2008 | Add a Comment

Hey all - I looked at my last entry's date and saw that it was almost a month ago. Either time flies or I'm very lazy, or a combination of both.

My topic is NYC. I visited last week. What a great city, I believe. A light of integration among the craziness of daily life. What a wealth of cultures -- I went to a restaurant last Friday night, I think every race and religion was present. I notice it more now than I used to. Where I currently live, the great majority have my color skin, and believe in the same religion that I believe in (and yet, sometimes I feel we are more different). I truly truly miss the diversity. NYC has MANY things to improve on, but it can be proud that so many different backgrounds walk the same streets.

Nonetheless, NYC is thirsty for Acts of Peace. The rhythm is so hectic, so fast paced -- that a few Acts of Peace a day would make such an impact. It was a Tuesday, it was rainy and cold. My pants, from the knees down, were soaked, thanks to a small umbrella.  I had a cold. I was miserable. All I wanted to do was get a cab, go to my brother's and faint on what at that time seemed like the most comfortable, luscious sofa-bed ever. Around the corner, I could see an empty cab at the red light. I raised my arm, and he saw me waiting for him, and as the light turned green, the cab turned and stopped where I was standing. I could also see a woman running for the cab, probably hoping to try and catch it before the light turned green. When she saw the cab turn and stop where I was, she slowed down. She too, seemed miserable. So I signaled to her to take it. The interesting part of all this is that she seemed to be almost afraid to take it! She probably thought it was some sort of hidden camera joke.

Anyway, I realized that people in NYC aren't used to Acts of Peace. If any New Yorkers are reading this, you know what you need to do.

I waited another 10 minutes for a cab.

Chau - Michael 

Notice:Our blog writers welcome your comments. Please be respectful, thoughtful, and considerate in your responses - and aware that this site is regularly visited by kids of all ages, as well as adults (of all ages.) We will not allow profanity, obscenity, or verbal abuse. And please -- no personal or political agendas! Whatever you want to suggest that is creative and constructive -- and that will add another layer to the discussion -- will be most appreciated. Consider your comment an Act of Peace.

A valid email address is required to have your comment posted (but your email address will not appear.) Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment appearing. There is no need to resubmit your comment.

Michael Stanley goes south

Submitted by michael stanley - January 9, 2008 | Add a Comment

Happy New Year!

I was in Argentina these past holidays with family and friends. I did the usual things I do when I go back to my adolescent home. Party, Eat and Sleep. I eat another piece of meat, and I guarantee you I will turn into a cow. Which probably wouldn’t be a bad thing, perhaps then I will learn to eat less of it. Barbecue…mmmmmm….

Anyway, I found a project worth talking about. Talk about a Peace project. I discovered it because a cousin of mine runs the project. It’s called Mediapila. This literally means “half a battery”. In Argentina, it is used when you tell someone all they need to do is apply just a little energy. A few years ago, a group of friends, my cousin among them, got together and pondered the dire economic situation surrounding this beloved country. They thought of donating money, of helping food kitchens, you know, the typical things we all do (and should).

Yet, one of them, pounced on a brilliant idea. The idea was life changing, LIFE CHANGING, for 38 women. These friends decided to pitch in some cash, about $5,000 in all, and buy some sewing machines, materials, rent a space to start a t-shirt business. But they only employed women who they found collecting garbage.

Only women off of the street. I've seen these people myself. After the economic crisis, thousands of people rummaged through the city trash to find recyclable items, which they would in turn, get money for. They were taught to sew and stitch. The founders' job would be to design and sell the t-shirts. All the money would be re-invested into more job creation. Teach more women a craft, a skill. Don't let any politician tell you that Education isn't worth investing in!

So they began with 6 women, two years later they have 38. They sell over 6,000 T兵s a year. But it doesn't stop with a T-shirt company. They want to move on to other businesses, like other clothing, and other industries completely different.

38 women who earn a dignified wage, who can support their families. Whose lives are changed! This is what Peace should be about. Changing lives.

In a world where war, corruption and violence make front page, this is about as refreshing as it gets.

Until next week,

Michael

 

Notice:Our blog writers welcome your comments. Please be respectful, thoughtful, and considerate in your responses - and aware that this site is regularly visited by kids of all ages, as well as adults (of all ages.) We will not allow profanity, obscenity, or verbal abuse. And please -- no personal or political agendas! Whatever you want to suggest that is creative and constructive -- and that will add another layer to the discussion -- will be most appreciated. Consider your comment an Act of Peace.

A valid email address is required to have your comment posted (but your email address will not appear.) Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment appearing. There is no need to resubmit your comment.

Michael Stanley 1st entry

Submitted by michael stanley - December 15, 2007 | Add a Comment

So I start this blog on a somber note. Another teenager, in a moment of raw and blinding desperation, takes the lives of innocent people in a shopping mall in Nebraska. On my side of the ocean, two police officers are shot outside of a coffee shop by Basque separatists. Pause.

I noticed a peculiar pattern to my response to the Omaha shootings. I didn’t want to read about it. It is on the front page of my web searcher. I clicked on all the news but that one. This morning, they even have picture of the kid (yes, at 19 you are still a kid!), with the juicy news of the suicide note being made public. I didn’t click on it. I saw the 911 transcript link. Didn’t click.

Then I went into my email account, and saw the email from my, well, I’ll call her “The Peace Sherpa”, with my login details. I blushed and my avoidance of something else turned into a physical experience. My face felt warm, my mouth tingled. I knew what had to be done. I had to write something. Now.

What a perfect moment to write for a Peace blog. Both shooters (the kid, and the organized group) have causes, have genuine intentions. They will argue that their cause is justified. They all have a “true reason or a cause”.

But I don’t want to argue. I don’t want to sit down and talk about it with them, if I could.

Our “argument” is ACTING PEACE. Doing three of them a day. Perhaps, had Robert Hawkins done Three Acts of Peace of day instead of what he did, he would have saved himself from his unbearable rage. Needless to say, he would have saved 8 peoples lives, if not his own.

What is our cause? What is our reason? Why are YOU, ME, US going to spread ACTS of peace? My answer to you is as plain and simple as this: I don’t care. You don’t have to have a reason. That would make the Act of Peace about you. Just DO the Act of Peace. Make it about Others.

Now, since this is a personal blog entry, I’ll tell you a story: My lovely wife will give birth to a baby girl in March. A month ago, we called our family members with the news that we had decided on the name. I called my Dad. When I told him the name, he says, and I’m quoting: “That is the most aweful name I’ve heard in my life. Are you serious?” Any other day of the year, my Dad and I would have had it out over the phone. I would have reacted, then he, then me again. And we wouldn’t have talked for days. My wife, who was sitting next to me, saw my face turn extremely red. But I made a choice. I breathed in, and simply told him that I would have liked for him to like it, and that I hope he grows to like the name. And we said goodbye and hung up. This, for me, was an Act of Peace. I can tell you within a few hours we were talking again. We made amends. He thanked me for not reacting. I prefer this type of relationship.

Take care of yourselves, Michael Stanley

PS: I promise my entries won’t be so long. It’s the first entry...

Notice:Our blog writers welcome your comments. Please be respectful, thoughtful, and considerate in your responses - and aware that this site is regularly visited by kids of all ages, as well as adults (of all ages.) We will not allow profanity, obscenity, or verbal abuse. And please -- no personal or political agendas! Whatever you want to suggest that is creative and constructive -- and that will add another layer to the discussion -- will be most appreciated. Consider your comment an Act of Peace.

A valid email address is required to have your comment posted (but your email address will not appear.) Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment appearing. There is no need to resubmit your comment.