Sunday, January 18, 2009

Yes We Can!

This Tuesday, we will be witnesses to history as we watch the inauguration of our 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

He has sent out a call for Americans to renew their commitment to their communities. With that in mind I offer you some other ways you can help our people in the US and beyond.                               


"We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” Mother Teresa


Charity Navigator

An independent charity evaluator; provides tips for making decisions about donations, statistics, information about workplace donation campaigns, and a list of the highest and lowest rated charities in various subject areas. http://tinyurl.com/wlf7

Give A Good Card
Give a gift card for charity where the recipients get to donate to their charity of choice. http://tinyurl.com/3bymu8

The Hunger Site
Since its launch in June 1999 the site has established itself as a leader in online activism, helping to feed the world's hungry. All it takes is a click of the
computer keys. What could be easier?
http://tinyurl.com/2rdph4

Oxfam America Unwrapped
For those of us who are blessed to have what we need, why not and pick one of the 120 countries from around the world to help? Whether our budget is small or large, we can all do our part to help others in need. http://tinyurl.com/5uyjr5

Rwanda Baskets
Proceeds benefit Rwandan genocide widows who weave these exquisite baskets to provide for themselves and the orphans of this war-torn nation.
http://tinyurl.com/5l4dke

"It takes a thousand voices to tell a single story.”
Native American Saying


In honor of our President-Elect, I offer you stories from the island where he was born, and from Kenya, his father's homeland.

Hawaiian Folktales by Thomas G. Thurm (1907)
http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/hft/index.htm

Traditions of O'ahu: Stories of an Ancient Island
The site also offers an extensive bibliography.
http://tinyurl.com/5zbnwn


The King of the Sharks - Hawaiian Folktale http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ha.html

Kikuyu Legends and Folktales from Kenya http://www.bluegecko.org/kenya/tribes/kikuyu/stories.htm


Here's to better days ahead!


"Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest", but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is." -Sydney J. Harris, journalist and author (1917-1986)