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YFWPUSA   YFWPUSA Youth Fed's TIGblog
Youth Fed's profile

Weekly Thoughts: Finding Harmony Beyond the Music
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Surrounded by the heady smell of fresh goulash and the buzzing sounds of friendly chitchat, the realization hit me suddenly. I quickly started to piece together the meaning my situation. Having just performed a 2-hour choral concert in the small Hungarian town of Debrecen, the local church community had prepared a gathering between the parish and my choir. The normal apprehension and simple small talk that seems to always happen when people of different cultures, with different languages, meet for the first time, however, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the locals and my fellow choir members quickly jumped into deep and animated conversations about everything from American movies to poetry to politics. Why did we get along so well without ever having spoken before? Well, in truth, we had already been communicating for the past two hours.

Two hours before the dinner, I stepped on stage, along with 24 fellow college singers, full of nerves. Soon enough, however, my anxiety melted away as I looked into the audience to find the attentive and friendly faces of Hungarian peasants. The crowd seemed to love every word, every note. Even though we did not sing a single song in Hungarian, I know that they understood perfectly the message that we tried to convey. Our repertoire ranged from classical Latin masses, contemporary and secular American works, settings of Shakespeare, Spanish folksongs, to American spirituals. With every new piece, the audience got a better understanding of our lives and our culture; so, by the time we sat down to break bread, the audience, now our gracious hosts, already knew us.

What I realized was the overwhelming power of sharing culture. We sang Renaissance Catholic music in the largest synagogue in Bucharest, Romania, traditional Hebrew works in a 12th Century cathedral, and American spirituals in the Romanian parliament. And each new audience reacted with the same enthusiasm and delight. Even though they had never heard these songs and could hardly understand the words, they could appreciate our effort and artistry.

My experience in the concert halls of Eastern Europe taught me the true value of sharing culture. Our simple act of singing for different towns across Hungary and Romania formed a formidable bond between my choir and each audience. It’s no wonder that countries often use cultural exchanges as precursors to major interactions or negotiations. The visit of the American Ping-Pong Team to China in 1971 paved the way for President Richard Nixon’s famous visit nearly one year later. Performances by the New York Philharmonic in Pyongyang, North Korea in early 2008 marked the first time a large group of Americans, including journalists, were allowed into the country.

But not every cultural event needs to be of such importance though. No matter how small, any regular interaction between groups builds relationships and hopefully, eventually, understanding. By first appealing to a person’s traditions (like music appreciation or sports enthusiasm), bigger bridges can be built.

I know that the concerts I gave in Hungary and Romania didn’t send massive shockwaves through the world of diplomacy, but I also know that it left an equally important imprint on me. If similar exchanges were repeated every day, then everyone would be better equipped to understand and empathize.


Trent, Youth Fed. Intern
Social Media Team
Youth Federation for World Peace

http://tinyurl.com/yfedfacebook, www.twitter.com/youthfed

Join a Federation of Young Leaders by becoming an Ambassador for Peace: http://tinyurl.com/youthfed21

June 23, 2009 | 9:48 AM Comments  0 comments



ruairimckiernan   ruairimckiernan Ruairi McKiernan's TIGblog
Ruairi McKiernan's profile

SpunOut.ie wants you to Step up and Speak out

Blog: A fifth of gay people have attempted suicide.

June 16, 2009 | 7:06 AM Comments  0 comments

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ruairimckiernan   ruairimckiernan Ruairi McKiernan's TIGblog
Ruairi McKiernan's profile

SpunOut.ie and Google Ireland team up

Some of the pretty faces involved with re-shaping SpunOut.ie.

June 11, 2009 | 8:06 AM Comments  0 comments

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ruairimckiernan   ruairimckiernan Ruairi McKiernan's TIGblog
Ruairi McKiernan's profile

Getting Google Served

Blog: SpunOut.ie and Google Ireland join forces!

June 10, 2009 | 10:06 AM Comments  0 comments

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ruairimckiernan   ruairimckiernan Ruairi McKiernan's TIGblog
Ruairi McKiernan's profile

Dust down your Speedos, it's June

Blog: Our May news round-up.

June 2, 2009 | 9:06 AM Comments  0 comments

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ruairimckiernan   ruairimckiernan Ruairi McKiernan's TIGblog
Ruairi McKiernan's profile

Election missing the 'youth factor'

Press release from SpunOut.ie in advance of the elections.

June 2, 2009 | 6:06 AM Comments  0 comments

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derwas   derwas Wassim DERGUECH's TIGblog
Wassim DERGUECH's profile

Mon anniversaire :)
Translations available in: French (original) | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | English | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

My birthday:)
Automatically translated into English thanks to WorldLingo

June 1, 2009 | 11:06 AM Comments  0 comments

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derwas   derwas Wassim DERGUECH's TIGblog
Wassim DERGUECH's profile

And now GOOGLE GIVE-AWAY WINNING NOTIFICATION!!! looooooool
Translations available in: French (original) | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | English | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

And now GOOGLE GIVE-AWAY WINNING NOTIFICATION!!! looooooool
Automatically translated into English thanks to WorldLingo
I amndt now seriously interested in answering his email: P!!! Concrete It becomes more serious and more when Google sponsors this loooooool hihihi



of Mrs Konrad Mr. Johnson.
to answer mrf.henson01@8u8.com
with
date May 28, 2009 01:23
object Google Online Promotion © 2009
envoy by med.uni-muenchen.de


GOOGLE GIVE-AWAY WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!
This E-mail is to inform you that your e-mail emerged have has winner off
£500,000.00 GBP (Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds) in our online
Give-away draws. GoogleUK has successfully organized for the second time has
Cash Give-Away in the the U.K. Over £20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million British
pounds) is to Be given out for this Draws. No purchases off tickets were
required. Participants for the draws were randomly selected from has world
wide arranges Web searchers who off uses the Google Search Engine (Googler) and
other Google ancillary services. Sour Google is now the biggest
Search Engine worldwide and in year effort to make that it remains the most widely
used Search Engine, Google is running year e-mail beta test.

Your email address was linked with our Computer Generated Profiles
Numbers (CGPN) and attached to the following details: Computer Generated
Profiles Numbers (CGPN): 7-22-71-00-66-12, Ticket number: 00869575733664,
Serial numbers: /BTD/8070447706/06, Lucky numbers: 12-12-23-35-40-41 (12),
was picked among our lucky winners to receive £500, 000.00 British pounds.
Winners were selected randomly through has computer bundle system from
worldwide users off the Google Search Engine.
YOUR WINNING DETAILS HAVE FOLLOW:
Computer Generated Profiles Numbers (CGPN): 7-22-71-00-66-12
Ticket number: 00869575733664
Serial numbers: /BTD/8070447706/06
Lucky numbers: 12-12-23-35-40-41 (12)

To claim your give-away prize, send the following. Your full
names ................. ,
sex ..............................., Hiring ............................ Alternate
e-mail address .................. Your winning details .................
To your processing agent (Mr. Francis Henson) who cuts been assigned to
handle your winning file and payment processing.

Your Processing Agent contact:
Mr. Francis Henson,
Email: giveaways.promoonline003@gmail.com

Sincerely,
Mrs Konrad Mr. Johnson.

May 28, 2009 | 5:46 AM Comments  0 comments

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derwas   derwas Wassim DERGUECH's TIGblog
Wassim DERGUECH's profile

Another Bank staff from Burkina faso wants to share his money with me!!! I'm too lucky :D
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

de lusee_mark02@ciudad.com.ar
répondre à lusee_mark02@ciudad.com.ar
à a@prima.com.ar
date 25 mai 2009 09:43
objet URGENT PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND KEEP SECRET.
envoyé par ciudad.com.ar


(read carefully and keep secret)

Dear friend,

I am Dr Lusee Mark Staff of BOA Bank in Burkina faso.I would like you to indicate your interest to receive the transfer of $10.5M Dollars.
I will like you to stand as the next of kin to my late client whose account is presently dormant,for claim.

This money will be shared between us 60/30 while 10% will be mapped out for expenses.If you're interested and willing to assist,further detail of the transfer will reach you on your return mail.


Yours Faithfully.
Dr Lusee Mark.

May 25, 2009 | 10:24 AM Comments  0 comments

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ruairimckiernan   ruairimckiernan Ruairi McKiernan's TIGblog
Ruairi McKiernan's profile

SpunOut.ie shines at Net Visionary Awards!

We've bagged another great award.

May 21, 2009 | 8:05 AM Comments  0 comments

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ruairimckiernan   ruairimckiernan Ruairi McKiernan's TIGblog
Ruairi McKiernan's profile

SpunOut.ie scoops two national awards!

Blog: More good news for SpunOut.ie.

May 21, 2009 | 8:05 AM Comments  0 comments

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YFWPUSA   YFWPUSA Youth Fed's TIGblog
Youth Fed's profile

Faith Day Announcement
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

National Faith & Neighborhood Partnerships Day
is in San Francisco!

The National Conference on Service and Volunteering holds the national gathering place for the leaders of the faith and interfaith service community. The day specifically is aimed at convening those of many faiths and around a message that active service to others, in addition to dialogue, is a way to bridge divides, heal neighborhoods and help understand each other.

This year it’s in San Francisco on June 23rd, which offers the opportunity for those in the Bay area to participate fully and have their voice heard in a national forum, with speakers from the White House, among others.

At the beginning of a new administration, we are proud to have as our keynote, Rev Joshua DuBois, President Barack Obama’s new Faith Director, who will speak about the President’s new ideas for the faith and interfaith agenda, and also listen to those who participate. It’s an opportunity you should not miss.

Some of the attractions of the day are:
• A model interfaith prayer breakfast;
• A Keynote by Joshua DuBois, which will outline President Obama’s new strategy for engaging faith communities across America;
• A series of potentially fascinating conversations and workshops including “the Rise of the International Agenda,” and “Innovative Community Partnerships,” among others;
• A guided tour around the Tenderloin district, a look at one of that vibrant neighborhood’s most active hubs, Glide Memorial Church;
• Some of the leading thinkers and doers from the Faith and Service community, and from many faiths and diverse ethnicities;
• A screening of a movie about how the proposed building of a mosque that initially caused consternation in a local American community, ended up being the catalyst to bring it together.

You need to register beforehand. It’s simple and costs just $30 for the whole day, including a free breakfast. Press this link and follow the prompts:
http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/plan/faith-neighborhood-day.cfm

May 20, 2009 | 10:46 PM Comments  0 comments



YFWPUSA   YFWPUSA Youth Fed's TIGblog
Youth Fed's profile

Faith Day Announcement
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

National Faith & Neighborhood Partnerships Day is in San Francisco this year

The National Conference on Service and Volunteering holds the national gathering place for the leaders of the faith and interfaith service community. The day specifically is aimed at convening those of many faiths and around a message that active service to others, in addition to dialogue, is a way to bridge divides, heal neighborhoods and help understand each other.

This year it’s in San Francisco on June 23rd, which offers the opportunity for those in the Bay area to participate fully and have their voice heard in a national forum, with speakers from the White House, among others.

At the beginning of a new administration, we are proud to have as our keynote, Rev Joshua DuBois, President Barack Obama’s new Faith Director, who will speak about the President’s new ideas for the faith and interfaith agenda, and also listen to those who participate. It’s an opportunity you should not miss.

Some of the attractions of the day are:
• A model interfaith prayer breakfast;
• A Keynote by Joshua DuBois, which will outline President Obama’s new strategy for engaging faith communities across America;
• A series of potentially fascinating conversations and workshops including “the Rise of the International Agenda,” and “Innovative Community Partnerships,” among others;
• A guided tour around the Tenderloin district, a look at one of that vibrant neighborhood’s most active hubs, Glide Memorial Church;
• Some of the leading thinkers and doers from the Faith and Service community, and from many faiths and diverse ethnicities;
• A screening of a movie about how the proposed building of a mosque that initially caused consternation in a local American community, ended up being the catalyst to bring it together.

You need to register beforehand. It’s simple and costs just $30 for the whole day, including a free breakfast. Press this link and follow the prompts:
http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/plan/faith-neighborhood-day.cfm

May 20, 2009 | 10:44 PM Comments  0 comments



YFWPUSA   YFWPUSA Youth Fed's TIGblog
Youth Fed's profile

Rachel’s Weekly Thoughts: The Strength to Forgive
About the book: "War And Peace (Signet Classics)"

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic



“The truth will set you free. But first it will piss you off”
-Gloria Steinem


There is a quote from the Bible that has become a cliché: “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). It is true that education provides the doorway for greater opportunities and a deeper understanding of events around the world will help one to feel more prepared or in control. But for those who find themselves in the situation of being exploited, tricked or abused, the realization of their situation may be satisfying in the moment, but that feeling of liberation tends to be quickly replaced with anger or resentment.

Knowing that an offender has confessed to their awful deeds or that someone is benefiting at your expense usually does not result in the feeling of freedom and peace. Rather, the ensuing resentment can burrow so deep in one’s heart that it can consume their entire being and even be passed down through the generations. This can be clearly observed through the historical antagonisms between states, cultures and societies. Whether it is the Jews, Palestinians, Tamils, Hutus or Kosovo Albanians, each group “knows” they have been wrongly abused and feel justified in their anger. The truth of their situation has brought their homeland no closer to stability or peace.

What is needed for real freedom is truth joined with the strength to forgive.

My opinion is not intended to simplify these very complicated and deeply rooted conflicts. But it is important to stress that peaceful resolutions and two-state solutions are only the first steps in quelling the rage inside of people. Separating enemies with walls and buffer zones may temporarily stop violence but will never cease the desire for justice and revenge.

I may not know the depths of despair at losing a loved one to a suicide bombing or to have my hometown destroyed by a civil war but I do know what it feels like to be so consumed with hate for a person who has inflicted pain. At first it may seem satisfying to blame and accuse the culprit, to project all negative feelings of frustration and anger towards the other. But with time this anger becomes a poison and its only victim is you. Being consumed by thoughts of contempt limits one from fully experiencing joy and happiness and prevents one from possibly trusting or relating with others again.

It takes real strength to truly forgive those who have wronged us; not only to limit oneself to a passive resentment but to wholeheartedly wish for the success and well being of the aggressor. This may seem super-human or impossible to achieve but in reality it requires only the strong desire to move from being the victim to the victor. After many years and having shed many tears I have freed myself from the venom of hatred and found a peace unlike any other “solution” could possibly provide. It was not easy, but anything worth fighting for never is.

As I read about the terrible conflicts happening around the world my heart aches, for I know that the casualties of war are much greater than the number dead. The United Nations has proclaimed 2009 to be the “International Year of Reconciliation” and I sincerely hope that this clarion call for restoration will not just be political rhetoric that will be replaced with next year’s motto, but will encourage all of us to find the strength to forgive and to contribute to creating a lasting world of peace.

Rachel, Youth Fed Intern
New Media Team
www.youthfederation.org
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/yfedfacebook
Twitter: www.twitter.com/youthfed

Join the Coalition by becoming a Young Ambassador for Peace: http://tinyurl.com/youthfed21

May 19, 2009 | 9:05 AM Comments  0 comments



sara09   sara09 Sara's TIGblog
Sara's profile

Identity
Related to country: Mozambique

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Firstly, I am guilty, I have yet to post a meaningful blog on TIG after quite a few months of actually being a member.
The truth is, and this is extremely hard for me to admit, I am a serial blog creator, I quickly tire of the new fonts and funky colors and move on to my next cyber hookup. However, today I was reminded of its existence by the monthly newsletter, and sufficiently inspired to drudge up some Sunday enthusiasm (usually reserved for the weekly episode of my Hills Fix).

I feel like I owe a proper introduction. My name is Sara, and what sparked my interest was the emphasis on culture this month at TIG. Firstly, let me let yet another confession fall from my dry lips (caused by the pitifully chilly 'spring' Dublin weather), in the past culture has been one of my favorite topics. I have talked a lot, then talked some more about my culture, obnoxiously so, as I have attempted to come to terms with the fusion of my heritage.
A childhood spent in Southern Africa in a pale body scattered with freckles and topped with carrot hair has created many internal wanderings and countless words of contemplation. After exhausting myself, I felt ready to move on to needier pursuits like aids awareness, the key word being something which didn’t involve me.

However, recently, I watched a dance performance at the Abbey, as part of my internship with the Dublin Dance festival, which made me think once again about culture, and how we attach a homogenous notion of culture to a nation. The Germans are severe and punctual. The Irish are alcoholics. The South Africa is warm. I will be fair and admit I am choosing extreme discriminatory views, but to a lesser extent these prejudices exist with all nations.


Apocrifu, the name of the performance, challenged this view. It was incredible in its own right, as men sweated on stage, grappling with the concept of contrasting identities and words however it was the post show talk which really offered a lucid view of culture. The incredibly eloquent and vocal Sidi Larbi Cheruiou ( I hope I have spelled it right!) talked about his own background, equally fluent in English, French and finish, inspired by the music of Corsica and his quest of proposing the question of what moulds humanity.

He put forward a very simple argument which appealed to me as a simpleton art appreciator (still at the stage where the appearance of going to an artsy fartsy gathering is worth more to me then the actual artsy fartsy gathering! :))which was that each of us is the product of conflicting identities, because our parents, no matter the proximity of their backgrounds will hold different value systems, different trajectories of thought.

If you return to higher up in this convoluted post, you will realize this means that there is no homogenous culture in a nation, and that even if I do not travel I will present a variance of a culture.
Perhaps a simplistic assessment, perhaps not, it certainly transformed the way I saw post show talks whose main attraction had previously been the free cheese. :).

Let me leave it at this, because I fear I am falling too quickly, too fast for this blog which has made my deviating curser stay put. In any case, I now have to run after Sidi and ask him in english or my few words of Swedish (i.e none!)how a red head girl from Dublin Ireland knows how to swivel her hips and dance passada like a true Mozambican. I wonder which side of the family tree that comes from? :)

Ate logo.

Sara

May 17, 2009 | 4:38 PM Comments  0 comments



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