Amanda Gorman at 22 is our first YOUTH POET LAUREATE.
Before she reads or performs anywhere she prepares by saying
to herself this mantra:

”I am the daughter of black writers. We are descendants from
freedom fighters who broke their chains and changed the world.
They call to me!”

The long poem she composed and read for the Inauguration
Ceremony is entitled: THE HILL WE CLIMB.

it can be found on many platforms and is so worth reading.

☮️🔔☮️🔔☮️🔔☮️🔔☮️🔔☮️🔔☮️🔔☮️🔔☮️🔔☮️🔔☮️🌆☮️

The following was sent to me by person dedicated to Peace and
Justice.

Joseph Biden finds consolation in this poem.

🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔

History says

Don’t hope on this side of the grave.

But then, once in a lifetime

the longed for tidal wave

of justice can rise up

and hope and history rhyme❣️

MAYBE WE CAN DARE TO HOPE
​ON THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE❣️

To help us through the turmoil of this year the ATVC BLOG
posted poetry and quotations for inspiration.

(October) COMPASSION by Miller Williams

(August) JOHN LEWIS, GOOD TROUBLE

(May) GERMAN FABLE ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING

(March) PANDEMIC by Lynn Ungar

(January) GIFT OF HOPE by Joyce Rupp

☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️

​HAVE A SAFE AND GOOD HOLIDAY SEASON❣️

The author of this poem meant for it to be on a notecard anyone
could keep in a pocket.

☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️

Have compassion for everyone you meet,
even if they don’t want it.
What seems conceit, bad manners or cynicism is always
a sign of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen.
You don’t know what wars are going on
down there where the spirit meets the bone.


MILLER WILLIAMS ( 1930 —2015 )

In this article by Greg Coleridge in Op Ed News 8/5/2020 he relates
his trip to Hiroshima in 1985 attending the 40 year commemorations.
This past August marked the 75th anniversary.

Albert Einstein sent telegrams to hundreds of prominent Americans
less than a year after the end of World War II. This well-known
quotation came from that telegram, “The unleashed power of the
atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we
thus drift toward unparalleled catastrophe.”

Greg Coleridge goes further that today new modes of thinking are
needed for the “interconnected systemic crises, if not existential
threats—social, economic, environmental and political. He explains
in detail six areas where changing our modes of thinking is
essential. ATVC highly recommends this article in opednews.com.

​ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️

The following tribute is by former President Barack Obama:

”I first met John (Lewis) when I was in law school and I told him
he was one of my heroes.
Years later when I was elected to the United States Senate I told
him I stood on his shoulders.
When I was elected President of the United States, I hugged him
on the inauguration stand before I was sworn in and told him I
​was only here because of the sacrifice he made.”

This documentary was produced by Magnolia Films. How to access
can be found on google.
John Lewis (1940-2020),Congressman over 30 years, never
stopped bending the arc toward justice. He focused on civil rights,
especially voting rights.
He co-authored a graphic arts trilogy entitled MARCH ON, an
excellent civil rights movement historical reference for us all.
In this work is detailed Lewis commitment to nonviolence.
Find in libraries and bookstores.

The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
(NCIRD)
has updated suggestions on June 15, 2020 for

☮️ Grocery Shopping

☮️ Take Out and Deliveries

☮️ Banking

☮️ Getting Gas (This one had surprising suggestions)
•Use disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons for ordering
Gas before you touch them.
•After fueling use hand sanitizer; wash hands when you get
Somewhere.

ATVC hopes you will check out this website; TAKE GOOD CARE
​OF YOURSELVES❣️

“Monetary Systems are supposed to insure that economics are healthy, just and sustainable. ...
​

A democratic money system, which is fundamental system

change, is one important piece to addressing our fundamental
economic crisis.”

from ENDING THE MONETARY PANDEMIC see opednews..com
5/20/2020 read more
by Greg Coleridge, previously worked for AFSC in Akron, Ohio
Where he educated, advocated and organized on a range of justice,
peace, environmental and democracy issues.

The following was sent to us by a committed reader from
​Minnesota.

”There is an old German fable about porcupines who need to
huddle together for warmth but are in danger of hurting each
other with their spines.
​

When they find the optimum distance to share each other’s warmth
without putting each other’s eyes out, their state of contrived
cooperation is called good manners.
Well, those old German fabulists certainly knew a thing or two.
When you acknowledge other people, the signal goes out,
I’M HERE. YOU’RE THERE.I’M STAYING HERE. YOU’RE
STAYING THERE. AREN’T WE BOTH GLAD WE SORTED THAT
OUT.

When people don’t acknowledge each other politely, the lesson
from the porcupine fable is unmistakable. FREEZE OR GET
STABBED, MATE. ITS YOUR CHOICE.

​
​