Mean Madison Avenue – Why we need a Global Kindness Revolution

[This is the first of occasional blogs commenting on various aspects of our culture.  I’m calling them: “Earth Musings”]

Perhaps the young geniuses on Madison Avenue are products of the violent video generation. The tone of recent television ads makes me wonder—are they selling products or promoting meanness and an even greater lack of civility than already exists? Here are several examples:

Capitol One credit card ads star Vikings whose violence and roughness would never make me want to sign up for anything they’re selling. Swinging guillotines? Pouring hot tar over people? I don’t think so. Does this reflect the caveman mentality that permeates our male culture, exemplified by the recent effort of some politicians to take women back to the fifties and earlier?

Byard Lancaster, a Warrior with a Horn

Sagewriters’ Music Director is in Spirit

Byard Lancaster, a Warrior with a Horn
August 6, 1942 – August 23, 2012

Sagewriters is sad at the passing of our dedicated Music Director and Jazz legend, Byard Lancaster.

Byard’s dedication to our work, his commitment to encouraging young musicians and writers – especially those “at risk” – and his ability to connect people around the world, leaves a hole that can never be filled.

A talent recognized globally, Byard entertained from Philly to Chicago to Jamaica to Paris, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, Guinea Montreal, and anywhere that jazz was performed.

As We Move into the “Sweet” Holidays

I know the brownies, pumpkin pies, marzipan and candy canes fill our lives at this time of year. But we need a teaspoon of reality to at least consider cutting back on our sugar intake. Please take a moment to read an enlightening article from Mother Jones magazine. Adjust your Holiday menus accordingly.

Big Sugar’s Sweet Little Lies
How the industry kept scientists from asking: Does sugar kill?
—By Gary Taubes and Cristin Kearns Couzens

Be in Beauty,

Judith Trustone

Back in the Groove

Dear Friends and supporters,

First I apologize for my long silence. As some of you know, I was broadsided by a distracted driver over a year ago and am still in treatment for my severe injuries. Sagewriters and the Global Kindness Revolution have been on pause since then. (See below for an update.) I am deeply grateful to those of you who so generously sent me “green energy” through my local bank to help with the bills. Your expressions of support and caring have kept me going. Now, something exciting is happening and I hope you’ll be able to support me once again – it costs only a moment of your time. You’ll have to register but this doesn’t mean you have to do anything more or use Yahoo.

Judith is Glowing in Yahoo!’s Women Who Shine

Posted by LinDee Rochelle, Penchant for Penning

Vote for Judith! Women Who Shine

I have a confession to make. I badgered Judith to allow me to guest-blog the first post she’s added here in more than a year. She has exciting news and I get to share it with you!

For those who haven’t heard – there’s a reason for our friend’s long absence from the Trust One Kindness website and this blog – and life in general. Judith has just begun picking up the pieces after a horrendous auto accident in early 2011 that shattered her daily to-do list. Being broadsided by a distracted driver will do that to you.

Judith is a remarkable woman and healer.

But anyone who knows Judith knows she wouldn’t take this setback lying down. Well, at least not mentally.

Three Mile Island Woman

In remembrance of the upcoming anniversary of the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster and its relevance today, I’m posting “Three Mile Island Woman” which was published in a variety of places, none of which I’ve recorded. When friends who were sailing around the world stopped for a while in New Zealand, they saw the poem in a New Zealand magazine and then took it around the world with them; for the whole world was shocked and talking about Three Mile Island, just like today.

Three Mile Island Woman
By Judith Trustone
March 28, 1979

Home again
sparkling kitchen
shag carpet hiding
paranoia … breathed
dreamed just around the edge
of every moment.
She stares at the glass
In her hand eyes searching for atomic
particles swallowing
fear she drinks
water.
Dust dancing in sunbeams
looks menacing.
Afraid to breathe eat sleep
she covers her swollen
belly with sweaty hands.

Donate to Help Make This a Kinder, Gentler World!

Our Story

My vast experience leading Healing Circles for a variety of populations around the country through the decades, has given me the opportunity to see the power of bringing people together for soothing and nurturing their spirits. The enthusiastic response by thousands of people, especially in prison, all hungry for simple acts of Kindness, countered by the disgust of the general public for our culture’s violence and lack of civility, has convinced me that we must try a fresh, unique approach to Kindness as an antidote to violence and meanness.

This is how I see it working: In order to change public perceptions and therefore, public policy regarding human rights, a massive public education effort is required. I want to compile a workbook about how to do Kindness projects for every population, from homeless shelters, to schools to corporations. I hope to reach as broad an audience as possible, and will do this through my extensive network of organizations, individuals and religious groups committed to social change.