posted
I've been a very big fan of Karen Armstrong for many years. She is perhaps the world's foremost expert on the three theistic faiths - Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. When 911 happened, the world looked to her to help them understand the dynamics.
Anyhow, a year ago, she won the TED Prize and was granted a wish. She wished the world would come together to write a 'Charter of Compassion - a document that would venture to find common ground in 'all' spiritual and religious practices; the thing we all refer to as 'the Golden Rule'.
So over the past year, religious and spiritual leaders from every imaginable practice have worked together to create this new document. The unveiling of the Charter will be on November 12th. I suspect it will be a document filled with hope and possibility. Honestly, I think it has great potential to change how we all think about religious and spiritual practices, but nothing will happen if we don't read it and create dialogue around it.
As part of the festivities of the unveiling, communities around the world are hosting events and activities to help celebrate. Letterville is an online global community. I'm wondering if we can do something together to mark this day. In New York City they are doing something called, 'Arts of Compassion'. I wonder if we can do something called 'Compassion Art'.
I'm open to suggestions - but for those interested in participating - I wondered about each of us creating a one word sign defining compassion, like Peace, Harmony, Love, or whatever you want. We would photograph them and create an online gallery - inviting the world to have a look.
If you'd like to be included, then I'll suggest that your photograph has to be submitted by November 02, 2009. I'm not all that web savy, but perhaps it's as easy as creating a flicker account gallery, or ....suggestions?
posted
Hi Nancy, just the kind of project i like, no pesky work orders or invoicing!
i will be happy to participate.
John
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
I'm in! Karen Armstrong is someone to sit up and listen to... what she suggests is for the good of us all and the world (and each one of us specifically)can't help but be better for following her lead. I want to be part of 'the wave'!
posted
Karen was interviewed on NPR a few days ago; her work is inspiring and lord knows the world needs it. I'm in.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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can I make a few suggestions? OK, just re-read... and suggestions are specifically invited...
funny, because my first suggestion is not to invite suggestions ...ok, not really... but I think with the short timeline, and the nature of on-line anarchy... if you accept suggestions for something like one week, & then YOU take charge, and make the rules, & spell out exactly what to do...
I believe you may get a better response, through a specific call to action, to build YOUR idea, into a reality...
...as opposed to a discussion of a variety of ideas. Too often I've seen good ideas requiring group participation that dissipate into the ethers... because this on-line communication stuff is so ethereal anyway...
Another suggestion is for you to make a new blog, just for this idea. Joe Diaz showed/helped me start a free blog from Wordpress. I had also done a free one from Blogger.
Your Flickr idea is also a viable option, although a blog might lend itself to a nicer overall layout & appearance, without outside branding like the Flickr logo.
Joe showed me a $29 slidshow plugin called slideshowpro, that would make it fairly easy to have all the participants artwork viewable in a slideshow, & the slideshow could start as soon as you have 2 submissions, & could easily be added to, throughout the next 4 weeks.
Last suggestion, if this doesn't go against your main intention... some people could skip making an actual sign & taking a photo, by doing a digital layout instead.
For an end result that so far sounds like it is all about sharing messages of hope through creating an opportunity to view those messages in a digital format, on the net... maybe the challenge should just be to create and submit a digital design... which is a little less challenging for the time frame...
posted
Hey Doug, Thanks for the 'suggestions'! I wondered if the low response was because I posted this as an OT - or perhaps my explanation was a little long winded before actually presenting the challenge.
I think a blog would be perfect. And it was also suggested that a youtube would work too....perhaps both.
Digital work is absolutely welcome. You're right - the point here is to collaborate as an online global community interested in participating in a message of hope and possibility.
I think I'm going to repost this request with a new title....and spell out the 'rules'.
Thanks to those of you who are already onboard. Nancy
posted
I checked out the link and from what I gathered, they are going to unveil a Mission Statement for Mankind - well, OK you wild and crazy compassionate exegetes - count me in..........
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
This is a great idea Nancy. Letterheads have always been about People as well as what we do. Barb and I would be very proud to see you guys get together and make this happen.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
posted
Nancy, Jeanne & I are in. Great Idea. Can I have "RAINBOWS" We saw Maya Angelou just last night and she has an inspiring message about being some ones rainbow to their cloud. Her talk was about an hour long and on several issues, all with a compassionate view.
-------------------- Mark Baty Mark 1 Studio 1980 SE Leeann Drive Waukee, IA 50263 Posts: 45 | From: Waukee, Iowa | Registered: Aug 2008
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-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
Alright, I'm in and my word is the greek word "Agape" with the accent over the e.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
This is going to be so awesome! If you're thinking you'd like to get involved, there are lots of word still available that point to compassion. These are still up for grabs:
Kindness Abundance Faith Love Understanding Hope Trust Believe
posted
With Kimberly's permission, maybe we could include Al Zanetti's "Love" print in the mix. It's a beautiful design that many of us in Letterville have on our walls......
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
He would have been honored. I'm in for LOVE.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Dan Sawatsky - Friendship Noella Cotnam - Lift William Picket is in with "OM" Kelly Thorson - "Patience" Doug Allan - Aloha Bob kaschak - Peace Mark Baty - Rainbows Bill Lynch - Grace Sonny Frank - Altruism John Lennig - Teach Alicia Jennings - Agape Terry Whynott - Give Ken Henry - Embrace Neil Butler - Empower Al Zanetti - Love Nancy Beaudette - Listen
Still waiting for word choices from Gary Anderson, Dan Antonelli, and YOU!
Thanks everybody. I'd like to have photos of your finished project by November 2nd.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Joe, That is Fantastic! Thanks for posting it.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Please use the original PURPLE one. Thank you. I can email you a better picture if you'd like.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Projects have started to trickle in. This is so exciting.
Just a reminder to everyone that I'd like to have your submission in by November 02 so that I can prepare the presentation.
Our Letterheads project has been listed on the Charter for Compassion website for all the world to take note of. Links will be posted once I get everything online. Check it out here: http://charterforcompassion.org/act/events/
p.s. it's not too late to contribute! Don't be shy to ask questions if you're not sure what the heck we're doing.
posted
Here's the friendship panel. The different fonts symbolize how different we all are and the wiggly line the winding path we all take through life as we gather friends. The panel was done as a digital design of a routed panel.
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Id like to take part also. Id like to use the word, "Believe" if not already taken.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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...ok, not really... but I think with the short timeline, and the nature of on-line anarchy... if you accept suggestions for something like one week, & then YOU take charge, and make the rules, & spell out exactly what to do... 
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