Recently, as he promoted his “Restoring Courage” event in Jerusalem in August, Glenn Beck recalled the moving, meaningful and important movie Schindler’s List. His guests shared stories of courage in saving lives of Jews during WWII.
The safety and security of the Jewish people and the state of Israel is one near to American hearts for deeply human and compelling reasons, even if you sidestep the loaded topic of biblical history and prophecy that Beck is invoking.
Sandy Tolan’s The Lemon Tree tells part of the history of the Jewish people during the establishment of the State of Israel and the central conflict in the Middle East through the very personal history one home in Ramallah, built by an Arab family who was later forced by events to leave it.
It tells the story of a Bulgarian Jewish family who fled Europe after the war to Israel with nothing but the dream of returning to their ancient homeland after the horror they had endured. In the tumult of politics, people and their imperfection, Jewish families were allowed to claim homes that had been left by fleeing Palestinians. (more…)
Between Memorial Day and July 4th, we’ll be doing a series of posts on Authentic Patriotism, featuring vignettes from Stephen P. Kiernan’s book Authentic Patriotism as well as local stories of authentic patriotism (you can submit them HERE). Stephen will be our featured speaker at the June 21 Dinner at the Square (find details HERE).
The future of an adolescent who enter Rikers Island prison are grim. Even for those who are quickly released after having been found innocent have usually adopted the tough prison culture that changes the path of their life. According to Kiernan, upon release the percentage of young inmates enrolled in school is zero. A released inmate often doesn’t have a job or a place to live and has now been educated to be a criminal. The rate of their return to prison is 70%. (more…)
There are some deaths that change everything.
Today, Edwina Stephens died. It’s hard to imagine Tallahassee without her. Or the world, for that matter. She is simply completely irreplaceable.
Between Memorial Day and July 4th, we’ll be doing a series of posts on Authentic Patriotism, featuring vignettes from Stephen P. Kiernan’s book Authentic Patriotism as well as local stories of authentic patriotism (you can submit them HERE). Stephen will be our featured speaker at the June 21 Dinner at the Square (find details HERE).
Eleventh-grader Rachel Rosenfeld developed a stomach illness that kept her out of school for a whole year. During that time she read about a Cambodian girl about the same age as her for whom education was the only road that didn’t lead to a life of prostitution, but there was no school in the girl’s hometown. Rachel spent the year writing letters requesting contributions. She raised over $50,000. The publicity of Rachel’s effort got attention from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank who donated additional funding to build a school. The year after Rachel missed school, she was in Cambodia cutting a ribbon at the opening of the three hundred student namesake R.S. Rosenfeld School.
Submit a local authentic patriot nomination (contributions large and small) HERE. Deadline is tomorrow.
Between Memorial Day and July 4th, we’ll be doing a series of posts on Authentic Patriotism, featuring vignettes from Stephen P. Kiernan’s book Authentic Patriotism as well as local stories of authentic patriotism (you can submit them HERE). Stephen will be our featured speaker at the June 21 Dinner at the Square (find details HERE).
One of the first concepts offered by Stephen Kiernan in Authentic Patriotism is that authentic patriots sometimes get there kicking and screaming.
Kiernan tells us the story of a thirty-five year old Jenifer Estess diagnosed with the unforgiving amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Turns out Lou Gehrig’s is considered an “orphan” disease, one that is not sufficiently profitable – usually because of relatively low numbers of people suffering from the illness – for private companies to take on the expensive research to find a cure. Consistent with Kiernan’s message, government research was also woefully inadequate to date. (more…)
Between Memorial Day and July 4th, we’ll be doing a series of posts on Authentic Patriotism, featuring vignettes from Stephen P. Kiernan’s book Authentic Patriotism as well as local stories of authentic patriotism (you can submit them HERE). Stephen will be our featured speaker at the June 21 Dinner at the Square (find details HERE).
Here Kiernan writes of seemingly small contributions that mean everything”
For every new campaign from some social entrepreneur, many more volunteers stuff the envelopes. For every dream some civic activist pursues, many more people write checks to make it possible. For every inspiring speaker standing at a microphone, there are countless people who hae scheduled the event, brought in the podium, and set up the chairs. For every celebration, someone filled the balloons.
Learn about how you can make contributions to our community through the Tallahassee Democrat’s Community Hands project.
Between Memorial Day and July 4th, we’ll be doing a series of posts on Authentic Patriotism, featuring vignettes from Stephen P. Kiernan’s book Authentic Patriotism as well as local stories of authentic patriotism (you can submit them HERE). Stephen will be our featured speaker at the June 21 Dinner at the Square (find details HERE).
Kiernan writes of the personal sacrifices made by patriots in the founding generation for their love of country. Here Kiernan tells President George Washington’s story (more…)
Between Memorial Day and July 4th, we’ll be doing a series of posts on Authentic Patriotism, featuring vignettes from Stephen P. Kiernan’s book Authentic Patriotism as well as local stories of authentic patriotism (you can submit them HERE). Stephen will be our featured speaker at the June 21 Dinner at the Square (find details HERE).
Kiernan writes of the personal sacrifices made by patriots in the founding generation for their love of country. Here Kiernan tells Jefferson’s story:
“Picture Thomas Jefferson in his Monticello home in 1782, mourning the death of his beloved young wife. He has left public life completely, calling his sorrow “a stupor of mind.” He destroys all of their letters. He climbs on his horse each ay for rambling rides, headlong, running from his grief. He shuts himself up in his library for hours of solitude. On her deathbed Martha begged him not to marry again, and the widower keeps that promise all his days. And yet, eventually Jefferson rouses himself, and in twenty years he is president. He buys the Louisiana territories from the French for a pittance, doubling the size of the new nation and thereby establishing the independent, pioneer spirit that characterizes Americans to this day…”
“…The men and women of that era risked their lives for these ideals because it was necessary. Today the imperatives are less elemental to the nation’s existence. But that does not mean that Americans can afford to risk nothing, contribute nothing. A democracy without an engaged populace is like a monarchy without a king.”
Between Memorial Day and July 4th, we’ll be doing a series of posts on the concept of authentic patriotism, featuring vignettes from Stephen P. Kiernan’s book Authentic Patriotism as well as local stories of authentic patriotism (you can submit them HERE). Stephen will be our featured speaker at the June 21 Dinner at the Square (find details HERE).
Kiernan writes of the personal sacrifices made by patriots in the founding generation for their love of country. Here he writes about John Adams:
“Picture John Adams in February 1778, climbing the gangplank of a ship bound for France. He is traveling as an envoy of the colonies, at that point not a nation but rebellious subjects of Great Britain. Adams’ task is to persuade Paris to loan millions of dollars so the rebellion can pay its army and begin to build a navy. The ship he boards is not outfitted for passengers. Between rough winter seas and King George III’s mighty naval patrols, crossing the Atlantic in that era is more dangerous than parachuting from a plane today. His only companion is his son, John Quincy Adams. John the elder will not see his wife for eighteen months, his personal finances are a mess, and he may die from British cannons on the sea. He goes anyway.”
The left says government can solve our social problems. The right claims the free market is a better avenue. But true patriots don’t rely on either — they identify a problem and solve it themselves. So says Stephen Kiernan, author of “Authentic Patriotism: Restoring America’s Founding Ideals Through Selfless Action.” Kiernan will speak in Tallahassee on June 21 at a dinner sponsored by The Village Square. In his book, Kiernan tells dozens of stories about people who have tackled everything from the health insurance (more…)
“We kick off Community Hands with the goal of linking needs to people who can provide resources and hands-on work…In many ways, Community Hands is the brainchild of Sharon Kant-Rauch, Tallahassee Democrat Faith editor…Sharon will write follow-up stories to show the outcome of community effort. We’re kicking off the series at the same time The Village Square, a local organization dedicated to fostering civil discussion about social issues, is leading a community dialogue on service…” (more…)
Switching subjects, have you heard about The Village Square? I think it is one of the most original and thought-provoking nonprofits in Tallahassee. If you have not heard of them, visit the website www.tothevillagesquare.com. On June 21 the Village Square is bringing author Stephen Kiernan to town. He wrote “Authentic Patriotism,” his call to all Americans to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work needed for America to be strong. He calls the people who do this “Authentic Patriots” — those who “see a problem (more…)
