This amazing performance piece by student Madiha speaks for itself:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204250744971795
Originally Posted on Facebook by Usamaa Babar.
Category: Equality
It’s OK to show your face
Acid attacks are devastating, debilitating, deadly, and yet they are often motivated by petty power plays, greed, or for no reason at all. Perhaps that’s why I wrote a play about acid attack victims – to try and honor their perseverance to live in a world when their physical identities are stolen, their faces destroyed, their skin-deep beauty obliterated.
CNN recently did a story about acid victims in India posing for a photo shoot. These women are brave & beautiful, and I’m inspired by their honesty and strength. Take a moment to let them inspire you, too.
Bullies and Burdens: Six Links of Separation
The more I write this blog, the more surprised I am at how many times random ideas, links, people, and events connect and come around, full circle – like the film Six Degrees of Separation and the parlour game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, and Kevin Bacon’s charity SixDegrees.org
Here is my latest “six links of separation” story from my last blog:
1. Visiting my husband at his work, I saw a clipped article from 5280 Magazine taped to the desk of one of his co-workers and, after reading it, it stuck with me (not literally – I left it taped to the desk).
2. When I started writing a blog, I remembered the article and thought I could write a post about it, so I got an emailed copy of the clipped article – no headline or byline – and put it aside.
3. In the meantime, I wanted to write a post featuring a clip from the film Amelie, in which the main character receives advice on sassy comebacks from a man whispering through a basement window, but I couldn’t find that particular clip on YouTube. Instead…
4. I found “Young Amelie Gets Her Revenge” which was even better (go back one blog and watch it again!). Then I remembered the article. I pulled up my email, loved the quote all over again, so I went to the 5280’s website and searched for “gas lighting”.
5. The whole article appeared, and I could reference it properly. To my surprise, I recognized the author: Laura Pritchett is not only an award-winning author, 5280 columnist, editor, & parent, she is also a University of Denver professor, and she taught one of my creative writing classes when I got my Masters. I remember her because she was creative and kind and generous – wonderful attributes in anybody but particularly appreciated in creative writing instructors.
6. I made a donation to SixDegrees.org – an homage to the connections and coincidences that make this large world seem slighter smaller and more familiar.
whiskey tango foxtrot
Talking to a friend recently, he told me that one of his wealthy buddies, divorced for the fourth time, was simplifying his life.
I immediately pictured a man cleaning up his act, eating lean meat and more vegetables, maybe hitting the gym a few more times a week.
“He sold his plane and his boat,” my friend confided, “and he’s having sex with prostitutes.”
Before I could think of a suitable rejoinder, my friend chuckled and said, “He has a new motto in life: if it flies, floats, or f$@&#s – rent it.”
Typically tongue-tied, I managed to grimace and flee from the conversation, but here are my witty and clever retorts, over twenty-four hours later. Which one should I have used? Can you think of something better?
a. I’m going to cross-stitch that onto a pillow.
b. Impressive alliteration. Is your friend a writer?
c. With that financial acumen, he should be selling Ponzi schemes.
d. If he buys, rents or rapes to f$@&#, ARREST him because it’s ILLEGAL.
SixDegrees.org – a Blog Promise
Here’s my pledge, with the web as my witness: everytime I post about Six Links of Separation, I’m going to go to SixDegrees.org and donate to a charity.
The website makes it extremely easy to donate. Here’s what I did:
1. I clicked “Donate”
2. I entered “writing” as a keyword (optional)
3. And I had 7 pages of charitable organizations to choose from!
I picked Afghan Women’s Writing Project, Inc. because I’d read about this organization and I’d been meaning to donate. Now, I have a karma buzz.
4. You can donate using a credit card or PayPal or these things called Good Cards.
Please consider stopping by SixDegrees.org and donating to the charity of your choice. You will enjoy the karma that follows!
KIMBERLY SAVAGE 