[Peace-discuss] This I Believe

[Karen Medina]

Karen Medina wrote:
> Speaking of the Public Square,

I think AWARE should put together a submission for "This I Believe" 
also. -karen medina

[The following is taken from http://www.npr.org/thisibelieve/guide.html]

'This I Believe' Essay-Writing Instructions
We invite you to contribute to this project by writing and submitting 
your own statement of personal belief. We understand how challenging 
this is -- it requires such intimacy that no one else can do it for you. 
To guide you through this process, we offer these suggestions:

Tell a story: Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground 
it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed 
or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work and family, and 
tell of the things you know that no one else does. Your story need not 
be heart-warming or gut-wrenching -- it can even be funny -- but it 
should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily 
life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.

Be brief: Your statement should be between 350 and 500 words. That's 
about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.

Name your belief: If you can't name it in a sentence or two, your essay 
might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider 
focusing on a core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.

Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell us what you 
do believe, not what you don't believe. Avoid speaking in the editorial 
"we." Make your essay about you; speak in the first person.

Be personal: This is radio. Write in words and phrases that are 
comfortable for you to speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud to 
yourself several times, and each time edit it and simplify it until you 
find the words, tone and story that truly echo your belief and the way 
you speak.

For this project, we are also guided by the original This I Believe 
series and the producers' invitation to those who wrote essays in the 
1950s. Their advice holds up well and we are abiding by it. Please 
consider it carefully in writing your piece.

In introducing the original series, host Edward R. Murrow said, "Never 
has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent." We 
would argue that the need is as great now as it was 50 years ago. We are 
eager for your contribution.