[Peace-discuss] an anti-bias poster for the CUMTD buses?

[Stuart Levy]

On Sun, Mar 30, 2008 at 05:18:06PM -0700, Jenifer Cartwright wrote:
> "The Arabs USED to say"... and what do they say NOW? And I know it's metaphor
> and that we don't REALLY advocate feeding anyone for three days w/o getting
> some background info..

Actually, I think that would be a fine standard to set.  :)

> but I (continue to) think this is a confusing quote to
> put on inside of buses (or anywhere else w/o a lotta context). Again, I'd
> vote for a MLK quote that is short and gender-free (MLK's closer to home
> anyhow and would resonate more w/ readers). I suggested a couple a month or
> so ago, if anyone happened to save that email.
>    --Jenifer

I'd like to do this poem -- especially since we have the poet's
delighted permission.  So for this one, I'm mostly looking for
what context to offer along with the text itself, and advice on
graphic design (anything besides text?), and stuff like that.

This certainly doesn't have to be the only thing we post this way.
I'd be really happy if we made this one of a series.
At least a couple of other cities' transit systems make a habit of
posting short poetry for people to read while riding...

Yes, found your letter, Jenifer:

Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:19:38 -0800 (PST)
From: Jenifer Cartwright <jencart13 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] signs for the buses? MLK Quotes
To: Peace-discuss List <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>,
   Peace List <peace at lists.chambana.net>

   Stuart,

   I'll  leave the decision to others, but here's a website w/ some good,
   shorter MLK quotes.

       http://toppun.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=873&Page=4

   I'd  say  choose  one  that is free from gender- religious- and racial
   terminology... and if it's too long, fewer will read it.  I think
   this is closest to the message of the poem:

       Love is the only force capable of transforming an
       enemy into friend -- Martin Luther King, Jr.


Yes, that's really nice.

And... it may well be that CUMTD will let us post a mix of
messages in a single batch.  The arrangement was that we give
them some number (about 75 -- one for each bus in their fleet)
of printed copies of whatever, and they put them up for a month
or other period of time.  I'll ask them whether we can give them
a mix of different posters.

I'd be open to that if you would like to draft it.
We get about 11x15" to deal with (11x17 paper,
but you lose the endmost couple inches).



 
> Stuart Levy <slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote:
>   Hi. Here's an attempt at something I'd like to propose
> posting on the insides of our buses.
> 
> A .pdf is attached, but the text reads:
> 
> (on the left hand side)
> 
> The Arabs used to say,
> When a stranger appears at your door,
> feed him for three days
> before asking who he is,
> where he's come from,
> where he's headed.
> That way, he'll have strength
> enough to answer.
> Or, by then you'll be 
> such good friends
> you don't care.
> [...]
> 
> >From the poem, Red Brocade
> by Naomi Shihab Nye
> 
> 
> 
> (and on the right-hand side)
> 
> What do you think of
> when Arabs are mentioned?
> 
> How about a long tradition
> of hospitality to strangers?
> 
> Understanding
> is an antidote to conflict.
> 
> A.W.A.R.E. 
> http://www.anti-war.net
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