Culturallycool

When Christopher Columbus first discovered North America, he mistakenly believed that he had discovered the Indies. This led to the name “Indian.” It is believed that the first North American Indian came across a land bridge across the Bering Sound, from Siberia into Alaska. This would have been during the last ice age about twenty thousand years ago.

When the Europeans discovered America, there were approximately ten million Indians already living there. These Indians were amazed at the Europeans white skin and technology, which would eventually prove to be their downfall.

While the Indians were amazed by the Europeans, they also noticed that they were greedy, and viewed nature as a means to gain wealth and power. The North American Indian viewed nature, and by extension life, as sacred, and the Europeans views were abhorrent to them.

Not only did the white man bring outlandish tools, and a need to own land but also diseases that hit the Indian tribes hard, decimating their population. The Indians were outnumbered by the invaders, and had inferior weapons to defend themselves. While the Europeans had metal knives and swords, the North American Indian had bows and arrows and crude wooden spears. The arrows have remained today and this is where the sport of archery originates from.

While the Indians lived here first, the Europeans viewed them as nothing more than nomads, with no claim to the land.

Even though the Indians had inferior weaponry, they fought fiercely and the Indian warrior was feared for his viciousness in combat. Many of them were excellent marksmen with the bow, and they knew the land intimately, making it hard for the Europeans to conquer them.

But no matter how many of the Europeans the Indians killed, more would replenish their number from across the sea.

The Europeans came close to wiping out the existing tribes in North America, and the last great battle was fought in 1890, when thousands of Indian children, women and men were slaughtered by U.S cavalry.

That battle pretty much ended the wars that plagued North America, and left a stain on North American history that remains today. The remaining Indians were either assimilated, or repressed. The culture that the Indians had fought so hard for was almost lost.

While the history of the North American Indian is a tragic one, they still remain today, although they are a shadow of what they once were. They are, and were, a proud people, with a remarkable heritage and because of them archery has been recognized worldwide.

North American Native Indian t-shirts

The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence
Day, but it should be!  And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but
it should be.  Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on
midnight, the 15th of September, 1810.  And it took 11 years before the
first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.

So, why Cinco de Mayo?  And why should
Americans savor this day as well?  Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed
the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east
of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.

The French had landed in Mexico (along with
Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting
Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and
Indian) Benito Juarez.  The English and Spanish quickly made deals and
left.  The French, however, had different ideas.

Under Emperor Napoleon III, who detested the
United States, the French came to stay.  They brought a Hapsburg prince
with them to rule the new Mexican empire.  His name was Maximilian; his
wife, Carolota.  Napoleon’s French Army had not been defeated in 50 years,
and it invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly
reconstituted Foreign Legion.  The French were not afraid of anyone,
especially since the United States was embroiled in its own Civil War.

The French Army left the port of Vera Cruz to
attack Mexico City to the west, as the French assumed that the Mexicans would
give up should their capital fall to the enemy — as European countries
traditionally did.

Under the command of Texas-born General
Zaragosa, (and the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to
be Mexico’s president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited.  Brightly
dressed French Dragoons led the enemy columns.  The Mexican Army was less
stylish.

General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take
his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks.  In response,
the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz
and his men, who proceeded to butcher them.  The remaining French
infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm
and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed
only with machetes.

When the battle was over, many French were
killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz’ superb horsemen
miles away.  The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III
from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United
States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen.  This grand army
smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla,
essentially ending the Civil War.

Union forces were then rushed to the
Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the
Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the
French.  American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles
if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French.  The
American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico, City.

It might be a historical stretch to credit
the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an
army twice as large in 1862.  But who knows?

In gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed
the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces.  As recently
as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls,
trying to join up and fight another war for America.

Mexicans, you see, never forget who their
friends are, and neither do Americans.  That’s why Cinco de Mayo is such a
party — A party that celebrates freedom and liberty.  There are two ideals
which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever
since the 5th of May, 1862.  VIVA! el CINCO DE MAYO!!

CINCO DE MAYO t-shirts

A national coat of arms is the highest visual symbol of the State. The coat of arms is also a central part of the Great Seal, traditionally considered to be the highest emblem of the State. Absolute authority is given to every document with an impression of the Great Seal on it, as this means that it has been approved by the ruler of a country.

A new coat of arms now replaces one that has served South Africa since 17 September 1910. The change reflects the aim of Government to highlight the democratic change in South Africa.

THE DESIGN OF THE NEW COAT OF ARMS:

The new Coat of Arms is a series of elements organised in distinct symmetric oval shapes placed on top of one another.

THE LOWER OVAL SHAPE OF FOUNDATION:

The first element is the motto, in a green semi-circle. Completing the semi-circle are two symmetrically placed pairs of elephant tusks pointing upwards. Within the oval shape formed by the tusks are two symmetrical ears of wheat which in turn frame a centrally placed gold shield.

The shape of the shield makes reference to a drum, and contains two human figures from Khoi san rock art. The figures are depicted facing one another in greeting and in unity. Above the shield are placed a spear and a knobkierie, crossed in a single unit. These elements are arranged harmoniously to give focus to the shield and complete the lower oval shape of Foundation.

THE UPPER OVAL SHAPE OF ASCENDANCE:

Immediately above the lower oval shape, is the visual centre of the Coat of Arms, a Protea. The petals of the Protea are rendered in a triangular pattern reminiscent of the crafts of Africa. The secretary bird is placed above the Protea and the flower forms the chest of the bird. The secretary bird stands with its wings uplifted in a regal stance. The distinctive head feathers of the secretary bird crown a strong and vigilant head.

The rising sun above the horizon is placed between the wings of the secretary bird and completes the oval shape of ascendance.

THE SYMBOLS OF THE NEW COAT OF ARMS

The Motto:

!KE E: /XARRA //KE, written in the Khoisan language of the /Xam people, literally meaning: diverse people unite. On a collective scale it calls for the nation to unite in a common sense of belonging and national pride - Unity in Diversity.

The Ears of Wheat:

An emblem of fertility, it also symbolizes the idea of germination, growth and the feasible development of any potential. It relates to the nourishment of the people and signifies the agricultural aspects of the earth.

Elephant Tusks:

Elephants symbolize wisdom, strength, moderation and eternity.

The Shield:

It has a dual function as a vehicle for the display of identity and of spiritual defence.

The Human Figures:

The figures are derived from images on the Linton stone, a world famous example of South African Rock Art, now housed and displayed in the South African Museum in Cape Town. The Khoisan, the oldest known inhabitants of South Africa, and most probably of the earth, testify to a common humanity and heritage. The figures are depicted in an attitude of greeting, symbolizing unity.

The Spear and Knobkierie:

Dual symbols of defence and authority, they in turn represent the powerful legs of the secretary bird. The spear and knobkierie are lying down, symbolising peace.

The Protea:

The Protea is an emblem of the beauty of South Africa and its flowering. The Protea symbolizes the holistic integration of forces that grows from the earth and are nurtured from above. The most popular colours of Africa have been assigned to the Protea - green, gold, red and black.

The Secretary Bird:

The secretary bird is characterised in flight, the natural consequence of growth and speed. It is the equivalent of the lion on earth. A powerful bird whose legs - depicted as the spear and knobkierie - serve it well in its hunt for snakes symbolising protection of the nation against its enemies. It is a messenger of the heavens and conducts its grace upon the earth, in this sense it is a symbol of divine majesty. Its uplifted wings are an emblem of the ascendance of the nation, whilst simultaneously offering protection. It is depicted in gold, which clearly symbolizes its association with the sun and the highest power.

The Rising Sun:

An emblem of brightness, splendour and the supreme principle of the nature of energy, it symbolizes the promise of rebirth, the active faculties of reflection, knowledge, good judgment and willpower. It is the symbol of the source of life, of light and the ultimate wholeness of Humanity.

The completed structure of the Coat of Arms combines the lower and higher oval shapes in a symbol of infinity. The path that connects the lower edge of the scroll, through the lines of the tusks, with the horizon above which the sun rises at the top, forms the shape of the cosmic egg from which the secretary bird rises. In the symbolic sense this is the implied rebirth of the spirit of our great and heroic nation.

South African coat of arms t-shirts

What is hip hop? This question has been posed to many a person and the answer varies as much as the people in our society vary. When most people think of the term hip hop they tend to focus on the musical aspect of it. Much like with rock and roll in the 60s parents figured that this music was simply a form of rebellion for their children and that it wouldn’t even last past its infancy. Thirty plus years later and not only is hip hop still alive but it is quite the power house in terms of the economy. If there is something that needs to be sold and your target demographic is under the age of 35, there is not a more powerful tool then hip hop.

You would not have to look any further then your own children to see the effects of hip hop on our present society. Every era had its form of expression! I don’t care if it’s the fifty’s, sixties or seventies but it’s always been that teenagers have a different way of dressing, dancing and talking then their adult counterparts. This new era is no different. How many times have you seen or heard your child talking to their friend’s right in front of you and felt as thought they were speaking a foreign language? Turn on your television and you’ll see these same youth doing dance moves that seem as though if an adult were to attempt these same moves that an ambulance would have to be placed on standby. You can go to any mall and see the youth wearing the baggiest clothes that are barely hanging on them for dear life. All these things come from hip hop.

Don’t get me wrong. Hip hop is not only about the rebellious nature of young people. There are many accomplished clean cut adults who should be considered every bit as much hip hop as their young counter parts. The message that any person in their 30s grew up listening to is a much different one then what is being circulated today. The rap music of the seventy’s and eighties was about self empowerment and making something of your lives. Many kids in the eighties would have had no where to turn if it wasn’t for after school programs consisting of break dancing and other aspects of hip hop. We have doctors, lawyers and other successful individual who grew up not only listening to hip hop but living it.

When I hear the word fad, I quickly think of the way a person might dress or the music they may listen to. Hip hop is partially about those two things but it’s also about the way you speak, the way you move and most importantly the way in which you live your life. If hip hop is a fad someone forgot to tell entire nations that they need to find a new one! Hip hop is 30 years strong and still growing!

Hip Hop Bling

If one looks at the map of the world, it is hard not to notice that Asia is the biggest land mass. Asia is important to the rest of the world. The importance of this part of world is not only because it is the biggest continent of the world, but also because it is the portion if the world which is home to the majority of humanity. All densely populated countries are located in Asia. Asia spans hundreds of longitude and as a result you find a variety of culture and traditions in Asia. Asian people are generally closely bound to their traditions and for them it is always difficult to break away. The continent as a whole is rich in traditions and values.

Asian people are descendents of a variety of races. You find one kind of people dominating one region in Asia. For example, the Indian subcontinent is home to the Aryans. The East of India is mostly home to the yellow races which include the Mongols. These people have very typical features and can be identified very easily. The West of India is mostly populated with Iranian and Arab features. More towards the West you find western mix in the mosaic of population that lives in Asia. Asian people are different from the people of the other continents as these people are still close to their roots and in most of the countries you find agro based economies. The economies are not very well developed and you find tat the pressure on land is great. Still, being blessed with the most fertile plains of the world, Asia is feeding the rest of the world as a granary.

In Asia, you still find that generations after generations of people are bound with the traditional values. The West of Asia is mostly dominated by the Muslim values as a chain of Muslim countries is located in this part of the world. In general here Islamic values are followed and family unit is appreciated. Families are the basic structural unit in making up the societies here. Even in the technically advanced and developed countries like Japan, you still find that family ties are important to them. People from more developed parts of the world sometimes consider Asian people to be backward and superstitious, but I believe the Asians are happy and at home with their family units still intact.

Asian traditions are most of the times really colorful and in some cases difficult to understand for people coming from highly developed countries. The impact of religions on the traditions and values of the people of Asia is prominent. Most of the people living in Asia find religion and language to be really important to them. The dress codes are specific and the festivals are also under the religious influence. In general, you can say that Asian life is different from the life in other parts of the world. It is still about home and family. People here are still bound to their roots, and most of all, they are happy about it.

Grab a piece of Asian culture here

Have you been only dating people from your own ethnic background, to find that no matter what you try, there just seems to be no spark or real passion occurring in the relationship? Are you just about ready to give up on finding a soul mate? Well before you lose all hope in the dating world, you may want to try exploring dating someone who comes from a different culture than you. Who knows, you may just discover that a multicultural relationship is what you need to discover that special spark you’ve been searching for.

One of the best ways that you can explore your dating options, without having to worry about pressures from friends or family, is to join an online dating community, such as Love Empire, which is designed to bring you close to those who share the same interests as you, regardless if they are black, white, Eurasian and so on.

Love Empire allows you the chance to really explore the beauty of the multicultural dating world with no strings attached, and no outside judgments interfering with your choices. In this online dating community the only opinion that matters when it comes to dating is your own. Therefore, listen to you heart, trust your feelings and use your common sense to decide what’s best for you. Besides, the whole point to dating is to have fun, and to enjoy the company of the person you choose to be with.

There is true potential in being apart of a multicultural relationship in today’s society, as these relations have really become a more common and accepted part of Western culture. Because of this, blacks, whites, Eurasians and other ethnic groups have more reason to mix together than any other time in history. For instance, it has been estimated that in Britain alone, over 30 percent of black men are either living with or are married to white women, and over 20 percent of black women are living with or married to white men. When you stop to think about that, it’s truly beautiful to know that something such as multicultural relationships has grown from a small minority and become common and socially recognized.

Don’t be afraid to believe in love and companionship, no matter what others may think of your interracial dating. Remember, the most important ingredient to any relationship is love. No force on this Earth is greater than that of love, and once you find it gender, age, race, and religion are nothing more than small details that add to the beauty of the individual you love.

InterracialMatch.com

Great concern has been rampant about the lack of “Hawaii” in the so-called “Hawaiian” activities, merchandise and demonstrations witnessed throughout the island’s hotels. Such items like leis and bracelets being strung with shells from the Philippines or tropical print bags, dolls and pot holders bearing the status of “Made in China”—even many souvenirs sold to visitors in Hawaii are created in and sold from such places as Bali, Thailand.

As odd as it can be, much of what is offered as authentic “Hawaiian” arts and crafts is actually imported from other foreign countries and guests of the islands haven’t the slightest clue!

As a result, a lot of time and energy has been spent on allowing the “real” Hawaiian culture to stand out and become noticed by all those millions of people who come to Hawaii annually. For much too long, the tendency was to push touristy trends like torch lighting ceremonies, Polynesian dancing revues and flashy hotels—all of which were ultimately lacking in substance when authentic “Hawaiian” cultural experiences were what was really desired.

In 1998, the Kauai Heritage Center of Hawaiian Culture and the Arts opened—a 1,200 square-foot facility with a purpose to educate and create mind awareness for appreciation and respect of the true “Hawaiian” culture. Exhibits in the Center focus on the Hawaiian quilts, hand-carved fishing tools, hula instruments and implements, as well as a vast array of mats, fans and baskets, to name just a few. Most of the artefacts making up the exhibits are treasured heirlooms belonging to Hawaiian families for decades.

The Center also instructs hands-on classes that probe and discuss all aspects of a specific subject, i.e., hula, leaf printing and the Hawaiian language. These sessions also cover lei making techniques along with the sharing of its protocols and customs that span the entire experience— from the preparation of materials to the actual leis disposal.

Realizing that to preserve Hawaiian culture and perpetuate its message is a daunting undertaking, the Center’s goal is not one of just providing an activity exercise but to share information and knowledge so that responsibility is assigned to the participant. Thus, programs are constantly in the planning stages, including work shops teaching cultural insights inspired and motivated by Hawaiian themes. The presenters are artists and practitioners specializing in their specific field of expertise.

Special permission was granted by the owners of the historic Coco Palms in Wailua, heavily damaged in Hurricane Iniki in 1992, to the students of the Center to sketch its structures and lagoons. More lectures will be presented on ancient places of worship and on these lagoons—which were first used as fish ponds by the Royalty.

The Center will also organize cultural excursions, like taking 5th-6th graders to learn about Hawaii’s environment, it’s native plants and about conservation. The group size will be limited to anywhere from 6 to 30 people because of the impact on the sacred cultural sites.

With the advent of new technologies and conveniences, many of today’s Hawaiians have forgotten the value and wisdom of the “old ways”. So, a comprehensive training program aimed at Hawaiian Islands’ visitor industry—hotel employees and business organizations—commenced based on traditional Hawaiian values.

This training program offers 8 hours of instruction covering subjects on healing with herbs, sacred offerings, massage, music, proverbs and poetry.

Perpetuating the integrity of the Hawaiian culture is what the Center is all about. Its goal, in short, is to accomplish every- thing possible to keep Hawaii “Hawaiian”. There is a constant vigil to correct false and inaccurate representations of Hawaiian practices. Both visitors and locals alike are encouraged to discover the “real” Hawaii and not fall victim to activities referred to as “traditional” when in fact, they are “gimmicks for amusement”.

Hawaii Vacation Rentals

As Earth Day 2006 approaches, there seems to be good news on the environmental scene, which should come as welcome change to anyone concerned about the state of our Earth. That’s in stark contrast to the first Earth Day, back in 1970.

Earth Day 2006 sees lakes in New England beginning to rebound from their sorry condition after being bombarded by acid rain for decades. The acid rain itself has decreased, as well, and the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that comprise most of our air pollution have diminished by some 50 percent–due in no small part to the fact that the burning of leaded gas is virtually a thing of the past.

Environmentalists have also been encouraged to discover that a number of endangered species, including America’s national symbol, the bald eagle, as well as wolves and grizzly bears, have begun making a promising comeback. All of that good news is even more significant when you compare today’s environment to the way things were on the first Earth Day.

In Ohio, the Cuyahoga River was so polluted that it actually caught fire. In New York, all of the residents of a neighborhood called Love Canal were forced to move away forever when it was discovered that their homes had been built upon a toxic chemical waste dump. Pollution in cities was so bad that residents were told to stay inside because the air was actually hazardous to breathe during “code red” days.

The interesting thing is that the environmental improvements took place in spite of increased pressure in America. For instance, EPA statistics show that the total emissions of the six major air pollutants dropped by more than 50 percent, even though America’s population increased by 40 percent and energy consumption increased by 47 percent. Automobile hydrocarbon emissions also decreased during that time, despite the fact that both the number of vehicles and amount of miles driven more than doubled.

All in all, it appears as if America is headed in the right direction in regard to the environment. It’s been a fierce, hand-to-hand battle, but the country is moving forward, thanks to dedicated environmentalists and bureaucrats at all levels of government.

However, even though American rivers don’t catch fire anymore and the smog levels have decreased in most major cities, there’s still a long way to go. Urban sprawl is still endangering woodlands, prairies, and farmland, and global warming is still on the rise. Even so, the overall trend is positive. But we must all work to continue the momentum set in motion by the first Earth Day in 1970.

Earth Day gifts

I just recently found this feature on Latin American Recipes. The recipes are broken down by country and styles of cooking across Latin America (just like we in the US are used to seeing Southern, New England or West Coast recipes in countless cookbooks.)

I’m excited to try some of the new recipes and really pleased to see some old favorites that we’ve picked up over the years. The slide show is amazing - makes your mouth water just looking at the pictures. It’s nice to see that the recipes aren’t all Americanized versions of Latin cooking. These are authentic recipes - food you eat when you grow up in Latin America and travel there.

Latin Recipes

Authentic Mexican cookbooks at MexGrocer.com

Enjoy!

“Sometimes there are playbacks in my head,” said the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a former King aide. “I see him talking and laughing and going to dinner.

“All of a sudden,” he said with a clap of his hands, “it was over.”

Jackson joined the Rev. Billy Kyles, a Memphis pastor, at the site of the assassination recently to talk to The Associated Press about April 4, 1968, the day King died.

Kyles was a few feet from King on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel when the bullet struck. Jackson was below, joking with King about going to dinner at Kyles’ house.

Then King fell, and panic ensued.

“Blood was everywhere,” Kyles said. “The nightmare was that I was awake. This really was happening.”

King was in Memphis helping lead a strike by city sanitation workers. The civil rights leader had shifted his focus to helping the working poor of all races and opposing the Vietnam War, which was stirring up a whole new wave of enemies, Jackson said.

“He is a beloved man today, but a hated man when he was killed,” Jackson said.

King had hoped to lead a peaceful protest march with the garbage workers as a sort of dress rehearsal for the Poor People’s Campaign he was preparing to take to Washington.

But a march through downtown Memphis on March 28 fell apart when small groups of unruly protesters and looters began breaking store windows. Police rushed in with nightsticks and tear gas leaving many of the marchers - the peaceful and unruly alike - bruised and bloodied.

King, whose career was built on nonviolent opposition to the powerful, was accused of hypocrisy and of having lost control of his followers. Doubts were raised over his ability to lead the Poor People’s Campaign.

King was warned he could be in physical danger if he returned to Memphis, Jackson said, but he came back anyway vowing to lead a a second march, this one peaceful.

In his last public address, King told a packed house at Mason Temple in Memphis that he had been to the mountaintop and seen “the promised land.”

“I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land,” he shouted to thunderous applause. “And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man.”

The “mountaintop speech” on April 3 and King’s apparent reference to the possibility of an early death showed he was under more stress than even those closest to him had realized.

“We had no way of knowing how much pain … he was internalizing. How much more he knew than we knew about the threats,” Jackson said. “But his courage rose above the threats.”

The following day, King and his associates mostly stayed in their rooms at the Lorraine. The conversations were light, “just cracking jokes and having fun,” Jackson said.

About 6 p.m. the group prepared to go to dinner.

“I said, guys, come on let’s go. We have a rally after dinner,” Kyles said. “I turned and walked away, got a few steps, a few feet, and that’s when I heard the shot.”

The .30-caliber bullet hit King in the jaw, severed his jugular vein and spine and knocked him to his back.

There was little anyone could do but cover him with a blanket and wait for the ambulance. Jackson went into one of the rooms and called King’s wife, Coretta Scott King, telling her she had better come to Memphis.

Jackson said he told her King was shot in a shoulder, though it was obvious he was mortally wounded. “I just couldn’t say it,” he said.

James Earl Ray, a career criminal and prison escapee from Missouri, confessed to killing King and drew 99 years in prison. Numerous conspiracy theories have cropped up over the years, but none has been proven. Ray died in prison in 1998.

It’s unlikely Ray could have killed King alone, Jackson said, and King’s vilification by the FBI and other champions of the status quo had created a dangerous emotional climate that lead to the murder.

“He was trying to live in peace and they just blew him away,” Jackson said. “They didn’t have to kill him.”

Jackson’s voice began to break as he talked with Kyles on the Lorraine’s balcony.

“I don’t come back much. It’s a lot to take,” Jackson said, his eyes growing wet. “It’s still a lot to take.”

READ MORE

Yes, today we spent three hours waiting in line to see Obama speak here at Penn State University and it was well worth the wait.

The crowd was the largest ever to gather at Penn State for anything other than football games or maybe the Arts Festival. A record setting 22,000 to hear a political speech. Ther was a mix of students and locals that gathered early and snaked through the campus from two directions - the longest lines we’ve ever seen.

He is a great speaker - honest, funny and inspiring. He does not care about being afraid to let the people hear what they not only want to hear, but need to hear. For years politicians have talked the talk that got them in the White House then nothing happened. Obama seems to really embrace change.

America needs to change. Why? Because nobody has ever really had our best interest at heart - the people, you and me. It has always been about power for them not the people.

Oops let me stop and get to the point. We didn’t get the best pictures today and yet we felt that we have had an experience. One of the coolest things about going up to see him is that our boys came too. They’d been at friend’s the night before and were tired and hungry but they warmed up to the idea and in the end seemed really glad that they’d been dragged up there. Both were happy to have seen him, been a part of that crowd and were really interested by things he’d said. All I can say is that it’s hard to impress the 14-16 year old crowd but Obama did it!

Get out and vote! People make a change be culturallycool

Political Gifts

By Kate Albright-Hanna

At the beginning of the school year, Bronx high school teacher Jackson Shafer says his students were beyond apathetic about politics - many couldn’t even name the Vice President.But something happened around the time of the Iowa primary - a realization that they were living in the middle of history, that change was possible and they had a role to play in making it happen.Shafer says his students started coming to school early - and even suggested an extra homework assignment inspired by Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” speech after the New Hampshire primary.Freshman Anna Boateng performed her speech for the class, beginning: “People say that South Bronx kids will never amount to anything, but I say, ‘Yes We Can.’”

On the same day I filmed their speeches, Barack was delivering his speech about racial reconciliation in Philadelphia. The Bronx students took up the challenge to talk about race and how their generation is already breaking down old barriers.

Here’s their story:

More here

We have two teenage sons that are both really into music. Seems they’re as tied to their iPods, Music TV and You Tube as I was to the latest singles, albums and radio when I was their age. Delivery of music has changed but not the love of music itself.As much as I like that the boys find the same interest, joy and expression in music as I did and still do, what amazes me most is when they independently get into some of my favorite stuff. Last night and again this morning before school, War’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” was blasting through our house.”Why Can’t We Be Friends?” was the title song of War’s sixth album originally released in 1975 (well before our boys were born or I’d even met their mom.) The song was inspired by a fight that broke out as the band was about to take the stage at a concert. It was an instant hit. With a more mellow sound than a lot of War’s previous music, it’s an anti-conflict feel-good anthem that highlights the band’s humor and catches you up in the repeating refrain. The album is a classic for War’s unique funk/soul/rock sound.The lines that caught my attention the most recently:”Sometimes I don’t speak too bright
but yet I know what I’m talking about”I mentioned before that I live in a University town and both my wife and I work at the University. You can’t find a place that puts more weight on how something is said than in this setting. We joke that we should bring a dictionary with us to our meetings so we can be sure to keep up with the huge and incomprehensible words that are slung around in an effort to impress folks with just how smart everyone is. There’s far more weight put on how something is said than what is said.

To me, those lines in War’s song are absolutely true. Some of the wisest things I’ve heard in my life come from people who speak simply without the need for huge words. I’m not advocating that we don’t have good vocabularies and the ability to communicate well just that we pay more attention to what’s being said than how it’s said.

We’re lucky that for the last five years our community has hosted an Native American Powwow every Spring. I’m part Native American Indian so the powwow is a cool experience (more about that part of my heritage later.)

I wasn’t really sure what to expect the first year we went to the powwow. I was thinking it would be a big commercial thing, sort of a show. Not at all. Instead, it felt like a really big family reunion where people from different tribes were happy to see each other and spend time together. Some of the Native American we talked to said that they get a chance to see friends from other tribes at these powwows a couple times a year so it really is like a reunion. The powwow centers around song and dance and the head drummer was a very talented musician. The dancers were great - ranging from graceful and mellow to thundering and energetic. Non-Native Americans were made welcome too. It didn’t feel like just a big party though, there was a deep spiritual undertone with dances and songs to the Creator. A lot of respect during the ceremonies mixed with a lot o fun.

After the Grand Entry and dancing were over, we wandered around to check out the art and craft vendors. My wife headed straight for the jewelry and our sons went off to try the flatbread and other traditional foods. I found the bumper sticker below. I had to have it - to me it summed up about a million words in one photograph and a caption.

We don’t usually have a lot of bumper stickers on our cars but I have to say this one sticker gets a lot of attention! It’s common to have a group of people standing around our car in parking lots, people walking on our street come halfway up our driveway to get a better look and I can’t count how many comments we’ve had. Later, I searched the web and found the same image on t-shirts and ordered a few. My advise though is to be careful where you wear the shirt! Everyone wants to come up and talk about it! That’s great but not good if you’re running late or want to blend into the crowd that day.

I think the bumper sticker, finding the t-shirts and people’s reaction to them is what first gave me the idea to start my website.

View some here

One of my all time favorite writers is Gabriel Garcia Marquez or “Gabo” as he is called. He was born in 1928 in Columbia, traveled the world and lives now in Mexico City. He was raised by his grandparents. I’ve read that he got his amazing storytelling in part from his grandmother who would tell the most wildly fantastic stories in an absolutely matter of fact way. So much so that when he was young he couldn’t always tell if what she was telling was true or not.

He’s a critically acclaimed writer and won the Noble Prize for Literature but he’s also widely popular. He has written fiction, non-fiction and short stories. I think part of his appeal is that he writes about themes that everyone can relate to. His masterpiece is One Hundred Years of Solitude but I think my favorite book is Love in the Time of Cholera. It’s based in part on the real life relationship of his mother and father.

Love in the Time of Cholera is the story of a love triangle that spans fifty years. The three main characters are entwined in an amazing story that describes every aspect of love. Gabo never defines love as just one thing but shows through the book hundreds of aspects of love - attraction, passion, lust, concern, friendship, companionship, respect, loyalty, devotion and even the desire to be together to avoid loneliness or to meet expectations. It’s an amazing story. When you read the book you recognize all of these different aspects of love in your own relationships and sometimes nearly all of them at different times in just one relationship.

Gabo is an amazing storyteller, richly imaginative who writes so clearly about universal themes that everyone can relate to.

view here

I live in a large University town and have worked at the University’s library for nearly 22 years. One of the really great things about this community is the large population of International students and professors.

Thanksgiving usually finds our town barren of all the usual residents as students and folks head home for the holidays, but the International students have no where to go. One Thanksgiving we were home for the weekend and planned just a family dinner, and then I invited one of the Korean students who worked with me at the library to join my family for his first Thanksgiving dinner.

It was great. He loved our traditional Thanksgiving favorites and even stood and clapped when the turkey came to the table. But the best thing was his surprise of bringing some of his Korean food to add to the meal. He made paper thin vegetable pancakes with an incredible ginger dipping sauce. While he ate 2 or 3 helpings of our food, we couldn’t stop eating his pancakes. They were really good. I know it meant a lot to him to be invited and he kept raving about the turkey because he’d never had it before but we kept raving about the pancakes. All and all, one of our best Thanksgivings ever.

I came across this website recently that has tons of fantastic Asian foods.

Check it out here

Over the last few years the fashion trend of hip hop clothing has grown from an underground street culture into the mainstream fashion world. Urban clothes are now proudly shown at the top fashion shows in Milan, Italy, Paris and New York. Just ten years ago such blatantly flashy and urban clothes would never have seen the light of day at these shows, but now they are proudly displayed. So what is this emerging trend and which consumers are driving the growth of this fashion niche?The answer can be found in looking at the history of hip hop itself and it’s evolution into the mainstream of music and fashion culture. Hip hop went from being the music of a few skateboarders and corner lyricists to being the predominant musical culture of todays young generation. As more and more people listen to hip hop and urban music, the fashion styles and the clothing these young people were wearing started to reflect the music and artists they were listening to. While most do not remember this now, the first trend to be adopted from urban music were the Adidas shoes which were originally made popular by the hip hop legend Run DMC. After that came the bling bling jewelry and the baggy pants, followed by backward hats and large chains.The trend was further moved forward when the famous rapper LL Cool J signed on to promote the FUBU clothing line. FUBU stood for “For Us By Us” and was the first urban clothing line to hit the mainstream around the world. After FUBU came Phat Farm which was a trendy line launched by Def Jam president Russell Simmons - a hip hop mogul himself.This line was wildly successful and enjoyed the promotion and patronage of several high profile rappers. After these lines gained steam and saw success, many rappers started catching on to the idea that they could launch their own lines of gear and started to do so. Jay Z came out with Rocawear, a tremendously successful line which he eventually sold for several hundred million dollars. Other rappers followed suit, although not all were as successful. 50 Cent introduced his G Unit clothing line to much acclaim and even partnered with Reebok on a top selling shoe line.Through the years urban clothes have evolved greatly with many smaller and more unique lines springing up. There are now literally hundreds of lines of hip hop clothes as is evident at the latest Magic Fashion Show in Las Vegas.

There are many artistic trends such as t-shirts with hand painted images and drawings, lines by and for women, hats and even hip hop jewelry which imitates the bling bling styles worn by hip hop artists.Overall the hip hop styles have evolved greatly since the introduction of the first urban gear brand. They are now considered way within the mainstream of clothing and fashion and are also breaking new ground with creativity and designs. Hip hop clothing is here to stay and has now claimed a foothold in the fashion industry as a whole.

Shop online
Phat Farm
MixUnit Knows The Dress Code
ReallyDope

I’m the first to admit that I’m not as politically active as I probably should be. I vote at every presidential election and sometimes locally; but I’m not normally glued to the TV to watch every debate or listen to every political speech. But I did tune in for Obama’s Tuesday speech this week because it was about race in America. Most politicians stay away from this subject in fear of turning away voters and I really wanted to hear for myself what he would say. It was in my opinion one of the most honest, real and brave speeches I’ve ever heard.He wasn’t afraid of tackle all the difficult aspects of why race relations can be so hard - those things that cause tension and fear between different cultures and create so many different stereotypes. And he also pointed out all the things that make us the same - concerns about our families, jobs and everyday lives. Most importantly, he made clear that none of us can deny our heritage, our background and our culture even when they have faults.If you missed the speech, listen to it and judge for yourself

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Culturallycool - what does it mean?

I started a website about three years ago because I wanted to create a place where all cultures were represented and celebrated. My heritage is a mix of cultures and many of my very best friends and family come from a rich mix of backgrounds. The idea was a place that embraces all people.

When I started the site, my immediate problem was - what to call it? That’s when I coined the phrase “culturallycool.” Culturallycool means that all cultures are cool, all cultures are celebrated and all cultures are embraced. This blog is a place to share our unique experiences and perspectives. A place to celebrate what binds us all together regardless of our backgrounds and what makes us unique and interesting because of our different backgrounds.

After coming up with the “Culturallycool” as the name for the site, I decided to put t-shirts from every culture and background on the site. I’d read that most adults wear a t-shirt five days a week. Over the years, I’ve seen so many interesting t-shirt sites about music, favorite places, and everything under the sun. Most are promoting large companies like Nike and other sports wear.

My goal is to create a place where everyone is proud to let others know that they love their culture and are happy to learn about other’s cultures.

View our site here

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