It gets more interesting. rabble.ca has a discussion board, "babble". As the members of babble, for the most part, are articulate and often passionate lefties, the general reaction to the original article tends to be quite supportive of Hannah. But there still remains healthy doubt to the sincerity of the Foundation backers.
I received a warm email back from Hannah's mother which twigs further interest. That will make for a near-future blog.
Til then... go to my website and buy a good used book! Half the price gets divvied to charities.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Friday, May 06, 2005
The Ladybug Foundation
I saw this charismatic young girl (9 years) on the national news a few weeks ago and was moved to include her initiative, The Ladybug Foundation, as a charity that I am supporting. Having read an article on rabble.ca that is a cautionary as to the legitimacy of the intentions of the Foundation considering
I can appreciate these concerns but I would still continue to support the homeless cause as long as Hannah's original motive prevails.
The following is an email I sent to her tonight:
Hi Hannah
My sincerest congratulations on your Ladybug Foundation initiative to help the homeless. I do truly wish that the spirit in which it was conceived is a flame that will continue to guide your way in these confusing times.
My apologies in advance for this long email. I hope you can find a couple of moments to read it as I'm sure you are very, very busy. Also, some to offer some feedback on your website.
My name is John Warren. I was born and spent most of my life in Canada's "economic engine", or 'machine' (Toronto) depending on your point of view. It was also my good fortune to part of a comfortable, social-minded, middle-class family whom I love one and all. I am turning 58 this year and I have had a small share of experiences having spent some wonderful years travelling and meeting people of different minds and cultures. I am now enjoying the challenges of being an artist not so much due to an early retirement situation but a situation of neccesity, epilepsy, calling upon the other talents that were 'given' to me. I consider this to have been my blessing.
You have been blessed with intelligence, which at your age allows you much time to experience the path on which you will make decisions. Your acute observation and courage to ask questions, born of a pure and fearless heart, puts you in stead of real responsibility, the most important, in the end, is responsibilty to your self. I suppose no one can deny that this is one purpose of life.
The doors of the 'chambers of power' have been opened to you and with it the power to create and destroy, or be created or destroyed. This is reality. I am sure you and your Ladybug Foundation are aware of this, particularly after your national exposure, of the push and pull of these forces.
As much as we all are looking for leadership, for you offered a compelling vision, but the greatest concern is being mislead, unintentionally or otherwise. Power is subtle and for whatever its purpose, requires control, and control is sending out the most powerful message - communications. The media, whether right, left, or centre, indy or mainstream, fight for our souls and the support to maintain their editorial positions.
'It's the image, stupid.'
No offence intended but this is the most powerful way of conveying messages. It worked in the Caves of Lescault, the Dark Ages as much as it works today. After all, we are still human and have various degrees of flaws. Take your pick.
The Internet is the most powerful communicating tool ever invented and can be argued that it is a nessecity for human survival, like water, food, shelter, and I put to you, the need to communicate. It allows inquiring minds to see as never before, to shine lights into the murkiness of motives and to further exchange of information and understanding of the precarious world around us. In other words transparency. It is a great equalizer for the underdog and the underpriviledged who would be subjected to the same scrutiny as well.
What is my point? Image.
Seeing you on TV at the Empire Club brings to mind an image, "and a child shall lead them". (The proximity of Easter/Passover may have had something to do with the association). It reaches down to our most fundamental wishes that 'reality' so often frustrates, and which often leads to skepticism and for some, cynicism. These are obviously not universal analogies but every individual has, or had, a dream.
Nevertheless, many of us would like to believe in you and the Ladybug Foundation, and I am endeavouring to raise money for your initiative on my website, along with Oxfam Canada, Toronto Environmental Alliance, Daily Bread Foodbank and the Toronto Humane Society.
As regards your website. It is very impressive and my only concern is that it is designed for people with fast computers on fast connections. What I don't understand is that the effective simlicity of your page designs take so long to load. May I suggest that you have an option on your splash page that gives people a choice of "flash" or "html". Many, like myself, are still on dialup and older pentiums and the load takes too much and will click off. Many of these people are fortunate to be able to access the internet at all, such as schools in underprivileged areas, urban & rural and others who might appreciate your message as well.
An artist friend of mine reminded me of the adage that the best way to effect change is from within. I wish you all success that you really can bring "tears to the eyes" (sic) of those far removed from the experience to whom you espouse. And I will honour my support to that success.
Sincerely
John
"a kid's sincerity being manipulated for a cynical purpose."
I can appreciate these concerns but I would still continue to support the homeless cause as long as Hannah's original motive prevails.
The following is an email I sent to her tonight:
Hi Hannah
My sincerest congratulations on your Ladybug Foundation initiative to help the homeless. I do truly wish that the spirit in which it was conceived is a flame that will continue to guide your way in these confusing times.
My apologies in advance for this long email. I hope you can find a couple of moments to read it as I'm sure you are very, very busy. Also, some to offer some feedback on your website.
My name is John Warren. I was born and spent most of my life in Canada's "economic engine", or 'machine' (Toronto) depending on your point of view. It was also my good fortune to part of a comfortable, social-minded, middle-class family whom I love one and all. I am turning 58 this year and I have had a small share of experiences having spent some wonderful years travelling and meeting people of different minds and cultures. I am now enjoying the challenges of being an artist not so much due to an early retirement situation but a situation of neccesity, epilepsy, calling upon the other talents that were 'given' to me. I consider this to have been my blessing.
You have been blessed with intelligence, which at your age allows you much time to experience the path on which you will make decisions. Your acute observation and courage to ask questions, born of a pure and fearless heart, puts you in stead of real responsibility, the most important, in the end, is responsibilty to your self. I suppose no one can deny that this is one purpose of life.
The doors of the 'chambers of power' have been opened to you and with it the power to create and destroy, or be created or destroyed. This is reality. I am sure you and your Ladybug Foundation are aware of this, particularly after your national exposure, of the push and pull of these forces.
As much as we all are looking for leadership, for you offered a compelling vision, but the greatest concern is being mislead, unintentionally or otherwise. Power is subtle and for whatever its purpose, requires control, and control is sending out the most powerful message - communications. The media, whether right, left, or centre, indy or mainstream, fight for our souls and the support to maintain their editorial positions.
'It's the image, stupid.'
No offence intended but this is the most powerful way of conveying messages. It worked in the Caves of Lescault, the Dark Ages as much as it works today. After all, we are still human and have various degrees of flaws. Take your pick.
The Internet is the most powerful communicating tool ever invented and can be argued that it is a nessecity for human survival, like water, food, shelter, and I put to you, the need to communicate. It allows inquiring minds to see as never before, to shine lights into the murkiness of motives and to further exchange of information and understanding of the precarious world around us. In other words transparency. It is a great equalizer for the underdog and the underpriviledged who would be subjected to the same scrutiny as well.
What is my point? Image.
Seeing you on TV at the Empire Club brings to mind an image, "and a child shall lead them". (The proximity of Easter/Passover may have had something to do with the association). It reaches down to our most fundamental wishes that 'reality' so often frustrates, and which often leads to skepticism and for some, cynicism. These are obviously not universal analogies but every individual has, or had, a dream.
Nevertheless, many of us would like to believe in you and the Ladybug Foundation, and I am endeavouring to raise money for your initiative on my website, along with Oxfam Canada, Toronto Environmental Alliance, Daily Bread Foodbank and the Toronto Humane Society.
As regards your website. It is very impressive and my only concern is that it is designed for people with fast computers on fast connections. What I don't understand is that the effective simlicity of your page designs take so long to load. May I suggest that you have an option on your splash page that gives people a choice of "flash" or "html". Many, like myself, are still on dialup and older pentiums and the load takes too much and will click off. Many of these people are fortunate to be able to access the internet at all, such as schools in underprivileged areas, urban & rural and others who might appreciate your message as well.
An artist friend of mine reminded me of the adage that the best way to effect change is from within. I wish you all success that you really can bring "tears to the eyes" (sic) of those far removed from the experience to whom you espouse. And I will honour my support to that success.
Sincerely
John
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