• •> * »<•. ’ ■ ■• »• -, , '. - ' • SB k ' î :Z 5> / î *** • • !A «*v7. Z7, . Martit^ Luther^ King^ W^tfe ^ o r tla n it (©bseruer Jun. !3, ¡999 C 23 Unity In Diversity B y D onna S elby I believe that M ahatm a Gandhi speaks of the unknown factor in “Our ability to teach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civiliza tion.” How do we find balanced aware ness in our universal world'.’ How do we pay attention without prejudice? How do we find balance while keeping an open mind and heart ? I cannot answer these questions for you as these are questions for each individual heart and soul. lean only through daily introspec tion and action walk my talk or talk my walk. No one person is alike, not even twins. The way we see our world de pends upon our points o f view which may be right or wrong. It’s like six blind men trying to tell what an elephant is like by feeling it. “Six wise men oflndia an elephant did find and carefully they felt its shape for all o f them were blind. The first he felt towards the tusk, ‘it does to me appear, this marvel o f an elephant is very like a spear. ’ The second sensed the creature ’ s side extended flat and tall, ‘Ah ah' he cried and did conclude, ‘this animal’s a wall.’ The third had reached towards a leg and said, it’s clear to m e what we should all have instead this creature’s like a tree.’ The fourth had come upon the trunk which he did seize and shake, quoth he, ‘this so-called elephant is really just a snake. ’ The fifth had felt the creature’s ear and finger o ’er it ran, ‘I have the answer, never fear, the creature's like a fan! ’ the sixth had come upon the tail as blindly he did grope, ‘let my conviction now prevail this creature’s like a rope.’ And so these men ofmissing sight each argued loud and long though each was partly m the right they were all inthpwrong “ (FromM apsoftheM ind) ‘To reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test o f our civiliza tion.’ Why? Because we get so caught up with measuring who is right and wrong that we miss the real beauty of creation. How do we balance our aware ness without prejudice ? Simply by keep ing an open mind and heart. Speak truth as you see it, allowing others to do the same. Rememberthat diversity is the gift found in unity which works together to create balance. Nature is our greatest teacher and healer. W e take a walk, go to the moun tains or (Kean when we feel stressed. Why? Because nature in its emptiness is balanced How does nature heal us? Taking a walk makes us feel better be cause the natural exchange o f energy re energizes us. We feel more at peace with ourselves and with one another. What more can nature teach us? Nature tells us to slow down, to breathe, to live peace fully. W e get out ofbalance when we try to control life instead o f allowing it to unfold naturally. This natural diversity in the change o f seasons. Even the process o f birth and death are natural changes. This is no different than our lives. Even a simple seed is our teacher. Within the seed is an alchemical labora tory ofDN A waiting to be birthed out o f oppositionary forces, all perfect and necessary for its growth. To look at he seed you would think nothing is going on yet a whole lot is happening This same principle happens when we go to sleep at night. As our body relaxes into the void or darkness o f our dream world, many changes are happening within the seed o f us which hold potential for new life. Silence in nature holds the key and as we listen to our soul we will find the beauty in unity and diversity. The sun and moon are good examples of work in harmony in that each work individually yet are fully independent o f one another. The balance o f power comes through cooperation with each becoming more than the sum o f its parts. Be not afraid of the dark o f the moon for it is in the stillness o f night the dawn o f a new reality awakens. Sisters O f The Road Cafe Cherish The Dream: Refuse To Hate P le a s e jo i n S is te rs O f T h e sp e a k O u t o n D r. K in g ’s d re a m R o a d C a fe o n M o n d a y , J a n u a ry 1 8th at 5 :0 0 p m fo r th e M a rc h o f th e D ream . In h o n o r o f th e b ir th d a y o f D r. M a rtin L u th e r K in g , J r ., S iste rs O f T h e R o a d C a fe is h o ld in g th e 6 th a n n u a l M a rc h fo r t h e D r e a m in O ld T o w n / C h i n a t o w n . W e w ill m a r c h fro m th e a u d ie n c e . F o r m o r e in fo rm a tio n on th is y e a r ’s m a rc h , p le a s e c a ll N a n c y o r J o h a n n a at th ro u g h O ld T o w n /C h in a to w n , c r o s s B u r n s i d e to P i o n e e r S q u a re , an d th e n re tu rn d o w n B r o a d w a y to th e D o w n to w n C h a p e l fo r a sh o rt c e le b ra tio n a n d re fre s h m e n ts . T h e p ro g ra m w ill in c lu d e s p e a k e rs fro m O ld T o w n /C h in a to w n , m u s ic , a n d a 2 2 2 -5 6 9 4 . T h is y e a r w e a re m a rc h in g to c e le b ra te D r. K in g ’s m e ssa g e th a t “ L o v e is th e o n ly fo rc e c a p a b le o f tr a n s f o r m in g an e n e m y in to a f rie n d .” In th e s h a d o w o f r e c e n t h a te c rim e s a ro u n d th e c o u n try a n d c o n tin u in g h a r d s h ip s e x p e r ie n c e d b y h o m e le s s p e o p le h e re in O ld T o w n /C h in a to w n , w e a re m a rc h in g in s u p p o rt o f t o le r a n c e , p e a c e a n d c o m p a s s io n fo r all p e o p le . S is te rs O f T h e R o a d C a fe is a n o n -p ro fit re s ta u r a n t in th e O ld T o w n /C h in a to w n N e ig h b o r hood. W e opened on N ovem ber 7 th , 1 979, a n d o p e ra te fro m a p h ilo s o p h y o f n o n - v io le n c e a n d g e n tle p e rs o n a lis m . T h e C a fe is o p e n M o n d a y th r o u g h F rid a y fro m 1 0:00 am to 3 :0 0 pm w ith th e la st m e a l se rv e d a t 2 :4 5 p m . T h e o f f i c e is o p e n M o n d a y th ro u g h F rid a y fro m 9 :0 0 am to 5 :0 0 p m . W e in v ite y o u to c o m e in a n d e n jo y a m e a l a t th e C a fe . A t S is te rs O f T h e R o a d C a fe , “ th e r e a r e n o s tr a n g e r s , j u s t frie n d s w e ’v e n e v e r m e t.” O re g o n I C O N O M IC 1)1.\ El OILMEN I Helps Oregon businesses create economic opportunities by focusing on ... 1)1 PAR 1 WI N I • Business development efforts at the local level Business finance and business retention services The Oregon Emerging Business Initiative, which helps growing companies become competitive Support for the Small Business Coalition Outreach to minority- and women-owned businesses Facilitation o f workforce training programs in company, industry and education settings Improved competitiveness o f Oregon companies through industry development grants For more information, contact 1-800-233—3306, or write to Oregon Economic Development Department 775 Summer Street N.E. Salem, Oregon 97310 Fax: 503 -5 8 1 -5 1 1 5 Web Address: http://www.econ.state.or.us W hen T he " Somehow we must be able to stand up before our most bitter opponents and say: We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering . We w ill meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we w ill still love you. - Martin Luther King Jr. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT W as S igned I nto L aw . .. Little Chapel of the Chimes 1 uneral I lome had already been jjf» ^supporting the families l o f Portland. After S5 years, our commitment to the families ot our comnumil} continues. We are here in times ol need, iiisl A H istory o f S ervice . we alw a\ s ha\ e been. A tr a d i t i o n t h a t c o n tin u e s . Il is a lespoiisibiliix dial fftejjttle Ceres Behavioral Healthcare Systems, a Division o f Magellan Health Services, offers employee assistance programs and managed mental health and chemical dependency services. Telephone 503.224.2214 ■»30 N. Killingsworth Street Portland. Oregon 97217-2499 Tel.: SO t 283.1976 Fax: 503.283.1979 A PROUD HERITAGE OF SERVICE SINCE \\e honor. Il is our least'll for beme 1912