Resiliency

The strength of a tree lies in it’s ability to bend.

Zen Proverb

What Emancipation Actually Meant?

Abraham Lincoln and His Emancipation Proclamation,

The Strobridge Lith. Co, 1888. Source: LOC

150 years ago, President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. In it, he announced that on January 1, all slaves in rebellious states would be “then, thenceforward, and forever free.” Today, Lincoln is remembered as “The Great Emancipator” — but the story is much more complicated.

On this episode, the History Guys set out to understand the way Americans thought about emancipation in 1862, and reflect on the ways its meanings have shifted since then. Along the way, they make stops at the Emancipation Memorial in Washington D.C., the Civil War centennial commemorations in the height of the Civil Rights Era, and the former capital of the Confederacy. And they hear the voices of former slaves themselves, remembering their first experiences of freedom.

Listen to this audio: 

backstoryradio.org/vfhradio-audio/backstory/2013/1/ThenceforwardandForeverFree.mp3

Emancipation Memorial, Washington

The Neurons that Shaped Civilization

                     

Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran outlines the fascinating functions of mirror neurons. Only recently discovered, these neurons allow us to learn complex social behaviors, some of which formed the foundations of human civilization as we know it.

It's Time for All Children, Be Just Children!

                        

Written by Marie-Carmel Berrouët Pérodin,

dedicated to Jean Robert Cadet



REFRAIN--CHORUS


The lambi sounded Wake up


The time has come


To open eyes and hearts


To see all children equal


It's time for all children


Be just children!



God created all children


With no difference


Still a lot of children


Are mistreated


Do children ever choose


The place they should be born


Do they ever decide


Their way of life



Poverty led his parents


To hopelessness


They trusted you, gave you


Their little one
Instead of a better life


You treated him so bad


Made him work like a beast


You'll pay the price



Ti Kam's holding Jojo's hand


Same age they are


She's taking Jojo to school


She is barefoot!


When Jojo waves Goodbye


Ti Kam has a broken heart


She'd like to go to school too


She has no right


Look at the sad Lapousa


He is in pain


With Alberto on his back


His schoolbag too


The road is very muddy


Toto's shoes won't be dirty


Lapousa got the right name


This is his fate!



Adults are supposed to help 
children


The roles are upside down
What a pity!

Lapousa can't take it no more


Ti Kam soon will escape


What will be their future


Let's be serious! 



If you persist ignoring


The children rights


If you never see Ti Kam


And Lapousa


When they open their eyes


When they say that's enough


Alberto, Jojo and you


May sleep no more.