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December 31, 2008 · Daniel Blue

DB: I Believe

Today I had the extreme pleasure of running into a dear friend and teacher at the Tacoma School of The Arts, Kelly Doran. Always a bright and inspiring influence, she is continually supporting the artistic soul of this city both in her work and the arts based projects of her exterior life. Today she explained to me the fleshing out of an idea that I found to be worthy of bringing to your attention, I hope you are inspired as much as I am to participate in this simple statement of belief.

Kelly wants to know what Tacoma believes in, and give us all the opportunity to share and hear the common voice. It’s easy to complain, and its easy to criticize, but you may find it surprising the amount of courage it takes to make a statement about your personal conviction.

The Essays will be compiled and reviewed, Kelly will contact and invite a handful of authors to read their essays on the radio and at live theater style venue this spring. She also hopes to print excerpts on posters that will be distributed throughout Tacoma, all of which done only at the express permission of the author, of course.

The following is taken from Kelly’s web page in hopes of enticing and coaching you fine and articulate readers to write your thoughts in response. If you feel super bold, leave your statement as a comment as well as emailing it to Kelly at the address provided at the bottom of the page.

Tacoma, we want to hear from you.
We are inviting people from all walks of life in Tacoma, Washington to write a personal essay titled, “this I believe” to be reviewed and possibly chosen to be read on radio and performed on May 1, 2009. We want to hear from the rich, the poor, the powerful and the weak. We are interested in having everyone in Tacoma heard.

What is This I Believe?
This I Believe is an international project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values that guide their daily lives. These short statements of belief, written by people from all walks of life, are archived here and featured on public radio in the United States and Canada, as well as in regular broadcasts on NPR. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow.

This I Believe Essay-Writing Instructions
We invite you to contribute to this project by writing and submitting your own statement of personal belief. We understand how challenging this is—it requires such intimacy that no one else can do it for you. To guide you through this process, we offer these suggestions:

  • Tell a story: Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know that no one else does. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenching—it can even be funny—but it should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.
  • Be brief: Your statement should be between 350 and 500 words. That’s about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.
  • Name your belief: If you can’t name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on one core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.
  • Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell us what you do believe, not what you don’t believe. Avoid speaking in the editorial “we.” Make your essay about you; speak in the first person.
  • Be personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud to yourself several times, and each time edit it and simplify it until you find the words, tone, and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak.

For this project, we are also guided by the original This I Believe series and the producers’ invitation to those who wrote essays in the 1950s. Their advice holds up well and we are abiding by it. Please consider it carefully in writing your piece.

In introducing the original series, host Edward R. Murrow said, “Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent.” We would argue that the need is as great now as it was 50 years ago. We are eager for your contribution.

Contribute Your Essay to kdoran.tacoma@gmail.com

Filed under: DB

13 comments

  • RR Anderson December 31, 2008

    my advice to anybody living in Tacoma, for god sakes believe in ARSENIC. for over 100 years the ASARCO smelter…. well you know the drill.

    DIRT ALERT!

  • Marguerite December 31, 2008

    I always enjoy listening to This I Believe on NPR. It’s exciting that Tacomans will have the opportunity to participate.

  • RR Anderson December 31, 2008

    I await mofo from the hood’s comments with gleeful anticipation.

  • Mofo from the Hood December 31, 2008

    I believe I’ll have another… drink…(Hiccup)…Happy New Year!

  • Thorax O'Tool December 31, 2008

    I believe in the undying optimism and perseverance of the Human Spirit. I believe in near-supernatural power of Human Compassion.
    Even in the darkest of hours, in the depth of despair and misery the more noble qualities of our Kind comes to the forefront; When we’ve given all we can, we still find a way to give more.

  • Mofo from the Hood December 31, 2008

    Compared to Macy’s I believe Walmart has way better prices for men’s shoes.

    • Macy’s shiny leather oxfords or loafers:
    Imported from China—-$80.- $100.+

    • Walmart shiny leather oxfords or loafers:
    Imported from India—-$26. Everyday Price.

    “Before you accuse, criticize or abuse, walk a mile in my shoes.”—-Ray Stevens

  • Thorax O'Tool December 31, 2008

    * Goodwill – $3.99

  • RR Anderson December 31, 2008

    I believe that ironic apparel/hairdos harden hearts and enslave minds.

    I believe in the power of potty humor.

    I believe that everyone, everywhere at some point contributes to the fertile nature of TAGRO.

    I believe that oneday the KALAKALA, reborn as SPACE BATTLESHIP KALAKALA will become humanity’s last best hope to repel the alien invaders… helmed by a rag tag group of TRUE BELIEVERS.

    I believe the kulture lab folks will be first in front of the firing squad once the armies of darkness, under the black flag of ONE WORLD ORDER and THE CONSPIRACY sweep away the last remnants of the old republic. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion didn’t give you the clairvoyance to conger up the stolen rebel tapes… or… ack…

  • RR Anderson December 31, 2008

    I believe I can fly.

    I believe I can touch the sky.

    I think about it every night and day.

    I close my eyes and fly away.

    (that’s a poem I just invented)

  • Mike G December 31, 2008

    I believe in DB. I believe he is Tacoma’s own late great Jeremy Silas (1970-2008) reincarnated. I BELIEVE he’s not just the self-appointed Poet Laureate of Tacoma, but also the world’s foremost theorist on Micro-Patronage. I believe he is the next winner of Project Runway. I believe he is a prophet and a teacher to us uncultured Tacoma brethren. I believe his uber-cool blog posts, true masterpieces of modern literature, will continue to show us how to become more hip and urban while simultaneously nurturing our spiritual hunger in 21st century Tacoma. DB guides by example on a path of saintliness and transcendence. I believe God made a special place in Tacoma for DB, but I fear we are not worthy.

  • Mofo from the Hood December 31, 2008

    I believe I’ll have another…drink… (Hiccup)…Happy New Year!

  • Thorax O'Tool January 1, 2009

    I believe we’ll see house prices drop to 1999 levels by the end of 2009.

  • Sandy January 3, 2009

    I believe in the impossible, and not in the inevitable. I believe I love you. All.

    (…and I believe I may just join Mofo in a bit of “the hair of the dog…)