DO WE HAVE TIME TO BE COMPASSIONATE THESE DAYS?

This question was asked by Eric Daniel Metzger, the director of a new film, Reporter, (HBO documentary, premiered Feb. 18) about how the writer and NYTimes op ed columnist Nicholas Kristoff finds his stories in the heart of the Congo, honing in on one individual at a time, whose suffering is so great that it outrages the reader enough to inspire action. I saw this interview on David Brancaccio’s excellent program, NOW (Feb. 12).

We are living at a time when the daily news is so horrific that we’re shutting down to tragedy and settling into a kind of psychic numbness, finding it more and more difficult to think or care deeply about people and issues that are half a world away.

Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn have written a book, Half the Sky, which deals with violence toward women worldwide and what women are doing to turn their despair into prosperity. Many of the solutions in poverty-stricken and war torn Congo are being initiated by courageous and determined women against all odds; women who have suffered through the worst fighting since WWII, been repeatedly raped, their children kidnapped, their homes destroyed. This devastation has lasted seven years with more than four million dead. I recommend that you read this disturbing, powerful , and inspirational book.

When David asked what we can do to help the people suffering in this war, the answer came: “Figure out what moves you most and take your own path. Look on line under Congo Crisis/Help.” I did this and the first thing that came up was Women For Women International. My eyes were opened. There are so many things we can do.

Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn are speaking at my high school alma mater, Emma Willard, in Troy, NY, on Feb. 23^rd. Last year at this time I wrote about Greg Mortenson’s presentation at the same venue. I congratulate E.W. on introducing their students to such important world issues.

EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT SNOW, SO WHY SHOULD I BE DIFFERENT?

The only difference I can think of is that I was the only person on cross-country skis I encountered during my five-mile circuit between my daughter Martha’s house and mine. It was a veritable blizzard, so maybe they passed me in the white out.  And oh, it was so beautiful! You know, winter wonderland and all that, with eight inches of snow weighing the evergreens down so you had to duck beneath a canopy as you glided by. The roads hadn’t been fully plowed (one pass a winter does not make…or something like that) and if a lone car or a plow happened by I simply dived into the nearest snow bank. On one occasion, coming back in the dark and wearing my headlamp, a plow came within two inches of me. Scary. I can still move fast when my mortality stares me in the face.

I know, this is child’s play compared to Washington, DC, but it was also manageable, for which I’m grateful. Here is my proof.

Isn’t this just like life?

First you’re up….

Then you’re down. And so it goes…

For some videos of this perfect day, go to Martha’s blog, which you can find on her website: www.essentialsomatics.com She has some really good ideas for exercise in a snowstorm.

Hat’s off to my grandson, Adam Bixler, 17, who is the tympanist and percussionist for the Youth Orchestra of Essex County, which toured Austria last summer. He performed on drums Saturday night at the Hat City Kitchen in Orange, NJ, sitting in for a couple of numbers with my son-in-law, Gary Shippy’s, band, Walk The Dog. It was a swinging evening all around.

Interesting tidbit: Orange is called Hat City because it was the manufacturing center for Stetson hats in bygone days. Surely some of you out there remember Stetson hats.

For those of you who love opera, let me recommend the recent HD performance from the Metropolitan Opera of Bizet’s Carmen, starring the stunning Elina Garanca as Carmen and the masterful Roberto Alagna as Don Jose.    It’s being shown in specified theaters around the country and is the most superb Carmen I’ve ever seen. Acting, singing, staging. It’s another flawless production by Richard Eyre. See it if you can.