Politics Plus

In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill. Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope fueling politics.

“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.”                                                                                                               
–Michelle Obama

“Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.”
–Samuel Smiles

Let us first turn to Melpomene (tragedy perhaps as the back story):
As little as 45 minutes to change a life
http://www.operationsmile.org/blog/little-45-minutes-change-life

and

How restoring a school is reviving hope in Somalia
https://www.mercycorps.org/articles/somalia/how-restoring-school-reviving-hope-somalia?akid=4806.311416.RndsGZ&rd=1&source=WEW04801&t=12&utm_campaign=enewsletter&utm_content=story%2B1%2Bsomalia%2Brestoring%2Bschool%2Bhope%2Bmarch%2B18%2B2016&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cultivation

and maybe even

Waging peace in Colombia
http://www.ticotimes.net/2016/03/15/op-ed-waging-peace-in-colombia

I’m feeling so many kinds of hope, how about you?

Now to Calliope (justice and rhetoric):

Dr. Maya Angelou’s Secret to Living Your Best Life
(text and video)
http://yourdream.liveyourdream.org/2016/02/maya-angelous-secret-to-living-your-best-life/

Are you feeling uplifted like me?

And Terspichore would claim (dance):
No one had ever skated on this frozen mountain lake. Until now. (text and video)
http://www.upworthy.com/no-one-had-ever-skated-on-this-frozen-mountain-lake-until-now?c=upw1

Gives me more hope, how about you?

Erato would claim (love):
This former star running back gave away 150 homes and hardly anyone noticed.
http://www.upworthy.com/this-former-star-running-back-gave-away-150-homes-and-hardly-anyone-noticed?c=upw1

Did you grab a hanky like me?

On to Thalia (Colbert comedy-video)

Stephen Colbert Helps Alleviate Our Super Tuesday Hangover
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/stephen-colbert-helps-alleviate-our-super-tuesday-hangover_us_56eac6f3e4b065e2e3d89e63?ir=Comedy&section=us_comedy&utm_hp_ref=comedy

My laugh to keep from crying—does this do?

Finally, Terpsichore would claim this one (dance):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mavy9X6Cno4

Thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope.

In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill. Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope fueling politics.

“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” 
–Michelle Obama

“Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.”
–Samuel Smiles

Let us first turn to Melpomene (tragedy perhaps):
Here’s why Whole Foods’ pre-peeled oranges might not be as absurd as they sound
http://grist.org/food/heres-why-whole-foods-pre-peeled-oranges-might-not-be-as-insane-as-they-sound/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=weekly-static

I found tragedy in those who couldn't see the benefits, how about you?

Now to Terpsichore (dance):

This Older Woman Shows Us All You're Never Too Old To 'Twist And Shout' (text and video)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/older-woman-busts-a-move-to-twist-and-shout-like_us_56e1a494e4b0860f99d80e58?ir=Good+News&section=us_good-news&utm_hp_ref=good-news

and

Navy Cadets Funk Up Graduation Ceremony With Surprise Flash Mob (text and video)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/uptown-funk-navy-cadets-flash-mob_us_56dc0b5ce4b0ffe6f8e9b871?ir=Good+News&section=us_good-news&utm_hp_ref=good-news

Gives me more hope, how about you?

Erato would claim (love):
Animated Poem Paints Moving, Playful Portrait Of True Love In Old Age
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/animated-poem-paints-moving-playful-portrait-of-true-love-in-old-age_us_56defa68e4b0000de405f63f?ir=Good+News&section=us_good-news&utm_hp_ref=good-news

Did you grab a hanky like me?

Now to Clio (history):
These nomadic people can see like dolphins and hold their breath twice as long as you. (text and video)
http://www.upworthy.com/these-nomadic-people-can-see-like-dolphins-and-hold-their-breath-twice-as-long-as-you?c=upw1

I saw some hope for at least recording culture, how about you?

And then to Terpsichore (education):
A teacher made a student cry in a good way — by telling him test scores aren't everything.
http://www.upworthy.com/a-teacher-made-a-student-cry-in-a-good-way-by-telling-him-test-scores-arent-everything?c=upw1

I’m feeling more hope, how about you?

On to Thalia (comedy-video):
"Funny or Die: Finland's #8 News Team Takes on American Politics
http://kpdailyfunnies.blogspot.com/2016/03/funny-or-die-finlands-8-news-team-takes.html#.Vt69ppMrI1g

My laugh to keep from crying—will this do?

Finally, who would claim this one?

150 strangers had a chance to win a free vacation — but only if they agreed on one place. (text and video)
http://www.upworthy.com/150-strangers-had-a-chance-to-win-a-free-vacation-but-only-if-they-agreed-on-one-place?c=reccon3

Thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope.

In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill. Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope fueling politics.
 

“Hope is a roving gypsy                   
With laughter on her tongue,
And the blue sky and sunshine
Alone, can keep her young;
And year by year she lingers
Under a budding tree…”
~Dora Read Goodale, "The Chorus," in Country Life in America: A Magazine for the Home-maker, the Vacation-seeker, the Gardener, the Farmer, the Nature-teacher, the Naturalist, April 1902

“The wings of hope carry us, soaring high above the driving winds of life.”
~Ana Jacob

Let us first turn to Calliope (justice):
A man is free after over 45 years. See how artists helped make a difference. (text and video-hanky alert)
http://www.upworthy.com/a-man-is-free-after-over-45-years-see-how-artists-helped-make-a-difference?c=upw1

and more justice:
Judge Says Army Can’t Require Special Testing of Sikh Officer
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/us/sikh-army-captain-beard-turban.html?_r=3

Gives me a bit more hope, how about you?

Maybe Erato would see this as created from love:
A soup kitchen disguised as a restaurant is making a big difference in Kansas City.

http://www.upworthy.com/a-soup-kitchen-disguised-as-a-restaurant-is-making-a-big-difference-in-kansas-city?c=upw1

Do you think so?

Now to Clio (history):
Maya Angelou wrote incredible poetry. But here are 9 things you might not know she did.
http://www.upworthy.com/maya-angelou-wrote-incredible-poetry-but-here-are-9-things-you-might-not-know-she-did?c=upw1

She gives me hope, how about you?

And then to Terpsichore (education):
See adorable photos of 7 'forest schools' from around the country.
http://www.upworthy.com/see-adorable-photos-of-7-forest-schools-from-around-the-country?c=upw1

Sounds promising to me, how about you?

On to Thalia (comedy-video)
"Trumped" Starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane (video)
http://kpdailyfunnies.blogspot.com/2016/03/trumped-starring-matthew-broderick-and.html#.VtV_t5MrI1g

Sometimes I need to laugh to keep from crying—will this do?

On to Erato (love -hat tip Joanne):
Young Boy Uses His Birthday Party To Help Animals
http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/cs-birthday-boy-help/

One youngster giving me hope, how about you?

Next, who would claim this one?

For the first time ever, refugees will make up an entire team at the Olympic Games.

http://www.upworthy.com/for-the-first-time-ever-refugees-will-make-up-an-entire-team-at-the-olympic-games?c=upw1

If they kept their dreams alive, cannot we do likewise?

Finally, who would claim this one?
Watching This Porcupine Taste a Pumpkin is Why World Is Going to Be Okay Today (text and video)
http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2014/10/watching-porcupine-taste-pumpkin-why-world-going-be-okay-today

Thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope.

In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill. Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope fueling politics.

“What is Hope? a star that gleaming                  
O'er the future's troubled sky,
Struggles, tremulously beaming,
To reveal what there may lie.”
~R.A.P., "Hope," in Southern Literary Messenger, December 1840

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.” ~Anne Lamott

Let us first turn to Ourania (celestial-hat tip Joanne):
Space shuttle engineer who carried guilt of explosion 30 years finds relief via NPR public outpour (text and video-hanky alert)
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/26/1491359/-Space-shuttle-engineer-who-carried-guilt-of-explosion-30-yrs-finds-relief-via-NPR-public-outpour?detail=email

Gives me a bit more hope, how about you?

Now to Clio (history):
WFP's Field Lessons Reach Chicago Classrooms (text and video)
http://wfpusa.org/blog/wfps-field-lessons-reach-chicago-classrooms?utm_source=Issue19_02222016&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Chicago_FoodForThought&utm_campaign=Newsletter

These young people give me hope, how about you?

And more history with Clio:
Justin Trudeau is marching in a pride parade. Yeah, it's a big deal.
http://www.upworthy.com/justin-trudeau-is-marching-in-a-pride-parade-yeah-its-a-big-deal?c=upw1

Sometimes history deserves celebration, what do you think?

And then to Thalia (agriculture video clip):
Addressing Climate Change Together
http://fairworldproject.org/blogs/addressing-climate-change-together/

Sounds promising to me, how about you?

On to Terpsichore (education):
New Center Targets Baltimore City School Dropouts (video)
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=15726

Helps me find hope in younger people as they get hope, how about you?

On to Erato (love and a hanky alert):
Her baby has trisomy 18. She reminds us to enjoy every moment of parenthood.
http://www.upworthy.com/her-baby-has-trisomy-18-she-reminds-us-to-enjoy-every-moment-of-parenthood?c=upw1

Finally, would Terpsichore (dance) claim this one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXQUhX89vtQ

or maybe only on Sadie Hawkins Day in a Leap Year?

Thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope.