NYC, Baby! Celebrating Melissa and Molly's Big Birthdays

Monday through Thursday: Four days in Manhattan to commemorate the 21st and 40th birthdays of Molly and Melissa Borgmann. Whoohoo! Thanks to Beth and Steve Borgmann!

What follows are pictures capturing a bit of our time together. We took in a lot of art, drank a lot of good wine and ate some fine Italian and Asian cuisine. I can't think of a better way to close up this third decade, and honor the early adulthood of my baby sister. With the provocative work we encountered, were provocative conversations. Questions of life, love, death, race, religion, war, traveling abroad, politics, the economy: it was all in there.... And let's not forget the laughter!

Enjoy the pix!
Love,
Melissa

Landing in NYC on Monday when the theaters are dark, means seeking art in another space...
This French film, "The Secret" showing at "The Paris" was amazing....

Who can pass up Chekhov starring Kristen Scott Thomas?
We are soooooo lucky!

Of the two broadway shows we see, this will be my favorite...Arther Miller was not playing around when he wrote "All My Sons." ("Who are our sons?" is a huge question this play posed for me, especially during times of war.)

You could spend a week seeing the work at the Met, and still not do it justice...
Here's our attempt to take in some of the many galleries...

This is the closest I've ever been to a pyramid -- yet!

St. Catherine!

A favorite shot....this reminds me of the entrance to the Louvre...

"The search inside the self..." Thank you Morandi and Longhi!

Who knew I'd love Auguste Rodin's work so much? The Thinker and then these lovers...

To the Modern Art Rooms...Jackson Pollack!

This reminded me of Io Palmer's work....

"What is seared into your DNA?" I could hear Barack Obama's speech on race while viewing Willie Cole's work....
I also replayed a scene from "Amistad" in my head..."How did you get here?"

Kara Walker in the line up..

Hello Andy Warhol!

And a little Picaso...

This self portrait I dedicate to Joey Schulte...The first boy to nickname me, "Medusa."
Thank you very much!

What's a trip to NYC without a cab ride or two?

China Town!

And Diane Sawyer pops in to play bartender at this NYC pub we stop in at...

And we wrap up our stay with some Live Jazz at Lincoln Center...

LOVE!

Molly makes friends with a musician on tour...

Here's to the next trip!
Love! Gratitude! Good fortune!

William Ayers: Educator

The following is a Letter to the Editor of the Norfolk Daily News, written by my Aunt Peg Timmer-Kathol, to our hometown newspaper. This came across the Borgmann-Family List-serve, and made me so proud of my auntie. Below, you'll find some family responses to my aunt's courageous writing.

***

Saturday, October 18, 2008, 9:24 AM William Ayers: Educator

Where do I begin??? When I realized that the Bill Ayers, who is the subject of concern in the Obama campaign was the same William Ayers, professor of education at the University of Chicago, innovative school reformer, inspiring speaker who I heard and met at a graduate school reunion in Chicago, I was upset, and angered. First of all because people were overlooking the good that he has done since he was 17, and involved in anti-war uprisings, and secondly because there did not seem to be much research done about him before public speakers picked up the ex-terrorist chant against him. Anyone who knows me knows that I do not advocate bombing, but I do advocate forgiveness. Seventeen, to say 57 is a long time to be unforgiven.

I did my graduate school work at a progressive education college in NYC called Bank Street College. On our list of books to read was "To Become A Teacher, Making a Difference in Children's Lives," edited by William Ayers with a Forward by Jonathan Kozol. Anyone in Education who has read anything about public school reform has read "Savage Inequalities" by Jonathan Kozol. William Ayers, coupled with Jonathan Kozol, along with many well-known educators put together an inspiring handbook for beginning teachers and graduate students. Now, according to the Norfolk Daily News dated Friday October 17, 2008, Bill Ayers had been invited to speak at UNL on Nov 15, 2008, last February, long before he became controversial in the Obama campaign. He will speak to a group of graduate students in the education department. That is, he will speak to them if his appearance is not canceled because UNL supporters are threatening to withhold funds. Also, our senator is suggesting that it is not a good idea to have him speak.

My concern with all of this is where is our freedom to speak and learn? Why are we sitting back and allowing someone to tell us who can and cannot speak, but we are all being asked to wait and see what happens to investments and retirement funds that are being sucked up by friends of politicians and government officials? Why is thievery more moral and accepted than freedom of speech?

I have just retired from teaching art for 20 years at Norfolk Catholic Schools and my history as an innovative teacher did not come from the "normal" college classes that we are all asked to take in our undergraduate programs, but from Bank Street College in NYC where we were asked to look at reformers like William Ayers.

Peg Timmer-Kathol

Responding to Hate-Speech in Senator Obama Email

The following was composed in response to a hateful email passed on by my aunt to our family, with the introductory remark, "Just thought I'd "spread the wealth" info." In the comments section, I've posted the follow up communication between my aunt and myself. To read the original email, click here.

I find this sort of thing deeply disturbing, but always an opportunity for questions and education; that is, when we take the time to address this kind of communication. I offer my response for any of you also navigating hate-speech and such fear-tactics within your families, friends, correspondents.

Peace,

Melissa

****

"A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear -'Beware of the enemy from within!'"

This is the most powerful line in this email to my spirit.

***
Auntie,
How serious are you in forwarding this?

As I read this, the fear of Senator Obama as a Muslim, whose life has been funded by people of middle-eastern upbringing, education, wealth, seems to run rampant. (Beyond "seems.")

I'm cognizant of this, and the intentional fear-tactics employed in these words...

drugs
Barry' (that was the name he used all his life)
had two roommates,
Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid,
both from Pakistan.
Indonesia,
next Hyderabad in India,
three weeks in Karachi, Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family,
then off to Africa
Barack - not Barry.
Rezko,
born in Aleppo, Syria
Arab-American Nadhmi Auchi,
an Iraqi-born Billionaire born in Pakistan

Which makes me ask questions....

What happens to you when you read this?
What stands out to you?
Are you aware of the repeated slurs against middle eastern people?
What are the fearful stereotypes of Muslims?
What are the fearful stereotypes that govern any violent and horrific action?
What does it mean for a man to travel?
What does it mean for a black man to revert to his given name, after a trip abroad?
How does any of us grow in our identities?
Is it helpful to perpetuate fear-based or fear-inspiring tactics?
Have you ever studied how Hitler was able to rise to power through such an economic and fear-based appeal?
Do you see the similarities employed here, (and recently by Hannity on Fox News)?

What is the truth of Barack Obama's life?
What is the truth of John McCain's?
What is the truth of ours?
How do any of us know anything for certain? What responsibilities do we have to read, discern information and recognize how they inspire or move us?
What responsibilities do we have when we recognize hate and fear-based speech?
How is this hate and fear just not helpful for any of us?


Respectfully,
Melissa