The International Day of Peace was for our foundation an evening of joyful noise. The crowd enthusiastically took to the Djembe drums, rattles and tambourines under the able guidance of Michael Carberry of ZaBoomBa. A poem by Pattiann Rogers pointed to the heartbeat as the quintessential drumbeat. Central to the evening was the recognition that Peace is not a goal. Peace is an attitude. If peace is only a goal, the goal post can be shifted at will. Peace as an attitude is a personal commitment and hard work. 

Our friend Faraz showed us the various beats of the tabla which he has already mastered to concert perfection at his young age (13y.). He usually accompanies his father Ustad Ghulam Nizami in nationwide concert performances. Poems by William Stafford, Lucille Clifton, and Wislawa Szymborska showed us that all cultures long for peace.

Finally, the spoken word students of Huston-Tillotson University brought us their take on personal peace. Their rhythmic performances were like words drumming into our hearts.