...Christmas in July

Recentemente Jennifer è stata intervistata da Windy City Queercast nell’ occasione della prossima visita a Chicago del Dalai Lama a luglio. Assieme a lei c'era anche Tim Boyd, il presidente de The Theosophical Society in America. L'attivista/attrice, così viene presentata nel podcast (che trovate in fondo al post), ci spiega la sua conoscenza di Sua Santità il Dalai, e come ha accettato definendolo un onore, essere la portavoce dell’ evento. Semplici e significative, come sempre sono le risposte di Jeibì, e che rafforzando la mia ammirazione verso questa donna. Alcuni esempi:

Well, I had heard His Holiness speak in Los Angeles some time ago -- and, and I was really struck, first of all by his presence and by his ability to speak to very complex issues using simple language and humor. And I felt -- in a way what Tim was saying -- that I felt my heart grew larger by virtue of being in the presence of someone who practiced so deeply their message of compassion. And when I heard he was coming to Chicago in July, I wanted to volunteer to help out and thought I would be, you know, stuffing envelopes or answering phones or whatever I needed to be doing. And -- and I was asked to be a spokesperson, and I very gladly accepted the honor.

Well I really ... I really feel like everyone has something to offer. I think, you know, I think everybody has expertise to give; I think everybody has love and intention to give ... and, you know, stuffing envelopes is a really important task. And I would have been very happy to have done that. And, you know, being invited to be a spokesperson is a deep honor for me. And I'm happy that whatever I've been able to accomplish in my life is some help in getting an audience. I'm very grateful for all the steps along the way. But I do really feel like every single person has something to offer, and I don't feel particularly special in any way.

We live in a multiplicity, we live in a pluralistic society. And the actions that we take here oftentimes instantaneously affect a group of people halfway around the globe by virtue of modern communication. So by practicing tolerance, by practicing non-discrimination, we strengthen ourselves as a society. And that takes everybody, not just some people from some faiths – but all people from all faiths to be in dialogue.

Because it’s important to have someone remind you that at any given moment in your life, you have the choice between love and fear. And that’s a choice you make. You make the choice of how you react to events. And I’m so looking forward to hearing him speak.