holidays

holidays

I Cannot Tell a Lie

I Cannot Tell a Lie

, Matt Dilworth
Presidents Day is an opportunity to reflect on our leaders, their strengths and their challenges. And this Presidents Day, it seems appropriate to examine a story about our first President.   We’ve all heard the apocryphal story by biographer Parson Weems about the young George Washington chopping down the cherry tree, but being unwilling to lie about it to avoid punishment. As the story goes, Washington was given a hatchet when he was about six, and proceeded to swing it at everything he could, as a little boy with a new toy might. This included his father’s prized cherry tree. Obviously, Augustine Washington had a pretty good idea what had happened, and asked his son if he knew who killed his … Continued
Black History Month

Black History Month

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Every February, we get the chance to come together as a community and celebrate the achievements of African Americans throughout the history of the United States. Whether it’s hearing the biographies of often-overlooked scholars and artists and scientists, or digging deep into the life of one particularly inspirational person, this is a great time to explore the nuances of the black experience in America. Some of our databases, like Biography in Context, have sections dedicated to African American biography. Others are dedicated entirely to African American studies. Take Black Thought and Culture, a database which brings together over 100,000 pages of interviews, essays, pamphlets, letters, and speeches, and journal articles from 1700 to the present. It includes a wealth of … Continued
A Day On

A Day On

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, outreach
Most holidays are a great opportunity to relax and unwind; to spend time with family or recover from stress. But Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is frequently referred to as ‘a day on, not a day off’. Because King’s life was inextricably linked to equality and service, celebrating it involves these attributes, too. That’s not to say it has to be active – a time of meditating on the meaning of sacrifice and service might be how you choose to mark the holiday. IU East has plenty of opportunities – inspirational speaker and CEO Gloria J. Burgess will speak here at 7:00 on January 22, in Vivian on “Martin Luther King Jr.: Legacy for Life in the 21st Century,” and … Continued
Hanukah is a holiday of light

Hanukah is a holiday of light

, , , Programs
“Hanukah is a holiday of light, and everyone should have light…it’s a chance to take goodness and lightness to make the world a better place.” ~ Chabad Rabbi Yossi Greenberg On December 2, 2014, Jewish culture was celebrated with a special meal served in the Den at Indiana University East, and the playing of the Hanukah dreidel game. Hanukah begins the evening of Dec. 16 and lasts for 8 nights. Rabbi Yossi Greenberg, the Chabad Rabbi at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio was present to answer any questions about the meal, Hanukah or Jewish traditions in general. The meal consisted of traditional kosher style items such as falafel, kugel, and latkes. Eighth graders in Tiauna Washington’s class from the Early … Continued
I Will Write Peace on Your Wings

I Will Write Peace on Your Wings

, Frances Yates, Matt Dilworth, Programs
November 17th is World Peace Day, a time when people focus on how they can bring peace through their own grassroots actions (in contrast to holidays like September’s International Day of Peace, which focuses more on global efforts to end wars). Started in 1997 by Don Morris, World Peace Day gives agency to ordinary people who might be unable to contribute to global initiatives. Small, personal acts of personal growth and transformation are celebrated – it is a truly ‘grassroots’ holiday, independent from any specific government or religious organization. One story that inspired Morris was the tale of the Thousand Origami Cranes – a Japanese legend that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted a single wish. In … Continued