The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

ASHLAND SPIRITUALITY IN POLITICS FORUM
KUCINICH TO DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Ohio Democratic Congressman and Presidential Candidate Dennis J.
Kucinich will deliver the keynote address at the Ashland Spirituality
in Politics Forum held at the Windmill Inn Conference Center, 2525
Ashland St., Ashland, this Sunday morning, May 2nd, from 10:30 am -
12:30 pm.

The very concept of spirituality in politics may seem to be an
oxymoron: incongruous, and contradictory. This forum will endeavor to
discover the relationship of these two paths, how their seeming
differences can be reconciled, and how politicians can become leaders
and visionaries, statesmen and stateswomen. As Congressman Kucinich
says of his campaign for the Presidency, "This is a struggle for the
soul of the Democratic Party."

Other speakers at the Forum will be James Twyman and Wes Nisker, and
the co-moderators are Dot Fisher-Smith and Selene Aitken.

Ashland luminary James Twyman is an internationally renowned author and
musician who travels the world performing The Peace Concert. Also known
as the Peace Troubadour, he has been invited to perform in countries
such as Iraq and Israel, and recently returned from a peace mission to
Baghdad. He is the author of several books including "Emissary of
Light," "Portrait of the Master," and "Emissary of Love." James Twyman
is also the founder of the Cloth of Many Colors peace project which
weaves the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people from around the
world into a single quilt nearly a mile long. This amazing quilt was
presented at the United Nations and at the Pentagon, and it was
literally wrapped around the U.S. Capitol. For more information go to:
http://www.emissaryoflight.com/

Wes Nisker is an author, radio commentator, Buddhist meditation
teacher, and performer. He is also the founder and co-editor of the
international Buddhist journal "Inquiring Mind." His books include "The
Big Bang, The Buddha, and the Baby Boom," "Essential Crazy Wisdom," and
"Buddha's Nature." In the San Francisco Bay Area, "Scoop" Nisker has
entertained and enlightened radio listeners for years with his
insightful and hilarious political commentaries, concluding with his
signature sign-off: "If you don't like the news, go out and make some
of your own." For more information go to:
http://www.wnisker.com

"Scoop Nisker is the missing link between sit-down meditation and
stand-up
comedy." Paul Krassner, editor of "The Realist"

The co-moderators of the event will be Dot Fisher-Smith, artist,
counselor, community elder, facilitator, longtime zen student and peace
advocate/activist; and Selene Aitken, certified mediator, practitioner
of Nonviolent Communication, and former co-director of Peace House.
Aletha Nowitzky will sing her amazing rendition of the "Star Spangled
Spirit."

The format for this event will be a circle, with the presenters seated
in the center on a raised platform, facing each other, and the rest of
the participants seated in concentric circles around them. This form of
seating was chosen to be in harmony with nature, inspired by a
traditional council setting with participants facing one another,
rather than in a more linear, flat, less interactive, panel. A circle
is more friendly, more comfortable, more inviting, more fluid, and more
interactive.

"When any one of us is aligned with our purpose,
there is an inexhaustible source of energy.
Once you're aligned with your purpose,
the energy is always there to do whatever you need.
You never get tired,
and you do everything with a sense of joy.
It's actually effortless ... it's a flow."

-- Dennis J. Kucinich

Everyone who comes to this event is asked to prepare in advance by
considering "What is spirituality?" and "What is politics?" As Dennis
has stated,

"We are not victims of the world we see,
we are victims of the way we see the world!"

-- DJK

Congressman Kucinich will set the tone for the forum with his his
opening address. Following this, each of the other presenters will give
their personal definitions of spirituality and of politics, and will
then address the interplay between these two disciplines. This will
spark a conversation among the presenters that is dynamic, unscripted,
and unrehearsed, which will be opened up to the outer circles of
participants through questions and comments.

"Crown thy good, America.
Crown thy good with brotherhood, and sisterhood.
And crown thy good with compassion and restraint
and forbearance and a commitment to peace,
to democracy, to economic justice here at home
and throughout the world.
Crown thy good, America -- crown thy good."

-- Dennis J. Kucinich

All who feel called to come and join in this event are most cordially
invited. As Kucinich says, "One person can make a difference." That one
person just might be you.

The cost for this event is $15 - $25 sliding scale, at the door.
Everyone
is welcome, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Direction to the Windmill Inn Conference Center: From Interstate 5,
take exit 14, turning East on to Ashland St. (which is Highway 66). The
Windmill Inn is just past the gas station on the left.

To download a just-in-time flyer for the event, in either of two
printer friendly formats (pdf and MS Word), for easy on-demand, remote
printing, go to:
http://webspiritsystems.com/important/

Local contact for this event:
Larry Morningstar, mana7@opendoor.com

For information about the National campaign:
http://www.kucinich.us

For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule:
http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm

To schedule an interview with a Kucinich spokesperson:
jonathans@kucinich.us