The Roaming Stevens

Tinto and I were fortunate enough to be invited to the SALA (South Australia Living Artists Festival) in Riverton on Sunday.  The day began with brilliant sun quickly turning into grey skies, crushing cold, and dreary rain, but...INSIDE the Riverton Gallery was...absolute MAGIC.   For my American and 'other' mates - if this exhibition does not make you want to FLY TO US NOW ~ what ever will??? We were mesmerised ~ a Cappella singing surrounding us, mumuring up to the tall ceilings and falling gently down around us.  Chilling.  The Vocali Chamber Chorale performed for us as the opening act and their voices moved me to a place back in time and transported me to a different setting.  Tinto and I had a chat and we felt transformed...splendid group ~ outstanding performance.  IF you see this choir listed on any future SALA exhibition or ANYWHERE - GO if you can!  Gentle, glorious, singing - good for the soul.  Two of Kapunda's 'own' - Carmine ...

For those of you with time and an interest in humanity...you might enjoy reading this link.  I cannot imagine being treated differently simply because of my skin colour.  This beautifully educated woman has taken the time to 'show' her dear friend how life has unfolded...for...her.  Poignant and thought-provoking. https://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/my-white-friend-asked-me-on-facebook-to-explain-white-privilege-i-decided-to-be-honest-20170809 The Continuously Learning Blanco of the Roaming Stevens... Be kind as you roam. Cheers! 🖤😎🌻🌟

Perhaps you will find these words as interesting and ingtriguing as I did... The idea of valuing diversity has been very important in the struggles to overcome oppression.  The difficulty in Western modernity of accepting the idea of 'different, but equal' requires that difference, which is valued, does not imply judgements that one is somehow superior to another. Diversity is necessary for a healthy and growing community and contributes a richness and dynamism to the community experience.  Building a community out of 'commonalties' is, in fact, counterproductive.  We do not learn and grow if we only speak with people who are the same as we are!  Is is from DIFFERENCE rather than SAMENESS that we develop and move forward and it is from difference that we gain strength and resilience.  Instead of saying 'in unity is strength' we could be affirming 'in diversity is strength' and seeking to build relationships out of difference rather than sameness. ...

The University of South Australia has provided an outstanding learning environment and I remain in awe of the course facilitators and tutors.  Psychological Science & Sociology is an intriguing combination of subjects to study and will serve me well when I make plans to 'kick arse' in the aged care industry.  In the meantime...the great theorists of all time keep the brain cells churning:  Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Michel Foucault - so much so that I cannot sleep many nights thinking about the words they wrote ages ago which...still resonate...today.  How were they able to 'see' where this world was heading? So, now I leave you with this link (below) provided to me by a great new UniSA 'mate'.  FOOD FOR THOUGHT ~ QUITE provocative.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvbTFwXagdQ Sauce: https://youtu.be/SvbTFwXagdQ?list=LLZe8FC9rAwJmfC0sTy_vStg I have added two links in case the first one does not work.  Why do s...