The Unity Challenge

 The Unity Challenge

 I’m pulling together a new book called The Unity Challenge and hoping you’ll contribute stories, anecdotes, or poetry to it.

I’d love to have you share my Unity Challenge with other writers, too.

The idea is to show real people's moments when they felt like they knew what it was like to "walk in someone else's shoes"...someone who lives or believes in a different way from us. For example: male/female, black/white, Democrat/Republican, urban/rural, young/old, chocolate lovers/those who like other candies, etc. The most important rule for inclusion in the book is that no negatives about either side are in the piece. 

Submit your anecdotes, brief stories, or poems to Ariele M. Huff, author of several anthology books of writing and poetry under the brand of Candy Bar Books. Ariele has solicited stories and poetry for and edited Northwest Prime Times Sharing Stories and Poetry Corner for over twenty years.

If a piece is selected for the book, the writer will get a free eBook version that they can share with family and friends.

I do edit most work I receive for Northwest Prime Time (rarely I only use an excerpt) and will certainly do those as needed for The Unity Challenge.

 

FYI—some of the selected pieces will also be used in the website segment (Sharing Stories) that I host for Northwest Prime Time.

Position in the eBook and in Sharing Stories is a nice opportunity to have published written work for a portfolio and to help other people get through this time with more comfort and hope. 

 

Send pieces to ariele@comcast.net.  Submissions will be copyrighted in the anthology.

 

Example of unifying, non-divisive writing follow.

P E A C E 

Forget old grudges, enmities,

Choose instead serenity,

Let anger, hatred, cease,

Live instead with love, peace.

With neighbors, friends, harmonize,

The happiness, joy, will surprise.

Barbara Ruby

Puyallup, Wa.

 

“Russian Soldiers in Ukraine”

I’m horrified, of course.

Agonized, terrified.

But hatred will not come.

 

They too march to die.

Some believe the lie.

Husbands, fathers, brothers—

all are sons, all have mothers.

Some enjoy torture and killing,

but many are afraid, less willing…

must get caught sometimes feeling.

 

Unexpected, a golden spark—

moments of compassion in the dark

must happen too…

a child moved aside,

a cup of water, a loaf of bread,

a house ignored, an order unsaid,

a door left open, a hand extended,

a horror implied but not intended…

hearts meet, “enemies” friended.

 

These are easier images to keep,

easier thoughts to help us sleep…

and, truly a part of humanity that runs deep.

Ariele M. Huff

 

 Parties

“Everything’s-for-Sale” sale.

Ten-dollar local antique—so frail.

Newcomer leaving for a “safer, redder” place…

wants to leave without a trace.

Old lady Dem and young bearded GOP,

we talked and laughed without a stop.

He carried my new/old treasure,

his kindness a touching pleasure.

Sad to see you go, departing friend,

but thanks for sharing at the end.

Ariele Huff

re-written from a published original