Remembering Hiroshima

8/5

TK in early, working on all the details for tonight’s Hiroshima commemoration. TV crews from Japan are already here setting up.

Sam from Cymbeline trying to figure out where he’ll rehearse tonight with another full house.

A very intense, purposeful and single minded man from Brooklyn believes he has been called by God to  do our bulletins.

Jamie, Marsha and Pat are here fro a second interview with our architectural candidate. Arcane discussion of issues like grandfather clauses and certificates of occupation.  Our main  goal is to get rid of any outstanding Department of Building violations.

It’s finally time for Let the Bells of Peace Ring!, our Interfaith Peace Gathering and Hiroshima-Nagasaki memorial gathering. There’s at least 250 people here. The Japanese TV crew is filming everything, broadcasting live. It is an honor to host this event, the 20^th annual, which has been at the venerable institutions of Riverside, St. John the Divine, 475 Riverside Drive and the UN.

Carman Moore

The first offering is our friend Carman Moore and his collaborating partner dancer Kiori Kawaii.

Kiori

Kiori Kawaii

It is an impressionistic piece moving from pain and isolation to freedom, from a cocoon like encasement to reclaiming life

There is the conclusion of the film, The Children of Nagasaki, and Rev. Kaz Takahashi of the Japanese American church both plays the tenor sax and gives the invocation. There was traditional Japanese music and then TK  chanted a sutra. At exactly 7:15, the hour the bomb fell on Hiroshima, a bell rang twelve times, a unison expression after each bell:

No more Hiroshimas

No more Nagasakis

No more Hibakushas

No More nuclear weapons

No more violence and killing

No more wars

Never again

Let there be peace in the world

Let peace begin with me!

Let us begin peace today!

Let the bells of peace ring around the world!

Peace and happiness to all beings!

Rabbi Michael 

My friend Rabbi Michael did a very moving performance. He explained that today was Tish B’Av, a Jewish day commemorating the destruction of the temple. A day on which the book of Lamentations is read. He first chants in Hebrew, then chants English verses from Lamentations interwoven with first hand testimonies of survivors, difficult to to find the difference. And because Michael is who he is, he speaks of the children of Gaza.

There was an imam and a Hindu swami and a Buddhist monk and an African-American Christian, the strong presence of Alfonso Wyatt.

Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt

Then it was my turn for a welcome. I spoke of how it was an honor to host this event And of our deep and rich history. Most especially SANE and FREEZE and the religious peace movement planning here the 1982 march against nuclear weapons that drew over a million to New York City. I remember going to the start at the UN with my friend Donna. Japanese dancers and drummers whirling in rhythm under the sun. I was just struck by the beauty, so I said, How beautiful to Donna and she replied, who would know better…and I realized why this was such a personal issue to the Japanese. Who would know better…

The Japanese Choral Harmony TOMO performed two selections and four young adults read testimonial statements from Japanese children.

Japanese Choral Society

The Japanese American Society brought greetings as well as mayors’ messages from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Then pop star

Mika sings

Mika sang the old song Sukiyaki accompanied by Japanese pop legend Shinji Harada.

The keynote address was by 82 year old hibakusha Tomiko Marimoto West.

Tomiko Marimoto West

Her first hand account was searing as she described thinking that the B29 was only taking pictures, then that it was dropping a little warning  bomb. The apocalyptic terror that followed was an experience like none other on earth. There is a sense of unreality even hearing it described how amazing  then, her grace, her embrace of life in the face of the overwhelming power of death. What I experienced at ground zero following 9-11 pales in the face of the incineration of a quarter of a million people. We who speak so self-righteously about terrorism killed 250000 people, mainly civilians, and condemned generations  to radioactive disease suffering. You have to stop and think about that.

Former teen idol Shinji, accompanied by percussionist Mataro, sings his Yamato, Global harmony and Hiroshima, the place to start. As he has grown older, he has turned to writing songs dedicated to world peace and understanding. He’ll be back Friday for his own show when we commemorate Nagasaki.

Then world famous jazz artists Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin perform. (This is such an honor, says sound man Marc.)

Lew Tabackin and Toshiko Akiyoshi

TK makes some final remarks then invites me to come up and join him in leading Pete Seeger’s Where Have All the Flowers Gone.

Tinya Seegeer

That’s a bit daunting when Pete’s daughter is in the second row.

The Gagaku Music Ensemble leads us out. I’m impressed that TK has been able to present an event that not only  touches on the depth of horror but also captures the inspiration of hope. His attention to detail made the event as well as the diverse cast of participants that came because he invited them.

Another night to remember. Back again Friday.

The Girl from Diamond Mountain

2/13

Another storm brewing. Snow already starting to fall. Blizzard predicted.  Events being cancelled left and right. Carman Moore has postponed his performance scheduled for this evening. Dzieci has cancelled their shape note singing. Noche has cancelled their rehearsals. Things are eerily quiet.

Danielle and I make sure that the posters are up for Carmen Moore’s concert along with the postponement announcement.

Priska comes in to work on her upcoming exhibit. She’s got time with Jeremy on tour in Zanzibar.

Danielle is busy shoveling, trying to open up space for people to cross. She tells me some kind guys helped her out. I go to look for an icebreaker and come out and join her. It’s a losing battle. Even as we clear ice and we open a channel for melted snow to flow through, it only adds to the growing lake at the corner. Time to surrender.

The snow continues to fall.

2/14

The Girl from Diamond Mountain crew

Valentine’s Day. As temperatures rise, slush lakes grow at every corner making crossing nearly impossible.

I come to the church after stopping at our neighborhood clergy strategy session for food justice. Pastor Heidi and I share the word of the NMASS victory. And we agree to redouble our anti-sweatshop efforts, planning a day for worker justice. Much as I’d like it to be May Day, that won’t work.  We are also working on the campaign for universal school lunch.  And Rabbi Jeremy reflects on kosher and fair labor practices. The old idea my friend David once shared with me back at Bridgeport that food from oppressed workers is not kosher. And we decide to add this idea to our strategy.

Pat O is in the neighborhood and just stops in. We review the last community meeting to put together a campaign to fix the façade. He’s looking into Columbia interns for us.

David S is disappointed that once again Open Mic will be cancelled. RL is concerned that cold temperatures and lack of staff will lead to people trying to stay in the church who will be difficult to remove. Like the teenagers he one found in the gym. I’m concerned we’ll have to start all over to make our night vital again. Disappointed people week after week. RL tells me not to worry about that. So I’ll leave that to him.

Carman arrives and his artists soon after for rehearsal for tonight’s performance.  Including Cara who will be dancing tonight along with Kiori. And Caterina who will be doing projections. And Carman’s principle collaborator, Lotte.

The time passes all too quickly and soon its almost time. No one else here, so I will take care of the box office. I fear that the change of night, the weather and a long holiday weekend will all conspire against a good house. But audience members are beginning to arrive. And I’m very happy to see my friend Milica who because of the change is able to be here. And I can get tips from her about where to shop and where to hang in my new neighborhood where she lives nearby. She’s a long time colleague and friend of Carman. 

Lotte, Carman and Milica

The performance begins with an intimate house. And I welcome the audience by saying that because the subject matter is intimate, that’s OK. The piece begins in silence with Cara soon joined by Kiori from the other side. The Carman takes to the keyboard, Caterina’s clouds appear on the screen and Lotte begins with the first of her 14 song cycle, Clouds, singing an innocence that will soon be violated. Broken.

As the cycle proceeds, the intensity grows. For some it becomes unbearable and they quietly leave. But most of us are mesmerized. Held in the grip of Lotte’s narrative and she holds us tight. As the cycle moves back towards healing, as the  hand drawn picture of the monster is burned, as she moves Towards the light, the dancers return and in both their presence and their reflected silhouettes against the projection, a sense of peace

Kiori, Caterina and Cara

returns. As it ends, there is a moment of stunned silence. And then applause.

We stay for some discussion. Lotte is praised for her courage. And it is a brave piece. I speak about my friend Ann’s work in Los Angeles with prostituted women for 30 years and how over 95% of them were victims of childhood sexual abuse. The same with the runaway/throwaway kids my friend Jed worked with in San Francisco’s Tenderloin. And the lost children I had encountered who had attached themselves to the Occupy movement. This performance piece is all about opening up space to have a conversation about what we keep hidden in the shadows but is just as current as last week’s Times and the Woody Allen saga.

Someone asks how many times this piece has been performed. And when Carman and Lotte say, Twice, both times at this church, I feel a sense of pride. To be able in some small way to be a part of its  ongoing development. And tonight I was also moved to see Cara’s performance. Using all her training and experience to interact with Lotte’s narrative. 

Lotte, Bob and Carman

Sometime during the performance, Rachel has made her way in. After days of absence, hiding from the cold. She approaches me, tells me what an important evening this was. And that as a trained professional therapist, she’s be happy to help anyone who needed to talk about anything. But you must be fully confidential, she tells me. Rachel.

It has been another very good West-Park night.

It all goes back

5/16

The wheelchair man is back, tucked under the 86th Street railing. I wake him, tell him he’s got to go. He tells me give him 5 minutes. Inside, I tell Stephen. We go back outside. He hasn’t stirred. I tell him again he’s got to move.  

I told you, give me five minutes.

You told me that last time and you here 24 hours.

I was sick, man.

And you left a serious mess.

Don’t say another word, man, not another word.

But you have to go. 

And with that he raises himself up quickly, taller than Stephen and I, even with no feet. In a voice filled with anger and rage and violence he says, I’m beggin you man, you got both your legs, I’m beggin you.

You want me to call someone?

Call someone? Call someone? Call fuckin who? Stop fuckin taunting me, stop fuckin tauntin me.

Stpehen intervenes, Sir, he’s not taunting you.

All right, all right. I’m goin through some serious mental stuff man, serious mental stuff. I’m goin, I’m goin.

OK,OK.

We back away. Stephen says, He’s getting up. Let’s leave him alone. I was scared. He moved fast. Taller than us. even with no feet.

And he’s right, I say, I have no idea who to call. Maybe where he got the wheelchair...and this feeling of sadness, helplessness fills me. And I can feel his frustration. His anger. His rage. Next time I go out, he's gone. 

Deacon James passes. Breathing heavy. How are you James?

Usually says, OK, this time just looks at me. Not so good. I’m strugglin, man.

You’re moving, you’re breathing, you’re here. You’re hangin in. Hope to see you Sunday.

He smiles. God willing, he says. I see his African beads, his Korean vet hat. Remember him as my sweeping partner. Shoveling partner. Hope to see you Sunday.

The Red Bull people are in to see Stephen. He’s closing in on finishing the contract. Later, NBC will be in to talk about a long summer filming. Some serious space use.

Catarina is in the sanctuary working on her projections for Saturday’s concert work with young Japanese dancer/choreographer Kiori Kawai. Very detailed work.

An older woman, hey maybe my age, comes in. Was at the candidates’ forum Monday. Lives across the street. Long career in politics. Wants to put us on the map. Thinks she could do the job for us. I feel confidence. And need. I ask her to write a proposal. 

Catarina and Kiori still working. Dzieci is arriving for the monthly healing circle. Martin is still looking for the answer.

Dzieci now alone in the sanctuary. No circle this time. Sitting in silence in the pews. Then a note. Then two. Then voices begin to join in. Unison. Then harmony. People rise, one by one. A circle begins. 

A circle, circling. People move to the center. Find their voice. Each individual. For awhile, the chant sounds like yah-weh. The sound of breath. The name of God. Sometimes sounding  tribal. Sometimes medieval. Gregorian almost. And sometimes like wolves. Or coyotes. All wordless...

The setting sun is pouring through the rose window bathing the sanctuary in light. Like honey. Like melting caramel. I feel like I’m in some corner of Westeros. Maybe with the wildlings. Game of Thrones.

We sit and talk after. It felt gentler. Quieter.  I talk about the ritual created by the theater group with the wolves and lambs, the cast of 30 for an audience of one. Rite of inititation. Theater. But here, like reaching back through our ancestors to roots. Pre-Christian. Pre-Jewish. Roots. Dzieci can’t commit long term until they see that the future is secure. That they can count on being here.  I am so tired. Of saying. Just a little longer. Just a little longer.....

I'm going with Isis to the B for conversation. My neighbor Rabbi Wildes walks by with two congregants. Or friends. I greet him. Shavout, I say. Right, he says. We were up all night studying. Then a rooftop breakfast. 

Sunday for us, I say.

He looks. Pentecost. Shavuot.

Of course, he says.

Our pentecost goes  back to yours. 

It all goes back, he says, it all goes back.