|
TODAY'S
FOCUS |
permalink
New
art and essay contest offers Turkey trip for winners
By ALI VURAL
South Carolina Dialogue Foundation
Special to CharlestonCurrents.com
SEPT.
27, 2010 - Globalization and migration bring together different
cultural communities that may previously not have had much interaction
with each other. Interaction of different groups can be a source
of friction and often conflict. But cultural diversity can also
result in cross-fertilization and success stories of people interacting
in mutual respect and harmony. Cultural diversity can spark innovation,
stimulate creativity and boost the economy. The state of South Carolina
is going to witness that first-hand.
Vural |
The
South Carolina
Dialogue Foundation will hold its first annual Art and Essay
Contest for South Carolina middle and high school students to promote
better understanding and closer relations between the Turkish, Americans
and others. This contest, through which winning students and sponsoring
school officials will receive a trip to Turkey, seeks to spur young
people to write and make art about the theme of "Empathy: Walking
in Another's Shoes." The contest is cosponsored by the United
Nations Alliance of Civilizations initiative and Istanbul Center
in Atlanta.
Last
year in Georgia, a similar contest sparked more than 2,000 entries
from 140 schools in 55 counties.
Through
this new contest, middle and high school students from across South
Carolina will have the opportunity to explore the fruitful nature
of empathy and cultural diversity by breaking down the barriers
and discovering the differences -- and commonalities -- of people
around them, rather than moving toward the futility of prejudice
and hate through building physical and mental walls.
 The
contest will help the emerging global generation of South Carolinians
to understand the differences between them and the people around
them -in their looks, origins, religions, cuisine and dress, for
example.
The
contest will:
- Enhance
youths' civic engagement;
- Increase
student responsiveness in solving global and local (glocal) problems
relating to intercultural understanding, tolerance and respect
towards others;
- Increase
student awareness of international issues; and
- Create
ways for young people to think about helping their communities
to affect society at multiple levels.
The
South Carolina Dialogue Foundation emphasizes cultural exchanges
such as the Art and Essay contest as a practical effort that brings
cultures together. The winners will learn about global issues firsthand
while visiting historic, cultural and natural sites of Turkey. For
the contest winners and educators, the trips present a powerful
way to learn about themselves, experience another culture, and engage
in the dismantling of stereotypes and prejudices. Perhaps in the
future, Turkish school children will have an opportunity to take
part in a similar contest and visit South Carolina.
The
deadline
for essays from middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades
9-12) students is Dec. 20, 2010. The deadline
for art entries is Jan. 14, 2011. For more information visit
www.scdialogue.org/contest.
Ali
Vural, a native of Izmir, Turkey, is completing his Ph.D. in the
molecular and cellular biology and pathology program at the Medical
University of South Carolina. He is a volunteer with the S.C. Dialogue
Foundation.
CURRENTS
|
permalink
Haley-Sheheen
race is kind of predictable at this point
By ANDY BRACK, publisher
SEPT.
27, 2010 – Predictable. That’s the only way to describe
what’s currently happening in the race for governor in South
Carolina.
Brack |
The
major party candidates – GOP nominee Nikki Haley and Democratic
nominee Vincent Sheheen – seem to be sticking to the traditional
campaign playbook and fulfilling expected roles.
Over
the next few weeks, look for Sheheen to continue to run aggressive
television ads to try to define Haley as someone voters can’t
trust. Just before election day, his ad gurus likely will change
the mix and insert positive ads to try to leave voters with a glowing
image after weeks of savaging Haley.
 Predictable.
If Sheheen plays the game this way, he may just lose.
For
her part, frontrunner Haley is playing the perfect victim. She’s
running anti-establishment television ads mixed with name-calling
anti-Sheheen ads. Over the next few weeks, she’s simply trying
to keep from losing her lead by doing nothing unexpected or rash.
To counter any criticism, she’ll try to twist the words of
any critic – Republican or Democratic – by simply suggesting
the establishment is opposed to her and she’s trying to vanquish
the establishment.
 By
calling Sheheen an Obama liberal, she’s predictably acting
the victim by trying to tie her Democratic opponent to Washington
politics. It’s part of the strategy for Haley to try to keep
an anti-Washington fervor on her side.
Then
when GOP bigwig John Rainey dropped
a bombshell last week and asked the state’s federal prosecutor
to investigate the legality of Haley’s $42,500 of consulting
work for Wilbur Smith Associates between 2007 and 2009, Haley acted,
as would be expected, as the victim. On cue, her campaign team sought
to discredit Rainey, the current chair of the state Board of Economic
Advisers and a key player in Gov. Mark Sanford’s first term,
by suggesting he is a “sad figure” who is part of the
“backwards” good-ole boy system.
Also
last week, former GOP state first vice chair Cyndi Mosteller of
Mount Pleasant surprised many by slamming Haley for putting Republican
principles at risk because of allegations of fiscal and sexual impropriety
surrounding her campaign.
 In
an op-ed
in The State newspaper, Mosteller wrote, “With Nikki
Haley, Republicans might be approaching that unfamiliar crossroads
where victory of title and victory of principle are more perpendicular
than parallel. … Facts and allegations regarding Mrs. Haley
raise valid questions in many a Republican conscience.”
While
there’s been no on-the-record response to Mosteller’s
comments, the predictable volley will be that Mosteller, as a key
Republican voice in the state, is part of the establishment that
Haley is trying to overcome.
A
couple of observations come to mind:
-
In today’s political environment of Tea Party anger, Haley
may be able to play successful victimization politics. Potential
scandals or things that would tarnish politicians in past years
might not matter as much this year. Instead, voters might be so
sick of the whole mess that Haley’s image of being fresh
might be enough to keep her on top of the polls – and criticisms
that she can’t be trusted.
-
But if more shoes drop – if other GOP leaders who come out
against Haley or other financial or ethical questions come to
light – Sheheen might be able to overcome the politics of
victimization by the hair of his chinny-chin-chin. To do so, he
would have to keep up the attack through election day and do something
not in the traditional campaign playbook. Otherwise, he’s
toast.
One
thing is for sure, the bumpy ride of this year’s gubernatorial
race is likely to get bumpier.
Andy
Brack, publisher of Charleston Currents, first offered this column
in Statehouse
Report. You can reach him at: publisher@charlestoncurrents.com.
FEEDBACK
Send
us your letters
We
love getting input from you. If you have an opinion you'd like to
share (150 words or less), send your letters to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
We look forward to hearing from you!
SPOTLIGHT
Joye
Law Firm
The
public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring CharlestonCurrents
to you at no cost. In this issue, we highlight the Joye Law Firm.
Committed to fighting for the rights of the wrongly injured in South
Carolina for more than 40 years, the experienced, dedicated personal
injury lawyers of the Joye Law Firm want to help you get every dollar
you truly deserve for the injuries you've suffered. Whether you've
been injured in an auto accident, by a defective product, in a nursing
home, or on the job, we may be able to help you. For more information,
contact Joye Law Firm at 843.554.3100 or visit online at: http://www.joyelawfirm.com.
GOOD
NEWS |
permalink
That BIG
Book Sale is coming soon
With the downturn in the economy the Charleston County Library system
has seen a huge surge in business: from people attending computer
and resume preparation classes to children's story hours. And it's
all free.
The
Friends of the Library, a nonprofit organization, has been busy
raising money to help the library support its community events.
 The
Friends' biggest annual fundraiser -- That BIG Book Sale -- will
be Oct. 8, 9 and 10 at the Gaillard Auditorium in downtown Charleston.
More than 50,000 books, DVDs, CDs, books on CDs and tapes, LPs,
VHS, sheet music and maps will be on sale to the public with prices
starting at just 50 cents. For the price of one movie ticket or
one new paperback book, shoppers can walk out with a basket full
of books, DVDs and CDs.
"This
is probably one of the best places to get the biggest bang for your
buck", says Sharon Harvey, board president of the Friends.
"With the economy being what it is these days, we are happy
to offer items of real value for so little to support the library
and contribute to Charleston's growing green movement."
The
event will also feature a rare book auction.
The
Friends' book sales are one of Charleston's biggest recycling efforts,
as all items sold have been donated by people who otherwise might
have just thrown them away. Over 125,000 gently used items per year
are being rescued from the landfills and circulated back into the
community through these sale efforts.
And the green effort doesn't end there. In addition to the option
of a regular shopping bag, the Friends asking people to BYOB - Bring
Your Own Bag. Shoppers also can purchase limited edition Canvas
Tote Bags that support the Friends.
Admission to That BIG Book Sale is free. Sale hours are 9 a.m. to
7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
on Sunday, with all items half-price on Sunday. A special preview
sale for Friends of the Library members will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
on Oct. 7. Checks, cash and major credit cards accepted. You can
become a member of the Friends of the Library for $20 at the door.
Click
here for information online or call 843-805-6882.
County offers
free workshops for small businesses
Charleston County Government's Small
Business Enterprise Program will hold two free workshops Oct.
4 and 5 for small business owners. Both sessions will be from 6-8
p.m. in Conference Room B339 at the Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services
Building, 4045 Bridge View Drive in North Charleston.
Charleston
County's Small Business Enterprise Program began in September
2007, and more than 650 local businesses have become certified.
Charleston County will hold free SBE workshops, like the one
pictured, on Oct 4 and 5. Charleston County photo by Jennie
Davis. |
In
addition to Charleston County staff and other local specialists,
the workshops will include instructors from the U.S. Small Business
Administration, the University of South Carolina's Small Business
Development Center, and the U.S. General Services Administration's
Federal Acquisition Service.
The
Oct. 4 workshop will focus on how to get a business central contractor
registration with the federal government. The Oct. 5 workshop will
be "U.S. General Services Administration Small Business Workshop
- GSA Multiple Schedules - Getting Started."
Those wishing to attend can sign up for one or more of the sessions
at www.charlestoncounty.org/SBE or call (843) 958-4765. Participants
do not need to be certified to attend, but do need to register in
advance. Space is limited.
While each is a stand-alone workshop, the two go hand-in-hand to
help move attendees through the process of doing business with the
federal government.
The Monday evening workshop is designed to lead business owners
through the prerequisites of getting on the federal CCR and Disaster
Recovery registers. It is designed to prepare attendees to more
fully participate in the Tuesday evening workshop.
Business owners who are interested in becoming certified go through
a short and simple process to participate in the program, which
begins with completion of a simple, one-page application (available
at www.charlestoncounty.org).
During each of the workshops, County staff will be available to
assist business owners with any questions they may have regarding
the certification process.
Preservation
Tech Tours offer new look at Drayton Hall
 The
Preservation Tech Tour is a new program designed to give those with
an interest in architecture, history and preservation a better understanding
of and appreciation for the technical aspects of the site's design,
construction, and preservation efforts.
Participants
will be treated to a behind-the-scenes exploration of the house,
examining construction details, architectural elements, materials,
and past and current preservation efforts to reveal a fascinating
layer of the site's history that is rarely shown in such depth.
The tours will be offered Oct. 2 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and Nov.
6 and Dec. 2 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
For
more information, please contact Amber
Clawson or (843) 769-2608.
RECOMMENDED
HAVE
A REVIEW?
If you have a review or recommendation of a book, movie, restaurant
or local arts endeavor, please send no more than 150 words to
editor Marsha Guerard.
Make sure to include your name and full contact information.
SC
ENCYCLOPEDIA |
permalink
Chief
Gilbert Blue won recognition for Catawba tribe
Chief
Gilbert Blue of the Catawba Nation was born on Dec. 5, 1933, on
the Catawba Indian Reservation to Guy Larson Blue and Eva George
Starnes.
Blue |
The
grandson of former chief Samuel Taylor Blue, Gilbert Blue was elected
chief of the Catawba Tribe of South Carolina in 1973. Under Chief
Blue's leadership, the Catawba successfully pursued their lawsuit
against the state of South Carolina for land claims under the Nations
Ford Treaty of 1840 and their quest for the reinstatement of status
as a federally recognized Indian tribe. The Catawba Indian Tribe
of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993, which provided
for resolution of both demands, was passed by Congress in 1993,
and the final agreement was signed by South Carolina Governor Carroll
Campbell on November 29, 1994.
Chief
Blue has been active in Native American issues and organizations.
He was elected to the board of directors of the Native American
Rights Fund) in 1996 and served as chairman of its board in 2000
and 2001. He has served on the state board of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights. He was an original board member of the Rock Hill
"No Room for Racism" Committee and has been involved in
numerous other civil rights issues.
Editor's
note: Chief Blue stepped down after 34 years as chief in 2007.
--
Excerpted from the entry by Anne M. McCulloch. To
read more about this or 2,000 other entries about South Carolina,
check out The
South Carolina Encyclopedia by USC Press. (Information used
by permission.)
SISTER
PUBLICATIONS
We
encourage you to check out our sister publications:
|
Statehouse
Report --
a weekly legislative forecast that keeps you a step ahead
of what happens at the Statehouse. It's free.
SC
Clips -- a
daily news compilation of South Carolina news from media sources
across the state. Delivered by email about the time you get
to work every business day. Saves you a lot of money and time.
Sign up for a free
trial subscription today.
|
Georgia
Clips offers a similar daily news compilation for
the scores of newspapers in Georgia's 159 counties.
Gulf
Spill Clips -- a daily compilation of news related
to the Gulf oil spill. Free.
GwinnettForum
-- an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic
and sensible social, political and economic approaches to
improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA.
|
CREDITS
CharlestonCurrents.com
is provided to you twice a week by:
Address:
P.O. Box. 22261 | Charleston, SC 29413
UNSUBSCRIBE
We hope you'll
keep receiving the great news and information from CharlestonCurrents.com,
but if you need to unsubscribe,
click here.
©
2008-2010, Statehouse
Report LLC. All rights reserved. CharlestonCurrents.com is published
every Monday and Thursday by Statehouse Report LLC, PO Box 22261,
Charleston, SC 29413.
|
THE
LIST |
permalink
Five kayaking
adventures
AvRutick |
We recently
read a terrific article in Vanity Fair about two brothers
who tested two Folbot
kayaks in the canals of Venice, Italy. In addition to being
entertaining and humorous, the article was highly complimentary
of the Charleston-made kayaks.
So we asked
Folbot President David AvRutick to give us a list of the five most
exotic places (besides Venice) that Folbots have been paddled.
- Greenland
- way above the Arctic Circle (icebergs, whales, etc.)
 Mongolia
- The Amazon
- The Euphrates
River in Syria
- Afghanistan
- with U.S. Air Force members.
QUOTE
|
permalink
How
to be happy
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you
do are in harmony."
-- Mahatma
Gandhi (1869-1948)
CALENDAR:
THIS WEEK |
permalink
(NEW)
Vegan cooking class: 6 p.m., Sept. 28, Whole Foods
Market, Mount Pleasant. Join Holistic Chef Ken Immer of gRAWnola
and OM cooking for an evening of mindful eating. This free class
will explore different ways of making vegan dishes creamy and delicious.
Enjoy the richness of 'Curried coconut quinoa with roasted sweet
potatoes and gRAWnola', 'Creamy sesame greens', and 'Raw lemon treats'.
For more information, visit www.grawnola.com.
 (NEW)
Medal of Honor speaker: 6:30 p.m., Sept. 28, Bond
Hall room 165 at The Citadel. Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, a Congressional
Medal of Honor recipient, and Colin D. Heaton, the author of Livingston's
memoir "Courageous Warrior," will present a free lecture
as part of the Daniel Library Friends' book and lecture series.
Livingston received the Medal of Honor for his role at Dai Do, Vietnam,
where his 800 Marines victoriously fought back 10,000 North Vietnamese
Army regulars. Book signing to follow lecture.
Tax
reform talk: 4:30 p.m., Sept. 29, The College Center
at the Complex for Economic Development at Trident Technical College,
7000 Rivers Ave., Building 920. The Education Foundation and area
chambers of commerce present Mike Fanning, executive director of
the Olde English Consortium. Fanning will speak on South Carolina's
tax system and the need for comprehensive tax reform to improve
funding for public education, health and human services, public
safety, roads and infrastructure and higher education. Free. More
information online.
Cowboy
Couture Gala: Sept 30, Memminger Auditorium. This gala
features bolo ties, 10-gallon hats and cowboy boots to benefit the
Hemangioma
Treatment Foundation. After filling up on grub from Iverson
Catering, hit the dance floor to bluegrass favorites by the Carolina
Chocolate Drops and funk and soul ensemble The MAXX. A live auction
has fantastic items in store. Tickets are $150 and can be ordered
by phone (843) 647-8662 or online.
CALENDAR:
ONGOING AND SOON
Bubbly
& Brew: 6 to 10:30 p.m., Oct. 7, Omar Shrine Temple,
176 Patriots Point Street, Mount Pleasant. The Second Annual Bubbly
& Brew will benefit My Sister's House. Guests will dine on selections
from High Thyme, Home Team BBQ, Gullah Cuisine and more as well
as sip on champagne, cocktails from Firefly Distillery and beers
from local brewers. A silent auction and live music from party band
Permanent Vacation are planned. Tickets are $50 in advance and can
be purchased online or $60 at the door.
Poetry
and paint: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Oct. 26, The Meeting
Place, 1077 East Montague Ave., North Charleston. An adult workshop
featuring Poetry and Paint taught by Mary Harris and Karole Turner
Campbell. Participants will be inspired to combine poetry and paint
in a unique experience that combines two art forms. Materials are
provided. Fee: $5. Registration begins one month ahead and ends
two days prior to class.
FOLLOW
US ON TWITTER
We encourage you to follow us through Twitter
@chascurrents.
FOCUS
ARCHIVES
11/22:
Hamilton:
Operation Home
11/18: Humphreys:
Being healthier
11/15: Dittloff:
Saltmarsh
11/11: Guerard:
Veterans Day
11/8: Stanfield:
Metanoia invests
11/4: Hannah:
Immunologix
11/1: Clements:
Red Cross
10/28: Roberts:
Road myths
10/25: Jones,
Patrick: Schools
10/21: Spencer:
Fine Art Annual
10/18: Duncan:
220 years of service
10/14: Colbert:
Smartphones
10/11: Barnette:
Ballet season
10/7: Bailey:
YESCarolina book
10/4: Crosland:
HeadsUp on injuries
9/30: Starland:
Visual arts
9/27: Vural:
Art, essay contest
9/23: Blanchard:
House in order
9/20: Barry:
Going "social"
9/16: Hutchisson:
Being green
9/13: Schleissman:
Wood workshop
9/9: Kirby:
Sobering success
9/6: Brooks:
Great volunteers
9/2: Graul:
Lowcountry Loc 1st
ANN
THRASH ARCHIVES
11/11:
Early
for Christmas?
11/4: On
sharpening knives
10/28: On
voting decisions
10/21: Fall
color, parties
10/14: Squirrel
away some pecans
10/7: New
film on Jews, baseball
9/30: Making
It Grow
9/23: Diving
into the Lowcountry
9/16: Curbing
domestic violence
9/9: Shrimp-baiting
time
9/2: Tail-wagging
and -gating
8/26: Urban
gardening
8/19: Nirvana,
Class of '14
8/12: History
is interesting
8/5: Robert,
Variety Store
7/29: Lazy?
Boiled peanuts
7/22: Purple
Toes book
7/14: Art
opens doors
7/1: Lots
to do on 4th
6/24: Ways
to nab skeeters
6/17: Dump
the Pump, more
6/10: Lots
to do locally
6/3: Dancin'
for dollars
ANDY
BRACK ARCHIVES
11/22:
Shared
sacrifice
11/15:
Media
responsibility
11/8: No
"new era" for SC
11/1: "Invest"
isn't dirty word
10/25: Challenges
ahead
10/11: Highway
problem
10/4: Dupree
and Senate
9/27: Haley-Sheheen
race
9/20: Political,
energy efficiency
9/13: British
invasion
9/6: Meet
Dave the Potter
8/30: Gulf
pix make impact
8/23: Thank
a teacher
8/16: Pharmacy,
juice
8/2: Cherry
juice, Gardner
7/26: Biden
on Hollings
7/19: About
Turkey
7/7: Campaign
trash
6/28: Impatient
electorate
6/21: Haley's
thin record
6/14: Daddy-daughter
trip
6/7: Gulf
spill report
PETER
LUCASH: BUSINESS INDIGO
9/9:
Busy
with meetings
8/26: On
biz interruptions
8/12: Pecha
Kucha 7 coming
7/29: TwelveSouth
again
7/14: Tech
After 5 hits Chas
7/1: TwelveSouth
scores praise
5/27: Facebook
on privacy
5/13: Spark
Charleston, more
4/22: Green
Wizard, more
4/1: Encouraging
biz signs
3/18: Biz
fair, CED venture
3/4: Lowcountry
tech hub
2/4: Advice
on working with Boeing
1/21: Co-working
group
1/7: Free
library text questions
GREG
GARVAN: CHARLESTON GREEN
9/23:
Shredding
together
9/16: Saving
money
9/2: Energy
standards needed
8/19: Investing
can be tied to ideals
8/5: Trident
Tech green grant
LIST
ARCHIVES
11/22:
5
for going back to school
11/18: 5
on foreclosure
11/15: 5
for exercising
11/11: 5
to rid roadblocks
11/8: 5
for keeping warm
11/4: 5
favorite ballets
11/1: 5
for your face
10/28: 5
parenting tips
10/25: 5
on long-term care
10/21: 5
on childhood obesity
10/18: 5
homeless myths
10/14: 5
on breast cancer
10/11: 5
beef cuts
10/7: 5
back helpers
10/4: 5
for recruiting
9/30: 5
kids' books
9/27: 5
for kayaks
9/23: 5
for pets
9/20: 5
at the Gibbes
9/16: 5
date nights
9/13: 5
fall plants
9/9: 5
wine resources
9/6: 5
magical moments
9/2: 5
great preachers
8/30: 5
local runs
8/26: 5
great cookbooks
8/23: Creative
five
8/19: 5
local blogs
8/16: More
plaudits
8/12: 5
local dog romps
8/9: New
heritage sites
8/5: 5
around Chucktown
8/2: Bedside
reading
7/29: Five
for fall
7/26: Hollings
library
7/22: Wine
+ Food fest
7/19: New
Chas app
7/14: Chas
at top
7/7: SC
films
7/1: Keeping
cool
|
