WATCH: Survey Reveals a Startling Truth About White Christians (text and video)
“Most polls don’t matter much. But this one does. A recent Public Religion Research Institute survey has revealed a devastating truth: While about 80 percent of black Christians believe police-involved killings — like the ones that killed Tamir Rice, Laquan McDonald, and so many more — are part of a larger pattern of police treatment of African Americans, around 70 percent of white Christians believe the opposite … that they are simply isolated incidents.”
https://sojo.net/articles/watch-survey-reveals-startling-truth-about-white-christians

Paul Ryan’s Forum on Expanding Opportunity Won’t Expand Opportunity
“This past weekend, in my congressional district, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott hosted a presidential candidate forum titled “Expanding Opportunity.”
http://talkpoverty.org/2016/01/12/paul-ryans-forum-expanding-opportunity-wont-expand-opportunity/

I Served 11 Years in Prison. This Is What I Learned
“Last week I attended a presidential forum in Des Moines with nearly 1,000 grassroots activists from across the Midwest. The focus of the event was on a real economic recovery—one that creates economic security for struggling Americans and invests in underserved communities.
I felt it was important to be there. I wanted to ask candidates how they would reform a criminal justice system that is ripping apart our most vulnerable communities, especially communities of color.”
http://talkpoverty.org/2016/01/14/served-in-prison-what-i-learned/

The wealthy are ruining American health care
“Campaign contributions from the superrich foist unpopular policies on the public”
http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2016/1/the-wealthy-are-ruining-american-health-care.html

Jakarta Attack May Signal Revival of Bloody Campaign in Indonesia

“Hundreds of Indonesians have traveled to Syria to join the Islamic State over the past two years, and more than 50 have been killed there, according to the Indonesian government.
“But in recent months, Indonesian jihadists appear to have increasingly sought targets at home. Now, security analysts say that the violence in the capital, Jakarta, on Thursday may portend a revival of an intermittent but bloody campaign, often against symbols of the West, that has plagued Indonesia for the past decade and a half.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/15/world/asia/indonesia-islamic-state.html?WT.mc_id=SmartBriefs-Newsletter&WT.mc_ev=click

New study finds positive economic development benefits associated with bus rapid transit projects

“Bus rapid transit is a type of bus service that travels faster and more reliably by providing level boarding, triggering traffic signals, providing pre-board fare payment and running in dedicated lanes separated from traffic, among other typical characteristics. For the first time, a new peer-reviewed research study, unveiled this morning, provides compelling evidence that BRT — often with a price tag far lower than other transit investments — can provide ample economic benefits for cities large and small.”

http://t4america.org/2016/01/12/new-study-finds-positive-economic-development-benefits-associated-with-bus-rapid-transit-projects/

Detroit Teachers Shutdown Public Schools in Protest of Deplorable Conditions (video and transcript)

“Public school parent Stephanie Beal says she supports the teacher protests and the idea of an elected school board to ensure a quality education for all”
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=15449

Ceasefire Needed in Turkey
“Richard Falk says a new ceasefire and renewal of the peace process between the Turkish state and the Kurdish militants are required to end the bloodshed”
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=15446

Tommy Chong: Here's My Trump Conspiracy Theory, Man
“Everyone's got a crackpot political theory on the Presidential race — even Tommy Chong — who may actually be on to something … or just on something.”
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/viewvideo/80164

Paramedics help people avoid emergency rooms

“A new initiative is underway around the country to use firefighter paramedics to keep people out of hospitals and direct them to appropriate primary care or other services. And, it’s working! With support from the California Health Foundation, firefighter paramedics in the Golden State are being trained to identify individuals who use hospital emergency rooms frequently for non-emergency situations and, instead, pay them regular visits. The goal is to get them needed care so that they don’t call 911 or need to use the emergency room. The paramedics call on them in their homes and connect them to regular doctors or other services that can keep their health on track.”

http://justcareusa.org/paramedics-help-people-avoid-emergency-rooms/

SNL Re-imagines GOP Debate (video)

http://kpdailyfunnies.blogspot.com/2016/01/snl-re-imagines-gop-debate.html#.Vpzan5MrI1g

In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill. Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope fueling politics.
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
–Desmond Tutu

“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.”
–Jonas Salk

Let us first turn to Clio (guitar):
These California Maximum-Security Prisoners Are Making an Album (text along with a video and audio links)                                                                                                         
http://www.motherjones.com/media/2015/02/new-folsom-prison-music-project-zoe-boekbinder-ani-difranco

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
― Albert Einstein

“When a poet digs himself into a hole, he doesn't climb out. He digs deeper, enjoys the scenery, and comes out the other side enlightened.”
― Criss Jami, Venus in Arms

This movement wants guys to take a stand when women face verbal harassment.              
http://www.upworthy.com/this-movement-wants-guys-to-take-a-stand-when-women-face-verbal-harassment?c=upw1&   u=6ffb12f2d750fff1c628f4ed4366938bb526f1d5

I think I like it…how about you?                                                                                       

Natural Born Hustlers

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/natural-born-hustlers-about/13389/?utm_source=bestofnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Best_of_January-16_Control&utm_campaign=nature_2016&BHT-3dfe29ab-9521-4d40-8f0f-36bd57934ee6.0

I think I like this kind of hustler better than those in the first article…how about you?

An 8-part comic for people who say 'I'm sorry' too often. There's something else to say…
http://www.upworthy.com/an-8-part-comic-for-people-who-say-im-sorry-too-often-theres-something-else-to-say?c=upw1&u=6ffb12f2d750fff1c628f4ed4366938bb526f1d5

I think I need to say thank you more and sorry less—any one else thinking that?

Other musicians scoffed at the web. David Bowie started his own Internet service provider. (especially for Lona)

http://www.upworthy.com/other-musicians-scoffed-at-the-web-david-bowie-started-his-own-internet-service-provider?c=upw1&u=6ffb12f2d750fff1c628f4ed4366938bb526f1d5

I think I like Bowie even more knowing this….how about you?

Soldiers Blow Up 5 Myths About Women in Combat (especially for Joanne)          
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/12/female-officers-break-down-myths-about-women-at-war

I think it’s long past time to blow up these myths—what do you think?

In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill. Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope fueling politics.

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”    
― Plato

Our Deepest Fear
by Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Let us first turn to Terpsichore’s dance with Calliope’s justice perhaps:
http://www.upworthy.com/a-ballet-companys-response-to-one-football-fans-sexist-insult-on-facebook-was-epic?c=pop
Does it inspire faith and hope when stereotypes get broken?

Continuing with Ourania who might claim this as celestial :
http://www.upworthy.com/15-scientific-breakthroughs-from-2015-that-made-our-world-a-little-better?c=reccon3

Does this inspire you?

Clio (history) reminds us of history in the shape of Calliope’s rhetorical art:
http://www.thenation.com/article/visualizing-the-four-freedoms-fdrs-fighting-artist-arthur-szyk/

Is this history we need to remember?

Let’s Move to one of Euterpe’s instruments (with both text and video):
http://www.upworthy.com/ellen-dared-kerry-washington-to-play-the-tuba-she-had-an-inspiring-reason-to-happily-accept?c=reccon3

Does such desire to help generate hope?

And then with Thalia (comedy video clips)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru_H1FSwxRM

http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/viewvideo/80115

Is this last one on a subject it is better for us to laugh about than cry about?

Sometimes hope is found in goals met and surpassed—especially when those goals are for serving and helping vulnerable others…I think Calliope would claim this one as her justice (hat tip Joanne)…this group set a goal about a decade ago of ending hunger and engaged churches and other groups around the world to commit to it. They not only provide direct aid, but also political advocacy with considerable success…one email last month:
“Subject: Thanks a Lot. You Gave Me My Christmas Present…and It Cost Me $218,000!
“Dear Traveler,

Three weeks ago I issued a challenge, and got a great response. Thanks so much to the 1,659 travelers who responded to my Christmas fundraiser for Bread for the World.
Together, you contributed $218,000. And with my match, collectively, we raised over $430,000 to help power BFTW's work in explaining to Congress the needs of our nation's poor, homeless, and hungry people. We all want to get our fiscal house in order. And BFTW has been very effective in its advocacy work encouraging our government not to balance the budget by cutting vital services to our nation's most needy.

In addition to my personal challenge, I promised to thank those contributing $100 or more with a special Christmas gift of my European Christmas book, DVD, and CD (or my Complete Collection DVD box set). We've mailed out thank you packages to over 1600 of you.

While this beat last year's campaign by $50,000, we're still about $30,000 short of our 2015 goal of $250,000. But there's good news: There's still time to join us. If you'd like to help, donate by noon on December 18. I'll pop your gifts into the mail within 24 hours. With a little luck, you'll get it before Christmas. To learn more and make a donation, visit our website.

Thanks so much for making this a very expensive Christmas for me. Giving like this, in partnership with caring travelers like you, makes my work even more gratifying than it already is. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to all.

Rick Steves

P.S. My friends at Bread for the World are thrilled! They send their thanks and share their determination to honor your gifts by working hard and smart to transform this contribution into effective action. To learn more about their impressive work, visit www.bread.org. That's the spirit of this season in action.”

Note that the target group was people traveling who may not have even heard of Bread before…does that life your spirits and engender hope?

And for those who need music to soothe their soul, a lengthy video offering from Terpsichore to watch as much or as little as you choose…

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=classic+dance+on+youtube&view=detail&mid=34B77353A33516122F5E34B77353A33516122F5E&FORM=VIRE16

Thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope!