Grandfather Twilight The classic children's book icon, Grandfather Twilight, broke twenty years of silence to endorse Congressman Dennis Kucinich for President in 2004. "In these extraordinary times we must act with extraordinary sincerity," he said.
I met Grandfather Twilight for the first time in 1975. We became friends and he often visited my studio, where he helped me create a picture book (Grandfather Twilight, Philomel Books, 1984). Yet when he spoke out recently, endorsing Dennis Kucinich for President, I was stunned. For in all the time I have known him, Mr. Twilight has spoken very few words. His is a quiet wisdom. So quiet, in fact, that teachers and parents still remark on the hush that comes over children whenever they hear his story. Full of questions, I ran over to his house among the trees, to catch him before moonrise.
BHB: Hello my old friend! You haven't aged a bit.
GT: Well, it helps if you're timeless. (laughter)
BHB: Seriously now. I came to ask, why did you decide to speak out?
GT: Because of grief.
GT: Every night, I see children snuggling with moms and dads who read them a story, and kiss them goodnight. They are the lucky ones. They go to sleep under the pearl of the moon, who spreads her light over everyone. But the world is not at peace. The air is full of smoke and sorrow. The trees tell me they feel it too, even the waves of the sea.
BHB: My heart is aching too.
GT: Children are dying from bombs and guns. The moon sees all of this. But she also sees something else. It is like a dream. Such a good dream, I could hardly believe it at first.
GT: There is a brave, truth-telling man from Ohio. His name is Dennis Kucinich, a Congressman who is running for President. As you know, I tend to be a calm old man, but when I heard Dennis speak, I got excited. He plans to create a Department of Peace. At last! Why has no one done it before? This is exactly how a wise President should think, what a good President should do! (GT thumped a gentle fist on the table.)
BHB: Yes! I agree.
GT: Whenever I hear Dennis speak, I feel the spark of hope again. He spreads the light in people. It reminds me of that night when millions of us lit our candles at 7 pm, and stood in silence, all over the world. All those little flames together, one light saying one thing: We Do Not Want War.
BHB: I saw you there. And I saw the golden light on children's faces...
GT: To my unspeakable sorrow, some leaders did not believe in that light. They believed in bombs. They said war is the only way to make us safe. But that is the opposite of truth. No child is safer. Anywhere.
GT: Not if we give up. I see someone who knows Peace is more than the absence of war--it is a positive power. Someone who is brave enough to stake his life on it. Someone who wants to lead us out of the nightmare. He is not afraid. He knows we can do it.
BHB: I hear a lot of people say they really like Dennis. They like everything he stands for. But they think it's a lost cause, "He'll never be elected," they say.
GT: Our highest dreams are real. At the end of each day, I take one tiny pearl in my hand and walk all the way to the edge of the sea. With every step, that tiny pearl keeps growing until it becomes the Moon. I see this happen. My job is to trust it. So, I know what is possible!
GT: Yes. I want to say, Thank you. Many of you have been my friends since you were very small. Each of you is like a pearl to me, growing up and rising into the sky. By now, some of you are ready to vote. Feel the power of your own ideals and dreams. What kind of world do you want it to be, when you read my goodnight story to your children?
Please do not give up. Let's gather all our light together. Let's move on. Let's have democracy now! We can be kind to America and the world.
BHB: Three cheers to that! What about people who worry that Dennis is too short?
GT: Short is good. Gandhi wasn't so tall.
BHB: I heard the Gandhi Peace Award for 2003 was given to Dennis Kucinich.
GT: True. When the whole deep forest heard the news, what joy! From the grassy roots to the tallest trees, we had a standing ovation.
BHB: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me.
GT: My pleasure.
Barbara Helen Berger is an artist and writer, best known for her award-winning books for children. These include Grandfather Twilight, The Donkey's Dream, A Lot of Otters, and All the Way to Lhasa: a Tale from Tibet.
Among the Trees, 7 pm--A sober mood here broke into a raucous celebration as creatures great and small followed the Bear's lead in signing a statement endorsing Dennis Kucinich for President in 2004.
"Pssst, spread the news. Tell a friend. Word of mouse!" said the mouse.
The Bear spoke with gruff authority, "Politics Shmolitics, you say. Well, I challege you. Go deep in the woods. Listen carefully. What will you hear? ... 'We want Kucinich! We want Kucinich!' "
This is a freedom of speech individual citizen's endorsement.
It does not reflect the opinions of any organization.
Would it be mean-spirited to inquire as to Grandfather Twilight's mental capabilities?
Grandfather Twilight is sad because he misses the sweet soothing sound of Saddam's people shredding machine.
When I read this, I swear I read Dennis as Dumbass. Could this be a sign from Grandfather Twilight?
>>>>>>>>>Grandfather Twilight is sad because he misses the sweet soothing sound of Saddam's people shredding machine.
People are a biodegradable substance. They also can be spread throughout the forest to feed the eager, young ferns.
This is sad!!! I feel like I'm beating up on a cripple. THat's OK, what can you expect from the VRWC!!
African Americans
Staceyann Chin, Angela Gilliam (Black Radical Congress), Danny Glover (Actor, UN Messenger of Peace), National Council of Negro Women of Mississippi, Loretta Ross (Black Women's Health Congress)
Authors
Kenny Ausubel, Eleanor Bader, Christina Baldwin, Barbara Helen Berger, Wendell Berry, Grace Lee Boggs, Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, Damien Bona, Seymour Boorstein, Richard Carlson, Blanche Wiesen Cook, Mary Lou Cook, Kevin Danaher, Gordon Davidson, Marilyn Diamond, Barbara Ehrenreich, Duane Elgin, Riane Eisler, Jay Earley, Marilyn French, Jack Gilroy, Susan Griffin, Pam Grout, Andrew Harvey, James Hillman, Sam Keen, Ynestra King, Irena Klepfisz, David Korten, Alicia Bay Laurel, Joanna & Fran Macy, Michael Males, Michael Wells Mandeville, Corinne McLaughlin, Deena Metzger, Aurora Levin Morales, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, Grace Paley, Rosalind Petchesky, Vicki Robin, Marcus Raskin, Richard Reinoehl, John Robbins, Geneen Roth, Jonathan Schell, Kirk Schneider, Donald Schnell, Ellen Schwartz, Peter Dale Scott, David Christopher Naylor Swanson, Meredith Tax, Studs Terkel, Grandfather Twilight, Stephen Wangh, Marianne Williamson, Howard Zinn
Business Community
Aris Anagnos, Jerry Greenfield, Tom McAulisse, Matt Weinstein
Educators
Deborah Achtenberg, John Alessio, Nicholas Johnson, Zillah Eisenstein, Samuel Freeman, Marleen Jones, Howard Machtinger, Eric Schnell, Kathleen Sullivan, Bill Woodward
Entertainment Artists
Edward Asner, Ed Begley, Jr., Steve Bhaerman/Swami Beyondananda, Linda Blair, Staceyann Chin, David Clennon, Professor Irwin Corey (The World's Foremost Authority), Peter Coyote, James Cromwell, Rev. Dr. Holly Haile Davis, Hector Elizondo, Danny Glover (Actor, UN Messenger of Peace), Elliott Gould, Andre Gregory, Mimi Kennedy, Maddy Lederman, Shelley Morrison, Naomi Newman, Joaquin Phoenix, Reno, Gary Rhine, Eric Roberts, Tanya Roberts, Malachi Roth, Roy Scheider, Fanchon Shur, Haskell Wexler
Environment
Wendell Berry, K. Lauren de Boer, Dave Blume, Mark Dubois, Terry Gips, Randy Hayes John McConnell (The Founder of Earth Day), Ocean Robbins, Virginia Stark
Feminists For Kucinich
Barbara Ehrenreich, Eva Friedlander, Angela Gilliam, Ynestra King, Shulamith Koenig, Gail Lerner, Grace Paley, Rosalind Petchesky, Digna Sanchez, Meredith Tax
More than 2600 Feminist endorsers at:
http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/feminists_4_kucinich/ LGBT
Brian Davis, Ani DiFranco, Mari Engelhardt, Jay Hubbell
Health
Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, Dr. Matthew M. Bosley, Edith Hillman Boxhill (music therapist), Dr. Tom Bretlow, Dr. David L. Davis, Larry Kalb, Jonathan Parfrey, Judy Pope, Major Doug Rokke, Marlene Santoyo, Anna Ko Wathen
Kids For Kucinich
Dylan Hallsmith (age 12), Natasha Hull-Richter (age 12), Christian Loffredo (age 12)
Labor
Rank and File Labor For Kucinich, The ILWU Local 23 in Fife, WA, Bill Austin ( President, UE Local 893, Ottumwa), Larry Bailiff (COPE Committee, Steelworkers Local 310, Des Moines), Andy Bock (AFSCME Local 96, Ellsworth), Kathy Butler (Chair, PEOPLE, AFSCME Local 2990, Woodward), Bruce Clark (President, APWU Local 2339, Iowa Postal Workers Union, Dubuque), Jeff Cox (AFT 716, Iowa City), Greg Cross (UE International Representative, Des Moines), Ryan Downing (UE Field Organizer, Iowa City), Mike Edwards (UAW/CAP Local 807, Burlington), Kevin Esch (Chief Steward, UE Local 896-COGS, Iowa City), Irene Friend (ISEA, Clear-Creek Amana), Kevin Kelly (CWA Local 7172, Agency), Chris Lauritsen (International Representative, UFCW, Mason City), Jim Martens (COPE Committee, Steelworkers Local 310, Des Moines), Mike Marvin (Transport Workers Union Local 223, Council Bluffs), Jeremy Maske (Steward, AFGE Local 836, Des Moines), Peter Nikitas, David Osterberg (AFT Local 716, Mt. Vernon), Axel Petersen (Sheetmetal Workers Local 263, Retired, Cedar Rapids), Sylvia Popelka (ISEA, Cedar Rapids), Mike Quijano (Steward/COPE committee, Steelworkers Local 310, Des Moines), Dennis Ryan (IBEW 405, Iowa City), Paul Schrade, Tom Seymour (UAW Local 807, Retirees, Bettendorf), Jennifer Sherer (2nd Vice-President, Iowa Federation of Teachers, Iowa City), Madeleine Shufeldt (Press & Publicity Chair, UE Local 896-COGS), Shane Shook (President, AFSCME Local 3450, Des Moines), Midge Slater (CWA, Des Moines), Tom Slockett (AFT 716, Iowa City), Stephen Tews (UAW Local 74, Ottumwa), Wilbur Wilson (COPE Chair, Alternate Steward, Steelworkers Local 310, Organizing Chair, South Central Federation of Labor, Des Moines), International Longshore and Warehouse Union (Local 23, Tacoma, Washington)
Latino Americans
Jose Arguelles, E. Shirley Baca (New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner), Hector Elizondo, Digna Sanchez
Media
Jeff Cohen, Ronnie Dugger, Ed Garvey, Jay Levin, Mike Malloy, Craig Neal, Cliff Pearson, Stephen Goldstein, Daniel Patrick Welch
Music
Karl Anthony, Dave Davies, Ani DiFranco, David Gaines, Ronnie Gilbert, Edith Hillman Boxill, Mary Hession, Carole Isis, Papa John Kolstad, John MacEnulty, Willie Nelson, Tim Reynolds (with Dave Matthews Band), Pete Seeger, Michelle Shocked, Andrew Vavrek
Native American
Dennis Banks (American Indian Movement), John Eagle Day, Rev. Dr. Holly Haile Davis, Earl Hatley (Tribal Environmental Management Services), Winona LaDuke, Dennis Lee Rogers
Peace
Peter Bergel, Louise Diamond, Arun Gandhi, Stan Goff, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Charlie Jackson, Judy Kramer, Scout Cloud Lee, Amanda Martin, Avon Mattison, Ambassador John McDonald, Dr. Nina Meyerhof, Debra Oliver, Nickolai Parker, Bill & Beth Riedler, Harry Rogers, STAR*PAC (Stop the Arms Race Politicical Action Committee), Kim Weichel, Patrick West, John Zavales, Rev. Jack Zylman
Political
E. Shirley Baca (New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner), David Bacon (2002 New Mexico Green Party Candidate for Governor), Frank Barbaro, Citizens for Legitimate Government Bob Fertik / Democrats.com, Patrick Feheley, Michael Feinstein (Santa Monica city councilmember and former Mayor), Sylvia Friedman, Tom Gallagher, Lila Garrett, Robert Ginsberg (NY State Democratic Committee Leader), Michael Haddleston, John Hagelin, Tom Hayden, Michael Hirsch (former Community Board 6 member, New York City), John Hottinger (Minnesota Senate Majority Leader), John W. McDonald, Kent County, Mich. Greens, Winona LaDuke, Eric Mar (vice-president, San Francisco Board of Education and 2nd Vice-Chair, SF Democratic Party), John Marty (Minnesota State Senator), Midge Miller, New Hampshire Green Party, NW Ohio Green Party, Jane O'Meara Sanders, Joy Robins, Stanley Sheinbaum (publisher New Perspectives Quarterly), Frank Quintera (Mayor of Glendale, CA), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Ohio Politics
Scott Adams (President of City Council, City of Brook Park), Elizabeth K. Balraj, M.D. (Cuyahoga County Coroner), Dee Benson (City Ward Democratic Leader, Seven Hills), John C. Berichon (Democratic Leader, Fairview Park), Joseph W. Biddlecombe (Mayor of Berea), Gerald Boldt (Mayor of Parma), Joseph T. Boysaw (Ward Leader of Ward 2), Dan Brady (State Senator, District 23), Dona Brady (Cleveland City Council, Ward 19), Patricia Britt (Cleveland City Council, Ward 6, Vice Chairperson, Cuyahoga County Democratic Party), Roosevelt Coats (Cleveland City Council, Ward 10), Nelson Cintron (Councilman, Ward 14 Cleveland), Tom Coyne (Councilman, City of Brooklyn), Michael DeBose (State Representative, District 12), Lesley De Souza (Council Candidate, Parma Heights), Michael Dever (Councilman, Lakewood, City Leader), Michael Gammella (Council at Large, Brook Park), Kenneth L. Johnson, Sr. (Cleveland City Councilman), Joe Jones (Cleveland City Council, Ward 1), Peter Lawson Jones (Cuyahoga County Commissioner), Annie L. Key (State Representative, District 11), Jack Krise, Jr. (Parma Treasurer), Cleveland City Councilwoman and Cleveland Treasurer Fannie Lewis, Thomas J. Longo (Mayor of Garfield Heights), Tim McCormack (Commissioner, Cuyahoga County), Dale Miller (State Representative), John Moss (Democratic Leader, Cleveland Ward 13), Robert Myers (Democratic Leader, Rocky River), Ken Patton (Mayor of Brooklyn), Karen Pianka (Recording Secretary, Cuyahoga County Dem Party), C.J. Prentiss (State Senator, 21st District), Michael Procuk (Mayor of Brooklyn Heights Village), Daniel Radakovich (2000 US Senate candidate), Frank Russo (Cuyahoga County Auditor), Bob Sepik (Councilmember, Parma Heights), Michael Skindell (State Representative, District 13), Martin J. Sweeney (Cleveland Councilman, Ward 20), Paul R. Teppenhart (Democratic City Leader, Cuyahoga Democratic Party), Martin Vittardi (Clerk, Parma Municipal Court), Jay Westbrook (Cleveland City Councilman, Ward 18), Robert J. White (Cleveland City Council, Ward 2)
Social Change Activists
Patch Adams, Jim Barlow, Pat Battle, Trude Bennett, Michael Berg, Blase and Theresa Bonpane, John D. Borders, Father Roy Bourgeois, David Bracey, Ben Cohen, Granny D, Scottie Daugherty, Kathy Engel, Bruce First, Jack Gilroy, Jack Heckelman, Carol Hansen Grey, Etta Kantor, Colin King, Gail Lerner, Edward Lewis, Diana Lyon, Corrina McFarlane, Dennis Mendonca, Barbara Mullarky, National Coalition of Organized Women, Debra Olson, Mark Polin, Digna Sanchez, Paul Alan Smith, Richard Stallman, Gina & John Thompson, Lynne Twist, Chia Vasquez, June & Stan Varner, Barbara Dawes Vogl, Helen Waller, Stephen Wangh, Harvey Wasserman, Dr. Quentin Young
Spiritual/Religious
Jose Arguelles, James & Jane Baraz, Sylvia Boorstein, Patricia Diane Cota-Robles, Ram Dass, Neil Douglas-Klotz, Wayne Dyer, Gil Fronsdale, Matthew Fox, Jack & Lianna Kornfield, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Ralph Metzner, Huston & Kendra Smith, Neale Donald Walsch
Vegetarians
American Vegetarians, Linda Blair, James Cromwell, Arun Gandhi, Marr Nealon, John Robbins
Veterans
Harold P. Donle, Stan Goff, Gregory B. Gregory, Ray Gribble, Gordon Kobayashi, Dr. David Leffler, Richard "Dick" Lloyd, Major Doug Rokke, Glenn Schuster, Gregory Stricherz, Toby Tahja-Syrett
Even the Vegetarians and Social Change Activists endorse Dennis. He's a juggernot!
Nope. I almost wish I was making this up!! I'll bust a gut if I go to any more of this man's links....Oh Gawd!!!!
You just wait until Grandfather Twilight and The Tree-Squirril People show up at the caucuses!
The sad thing is, this nutjob Kucinich is maybe only 10 or 20 years ahead of his time.
Look how close Algore came.
Yeah, but Algore's investments with that mean, wicked corporation known as Occidental Petroleum, made Grandfather Twilight stay back in the tree line and bide his time.
Oh Good God.... 