The Butterfly Project...

It's unusual for me to do two posts in a day, but I ran across this and it is important enough to warrant a second post.

One million, five hundred thousand.

1,500,000.

That is how many innocent children died in the Holocaust. Simply because they were born Jewish. They had never done anything to harm others. They did not inflict damage in the world. They were simply born.

I'm not sure when we began hating others who were not like us. It may be as old as mankind, but somehow, I don't think so. It may have begun when we started using material stuff as a measure of our self worth. Whenever it began, hating someone else just because they think differently, or look different, or have different beliefs than we do sucks. I don't care what name you call God, I am pretty sure that this hatred going on is not at all what the creator hoped for from His/Her creations.

Yes, I am on a soapbox. Yes, you may well disagree with my thoughts. But geeze folks, enough already. Aren't you tired of the maiming, hurting, deaths causes from hating?

I am appalled at the hatred I see in the world today. This world is hurting, and as humans one of our "instincts" when we are hurt is to lash out and hurt another. That sort of transference is nothing but harmful, but it seems to be what the majority of folks do. I don't understand it. I cannot wrap my mind around it no matter how much I try. I guess I am just not wired to inflict pain on others. Rather, I hope to be a person who tries very hard to initiate a different view point among others. Maybe one that is a bit more kind, maybe one that can influence others to see a different view and gain a different insight. Often I know I fail at that, but there are times I also succeed.

When I happened upon this project I thought... "here's a chance to stem a bit of the hatred". I'm going to participate, and I am encouraging ALL of my readers and visitors to participate as well.

The Holocaust Museum Houston, in Houston, Texas is creating "The Butterfly Project". The goal of the project is to create a butterfly for each child lost in the Holocaust. Their plan is to schedule an exhibit in 2013 using the butterflies created. Everyone is invited to participate in this bit of history by creating and sending in butterflies.

Here are their rules:

• Butterflies should be no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches.
• Butterflies may be of any medium the artist chooses, but two-dimensional submissions are preferred.
• Glitter and all glitter-related products should not be used.
• Food products (cereal, macaroni, candy, marshmallows or other perishables) also should not be used.
• If possible, e-mail a photograph of your butterflies, to butterflyproject@hmh.org

Here is their address along with the information about what they need from you if you participate:

Please send or bring your butterflies to the Museum
by June 30, 2012, with the following information included:

• Your name,
• Your organization or school,
• Your address,
• Your e-mail address, and
• The total number of butterflies sent.

Mail or bring your butterflies to:
Holocaust Museum Houston
Butterfly Project
Education Department
5401 Caroline St.
Houston, TX 77004
USA

And, HERE is a link to the site for more information.