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In 2016, the producers and hosts of World Poetry Open Mic were challenged with making a real difference in the world. After stepping back and looking at the state of our planet, our politics, and our lives, we came to a conclusion:
One of the most significant dangers in our society today is in the feelings of separation that we feel from one culture to another.
As one of the core beliefs of our show, we truly believe that we're in this life together and that together we can overcome the obstacles that we face. We're all human beings. We all love and want what is best for our families and friends. Fear divides us. Fear that comes from politicians who want to divide us, media that wants to keep us in fear as to keep our attention. At the foundation of many of our problems is fear, corruption, and a sense of separation and helplessness.
The almost comical question then becomes "What can three poetry radio show hosts do about it?"
The answer? Nothing.
We can make as much noise as we want, but that won't cut through the clutter of such a noisy world. But...what if we could help inspire and encourage other poets from all corners of the world, all cultures, to share a message of common humanity, of compassion, and connectivity?
What if we could get a big number (like one million poets) to share these messages with the world?That would get people's attention. That could spread a message worth hearing.
One Million Poets was born through this desire.
The Goal (Or: Why Does This Even Matter?
Good question. In fact, how could any group of people, especially poets, make any difference at all?
At the root of most of the darkness in our world at the moment (the stuff that WE CAN control) is FEAR.
We are constantly being told that we are being threatened and that there is this shadow of menace looming ourselves and our loved ones. In the face of that fear, we feel small and helpless. Then, as a tragic consequence of fear mixing with powerlessness, we get violent action, whether through demonstration or, in the darkest cases, actual physical violence.
It has been proven time and time again that fear is the most useful emotion when it comes to capturing and keeping the attention of human beings. The media, with the ultimate goal of gaining attention to increase ad revenue, knows that if we can be kept in a suspended state of fear, we are more likely to watch or read their content. Politicians know the same thing.
It's a simple con job:
The political/media playbook
Reason to be afraid
+ coming attack from an evil force
+ helplessness
+ one chance for salvation
= your attention and support
One Million Poets is a focused effort to take back a part of the media to share messages from the hearts of real people to other real people. It is about shared humanity and understanding that we are all trying to survive in a large and sometimes scary world. Let's share the message that we are all in this together.
Let's fight back against the fear.
That's it. We don't want your money. We want your poetry.
At the root of most of the darkness in our world at the moment (the stuff that WE CAN control) is FEAR.
We are constantly being told that we are being threatened and that there is this shadow of menace looming ourselves and our loved ones. In the face of that fear, we feel small and helpless. Then, as a tragic consequence of fear mixing with powerlessness, we get violent action, whether through demonstration or, in the darkest cases, actual physical violence.
It has been proven time and time again that fear is the most useful emotion when it comes to capturing and keeping the attention of human beings. The media, with the ultimate goal of gaining attention to increase ad revenue, knows that if we can be kept in a suspended state of fear, we are more likely to watch or read their content. Politicians know the same thing.
It's a simple con job:
The political/media playbook
Reason to be afraid
+ coming attack from an evil force
+ helplessness
+ one chance for salvation
= your attention and support
One Million Poets is a focused effort to take back a part of the media to share messages from the hearts of real people to other real people. It is about shared humanity and understanding that we are all trying to survive in a large and sometimes scary world. Let's share the message that we are all in this together.
Let's fight back against the fear.
That's it. We don't want your money. We want your poetry.
How To Get Involved
- Write (or decide to cover) a poem that resonates with you with a some sort of message about community, humanity, and love for all of humankind.
- Create a simple video or audio recording of you reading it to the camera. In your video, challenge three other people to do the same within three days.
- Upload your video or audio to YouTube (video) or Soundcloud (audio). Make sure to write "One Million Poets" in the title. Also, if you use hashtags, make sure to use #Onemillionpoets in your description and tag section.