|
Royal Blues
I have never been much of a royal watcher. I may be an outlier in this regard but, for the past week or so, it has been impossible not to be. I mean, oh sure, when I was a girl, I paid attention to Princess Di and Prince Charles but unlike some of my friends, I didn’t wake up in the early morning hours to watch the Royal Wedding. Of course, I can remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the news about Princess Diana’s death. And I can remember seeing the news footage of her funeral with William and Harry in the cortege following behind her casket. I also remember when William met Kate and when Harry met Meghan. Thanks to relentless news coverage, regardless of one’s level of fascination, these royal (and royal-adjacent) milestones are difficult to ignore. So, it was no surprise that the ten-day period of mourning following Queen Elizabeth II’s death blanketed the news morning, noon, and night. But I was a bit shocked at how mesmerized I was by the carefully orchestrated fanfare and rituals. The nearly universal outpouring of affection for the Queen was stunning. In her 70 years on the throne, she must have done something right. Elizabeth was an icon and as it turns out, icons can be warm, witty, and dutiful. Despite my hesitancy to embrace the idea of a monarchy and all its baggage, there’s no doubt that QEII was revered by a huge cross section of people from all walks of life. The stiff upper lip of an entire country was on full display but now that the Queen has been laid to rest and the public remembrances are fading, I hope her family can grieve privately. They have a lot to do, particularly Charles as he takes over as England's new monarch. I wonder if, like me, he's had Mel Brooks' voice going through his head all week, proclaiming, “It’s good to be the king!” True or not, King Charles III will be finding out soon enough. God save the King...and good luck.
Stay safe and healthy,
Tracy Jacobs
| |
Tuesday, September 27, 7–8:30 p.m.
Towson University, University Union Room 324
Free
Join author, Saima Sitwat, for a conversation about major themes of her book, American Muslim: An Immigrant’s Journey. Hear excerpts from Sitwat’s memoir and explore questions such as, "What does it mean to be a minority, a Muslim, an immigrant, and a woman in 21st century America?” Co-sponsored by Towson University Center for Student Diversity and TU Women's and Gender Studies.
| |
Friday, October 7, noon in Hunt Valley
$23 per person, includes tax and tip
Join other Osher members for lunch and conversation. This is a great chance to meet other members outside of the classroom!
Advanced registration is required: Please email osher@towson.edu by September 30 to register.
*Cash only payment at the venue. Please bring exact change if possible.
| |
Sponsored by the TU Center for Student Diversity and the Cook Library
Wednesday, October 26, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Towson University, University Union Room 302A
The Human Library is a conversation event where people are the books. People act as books with titles like: Muslim, Gay, Baby Boomer, Alcoholic, ADHD, Lower income, Transgender, etc. The books share their stories with readers who can check out a person to learn more about their identity and ask them questions. Ultimately, the event hopes to challenge societal prejudices and to bring a better understanding of community to everyone involved. We want to show the world, “don’t judge a book by its cover!" Generally these conversations last 30 minutes long.
Find more information on the global phenomenon of the Human Library HERE.
Ready to participate in this year's Human Library? Volunteer to be a book or register to be a reader.
Have questions? Contact Keiwana Perryman at kperryman@towson.edu and/or Cynthia Baker at cmbaker@towson.edu.
| |
| |
|
