Women of Tibet: A Quiet Revolution

Women of Tibet: A Quiet Revolution airs today on San Francisco's KQED at 6:00 p.m. with additional showings on May 21. The film made it's local PBS premier on KCSM San Mateo in April and continues to air around the U. S., I caught this initial local airing on KCSM.

It's the second film in a trilogy by Bay Area filmmaker Rosemary Rawcliffe. A Quiet Revolution world premiered at the 2007 Mill Valley Film Festival.

Rosemary's film depicts three generations of Tibetan women and His Holiness the Dalai Lama telling the story of one of modern history's greatest movements in nonviolent resistance.

An estimated 15,000 unarmed Tibetan women took to the streets of Lhasa in 1959 to oppose the violent Chinese occupation of their country. The surviving exiled elders are the last generation of women left to tell the story of the Women's Uprising and transmit their cultural legacy. Having survived decades in prison and perilous escape across the Himalayas, they have become the architects and builders of the new Tibet in exile. His Holiness the Dalai Lama pays tribute to their spirit and influence.

View trailer below.

To learn more about Rosemary's trilogy: Women of Tibet

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Mama and Me In The First Church of Harpo

Oprah arrived at our family home to meet and speak with my Mother. Since Mama died 19 years ago a few days before Mother's Day, I find it significant that the high priestess of The First Church of Harpo sought her out.

I'd opened the front door to find Oprah coming up the walk, a small entourage of people with her, a limousine parked out front on the narrow street that most people have a hard time finding.

"Oprah's here," I called out, silently wondering what in the world is Oprah doing at my childhood home in Florida. A flurry of activity and greetings followed all around, a few "Faithful Friends" from my parents Sunday school class were there helping Mama get ready for a luncheon.

"O" came into our living room and sat in one of the upholstered side chairs. She was tired and without pretense told us she "needed a little refuge time along with some spiritual rejuvenation."

Everyone left Oprah alone for a moment except me, I'd been standing off to the side observing. She fit right in with her surroundings as if it was perfectly normal for her to be sitting in a stranger's living room. Someone handed her a tall glass of ice tea.

Even though "O" looked bone tired and needed refuge from celebdom, I cast aside my southern manners and approached her.

"Would you mind taking a picture with my Mother and I before you left?" I asked.

Her people 'weren't sure.' One of the "Faithful Friends" gasped out loud.

"O" didn't mind at all.

Photo: Me and Mama, Antonelli's Begonia Gardens, Capitola, CA, 1984.

Border Collie on Britian's Got Talent Contest

Gin and her owner Kate Nicholas awarded Perfect 10's for spot on Britian's Got Talent.