Listener Reflections

This is your place to publicly comment on the topics and issues addressed in Speaking of Faith programs. React in a personal way, and put into words what this program meant to you.

Submit Your Reflection about "Planting the Future with Wangari Maathai."

I Love Wangari Maathai (May 3, 2008)
This week's guest, Wangari Maathi, was beyond articulate, she was inspiriational. This show has caused me to see my faith more broadly and made me vow to act to give witness to the life affirming spirituality manifested by the the beautiful Wangari Maathi. Excuse me while I go plant a tree.

Michael Boyle
San Fransisco, CA (Listens to SOF OnDemand)

Mottainai (April 27, 2008)
Mottainai, as mentioned by Wangari Maathai, a concept of not wasting resources, closely resembles my experience of a process called Naikan. Naikan is an obscure sect of Buddhism that, through three questions, lands us in a place of extreme gratitude and humility. Once in that space of gratitude, there is no room for waste. Although none of us deserves anything (a concept at extreme odds with the American concept of entitlement to everything), the sun rises, we have food on our table, the joy of children, good friends and family, the toil of others which eases our lives. How can we not be grateful for all the gifts bestowed upon us? How can we continue to consume such that those same gifts are not available to so many others?

Julie Phillips
Rochester, NY (WXXI, 1370 AM)

Inspirational (April 27, 2008)
What an inspiring way to start the morning. I've been a long-time admirer of Wangari Maathai, and to hear her speak for an hour stopped me in my tracks. I'm now late for church! I just wanted to say thank you for the interview, for the reminder that we can all make a difference, and that faith can fuel us when the world tells us not to follow our hearts and conscience but to go for the money.

Laurie Conley
McLean, VA (WAMU, 88.5 FM)

Wangari Maathai (April 27, 2008)
Wonderful program with Wangari Maathai … what a dynamic person. What she said and the way she said it really touched my heart and triggered a memory about another fig tree. "Wisdom of the Norton Bay Fig Tree" in the book Talking With Nature by Michael J. Roads (Australia): and the tree said: "Failing to experience & understand a truth, does not change truth, it merely limits your ability to relate to life as it 'IS' rather than as you see it." I just love this kind of wisdom, but find if I repeat it to a friend to stress my viewpoint in a disagreement … well … you can guess the results!

F. Clifford
Chester, MD (WAMU, 88.5 FM)

Susanne Derby (April 27, 2008)
Wangari Maathai's beliefs and experience were the most motivating words I have heard in a long time. I have a trinity of old champion live oaks around my little bungalow … which I believe deeply sustain and advise me in my insiration and sorrow. They help me listen, meditate.

Susanne Derby
North Miami, FL (WLRN, 91.3 FM)

Thanksgiving (August 21, 2006)  
As always, SOF has done a remarkable job of telling a story, weaving artistry throughout the tale. The journey of this remarkable woman is profound. Her Catholic and native roots coupled with her environmental awakening as a biologist touch me deeply. While she is a nothing short of a hero, she also represents the commonality that we as a people can achieve if we open our minds and hearts to the concept of life — feeling the Divine as connected to our ecosystems is a part of our selves. This fabulous being represents our capacity to do great things in our human shells. Thank you SOF for spotlighting this story and this woman.

Heidi Rhoades
Boca Raton, FL (Listens to SOF OnDemand)

Impact (April 17, 2006)
Hearing Dr. Maathai's voice brightened up my whole day, and it was wonderful to gain insight into her faith journey. She is truly a phenomenal woman who has made a difference. I've heard most Kenyans pronounce her name as "My-thigh-e" but the interviewer pronounced it differently. If you can help me with the correct pronunciation it would be appreciated. In addition, the host mentioned that Dr. Maathai was "…founder of the Green Belt Movement" and I'm wondering if that is the case. Small concerns about a woman who has made a big impact on the world.

Sylvia Wilson
East Point, GA (WABE, 90.1 FM)

A Look at the Gender in Power (April 17, 2006)
In your program a week ago you looked at what women did in Kenya. I would urge you to also look at some of the issues men face in Kenya, and what are the ethical and cultural factors that shape and impact men there, focusing on the non-leaders — which are most of the men. This would give more balance and perspective to what is happening there.

Nels Otto
New Hope, MN (KNOW, 91.1 FM)

Hope for the Faint of Heart (April 12, 2006)
I have now listened to this program twice, rejoicing each time in hearing the strength and humor and confidence that radiates from Wangari Maathai's voice. Surely it is a cause for celebration that such small first steps can initiate such a powerful movement. Imagine! Seven small trees planted on Nairobi Streets burgeoning into the planting of more than 30 million trees.

It reminds me of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whose incredible ministry to the poor and dying of the world began when she lifted one poor woman from the streets and cared for her in a temple portico. For those of us who are tempted to despair of ever making a difference in an apparent tidal wave of environmental and human disaster, stories like these provide more than a beacon of hope. They tell us in no uncertain terms that everything we do is important, even the lowliest, most insignificant effort to take action.

Beryl Bissell
Schroeder, MN (WLSN, 89.7 FM)

Words Washed Over Me (April 10, 2006)
When this woman from Kenya won the Nobel Peace Prize, I wanted to rejoice with a friend who came to the USA as a refugee from that country. Sadly, my friend had moved again and I had no way to hear my friend's reaction to this worldwide honor. Once I heard someone else from New Hampshire wish that Speaking of Faith could be broadcast on our radio station. Never had I heard it until this evening. By great good fortune, I was able to place our kitchen radio so it would pick up this program's gem — like words while I washed dishes this evening. Being able to refer to the summary on your Web site was a real bounty. More people, all over the world, need to learn about the necessity of preserving the environment for all people's well-being — not just the greed of a few people. How difficult that can be was illustrated by Maathai's statement about some people telling her that houses were needed more than trees.

Carolyn L. Stoddard
Franklin, NH (WYPR, 88.1 FM)

Music Choices (April 9, 2006)
Thank you for focusing on Wangari Maathai, whose leadership as an African woman in local, national, continental, and world change reminds the U.S. to pay attention to leadership and creativity of women of color around the world. Too often we are denied the chance to learn from the majority of people who are creating a new world, or undoing the damage European men started with colonialism and environmental devastation. The current environmental chaos and global warming is arguably due to the majority-male industrialist promotion of technical progress out of synch with environmental balance. I wish to accompany this report your music could have reflected this same leadership of African women, in the cultural-musical fields, such as singer-songwriter-band leaders Suzzana Owiyo from Kenya or Oumou Sangare from Mali, and countless others from Kenya and other African countries, making their way despite the sexism and racism of the music industry throughout the world.

Will Hug
Baltimore, MD (WYPR, 88.1 FM)

Tree Sculpture (April 9, 2006)
Thank you for this beautiful program. My fourth grade students and I received a $2,200 Ecolab grant to create a copper/ceramic Tree of Paradise sculpture to unveil at Augsburg College Nobel Peace Prize Festival in March 2006. Wangari Maathai was scheduled to be there! Then the blizzard hit, and the festival was cancelled. The public is welcome to come to Frost Lake Magnet School, 1505 East Hoyt Avenue, Saint Paul MN to see our five foot sculpture! Teaching about the Green Belt Movement and Wangari Maathai was the most beautiful experience I have had in 24 years of public education.

Juliana James
Minneapolis, MN (KNOW, 91.1 FM)

Continue the Work (April 9, 2006)
To all those nuns that think they are at the end of their desires to serve in these world Catholic missionaries, I give you Wangari Maathai — a beautiful prize for you all. Thank you for helping mold such a beautiful woman.

Curt Weigel
Laguna Beach, CA (Listens to SOF OnDemand)