Can We Create Xanadu?

Added: (Mon Feb 02 2009)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Can We Create Xanadu?






Caryn West, author and illustrator of the Trouble With The Alphabet challenges Americans to find it within their hearts and means to help billions of suffering people across the globe. Her provocative but touching book presents, with beautiful artwork, moving poetry, and useful resources, a forum and a voice for the innocent children who are being raised amidst poverty, hunger, disease, war and humanitarian crisis.

In her book she talks of creating a Xanadu or a place that is beautiful and idyllic. She confronts us to think and act, asking: “What could be more beautiful than the concept of peace and equality in a climate of freedom and hope? A Pollyanna concept? Perhaps, but without ideals, without vision, we would live on the brink of absolute darkness with no impending dawn.”

Caryn’s proscription calls for:
• Americans to learn about the global misunderstandings and differences between countries and cultures.
• People to act with compassion in order to eradicate indifference.
• A campaign to raise awareness and to instill a greater sense of social responsibility.
• The use of art and poetry to illustrate the emotion and vulnerability of each child.
• Her book to illuminate the world’s injustices in a compelling and unforgettable manner.
• Clarifying the issues through short essays that enlighten and inspire even the most informed individuals.

“Each time one of us chooses to look instead of looking away, to speak out instead of bearing silent witness, and to stand up for the vulnerable against the corrupt, we are moving closer, to changing the world,” says Caryn. “Each of us has a voice and an obligation to advocate freedom for those oppressed. Each of us has access to information so that we may become more informed, effective citizens in our world. Each of us has the ability to make a difference, even in the most discouraging conditions.

“With knowledge comes culpability, and culpability demands action. When the discomfort begs us to look away, to change the channel, to put down the book, take another look and consider this: they are our children, our hope for a better future. Years from now, they will either be shining examples of the power of mankind’s success or evidence of complete human failure. To save humanity, we must save the children. There is no other way. “Xanadu” exists in the mind of every child. If we protect the children, if we watch them and learn from them, they will show us the way.”