open letters to a new president
commentary by aminatta forma, david grossman,
derek walcott, raja shehadeh, and wola soyinka
published 23 january 2009
originally published by BBC Radio World Service
on 20 January 2009
 
advanced notions | volume 4 • number 1
print
 
"The words you choose...are just as important as the decision to speak."
-author unknown
 
published January 2003 to January 2009 | Advanced Notions (formerly Bonus Writings, a well-received section of patsymooreDOTcom) consists of engrossing 'think pieces' by friends and favorites.

For these pages, artists of varied disciplines were invited to make contributions related to topics they deem noteworthy. We also encouraged non-artists to submit musings about Art.
 
 
 

 
 
Advanced Notions (various)
formerly patsymooreDOTcoms Bonus Writings; insightful and inciting literature from artists and about art
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Write of Passage (Eboni Rafus)
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In the week prior to the inauguration of President Barack Obama, The Strand invited five writers and poets to send an open letter to the new leader. From around the world, they expressed their hopes and concerns.

01.12.09 - Aminatta Forna

The Sierra Leonean Scottish writer Aminatta Forna describes how her main emotion was one of relief that at last there is someone in the most powerful position on the planet who was also born at 'a crossroads' as she puts it. (listen HERE)


01.13.09 - David Grossman

Barack Obama has already admitted reading David Grossman's books to try to get a better understanding of the Middle East conflict. (listen HERE)


01.14.09 - Derek Walcott

The Nobel Prize winning writer reads a peom especially written for the World Service to mark the inauguration of Barack Obama. (listen HERE)

 
 
 
 
 
 
(l-r, top-bottom) Forna, Shehadeh, Soyinka, Grossman, and Walcott
 
 

01.15.09 - Raja Shehadeh

The Palestinian lawyer and writer, best known for his books on international law and human rights, writes an open letter to the new President. (listen HERE)


01.19.09 - Wole Soyinka

The Nigerian writer, poet and playwright considers recent history and how slow change can sometimes be when nations choose a new direction. (listen HERE)
 
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