If This Is Your Land, Where Are Your Stories?: Finding Common Ground“We need to understand our stories because our lives depend upon it.” —Ted Chamberlin The stories we tell each other reflect and shape our deepest feelings. Stories help us live our lives—and are at the heart of our current conflicts. We love and hate because of them; we make homes for ourselves and drive others out on the basis of ancient tales. As Ted Chamberlin vividly reveals, we are both connected by them and separated by their different truths. Whether Jew or Arab, black or white, Muslim or Christian, Catholic or Protestant, man or woman, our stories hold us in thrall and hold others at bay. Like the work of Joseph Campbell and Bruce Chatwin, this vital, engrossing book offers a new way to understand the hold that stories and songs have on us, and a new sense of the urgency of doing so. Drawing on his own experience in many fields—as scholar and storyteller, witness among native peoples and across cultures—Ted Chamberlin takes us on a journey through the tales of different peoples, from North America to Africa and Jamaica. Beautifully written, with insight and deep understanding, If This Is Your Land, Where Are Your Stories? examines why it is now more important than ever to attend to what others are saying in their stories and myths—and what we are saying about ourselves. Only then will we understand why they have such power over us. |
From inside the book
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... truths that are apparent everywhere just under the surface of events . His book is a gift that reads like the distillation of a lifetime of thinking and personal experience . " -Erna Paris , author of Long Shadows : Truth , Lies and ...
... truths that are apparent everywhere just under the surface of events . His book is a gift that reads like the distillation of a lifetime of thinking and personal experience . " -Erna Paris , author of Long Shadows : Truth , Lies and ...
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... truths of religion and science, of history and the arts. They tell people where they came from, and why they are here; how to live, and sometimes how to die. They come in many different forms, from creation stories to constitutions ...
... truths of religion and science, of history and the arts. They tell people where they came from, and why they are here; how to live, and sometimes how to die. They come in many different forms, from creation stories to constitutions ...
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... Truth and Consequences 138 PART IV : RIDDLES AND CHARMS Eight : Riddles 160 Nine : Charms 175 PART V : CEREMONIES OF BELIEF Ten : Beyond Conflict 198 Eleven : Ceremonies 219 Notes 241 Permissions 253 Acknowledgments 255 Index 257 If ...
... Truth and Consequences 138 PART IV : RIDDLES AND CHARMS Eight : Riddles 160 Nine : Charms 175 PART V : CEREMONIES OF BELIEF Ten : Beyond Conflict 198 Eleven : Ceremonies 219 Notes 241 Permissions 253 Acknowledgments 255 Index 257 If ...
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... people's stories are as varied as the landscapes and languages of the world ; and the storytelling traditions to which they belong tell the different truths of religion and science , of history and the arts . They tell Introduction.
... people's stories are as varied as the landscapes and languages of the world ; and the storytelling traditions to which they belong tell the different truths of religion and science , of history and the arts . They tell Introduction.
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... truth that he was seeking . He asked the lawyer for the Gitksan whether it might not be sufficient just to have the words written down , and avoid the performance . Finally , he agreed to let Mary Johnson sing her song ; but as she was ...
... truth that he was seeking . He asked the lawyer for the Gitksan whether it might not be sufficient just to have the words written down , and avoid the performance . Finally , he agreed to let Mary Johnson sing her song ; but as she was ...
Contents
1 | |
8 | |
LOSING | 74 |
REALITY AND THE IMAGINATION | 94 |
To Be or Not to Be | 118 |
RIDDLES AND CHARMS | 160 |
CEREMONIES OF BELIEF | 192 |
Beyond Conflict | 198 |
Notes | 241 |
Permissions | 253 |
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Common terms and phrases
aboriginal Americas asked Australia become beginning believe bring called century ceremony choice civilized comes contradiction course cowboys cultures death described dream English especially fact faith father feel Gitksan give happen heart hold horses human hundred idea imagination important Indian John kind knew land language later listen live look meaning metaphor mind mountains move native natural Navajo never North once poem poet question reality recognize remark represented rhymes river sacred seemed sense settlers side sing society sometimes sounds speak spirits stories and songs storytellers strange talking tell things thought told traditions translated true truth turned understand United West wonder writing written