Sunday, September 21, 2025

September 21, 2025: INTERNATIONAL PEACE Day

Today (September 21, 2025) on International Peace Day 2025, we are reminded that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the deliberate cultivation of understanding, empathy and justice in our shared human endeavor. The theme for this year is “Act Now for a Peaceful World”, emphasizing the fact that everyone in society has a role to play. This day is devoted to building upon the principles of peace, both inside and worldwide. True peace begins within each of us, in the quiet moments of reflection, in the courage to listen to those whom we may not yet understand, and in the commitment to act with compassion even when such action demands resilience. Let us recognize that our global challenges (such as social inequality, environmental stress and cultural divisions) cannot be solved through force or indifference, but only through cooperation guided by mutual respect and dignity. In scholarship as in society, knowledge flourishes most in the light of open dialogue and communities thrive most when differences are met with patience rather than hostility.
Today, let us reaffirm our duty not only to envision a peaceful world, but to enact it through our daily choices: in our conversations, our decisions and our shared pursuits. Every deliberate act of fairness, every acknowledgment of another’s humanity and every effort to bridge misunderstanding lights the path toward the collective harmony that this day calls upon us to honor. May this day strengthen our desire to embody peace, turning its abstract ideal into lived reality, and may we move forward with unwavering commitment to a world where justice, freedom and human dignity coexist with serenity!
"An eye for an eye will leave the entire world blind." (Mahatma Gandhi)  
Historical background info:
“The International Day of Peace, also officially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on 21 September.
It is dedicated to 
world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The day was first celebrated in 1981 and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups and people.” (Source: Encyclopedia)
 My previous acknowledgements on the same theme: PEACE Day – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Friday, September 19, 2025

Alice’s Book Club – SUMMER session of 2025

~ featuring the famous Romanian poet, Mihai Eminescu, during "Eminescu year of 2025" ~
As the summer season gradually concludes, on Friday (September 19, 2025) I held the third edition of our book club at our Circle, this time focusing on the poetry of Mihai Eminescu, the renowned Romanian poet. Also, I would like to mention that following the recommendation of the Romanian Academy, year 2025 has been officially designated as the “Year of Mihai Eminescu” in order to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the birth of Romania's national poet. 
This initiative seeks to emphasize Eminescu's life and contributions through a variety of cultural activities, fresh literary releases, academic studies and potentially new stamp collections, all working together to pay tribute to the genius who established the roots of Romanian national culture.
In light of the year 2025 being a particularly significant one from this perspective, I organized at my Circle 3 events (#1 – January 2025, #2 – June 15, 2025and this one is the 3rd – all of them meant to honor our esteemed poet. As you all know, our group has a yearly practice of honoring our national poet on his birthday (which falls in January) and we have never failed to do this over the last 7 (seven) years since our Circle came into existence. 
Once again, my most sincere appreciation to those friends who honored my invitation...your support is truly appreciated! Until we meet again, my best regards to all!
Alice
The most beautiful tribute we can pay to Mihai Eminescu is to read his work.
To further honor our national poet, here are some of my thoughts, written directly in Romanian language
To translate this into English or into any other language, please use the automated translator installed at the bottom of the page. Thank you!
Anul Mihai Eminescu – 2025: o reverberație a geniului românesc
Anul 2025 marchează o aniversare semnificativă: este oficial declarat Anul Mihai Eminescu, un omagiu adus poetului național, ale cărui versuri și gândire filosofică continuă să modeleze identitatea culturală a României. Acum, mai mult ca niciodată, trebuie să recitim, să reinterpretăm și să revalorificăm opera sa.
Eminescu nu este doar un simbol romantic al trecutului, ci o voce puternică și relevantă în prezent. Poezia sa oglindește esența umană, frământările intelectuale și căutarea unui ideal într-o lume aflată în continuă schimbare. Într-un secol al vitezei și al tehnologiei, Eminescu ne amintește de profunzimea gândului, de frumusețea limbajului și de necesitatea reflecției.
În Anul Eminescu, să ne propunem să citim și să discutăm despre creația sa cu un ochi nou, fără clișee, fără limite impuse de timp. Fie că este ”Luceafărul”, ”Scrisorile” sau meditațiile sale asupra destinului național, fiecare vers ascunde adevăruri universale.
Sărbătorim, dar și reflectăm: Ce mai înseamnă Eminescu pentru noi, astăzi? Cum putem păstra vie moștenirea sa, dincolo de simple festivități? 
Într-o lume dominată de zgomot și superficialitate, lectura lui Eminescu rămâne un act de rezistență intelectuală și emoțională.
Tu ce poezie eminesciană recitești anul acesta?
Ce te legeni codrule (poem de Mihai Eminescu – format audio)
Luceafărul(poemul integral al lui Mihai Eminescu; recită actorul Gheorghe Cozoriciformat audio)
Sara pe deal (poem de Mihai Eminescu; interpretează corul Madrigalformat audio)
Dintre sute de catarge (poem de Mihai Eminescu; 
interpretează grupul Pro Musica – format audio)
Și dacă…”  (poem de Mihai Eminescu; recită actorul George Vraca – format audio)