Gina Miles Wins Silver Medal in Equestrian 'Eventing' at the Olympic Games. Page 17
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Gina Miles wins silver medal in equestrian ‘eventing’ at the Olympic Games. Page 17 Let’s put the Please help us eliminate plastic bags and reduce THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR MENLO PARK, ATHERTON, PORTOLA VALLEY AND WOODSIDED E back in the mail! THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR MENLO PARK, ATHERTON, PORTOLA VALLEY AND WOODSIDED E our carbon footprint by signing up AUGUST 20, 2008 www.TheAlmanacOnline.com | VOL. 43 NO. 511 now to request mail delivery of the paper. Just visit our Web Site, http://www.almanacnews.com/request and fi ll out the form. Or call us at 650 854-2626. Thank You– Tom Gibboney, publisher SEE PAGE 5 PAGE 14 PEACE CAMPMENLO PARK RESIDENT BRINGS ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS TO A SUMMER SPORTS CAMP IN THE U.S. COVER STORY TEAMING UP FOR PEACE MENLO PARK RESIDENT BRINGS ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS TO Photo by Josh Oryhon SUMMER SPORTS CAMP IN THE U.S. By Selena Simmons-Duffin “This I Believe” essay series. gram. His aikido work fostered tage of Camp Susquehannock’s camp, but because of the process Special to the Almanac “I believe that the incandescent the support of Budo for Peace and 103-year-old traditions of sports- of getting visas and traveling to joy of a happy child transcends Aiki-extensions — both organiza- manship: “It’s about the integrity America, not because they were obert Kent never expected every ethnic and economic dis- tions work in Israel with young with which you play, sportsman- all from Israel. to find himself brush- tinction humankind has invented martial artists of both Jewish and ship, the pleasure of trying hard,” Zahi explained that the other Ring shoulders with actress to keep us apart,” he wrote. “I Palestinian descent, providing the Mr. Kent says. “I think there’s American campers in the camp Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jerry believe that every prejudice, every population of students Mr. Kent magic in play — that’s the magic were very welcoming, and after Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s, lying oppression, every resentment, draws on for the scholarships. I’m tapping into here.” the first week, didn’t press them in a peace sign-festooned bed, and and every misunderstanding can The students who receive schol- for details about their back- spooning a new ice cream flavor be cured more quickly by mix- arships through the Peace Camp Long-awaited arrival ground. “They didn’t actually care before a crowd in Times Square. ing everyone’s children together, Initiative already have a back- For three weeks this summer, where we’re from and what we Yet this past May, there he was, making two teams, and letting ground in martial arts (both Adam Horovitz, Zahi Tuama and are. They just want to know who as he accepted a Ben & Jerry’s them play than by any form of aikido and other forms such as Ahmed Hamudi went to Camp is there. They just want to know “Peace Pioneer” award for found- conflict resolution, court inter- karate), and experience training Susquehannock, and for all of me.” ing an organization called the cession, or legislation we’ve come with students from the other side them, the experience exceeded Adam added that getting past Peace Camp Initiative to bring up with so far.” of the conflict. Having studied expectations. those details of the ethnic con- together Israeli Jews and Palestin- Mr. Kent’s background makes ians in a traditional American clear how this belief has informed c a summer camp. his life course. He is a third- n a m l After Times Square, the Menlo degree black belt aikido instruc- A e h ‘This is just one guy’s modest attempt to try Park resident headed to the Penn- tor, and directs the youth pro- T / r sylvanian wilderness, where he gram at the Aikido West school e b to make a difference just because the pieces e W awaited the arrival of three boys in Redwood City. He is also a a c i seemed to fit naturally. Sometimes the world from Israel — one Jewish, one program director at a summer n o r e Christian, and one Muslim — camp in Pennsylvania called V sits up and notices and tries to help.’ y b who were the first recipients Camp Susquehannock, where he o t o h ROBERT KENT OF MENLO PARK of scholarships from the Peace has been involved in some capac- P Camp Initiative. Over the next ity for the last 32 years. few weeks, the three boys lived and Two weeks after he finished his played with students from all over essay, he realized his statement the country and the world. of belief could be the impetus martial arts, “the kids are already “The people here are so nice flict is not easy. He is 14 years old It is a kind of grand experi- for action. He spoke to his friend comfortable with the idea of and everybody cares about each and has been studying karate for ment — one man’s attempt to do and fellow aikido instructor conflict occurring with a lim- other. The spirit of the place is so almost 10 years. “[To] not care something good with a lifetime of Jamie Zimron about her work ited chance of violence,” Mr. Kent amazing,” said Zahi, a 15-year- what happens in their hometown organizational connections and using aikido for conflict resolu- says. “They are predisposed to old aikido student. “This camp is and only care about who they are the aplomb to follow through on tion in the Middle East, and had think that the right solution is one really special.” — it’s something hard to find if an epiphany. the idea to found a scholarship in which all the kids are working Ahmed agreed. The visa of the you don’t look deep enough,” he program to send several kids towards a post-partisan future.” 16-year-old karate student almost said. “I think whoever let us come From belief to action from Israel and Palestine to At the camp, the kids are ordi- didn’t get approved in time to here did look deep enough to let Although the idea for the initia- Camp Susquehannock. Soon, the nary campers, learning popular visit the camp this year, but with us have this chance. tive has been floating around for Peace Camp Initiative was born. American sports such as lacrosse the assistance of U.S. Sen. Dianne “I think this entire project really some 20 years, the push to make and baseball, studying aikido Feinstein’s office, he was able to will affect us in our life.” it a reality happened in the fall “Magic in Play” with Mr. Kent, and meeting other come, too. of 2006 when Mr. Kent sat down Mr. Kent’s practice of aikido campers from all over the world. The three boys listed each Give ice cream a chance to write a submission for NPR’s serves as the vehicle for the pro- In this way, the kids take advan- other as their closest friends at the The likelihood that more stu- 14 ■ The Almanac ■ August 20, 2008 The Bowman program builds confidence, creativity and academic excellence. Lower School - Grades K - 5 Middle School - Grades 6 - 8 Individualized, self-directed program Zahi Tuama, a 15-year-old Rich international and cultural studies aikido student of Palestinian Proven, Montessori approach descent, gets flipped over by his State-of-the-art facility aikido instructor, Hanna Jiryis. Low student-teacher ratio Far left: Peace Camp scholarship students, from left, www.bowmanschool.org Adam Horovitz, 4000 Terman Drive Palo Alto, CA Tel: 650-813-9131 Zahi Tuama and Ahmed Hamudi stand with Robert Kent on the last Photo by Ann Kent day of camp. dents in the coming years will have tries to help.” Kent says. “It’s almost always about the chance that Zahi, Ahmed, and respect. When you can find a way Adam had is much more certain Hybrid vigor for people to express their respect thanks to the Peace Pioneer prize Mr. Kent’s project is truly a they have for the other side, you’re from Ben & Jerry’s. cross-cultural, multi-organiza- most of the way there.” The award was the result of a tional effort that combines Japa- nationwide search for leaders in nese, Middle Eastern, and Ameri- Organization and growth contemporary efforts for peace. can cultural influence. (Now that Mr. Kent still has a long way to Of 275 individuals and organiza- Ben & Jerry’s has contributed its go before he reaches his goal of tions nominated for the prize, Mr. support with the “Peace Pioneers” 12 students a year. Even when he Kent was one of two winners, and prize, you can add John Lennon’s had the money for two students to was awarded $10,000 from the ice pacifism to the mix.) come last summer, the visas took cream company. This blend makes perfect sense too long to process, so the trips The prize was awarded in Times coming from Mr. Kent. In addi- were delayed until this year. Square during a commemorative tion to his work at Aikido West Fundraising, he says, is still in Peace Bed-In in coordination and Camp Susquehannock, Mr. the friends and family realm. He with the John Lennon Estate and Kent is a professor of a course on emphasizes the importance of AMAZING GAMES nonprofit Peace One Day. Ben & ethics and aikido at Williams Col- growing organically, and is seek- Jerry’s also unveiled a new flavor lege in Massachusetts and a tele- ing both individual donations Saturday, August 23 for the occasion: a caramel ice commuter for a Maryland-based and renewable grants.