leslie SMITH: Ulster Project

We Are All the Same

We Are All the Same - Video

We Are All the Same - Audio

Letter from Leslie

October 18, 2002

Dear Everybody,

In July 2002 I had an opportunity to work with a group of 15 year old young men and women from Castlederg Northern Ireland and their New Orleans host teens. I didn't know anything about the Ulster Project - although I was aware of the violence in Northern Ireland. Various activities were scheduled over the course of the 4 weeks they were here in the USA and my friend Mona Herbert asked me if I would come in and do a music program with them.

I wasn't sure about what I was going to do, but I wanted to understand their struggle and really know how they felt about it. I played several of my songs for them and talked to them about what a powerful communication tool music can be. A safe, non-violent way to put issues and ideas on the table- to offer a different view, to incite change by compelling people to understanding; to defuse, to clarify, to uncover truth.

The idea with The Ulster Project is to put kids together that come from both sides of the troubles-. To let them know each other a bit- with the hope being that through putting a face on the "enemy", as these children grow up there will be a greater desire to find a solution that will create peace in their beautiful homeland.

I wrote 10 questions and asked them all to please answer me honestly. With those answers, I promised to write a song expressing how they all REALLY felt, as a group, both Catholic and Protestant. I promised them I would keep their answers private. I wouldn't connect their names to what they each said individually. Here are some of the questions:

How do you Feel About The Conflict at Home? What do you think the solution is? What would peace mean to you? What is the difference between Protestants and Catholics? What is the most beautiful thing about Ireland? What have you learned about each other here?

I took their answers and wrote "We are All the Same". I brought the lyrics to them and had each one read the words and give me their input before putting the song to music. This song represents the hearts and minds of some very special young people in Northern Ireland. If you are moved by it, let them know. Get involved if you can, and if you can't - try to pay closer attention to what's going on in their corner of the world. Go online and get the paper from Northern Ireland every once and a while and be aware of the sorrow and the struggle that these young people face.

The world has become very small. We are all connected. Everyone's struggle is our struggle- whether or not we choose to realize it. We are all still affected by the outcome.

I was fortunate to work with some teens from New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Riverfront, under the direction of their media arts teachers, Paul Werner, and Douglas Spotted Eagle, an amazing and talented musician and digital media expert who had come to guest teach for one week. Mr. Werner and Mr. Spotted Eagle helped the teens at NOCCA Riverfront to film and put together the video. Daryl Dickerson, also a media arts teacher at NOCCA Riverfront, specializing in audio recording assisted them with capturing audio, mixing and mastering the song.

Already, we have had teens on 2 continents working together to create this communication, and through working with the Ulster Project I have found so many bright spirits. I think they are everywhere. We just have to look for them.

The poem posted, "Both Sides" is what I wrote after my first day with the Ulster Teens. I had to get my own feelings out of the way so that I could represent them. I read it to some of the adults that had come from Castlederg, and they found it moving and thought I should post it. I have to believe that every parent wants better for their child. Peace is always possible. There is always hope and there is always a way.

I feel very blessed that Mona called me and let me know these brave and wonderful people.

Leslie Blackshear Smith
leslie@onlyleslie.com

Links

• The Ulster Project International Site
• Learn More About the Troubles in Northern Ireland