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Conservatism, Reaction, and the Elder's Responsibility: A Message to My Age Grade

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Conservatism, Reaction, and the Elder's Responsibility: A Message to My Age Grade Great Day, Fam. This one right here? It’s not for everyone. If you’re not at or approaching Eldership—defined in our tribe as about 55 years old and up—you might not feel all of this. But if you’re curious, or if you’re one of those younger souls already walking with wisdom, you’re welcome to keep reading. This message is for the Elders. For those of us who should know better. And yes—I’m including myself. Let’s Start With the Mirror I’ve got to confess something. I’ve been guilty. Guilty of being reactionary. Guilty of falling into the trap of conservatism. Guilty of romanticizing the past. Guilty of looking at our young people and calling them “soft”—as if we were born warriors, as if we didn’t have to become who we are through fire, failure, and guidance. Many of us Elders are stuck in a loop. We remember only the highlights of our youth—the toughest times we survived, the boldest moments ...

Initiation by Imagination- Lost story of Gye

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“Elder we hear many stories in Gye-Nyame, but very few about Gye himself.” I stated as we sat in the shop drinking coffee and smoking hookah. This elder was hard to catch up with, and even if you caught up with him you were not guaranteed to be blessed with a conversation. So I planed to take advantage of every minute that he blessed me with. “You are right young man there are not many stories about Gye that we share, but they do exist, and at the right time they appear to those who earnestly seek them.” the elder said as he sat back holding the hookah stem enjoying the flavor he had chosen. “Elder will you share one with me?” I asked hoping for a yes... “Young man it will be my pleasure, I have heard a lot about you and the work you have been doing in the tribe, so I feel it is time for you to get more info about our mythic founder.” He then passed me the hookah, and took a sip of his coffee. Looking at me very seriously, “make sure you take care of this story and do not pass it to ...

Trials of Gye (foundation myth for Gye-Nyame Tribe) part 1

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Trials of Gye Long ago, before time was counted and broken down into small units designed to eat up our lives, there existed a proud people that dwelled in what we call the east. They existed in peace and harmony from the beginning. These people called themselves Black, naming themselves after the color of the earth from which they came. These people were many but divided into different tribes each one being led by their own chief. There was never a need for all of the people to come together because there was plenty of resources for them to exist in harmony. In one of the tribes, lived a young man by the name of Gye. Gye was the eldest son of a chief named Conive and was in line to rule his tribe. Gye had a younger brother name Sen who was very jealous of Gye's position. Sen happened to be chief Conive's favorite. Together they often schemed to make Gye look bad before the people and to throw him into disfavor. Sen was in constant competition with Gye, and won most of...