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President Stan opened the meeting and introduced Terry Grier for the inspirational moment about how important our teachers are. John Powell led us in “The Star Spangled Banner” accompanied by Larry “Fingers” Showley on the ivories. The incomparable Bert Wahlen brought us up to speed on the news of the day, and get this, some of it was even good news!
Joe Farrage introduced the Hoover Interact Graduates. Jim Reynolds introduced new member Jim Bayne and Gloria Penner snuck in a KPBS telethon in the middle of her introduction of new member Thomas Karlo, the new KPBS Managing Director. I think President Stan may get a license plate on his way out of office. Welcome Jim & Tom!
Kenny Jones did the honors of presenting Paul Harris Fellows to Emile Misiraca, Kay North & Hugh Carter (his 7th!). The Grotarian Rebel with a cause, Keith McKenzie, implored some of the Rotary Veterans to join “the usual suspects” at Wine Steals in Pt. Loma on Wed the 17th for the next young (at heart) Rotarian event. Sign up on line.
Chair of the Day Peg Eddy showered her financial gifts and wisdom on President Stan as we had no visiting Rotarians. Peg introduced the speakers, Ples Felix & Azim Khamisa, for a jaw dropping presentation on Forgiveness & Hope. You see, Ples’ grandson Tony ,14 years old at the time, shot and killed Azim’s son Tariq as part of a gang initiation ritual. Azim told us of the grieving process, how his entire world stopped and then the stunner…how he came to forgive his son’s killer.
A native of Africa, Azim felt he and his family were safe in San Diego until tragedy struck. It was only then that he learned that 50% of kids don’t feel safe at school. The childhood fatality rate in the US is 11 times that of all of the other first world countries combined. It was this series of revelations that brought Azim to the conclusion that while it may have been a 14 year old gang banger that pulled the trigger, there were “victims are both ends of the gun” and this was a product of American society.
Azim founded the TKF Foundation based on teaching forgiveness not revenge. The first person he enlisted was the grandfather of his son’s killer, Ples Feliz. Together they teach peace and non violence to kids, telling the story of Tariq Khamisa and others. Azim has visited Tony in prison, not only to forgive him but to even lobby for his early release. When that day comes, there is a position waiting for Tony at the TKF Foundation.
Azim closed with a quote made famous by Mahatma Gandhi, “Resentment is like drinking poison & waiting for your enemy to die”. I didn’t hear anyone disagreeing with Azim or Gandhi, but there were many Rotarians left wondering aloud if they were capable of the same actions.
Editor: Craig Nelson
Photographer: Paul Nestor
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