Its funny, because I was just trying to write a little (informal) thing of my own , to post on my myspace blog – and it was also about that thing, how its great and its a great project ;) this is what I wrote:

“I am listening to the SPEAK! CD (here at work in the antique store actually) and I am getting more and more into this CD. The more you listen to it, the better. There is so much here. I am feeing like…goosebumps and eyes tearing up, and sometimes I turn a certain selection up higher (I like to crank up Noemi Martinez’s piece especially, one of my favorites) and the story about the protest and being scared and singing “I feel pretty” in the paddy wagon, I am laughing about that and thinking how great it is; and I am thinking more, and reflecting deeper, and listening more and more. And I just want to say the more you listen the better: you should Listen to SPEAK! because its good for you and you will enjoy it. I was always telling people to purchase SPEAK! in order to support this fantastic project, but now I am thinking really, really, the reason I would encourage you to purchase SPEAK is for yourself. you will be glad.”

myspace.com/chinamartens

I want it for me, but mostly I want it for my young teen granddaughter – she’s at that half-woman, half-child, half-dingbat stage (being a teen, multiple halves are no problem for her) and while she knows of my interests, activism and beliefs (somewhat), she much prefers to listen to and emulate younger people, especially those who she feels might understand the things she herself is going through.

I can think of no more wonderful group of women (and babybfps!) to serve as a sort of introduction, for her, to life beyond myspace, the phone and the mall. That she can then visit the sites and see the other works and writings of the people on the CD is just topping on the cake.