Reitz Journalism

This I Believe is an international project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values that guide their daily lives. These short statements of belief are written by many different people from all over the world and are featured on radio stations in Canada and the United States, as well as normal broadcast on NPR. This I Believe was first broadcasted in 1951, with Edward R. Murrow as the host. For five years, a team of editors worked on the project making the series a daily program and eventually a phenomenon for all publishers.
NPR also helps run This I Believe essays. Some of the essays were by known people. The series was revived last year and opened to everyone. These consisted of people from all over the world, from John McCain and Bill Gates, to people like you and me. The essays contribute from today’s essays and from the original series in 1950.
From reflections on kindness, generosity, and compassion, to staunch convictions about democracy, war, and freedom, these essays touch every reader’s soul contributing to describe who we really are as people. In this volume you will find essays of today, which include stories of people searching for meaning, trying to overcome fear, and the wonders of death and birth.
It is not always easy to describe who we are until we know what we believe in; This I Believe is inspiring and comforting in that effect. It helps us to see the strength in each individual in all aspects of life. These novels are energizing, inspirational, enlightening, and filled with hope for the future and also understanding of our past. This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women brings together 80 different individuals; some famous, infamous, and unknown but however they are known, they are remarkable people.
In This I Believe they reprinted some essays from the 1950s, showing that no matter how old, beliefs can still hold true for many years. Contributors of their essays include Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and Albert Einstein who let us see through their eyes, and understand the many wonders of the world.
The essays have many different approaches to let you understand their beliefs; some are deep and passionate while others are humorous and easy to understand. For example, in one of the essays there is a surgeon whose illiterate mother changed his early life with faith and a library card. While the more humorous essays include one where a Burmese immigrant confides that he believes in feeding monkeys on his birthday, because a Buddhist monk said it would allow his family to prosper.
By engaging yourself in one of these 80 essays within the novel, you might fill up with hope for the future, and renew your belief in your inner strength, honesty, and respect for people. Nowadays we are impacted with cruelty, disrespect, war, and misfortune because of uprising events in our society. However, the kindness we carry within ourselves everyday are not featured on the news for the world to see, but through these essays we can witness the strength of people in their everyday lives. This I Believe helps us get insight on the world around us and through people’s eyes just like you. Pick up This I Believe, and rekindle your flame for the hope of a better mankind.
On November 24, 2008 at 7:30 P.M, the EVSC invites all of the EVSC employees to submit a 350-500 word essays to the EVPL website and/or the national NPR This I Believe website. Deadline for submitting your This I Believe, essay is November 1, 2008. Essays may be selected to be read on WNIN radio, published in the Evansville Courier and people will people will also be selected to read all of a portion of their essay at the This I Believe event, at the Shanklin Theater at the University of Evansville on November 24, 2008. Everyone is encouraged to participate in this project, even students. Three lucky students will be selected to receive a $100 cash reward. For more information about Evansville’s 2008 One Book One Community project can be found at, https://www.evpl.org/onebook/ or by contacting committee members Becky Conner (rebeccea.conner@evsc.k12.in.us)
And now I ask you….
“What do you believe?”