Announcing the first annual Alexander Phillips ‘Areté Award’
The first annual Alexander Phillips Arete Award — arete is a Greek term that translates as ‘all around excellence’ — will go to the person or group of people of any age and who speak any language (as long as I can figure out a way to translate; I speak/write English and Spanish) who produce a piece of writing (prose or poetry or what have you, but not more than 1000 words) or a video composition (it can be dance or rap or music of any kind or whatever, but not more than 3 minutes in length) that we deem best shines a light on this year’s theme, which is:
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Background: Already this year, there have occurred what many people widely characterize as acts — in some cases, inconceivably and unspeakably cruel — of evil on sundry scales.
My own view of evil, how it can manifest itself, and how it can come to be in the first place, was thrown for a loop when the life of my beloved and incredibly accomplished dad, Alexander Phillips, the son of dirt-poor Greek immigrants, was tragically truncated in September 2011.
If we’re to further bridge human divides, and hence be delivered from evil, does this require enormous compassion, understanding, inclusion, and a will to overcome our blindspots, among other qualities or virtues or attributes?
What about you? How can we deliver ourselves from evil? Is there such a thing as an evil person, or are there only evil acts? Is there such a thing as evil? Is good its converse? Care to share your creative stores of wisdom via writing or video?
Ground rules: Absolutely anyone of any age can participate. Submissions must be turned in to me via my email (unless other arrangements are made) Christopher_Phillips@mac.com
Deadline: [EXTENDED TIL APRIL 8th THIS YEAR] — though I do reserve the right to extend again, if deemed in the best interest of receiving an array of richer submissions] — and in future years, based on submissions I’ve gotten so far, I believe it’s best or ideally suited, all in all, for young people between around ages of 13 to 23 or so]. It originally was set for the first day of spring, my Dad’s birthday, and in future years that’s what I’ll aim for; but I announced this so late, some don’t have time to submit by then.
[This award is not being paid for with our nonprofit funds.]