David LaMotte

Speaker • Author • Musician

Peace Work

A Brief Article on Heroes

Dec 27, 2009
I was asked to write a short piece for the Eagle, a quarterly magazine published by the Anglican Cathedral in Brisbane, on Desmond Tutu. Here it is… From Tutu Desmond Tutu speaking at the Rotary World Peace Symposium Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu is a hero of mine. I make that statement with full awareness that […]

A Brief Article on Heroes

by David LaMotte

I was asked to write a short piece for the Eagle, a quarterly magazine published by the Anglican Cathedral in Brisbane, on Desmond Tutu. Here it is… From Tutu Desmond Tutu speaking at the Rotary World Peace Symposium Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu is a hero of mine. I make that statement with full awareness that […]

Pictures and captions from India

Dec 14, 2009
Here are fifty+ pictures and captions showing our first couple of weeks in India and some of the work that ASM is doing. It’s been quite an adventure thus far. Click on the picture below to go to the photo album: India One

Pictures and captions from India

by David LaMotte

Here are fifty+ pictures and captions showing our first couple of weeks in India and some of the work that ASM is doing. It’s been quite an adventure thus far. Click on the picture below to go to the photo album: India One

Of AIDS education and office space

Dec 8, 2009
Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India Our first full day in Srikakulam is drawing to a close and Deanna’s taking her turn going down to dinner. There are two volunteers from a non-profit in the U.K., Becky and Hannah, who are teaching English here, and we all usually have meals together. Since Mason goes to sleep before […]

Of AIDS education and office space

by David LaMotte

Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India Our first full day in Srikakulam is drawing to a close and Deanna’s taking her turn going down to dinner. There are two volunteers from a non-profit in the U.K., Becky and Hannah, who are teaching English here, and we all usually have meals together. Since Mason goes to sleep before […]

Arthik Samata Mandal

Dec 8, 2009
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India From India One As I write this note I am sitting under a ceiling fan in a simple room with concrete walls and screenless windows on a bed that is covered by a mosquito net. Mason is sleeping in his little tent/crib just beside the bed. The room is on the […]

Arthik Samata Mandal

by David LaMotte

Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India From India One As I write this note I am sitting under a ceiling fan in a simple room with concrete walls and screenless windows on a bed that is covered by a mosquito net. Mason is sleeping in his little tent/crib just beside the bed. The room is on the […]

An Interview

Nov 29, 2009
From blog pix About a week ago I received an interview request from Rebekah Tucker, the Editor of Longwood University’s newspaper, the Rotunda. She sent a few questions along and I thought it would be appropriate to post the answers here. They are good and important questions, and I’m glad that people like Rebekah are […]

An Interview

by David LaMotte

From blog pix About a week ago I received an interview request from Rebekah Tucker, the Editor of Longwood University’s newspaper, the Rotunda. She sent a few questions along and I thought it would be appropriate to post the answers here. They are good and important questions, and I’m glad that people like Rebekah are […]

New Rotary Peace Fellowship video

Jul 11, 2009
Rotary International recently released a new video about the Rotary World Peace Fellowship, of which I am a recipient. I got to see the video in Birmingham, England a couple of weeks ago, and I’m happy to be able to share it with you now. If you’d like to know more about what I’m doing […]

New Rotary Peace Fellowship video

by David LaMotte

Rotary International recently released a new video about the Rotary World Peace Fellowship, of which I am a recipient. I got to see the video in Birmingham, England a couple of weeks ago, and I’m happy to be able to share it with you now. If you’d like to know more about what I’m doing […]

The Real World

Jun 24, 2009
the Dubai airport, complete with indoor palm trees It’s five in the afternoon in Brisbane, and about 10 AM here on this airplane. According to the flight information on the little screen embedded in the seat in front of me, I’m flying over Damascus right now, on my way to England. I spent a few […]

The Real World

by David LaMotte

the Dubai airport, complete with indoor palm trees It’s five in the afternoon in Brisbane, and about 10 AM here on this airplane. According to the flight information on the little screen embedded in the seat in front of me, I’m flying over Damascus right now, on my way to England. I spent a few […]

Remembering Columbine

Apr 25, 2009
From random blog photos News stories about the ten year anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings seemed to jump out from every corner of the internet in the last week. The academic journal Psychological Review gave a whole issue to “Lessons of Columbine.” That experience is etched in our national memory, and though it’s […]

Remembering Columbine

by David LaMotte

From random blog photos News stories about the ten year anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings seemed to jump out from every corner of the internet in the last week. The academic journal Psychological Review gave a whole issue to “Lessons of Columbine.” That experience is etched in our national memory, and though it’s […]

New Faces of Peace at UQ

Apr 15, 2009
by Naomi Smith For some, the word peace conjures up images of hippies and free love. Not so for the new 2009 cohort of UQ Rotary World Peace Fellows. For the nine new scholars housed at UQ’s Rotary Centre for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution in the School of Political Science and International […]

New Faces of Peace at UQ

by David LaMotte

by Naomi Smith For some, the word peace conjures up images of hippies and free love. Not so for the new 2009 cohort of UQ Rotary World Peace Fellows. For the nine new scholars housed at UQ’s Rotary Centre for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution in the School of Political Science and International […]

My First Paper

Apr 8, 2009
From random blog photos I turned in my first paper of my post-grad career today. I’ve been deeply immersed in it for the last couple of weeks, and have learned a great deal. The education has come not only from wrestling with the content, though, but also from wrestling with writing an academic paper, which […]

My First Paper

by David LaMotte

From random blog photos I turned in my first paper of my post-grad career today. I’ve been deeply immersed in it for the last couple of weeks, and have learned a great deal. The education has come not only from wrestling with the content, though, but also from wrestling with writing an academic paper, which […]

First week of classes

Mar 7, 2009
From random blog photos It’s Saturday morning here in Fig Tree Pocket, our little corner of Brisbane. Deanna was up with a restless Mason through much of the night, so she’s getting some sleep while he is, and I’m watching the morning in a quiet house. I’ve finished my first week of classes at the […]

First week of classes

by David LaMotte

From random blog photos It’s Saturday morning here in Fig Tree Pocket, our little corner of Brisbane. Deanna was up with a restless Mason through much of the night, so she’s getting some sleep while he is, and I’m watching the morning in a quiet house. I’ve finished my first week of classes at the […]

How the World Changes

Mar 1, 2009
From random blog photos Deanna and Mason on the bus It’s Sunday in Brisbane, and yet another warm, clear day. The quick update is this: Mason turned four-months-old yesterday, we’ve been here for a month, all of the campus orientation events are through and classes start tomorrow. I’ve met all of the fellows, and they […]

How the World Changes

by David LaMotte

From random blog photos Deanna and Mason on the bus It’s Sunday in Brisbane, and yet another warm, clear day. The quick update is this: Mason turned four-months-old yesterday, we’ve been here for a month, all of the campus orientation events are through and classes start tomorrow. I’ve met all of the fellows, and they […]

Class VII Fellows

Feb 19, 2009
I’m going to meet up with a few of the Fellows with whom I’ll be studying at the University of Queensland. Some have yet to arrive and some are here and looking for places to live (we’re lucky to have figured that out already). It’s a fascinating looking group of people. Rotary has posted our […]

Class VII Fellows

by David LaMotte

I’m going to meet up with a few of the Fellows with whom I’ll be studying at the University of Queensland. Some have yet to arrive and some are here and looking for places to live (we’re lucky to have figured that out already). It’s a fascinating looking group of people. Rotary has posted our […]

Gaza

Jan 13, 2009
This is a long blog, and I apologize for that. I’ve been sitting with my sadness and frustration about current events in Gaza for over two weeks now, and I’m glad to have taken some time to distill some of my feelings. This is as short as I could go, and I’m sure it will […]

Gaza

by David LaMotte

This is a long blog, and I apologize for that. I’ve been sitting with my sadness and frustration about current events in Gaza for over two weeks now, and I’m glad to have taken some time to distill some of my feelings. This is as short as I could go, and I’m sure it will […]

Something I think is worth doing

Dec 18, 2008
This summer I spent two weeks in Israel and Palestine, mostly in the West Bank. The group I traveled with, Interfaith Peace Builders, met with people from all sides of the conflict there, and had first-hand experience of the way people are treating each other. It left me somewhat radicalized, but not necessarily in the […]

Something I think is worth doing

by David LaMotte

This summer I spent two weeks in Israel and Palestine, mostly in the West Bank. The group I traveled with, Interfaith Peace Builders, met with people from all sides of the conflict there, and had first-hand experience of the way people are treating each other. It left me somewhat radicalized, but not necessarily in the […]

The farewell show

Dec 2, 2008
…and suddenly it’s Sunday night. My last show is no longer something I’m getting ready for. It happened. And it was a wonderful time. People came from all over. People were there from many states, including Alaska, (though I don’t think the show was the only reason for their trip). But people came from Missouri, […]

The farewell show

by David LaMotte

…and suddenly it’s Sunday night. My last show is no longer something I’m getting ready for. It happened. And it was a wonderful time. People came from all over. People were there from many states, including Alaska, (though I don’t think the show was the only reason for their trip). But people came from Missouri, […]

A Change Is Going To Come

Nov 26, 2008
David LaMotte calls it a career Mountain Xpress by Jason Bugg in Vol. 15 / Iss. 18 on 11/26/2008 The word “change” has been thrown around a lot these days as a slogan, an idea, a mantra for some and even a source of derision for others. But for singer/songwriter David LaMotte, change isn’t just […]

A Change Is Going To Come

by David LaMotte

David LaMotte calls it a career Mountain Xpress by Jason Bugg in Vol. 15 / Iss. 18 on 11/26/2008 The word “change” has been thrown around a lot these days as a slogan, an idea, a mantra for some and even a source of derision for others. But for singer/songwriter David LaMotte, change isn’t just […]

A quick post-election blog

Nov 10, 2008
… in between all the baby photos (more soon, you can be sure). My sister Kathy, who is a first year law student at Cornell with a focus on working on our broken death penalty system, wrote a piece on her blog entitled “Now What? A Note to my Co-Liberals.” It’s a good read, whether […]

A quick post-election blog

by David LaMotte

… in between all the baby photos (more soon, you can be sure). My sister Kathy, who is a first year law student at Cornell with a focus on working on our broken death penalty system, wrote a piece on her blog entitled “Now What? A Note to my Co-Liberals.” It’s a good read, whether […]

In Light of Current Events

Oct 28, 2008
Sadly, it seems that my poem White Flour refuses to be outdated. There is more sad news on the topic from Tennessee yesterday. People at shows have been asking where they can get a copy, so I’ve decided to add a permanent page with the text.  Feel free to distribute as you see fit.

In Light of Current Events

by David LaMotte

Sadly, it seems that my poem White Flour refuses to be outdated. There is more sad news on the topic from Tennessee yesterday. People at shows have been asking where they can get a copy, so I’ve decided to add a permanent page with the text.  Feel free to distribute as you see fit.

An article about the Middle East trip

Sep 23, 2008
This article about my trip to Israel and Palestine came out in the Asheville Citizen-Times this past weekend. There are a few things I would change in it, but I’m really grateful to the reporter, Leslie Boyd, for her time and for giving attention to the issue. http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880919019 As for the things I would tweak, […]

An article about the Middle East trip

by David LaMotte

This article about my trip to Israel and Palestine came out in the Asheville Citizen-Times this past weekend. There are a few things I would change in it, but I’m really grateful to the reporter, Leslie Boyd, for her time and for giving attention to the issue. http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880919019 As for the things I would tweak, […]

About the Fellowship

Sep 8, 2008
No, not the Fellowship of the Rings, though I was offered a spot as an extra in the movies while I was in New Zealand, back when they were shooting them… Anyway, that’s another story, but ask me some time! 😉 Lots of people have been asking about the Rotary World Peace Fellowship that’s calling […]

About the Fellowship

by David LaMotte

No, not the Fellowship of the Rings, though I was offered a spot as an extra in the movies while I was in New Zealand, back when they were shooting them… Anyway, that’s another story, but ask me some time! 😉 Lots of people have been asking about the Rotary World Peace Fellowship that’s calling […]

Who is my neighbor?

Aug 3, 2008
One of the most disturbing elements of the occupation of Palestine is the separation of Israeli Jews from Palestinians. Early in the trip we had an evening meeting with five students from Hebrew University who represented a broad spectrum of political views in Israeli society. The conversation was lively and there was plenty of respectful […]

Who is my neighbor?

by David LaMotte

One of the most disturbing elements of the occupation of Palestine is the separation of Israeli Jews from Palestinians. Early in the trip we had an evening meeting with five students from Hebrew University who represented a broad spectrum of political views in Israeli society. The conversation was lively and there was plenty of respectful […]

Nazareth

Aug 2, 2008
Nazareth This week has been astoundingly dense and deeply emotional.  Two days into the trip I already felt like my experience had been worth the effort and expense. I had no idea how each of the following days would multiply that impression. I’ve tried three times to start this update with a story from the […]

Nazareth

by David LaMotte

Nazareth This week has been astoundingly dense and deeply emotional.  Two days into the trip I already felt like my experience had been worth the effort and expense. I had no idea how each of the following days would multiply that impression. I’ve tried three times to start this update with a story from the […]

off to the Middle East

Jul 29, 2008
OK, so I do my share of travel. I admit this is a bit dense, though, even for a road dog like me. I flew to Washington, DC on Friday in order to be here in time for an orientation session that began on Saturday. The group seems strong, with a broad diversity of different […]

off to the Middle East

by David LaMotte

OK, so I do my share of travel. I admit this is a bit dense, though, even for a road dog like me. I flew to Washington, DC on Friday in order to be here in time for an orientation session that began on Saturday. The group seems strong, with a broad diversity of different […]

A movie recommendation

Jul 17, 2008
In preparation for my trip to Israel and Palestine next week, last night Deanna and I watched a movie called “Encounter Point.” I highly recommend it. It’s a documentary about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and though it doesn’t flinch from portraying and engaging the depth and severity of the problem at any point, it’s a heartening […]

A movie recommendation

by David LaMotte

In preparation for my trip to Israel and Palestine next week, last night Deanna and I watched a movie called “Encounter Point.” I highly recommend it. It’s a documentary about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and though it doesn’t flinch from portraying and engaging the depth and severity of the problem at any point, it’s a heartening […]

Back in Guatemala

Jun 17, 2008
I woke this morning to the familiar sound of a long string of fireworks going off below my window. It was about 6:30, and it’s interesting that it no longer startled or surprised me. Guatemalans love fireworks and in Antigua they celebrate by setting them off first thing in the morning most mornings. Four years […]

Back in Guatemala

by David LaMotte

I woke this morning to the familiar sound of a long string of fireworks going off below my window. It was about 6:30, and it’s interesting that it no longer startled or surprised me. Guatemalans love fireworks and in Antigua they celebrate by setting them off first thing in the morning most mornings. Four years […]

Back to Guate

May 24, 2008
I’m heading back down to Guatemala next month with Caroline Proctor, who is going to be the new director of PEG. I’ll post pictures from there. The two cyclists who are raising money for the retaining wall and new school construction in Chacaya are doing very well. We tallied up some numbers the other day […]

Back to Guate

by David LaMotte

I’m heading back down to Guatemala next month with Caroline Proctor, who is going to be the new director of PEG. I’ll post pictures from there. The two cyclists who are raising money for the retaining wall and new school construction in Chacaya are doing very well. We tallied up some numbers the other day […]

White Flour

Apr 7, 2008
Memphis, Tennessee People keep asking at shows where they can get a copy of my poem, White Flour. Christine Kane did me the honor of printing it on her excellent blog a while back, but I guess it’s time I added it to my own. By the way, I just got word that it will be […]

White Flour

by David LaMotte

Memphis, Tennessee People keep asking at shows where they can get a copy of my poem, White Flour. Christine Kane did me the honor of printing it on her excellent blog a while back, but I guess it’s time I added it to my own. By the way, I just got word that it will be […]

Don’t Call Us Saints

Apr 4, 2008
Lebanon, Tennessee Every once in a while I hear someone say something in passing that sticks with me for years, though I’ll never find the proper attribution. I think it was in an NPR interview years ago that I heard someone point out that as a society we tend to admire living conservatives and dead […]

Don’t Call Us Saints

by David LaMotte

Lebanon, Tennessee Every once in a while I hear someone say something in passing that sticks with me for years, though I’ll never find the proper attribution. I think it was in an NPR interview years ago that I heard someone point out that as a society we tend to admire living conservatives and dead […]

George’s head and Abe’s seat

Mar 9, 2008
Tonight I played at Abraham Lincoln’s church. No kidding. Yes, that Abraham Lincoln. John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jackson went there, too, and Dr. King preached there a bit more recently. I can’t help but have those images run together in my mind and imagine how Abraham Lincoln would have enjoyed listening to a sermon from Dr. King at his own church, New York Avenue Presbyterian.... Read More →

George’s head and Abe’s seat

by David LaMotte

Tonight I played at Abraham Lincoln’s church. No kidding. Yes, that Abraham Lincoln. John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jackson went there, too, and Dr. King preached there a bit more recently. I can’t help but have those images run together in my mind and imagine how Abraham Lincoln would have enjoyed listening to a sermon from Dr. King at his own church, New York Avenue Presbyterian…. Read More →

That’s not Peace

Mar 6, 2008
This morning I checked the news when I found a disturbing story in the news about a military recruitment center on Times Square being bombed by a small and ineffectual improvised explosive tossed from a bicycle. The ‘comments’ beneath the article are predictable, including some anti-immigrant posturing, “I bet they’ll find out it was someone foreign!”; and […]

That’s not Peace

by David LaMotte

This morning I checked the news when I found a disturbing story in the news about a military recruitment center on Times Square being bombed by a small and ineffectual improvised explosive tossed from a bicycle. The ‘comments’ beneath the article are predictable, including some anti-immigrant posturing, “I bet they’ll find out it was someone foreign!”; and […]