Lionel Ritchie sang his classic song, All Night Long, as the finale for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert a short while ago, leaving everyone on their feet clapping, dancing and singing out of sheer joy. It was a beautiful ending to an incredible concert highlighted by Sharon Stone introducing Monica Yunus who came out on stage to sing for her father just after he finished addressing the 4,000 people filling the stadium and the worldwide television audience. Her beautiful soprano voice, trained at Juillard, one of the best music schools in New York City, filled the air and made my heart swell. Dressed in a gorgeous full length red dress, she stole the show. The other musical celebrities were all incredible, don’t get me wrong. But the emotional high point was this touching intimate moment that we all could share.

Yunus was feted all night long by every star and applauded by the crowd with numerous ovations that made the place vibrate. His addess to the crowd was filled with joy and generous laughter. He shared his private thoughts with us all, that he felt was in a dream. But he invited us all to share his dream of making a poverty free world and then told us stories of what it meant. He described with detail how they began making housing loans in 1984 for a maximum for 300 dollars….and what a difference it could make to a poor woman and her family to have a solid roof over their heads with four strong concrete pillars and a sanitary latrine. He said this is their daily reality in Bangladesh, not some 100 years ago. As he talked, I felt this wave of energy pass through the crowd as they connected to his vision, his courage, his conviction that we can make a different kind of world, a just world where no one lives in dire poverty.

The day was filled with so many different activites, from children’s performances and musical recitals for Yunus in City Hall, to a photography exhibition of Grameen Bank photos by Norwegian Linda Næsfeldt. My favorite number at the Norwegian schools’ performance was the song ‘war.’ Remember that oldie but goodie? It goes ‘war. what is it good for? absolutely nothing.’

Thank you to the kind readers who have posted comments. I appreciate you taking the time to read and share your feelings. I am thrilled to know that the DC embassy had a huge party to watch the Nobel ceremony together and celebrate. I hear that people did the same all over the world. Also thanks so much for posting your comments and wishes to Dr. Yunus on the Grameen Foundation site. He appreciates this so much and they all will find a place in his archives I am sure, as well as his heart.

It is past midnight in Oslo and I feel like I could on all night long….

Susan

This entry was posted on Monday, December 11th, 2006 at 6:18 pm and is filed under nobelceremony. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.