Focus on Our Thoughts
Aug 24 2008
Written by Will Mandeville, Scottsdale, AZ
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A Note From our Co-Founder
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BLUR has been in development for about two years, but if we consider it from the seed of an idea, it’s been much longer. My wife Maribel and I have been married for twenty years, so you might say that this idea has been gestating for that long. We both have become increasingly aware that the most compelling and lasting friendships that we have formed over time, no matter where we have lived (and we have been fortunate to live in unique places throughout the United States, Mexico and Latin America), have been with people who share an openness to and a love for other cultures and new ideas.
It got us to thinking how many people we have met through our lives who are, like us, married cross-culturally. Maribel grew up and spent her life through college in northwestern Mexico. I was raised in the northeastern United States. These are two diametrically opposed places in many ways, but luckily our paths crossed while working for a non-profit in Italy, and we have found our lives richer as a result. But we also recognized a change. Both of us have learned from the compromises inherent in marrying cross-culturally, and actively adopt the best elements of each of our cultures into our marriage. Every once in a while some of the lesser elements also creep in, but that’s part of the deal too, isn’t it?
We’ve raised our three children the same way, to look around them at the good in people and to embrace people’s differences as strengths. After all, they have grown up between cultures, and have that innate ability to be open minded and adaptable to the best qualities of their blended cultures, and to look for the best in others. It’s amazing to see how they have taken this to heart on their own and have formed diverse friendships with all kinds of people from all kinds of places. They are unique world citizens.
And, in a way, that’s what BLUR is all about. BLUR’s mission is to build community among people who share these qualities, who embrace culture and diversity as assets, and are constantly aware of opportunities to expand themselves through interaction with compelling people.”
BLUR is about providing a place where people who are in, or are the product of, cross-cultural, interracial or interfaith marriages or relationships, and even those who are simply interested in exploring or sharing other cultures and backgrounds can come together to share content, conversation and community. BLUR’s goal is to provide an inclusive environment in which multicultural people (we’re calling ourselves BLURs) can have a constructive and productive conversation around the issues and topics that impact their lives. We want you to share in the experiences, successes and challenges that make your lives so unique.
BLUR is intended to be of service to multicultural families and individuals…..oriented to highlighting solutions and opportunities, not simply calling out problems.
Please take a moment to share your BLUR Story with us, create your profile, upload your photos. Become a point of light on our BLUR Map and participate in the BLUR conversation.
Thank you for visiting our site. We encourage you to be open and unrestrained in your feedback, and have given you the tools to give that feed back to us easily.
In order for BLUR to be a place that’s relevant to you, our users, we want to make certain that we’re providing useful information, a strong sense of community and place, and easy access to one another. After all, we’re all part of the BLUR community! Let’s get the conversation started.
Will Mandeville
CEO/Co-Founder
BLUR Media
BLUR has been in development for about two years, but if we consider it from the seed of an idea, it’s been much longer. My wife Maribel and I have been married for twenty years, so you might say that this idea has been gestating for that long. We both have become increasingly aware that the most compelling and lasting friendships that we have formed over time, no matter where we have lived (and we have been fortunate to live in unique places throughout the United States, Mexico and Latin America), have been with people who share an openness to and a love for other cultures and new ideas.
It got us to thinking how many people we have met through our lives who are, like us, married cross-culturally. Maribel grew up and spent her life through college in northwestern Mexico. I was raised in the northeastern United States. These are two diametrically opposed places in many ways, but luckily our paths crossed while working for a non-profit in Italy, and we have found our lives richer as a result. But we also recognized a change. Both of us have learned from the compromises inherent in marrying cross-culturally, and actively adopt the best elements of each of our cultures into our marriage. Every once in a while some of the lesser elements also creep in, but that’s part of the deal too, isn’t it?
We’ve raised our three children the same way, to look around them at the good in people and to embrace people’s differences as strengths. After all, they have grown up between cultures, and have that innate ability to be open minded and adaptable to the best qualities of their blended cultures, and to look for the best in others. It’s amazing to see how they have taken this to heart on their own and have formed diverse friendships with all kinds of people from all kinds of places. They are unique world citizens.
And, in a way, that’s what BLUR is all about. BLUR’s mission is to build community among people who share these qualities, who embrace culture and diversity as assets, and are constantly aware of opportunities to expand themselves through interaction with compelling people.”
BLUR is about providing a place where people who are in, or are the product of, cross-cultural, interracial or interfaith marriages or relationships, and even those who are simply interested in exploring or sharing other cultures and backgrounds can come together to share content, conversation and community. BLUR’s goal is to provide an inclusive environment in which multicultural people (we’re calling ourselves BLURs) can have a constructive and productive conversation around the issues and topics that impact their lives. We want you to share in the experiences, successes and challenges that make your lives so unique.
BLUR is intended to be of service to multicultural families and individuals…..oriented to highlighting solutions and opportunities, not simply calling out problems.
Please take a moment to share your BLUR Story with us, create your profile, upload your photos. Become a point of light on our BLUR Map and participate in the BLUR conversation.
Thank you for visiting our site. We encourage you to be open and unrestrained in your feedback, and have given you the tools to give that feed back to us easily.
In order for BLUR to be a place that’s relevant to you, our users, we want to make certain that we’re providing useful information, a strong sense of community and place, and easy access to one another. After all, we’re all part of the BLUR community! Let’s get the conversation started.
Will Mandeville
CEO/Co-Founder
BLUR Media
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4 Comments
May 3 2008
Written by Douglas Campbell
We be checking out ur page and so far la mecanica, going from spot to another, works well. I will share it with my world citizen kids and see about posting images and other technical matters. I will read some of the articles and be cruel with you about the text.
Mr D
May 12 2008
Written by TD
Congratulations Will and Maribel. Nice look and feel but Steve Nash?? Next time get a Piston!
Jun 3 2008
Written by Matthew Gittleman
Hey Will:
I have a “Blur and Proud of it” story to share. Taliya, along with several of her classmates, was recognized by the Seattle Public Schools, the Seattle Storm (our WNBA) franchise, and Barnes & Noble as an avid reader. Described to us as the “read one million words” challenge, Taliya earned the honor of standing at center court, and receiving an autographed ball from one of the Storm players. More importantly to Blur, all the honorees, with the exception of one 5th grader, were BLURS! A strong comment on the focus that Blur parents put on reading and education, perhaps?
Jun 3 2008
Written by Will Mandeville, Scottsdale, AZ
Great Story Matt! Most of the BLUR kids I know really are very compelling, curious and engaging young people. Congrats to Taliya and her friends! Keep sharing those proud BLUR moments......