“There is nothing more worthy than the virtue of selflessness.  Selfless unites people. It is a healing herb that unifies strangers and brings families together.  It is the love for others that is higher than self-love; It is our only hope.” -Buddha

“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Consciously or unconsciously, every one of us does render some service or other. If we cultivate the habit of doing this service deliberately, our desire for service will steadily grow stronger, and will make, not only our own happiness, but that of the world at large.” – Mahatma Ghandi

“The basic principle of altruism is that man has no right to exist for his own sake, that service to others is the only justification of his existence, and that self-sacrifice is his highest moral duty, virtue and value. Do not confuse altruism with kindness, good will or respect for the rights of others. These are not primaries, but consequences, which, in fact, altruism makes impossible. The irreducible primary of altruism, the basic absolute, is self-sacrifice – which means: self-immolation, self-abnegation, self-denial, self-destruction – which means: the self as a standard of evil, the selfless as a standard of the good.” - Ayn Rand

• Reichtum ohne Arbeit
• Genuß ohne Gewissen
• Wissen ohne Charakter
• Geschäft ohne Moral
• Wissenschaft ohne Menschlichkeit
• Religion ohne Opferbereitschaft
• Politik ohne Prinzipien

From the Word of the Day

Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

(Romans 14: 8)  

 How should we live this Word

 Read in context, this expression is a breath of freedom.  Paul is reminding Christians to refrain from facileand rash judgments in regard to the actions of others.  “Why then do you judge your brother or sister?”  The fact is, we are the Lord’s property, His servants.  The term ‘servant’ does not have negative connotations.  Belonging to God frees us from all servitude.  The Christian moves with utmost freedom, following only the dictates of one’s conscience that indicate what is for God’s glory.

 Our life is transfigured by belonging to God as He places His seal of love on what we do.  “If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord.”  Thus all becomes a reason for giving joyful thanks to God.  This is an ocean of freedom permeated with love.  Here possession is not one-sided but reciprocal.  We are the Lord’s and He is our God.  We live ‘for Him’.  This means God is our beginning and our end.  This is what gives ultimate meaning to our living and our dying.

 Today as I pause for silent contemplation, I will taste the joy of this belonging that makes me free and capable of formulating my response of love to the Love that possesses me.

 I bless You and I praise You Lord because You possess me in love.  Grant that my life may be a joyful song of grateful love.

 The voice of Mahatma Ghandi, witness

 We cannot be God, but we are of God, just as a drop of water is of the ocean.  Imagine it taken from the ocean and thrown millions of miles away.  It becomes defenceless out of its environment and no longer feels the power and the majesty of the ocean.  But if someone would show it that it is the ocean, its faith would revive.  It would dance with joy and the entire power and majesty of the ocean would be reflected in it.

[mood: determined]

[listening to: Help I'm Alive by METRIC]

*Appears from the darkness*

Oh, hello.

A quote, my dear readers, before we begin.

“Humanity fears that which it does not know, and therefore shuns the darkness for concealing the things they do not have the patience to understand.”

Unfortunate as it is, it is true. We humans fear the things we do not understand, the things we cannot change. Sometimes this fear turns into anger and frustration as we try to understand, only to fail.

The thing that has triggered this (admittedly odd-sounding) blog entry has been the recent misfortune of a good friend.

I can only assume that you all remember Jakob, my ex with whom I am still on good terms with?

Recently an ex-girlfriend of his (not myself, but an earlier individual) hacked into his Myspace, and changed the information therein to false vulgarities that make him out to be a horrible, voyeuristic teen miscreant. Anyone who knows Jakob would know that he is a sweet, caring, and very likeable young man. If anyone is undeserving of this kind of cyberbullying, it is him.

What is worse is that she has also changed his password and has logged on as him several times since, posting obviously false status updates. The only reason I can fathom for her doing this is this: he has entered in a tentative relationship with a young woman who makes him happy. Instead of being happy for him, as I am, she instead gets jealous and vindictive because he was never this happy with her.

This brings up the topic of this blog entry: is it right to ruin something good for another out of jealousy and fear?

Personally, I strongly dislike it when someone purposely sabotages someone’s life. I myself would never do that, and I expect others to do the same. Yet it happens.

I know that it happens, and I also realize I am not God. I cannot prevent it from happening. However, what you should never do is hack their profile. Do not stoop to their level. The best way to go about it is to use either of these steps:

A: You can click the “forgot password” button and fill in your email.

B: Think like the hacker and type something they would type as the password.

If those fail, then I suggest you confront the hacker. Calmly explain that what they did was wrong, and that they can do the right thing and give you the password so you can undo the damage. If that doesn’t work, then the best thing to do would be to create a new account, and tell everyone on your old friends list to add the new account and block the old. It’s a pain and may seem like a waste of time, but you regain control of your life.

I personally have never had any of my profiles hacked, thank the powers that be, but I believe these to be the easiest ways to go about the situation maturely and without much bloodshed. If there is a better way that you can think of, then I do not mind you telling me so in a comment to this post. After all, I am only trying to help others in order to better myself as a person. I am trying to do what Mahatma Ghandi, the great teacher of peace and justice, once said:

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

I offer my humble beliefs and advice to you, the readers, as a way to achieve that. By telling you how I would react in a given situation, I try to lead by example and change the world. My voice is a whisper in the great universe, but goodness if it isn’t annoying enough to get heard.

Alright, enough of this. I fear it is time for me to bid you all adieu.

Happy trails, my lovelies. May you always recover quickly from their many speed-bumps.

Victoria

New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority [MTA] is experimenting with a literature program where quotes are delivered by announcement to subway and bus passengers. This is to follow their original, pilot program of displaying poetry placards – successful enough to be copied by other metropolitan transportation services in North America – and complement their public art. What makes this program unique is that the MTA is eschewing traditional, inspirational axioms and reaching for more, well, unusual material. Here is one example of a recent actual Kafkaesque announcement on the New York City subway that incorporated an actual quote from the actual Franz Kafka, from his novel, The Metamorphosis:

“MOVE CAUTIOUSLY THROUGH THE TRAIN AT ALL TIMES.

REMEMBER THAT AS GREGOR SAMSA AWOKE ONE MORNING FROM UNEASY DREAMS

HE FOUND HIMSELF TRANSFORMED IN HIS BED INTO A GIANT INSECT.

THANK YOU AND ENJOY YOUR DAY.”

Now, Icarus Landing is happy to provide a lovely collection of similarly interesting, uncommon, curious, even weird little literary apothegmatic gems for the MTA [and any other public transportation authorities worldwide interested in duplicating this program]…

SIGMUND FREUD ON THE BUS

MTA bus passengers will be surprised and befuddled when, at 7:45 A.M. soon, the drivers all make this same announcement:

“PLEASE MOVE TO THE REAR OF THE BUS.

RIDING IN A BUS IS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EQUIVALENT OF A LONG REPRESSED DESIRE TO

RETURN TO YOUR MOTHER’S WOMB AS SEMINAL SPERMATOZOA PROJECTED FROM A PROGENITORIAL PENIS.

THANK YOU.”

FREDERICK NIETZSCHE ON THE TRAIN

Passengers on the New York City subway may be very startled when, at 7:14 A.M. shortly, the following announcement is made to everyone:

“KEEP DOORWAYS CLEAR AT ALL TIMES.

OUT OF DAMP AND GLOOMY DAYS, OUT OF SOLITUDE, OUT OF LOVELESS WORDS DIRECTED AT US,

CONCLUSIONS GROW UP IN US LIKE FUNGUS.

THANK YOU.”

YOUSSEF AL-SAYIGH ON THE TRAIN

Passengers at all New York City subway stations will be delighted when, at 5:53 A.M. in the near future, they hear the following announcement:

“CAUTION: STAY BACK OF THE YELLOW LINE AS TRAINS APPROACH.

YOU’LL BE SAD TO DEPART THIS STATION AND YOU WON’T BE SAD TO DEPART.

YOU’LL FIND OUT WHY SOON, OR YOU MAY NEVER FIND OUT.

THANK YOU.”

THE MTA ON THE MTA

People at Penn Station waiting for trains at 8:08 A.M. one morning will be both surprised and thoroughly confounded by this announcement:

“ATTENTION:

THE NEXT TRAIN WILL ARRIVE AT 6:00 A.M. REGARDLESS OF WHAT TIME IT IS.”

SOREN KIERKEGAARD ON THE TRAIN

Passengers waiting on all New York City subway station platforms will be utterly dumbfounded by the following announcement when it is made one day at 10:12 A.M.:

“WARNING: STAY CLEAR OF THE TRACKS AT ALL TIMES.

FEAR IS ABSOLUTE. FEAR IS NECESSARY. WITHOUT FEAR WE WOULD ALL BE WALKING AROUND HALF SCARED TO DEATH.

THANK YOU.”

SAMPLE MTA WARNING SIGN, TO BE INSTALLED AT KEW GARDENS STATION:

CAUTIONARY INSTRUCTION: DO NOT PUT YOUR FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH ON SUBWAY TRAINS. INJURY MAY RESULT.

CHINESE PROVERB ON THE BUS

Passengers on all Manhattan bound buses are going to be stupefied to hear, at 2:30 P.M. on a Tuesday, the following instruction announced:

“ATTENTION ALL BUS PASSENGERS:

BE SURE TO FIGHT A WOLF WITH A FLEX STALK.

PLEASE EXIT AT REAR.”

MAHATMA GHANDI ON THE TRAIN

MTA subway passengers are going to be drummed into near zombification when, from 6:00 A.M. sharp to noon each day, the following will be loudly intoned every five minutes:

“MONOTONY IS THE LAW OF NATURE. LOOK AT THE MONOTONOUS MANNER IN WHICH THE SUN RISES.

THE MONOTONY OF NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION IS NECESSARILY MONOTONOUS.”

THE MTA ON BUS PASSENGER MANAGEMENT

Passengers on all New York City buses will be shocked and flummoxed when, at 3:43 P.M. every Thursday, they simultaneously hear the following announcement:

“PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW PASSENGERS.

MOVE TO THE BACK OF THE BUS. PAIR UP IN GROUPS OF THREE AND LINE UP IN SMALL CIRCLES OF TWO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.”

CONFUCIUS AT THE BUS STOP

Waiting passengers at the Canal Street bus stop will be perplexed by the following posted quotation:

MAN WHO STAND ON HILL WITH MOUTH OPEN WILL WAIT LONG TIME FOR PEKING DUCK TO DROP IN

FOR PEKING DUCK TAKE 24 HOURS PREPARE TIME WHEN CALL ORDERED AHEAD OF THEN.

SIGN TO BE ERECTED AT THE GRAND CENTRAL STATION MAP DISPLAY:

STUDY ROUTE MAPS THOROUGHLY TO LEARN WHERE YOU ARE GOING IF YOU WISH TO GET THERE AND NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IF UNSURE ABOUT ASKING, DON’T ASK.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ON THE SUBWAY

Passengers on the New York City subway will surely be stunned into physical paralysis when, at 1:56 P.M. on the third week of each month, they hear the following announcement:

“ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS:

REMEMBER NOT ONLY TO SAY THE RIGHT THING IN THE RIGHT PLACE BUT FAR MORE DIFFICULT STILL TO LEAVE UNSAID THE WRONG THING AT THE TEMPTING MOMENT.

TWO WRONG THINGS SAID DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT THING HEARD ANYMORE THAN TWO RIGHT THINGS HEARD LEAD TO A WRONG THING SAID.

TWO WRONG THINGS AND ONE RIGHT THING IMPLIED DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT OR WRONG THING INFERRED AND

TWO RIGHT THINGS AND A WRONG THING PRESUMED DO NOT MAKE A WRONG THING OR RIGHT THING DEDUCED.

NOW ASK YOURSELVES THIS: ARE YOU GOING THE RIGHT WAY OR THE WRONG WAY? OR BOTH?

REMEMBER THAT IF UNSURE ABOUT ASKING, DON’T ASK.

THANK YOU.”

ANONYMOUS FATALIST ON THE TRAIN

During all unexpected delays, passengers on all trains will be maddened by the following announcement to be made at 20-second intervals during the length of the delay:

“ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS:

GOD DIDN’T PROMISE DAYS WITHOUT PAIN, LAUGHTER WITHOUT SORROW, SUN WITHOUT RAIN,

FLOWERS WITHOUT WEEDS, OR ON TIMES WITHOUT DELAYS.

NOW DID HE?

WE NEEDN’T APOLOGIZE FOR THIS DELAY AS IT IS CLEARLY AN ACT OF COMBATIBILIST PREDESTINATION.

THANK YOU AND ENJOY YOUR DAY.”

CHINESE PROVERB ON THE TRAIN

Passengers on the MTA will certainly be terrified to hear, at 11:07 A.M. presently, the following pronouncement:

“WARNING! DANGER!

DO NOT USE A HATCHET TO REMOVE A FLY FROM YOUR FELLOW PASSENGER’S FOREHEAD!

THANK YOU!”

SAMPLE MTA WARNING SIGN, TO BE SEEN AT THE 128th STREET STATION:

CAUTIONARY INSTRUCTION: DO NOT SHOOT YOUR MOUTH IN THE FOOT. INJURY MAY RESULT.

AFRICAN PROVERB ON THE BUS

Passengers on the Long Island City crosstown running from midnight to 6:00 A.M. may be driven insane but hopeful when the following is interjected between all street announcements:

JEFFERSON AVENUE.

HOWEVER LONG THE NIGHT THE DAWN WILL BREAK.

MAIN STREET.

HOWEVER LONG THE NIGHT THE DAWN WILL BREAK.

PARK DRIVE.

HOWEVER LONG THE NIGHT THE DAWN WILL BREAK.

[etc.]

JEAN-PAUL SARTRE ON THE SUBWAY

Passengers on all New York City northbound trains at 2:22 P.M. everyday will surrender to bewilderment when they hear this announcement:

“ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS:

THIS TRAIN WILL PAUSE TEMPORARILY WHILE THE CONDUCTOR DECIDES IF HE SHOULD

BETRAY THE PROLETARIAT TO SERVE TRUTH OR BETRAY TRUTH IN THE NAME OF THE PROLETARIAT.

THANK YOU FOR WAITING.”

]]> http://lefteyeonthemedia.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/adrift-without-a-rudder/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:56:27 +0000 Left-Eyed Jack http://lefteyeonthemedia.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/adrift-without-a-rudder/

While the Religious Right continually warns its followers about the growing “gay agenda,” I must admit that I wish such a thing actually did exist.  But I see no definitive evidence.  As best I can tell, the idea of “the gay agenda” is rooted in terminology concocted by the Religious Right to frighten its membership.

A quick peek inside Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Edition, which claims to be “the voice of authority,” reveals the following definitions of the word agenda:  1) a list or outline of things to be considered or done; 2) an underlying often ideological plan or program.  I think the parts of these definitions that do not in any way apply to the fight for equal rights under the law for the GLBT community are the words “plan” and “program.”  People, we can’t even get significant media coverage of a large march on Washington on a beautiful Sunday afternoon!  How dangerous are we really?  Hide the kids, Ma, the gays are hidin’ out in Washington.  Is this any way to run an “agenda”?

What is it that we are missing?  Why do we fail where others, such as the ridiculous “Tea Party” people succeed?  It comes down to a single word: leadership.  Turn on the news on any station any day and notice what you will see:  people.  People getting airtime to tell their stories and push — yes, push — their points of view and, yes, agendas.  Leaders of the religious right are often on some news program, not to mention CBN, pushing their agenda against us.  Where are our people?  Where is our publicity department?  They remain invisible, and our efforts at attaining full equality under the laws of this nation go unnoticed.

Martin Luther King, Jr., addressing a crowd

Because I joined the broadcast of the Equality March late, I do not know the name of the woman who introduced Julian Bond so I cannot name her, but she addressed a question that I have heard voiced lately in the GLBT community.  “Where is our Martin Luther King, Jr.?”  Her answer was: “We do not need our own Martin Luther King, Jr.  We have Martin Luther King, Jr., himself to lead our movement.”  While I respect her sentiment and hold Dr. King in the highest esteem, I do not agree with her assessment of our situation.  We do need our own Martin Luther King, Jr.  A movement needs charismatic leadership to succeed.  It needs leadership that it can identify with and emulate.

Over 40 years have passed since the tragic murder of Dr. King in Memphis in 1968.  That means that the young people of our community who are 40 or below have no memory of him and his great works.  To contextualize that for those of us in the baby boom generation, didn’t World War II, “the black and white war,” seem like ancient history to us in our youth, when in fact it happened in the decade before our births?  Be honest!  Its heroes and villains were mere black and white celluloid characters competing with our own wild and colorful world of leisure.

Mahatma Ghandi

While crafting our movement, it is important to take lessons from the great civil rights activists that came before us, not only Martin Luther King, Jr., but Mahatma Ghandi.  But we must not lose sight of the fact that each of these individuals were flesh and blood leaders.  They galvanized their followers with their presence and captured the attention of the world to promote their causes through their charismatic personalities and courage.  Had it not been for Ghandi, India might still be part of the British Empire, and had it not been for Martin Luther King, Jr., standing in front of the Lincoln Monument clearly articulating the plight of African Americans in our nation, the civil rights movement in this country may never have gotten off the ground.

Like it or not, the news media is driven by personalities and people of interest.  Hearkening back to a fallen leader in the overall civil rights movement is a good thing to do, but it is not good television.  And if you’re not good television, you will not be on television.  For now our real agenda should be to find that leader that we can all rally around and show up for.  It’s vital to our movement.

Without a leader, Congressman Barney Franks’ withering diss of Sunday’s march on Washington will be correct.  And we all now know Congressman Franks is not our leader.  He actually seems disinterested in our cause.  I guess the good Congressman has got his.  “God bless the child who’s got his own.”  Right, Congressman?

As for the rest of us, where do we find this leader?  It is very difficult.  One of my friends pointed to Harvey Milk, but Milk is a martyr to the cause thus making him unavailable.  We do not have a great many politicians to choose from.  Most politicians are hounded from office once they are exposed as members of the GLBT community.

Annise Parker of Houston has been suggested by some of my local friends.  She is an openly lesbian woman running for mayor of Houston this year.  And while I feel that her election as mayor of Houston would be a major milestone for the gay community here, it hardly propels her to a position of national prominence.

And I have a certain aversion, given the events since I last voted, to following politicians when it comes to matters of sincere and extreme importance to me.  I would much prefer someone from within the gay rights movement.  They must be there, just like Barrack Obama was there before anybody knew about him.  Alas, I have no names to put forth and ask my readers who know such things to please make nominations.  It is a discussion that is long overdue.

Back to the idea of “The Gay Agenda.”  I remember when I took the reigns of the Texas Court Reporters Association some years ago and our executive director handed me a printed agenda before my first board meeting and informed me it was my job to keep the meeting focused on the agenda.  At first it frightened me.  I didn’t quite know how to “keep” everybody focused on the agenda.  Although I had been a board member and lower officer in the years leading up to that day, I had never thought about that part of the president’s duties.

But after pushing my fears away, I realized that the agenda was very empowering.  It gave me the ability to pull a relatively large group of intelligent and opinionated people back onto topic when they wanted to tell their stories of “Do you know what my judge said to me?”  And it worked.  But it only worked because I quickly learned how to use it.  That’s what leaders do.  They focus their followers on the important items of the agenda so that goals can be accomplished.

So is there really a gay agenda?  I guess in some ways you could say there is.  But on the other hand, the agenda as of today has no singular focus because it has no single person to keep it pointed in a particular direction.  I think all of us in the GLBT community can agree that we would like to have equal rights under law, but that concept means different things to different people.  And it is those differences that our opponents use to thwart us in our efforts.

What we need right now is a leader who can articulate our goals and organize our efforts at achieving them, a charismatic leader who can capture the attention of the news media, particularly TV, and thus the American People.  I fear that, until that happens, we will continue to be ignored and swept aside no matter how many people descend on Washington or any other city.

So where are you?  Where is that person who is willing and able to be the rudder of our ship which is adrift in a sea of indifference?  One of my friends says that one person cannot make a difference, but here is where you do look to Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Ghandi and say, “Oh, yes, one person can make a difference!”

This is Jack.  I am who I am.  And I invoke the words we pledged everyday from elementary school on: WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

Crédito: Montblanc

Esta é a célebre caneta da Montblanc que tanta polémica está a causar na Índia. Chama-se “Ghandi”, e custa a módica de quantia de 17.000 euros. É no luxo da caneta e no seu preço que está a polémica, dada a personalidade de Mahatma Ghandi e a sua postura face aos bens materiais.
Para ser franco, esta caneta choca-me um pouco, mas não me surpreende. É um retrato perfeito da sociedade em que vivemos, caracterizada pela inversão de valores que se admiram na retórica dos discursos, mas que facilmente se abandonam quando se colocam questões de imagem em causa.
Contudo, também é de salientar a falta de visão da Montblanc, que querendo homenagear a personagem marcante de um país, e sendo esse país rico em artigos como madeiras ou mesmo metais, lança um item que apenas celebra não apenas a já referida inversão de valores, como ignora uma das mensagens mais importantes de Ghandi, para além da não-violência, que era o orgulho que os indianos deviam ter na sua cultura e no seu país, confiando no seu valor intrínseco e no seu trabalho. Esta caneta, neste aspecto, poderia ser bem mais simples, bem mais simbólica, e bem mais inserida no contexto da essência do pensamento de Ghandi. Assim, é mais uma das futilidades desnecessárias que tanto caracteriza a sociedade moderna, desnecessariamente associada a um homem que tanto lutou contra os valores que actualmente são os alicerces dessa caracterização.

Biblical Truth

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.

The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.

The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29 (NIV)

Musical Offering

Ben’s Offering

Today is Mahatma Ghandi’s birthday. In 2007, the United Nations decided to take this day and declare it the International Day for Non-Violence. As a reflection, I share 7 biblical promises of Peace, with the knowledge that God does not forget his promises.

7 Promises of Peace

1. Psalm 29:11 “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
2. Psalm 125:5 “Peace be upon Israel.”
3. Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love your law: and nothing can make them stumble.”
4. Psalm 147:14 “He grants peace to your borders.”
5. Leviticus 26:6 “’I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no-one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.”
6. Isaiah 26:12 “LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”
7. Isaiah 32:18 “My people will live in peaceful dwelling-places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”

All scripture from the NIV.

I’m starting with the man in the mirror.
I’m asking him to change his ways.
If you wanna make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself and then make a change.”
[Lyrics, Man in the Mirror]

Not my responsibility.

Not in my job description.

Sorry, can’t (translate: won’t) help you.

Don’t have the time.

Just following orders.

Not my problem.

Live with it.

Because I said so.

Somebody should do something.

How about you? Why don’t you become the somebody who does something? Why don’t you commit to becoming the change you want to see in the world? [Mahatma Ghandi].

The person who shows the way, picks up the trash, lightens the load, volunteers, invests in others, speaks up, spends the time, offers to go the extra mile.

The leader who sets the standard, makes the time, leads by example, empowers, encourages.

The friend who is available, listens, comforts, advises, laughs.

When you see a gap, fill it. When you find a need, meet it. Where you discover discouragement, offer encouragement and hope.  ”In helping others, we help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us” [Flora Edwards].

“I must do something” always solves more problems
than “Something must be done” [Unknown].

This change you say we need in the world, really is all about you.

Whatever you are, be a good one!

Deanna

Mahatma Ghandi is thought to have asserted on this date 9/8/1920,

(in an article in the journal Young India)

“It is my firm opinion that Europe (and the United States) does not represent the spirit of God or Christianity but the spirit of Satan.  And Satan’s successes are the greatest when he appears with the name of God on his lips.”

Gandhi (different spellings) is also said to have said 

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.

Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Once again quoting the late and great Hindu pacifist spiritual leader, Mahatma Ghandi, for today’s message. This one is a favorite of mine, and an indictment on the sad state of “Churchianity” insidiously posturing as real spiritual Christianity in our contemporary society. Ghandi once said, to a group of Christians who were touting their spiritual path as being superior to his:

“I like your Christ very much. I do not much care for your Christians. They are not very Christ-like.”

Amen!

And before you click off into the Blue Nowhere, please enjoy this short true story about Ghandi-

One day a woman brought her child before Ghandi and said, “Mahatma – please instruct my boy to stop eating sugar.” (In the Hindu tradition, sugar is a no-no … considered indulgent and self-gratifying, not a good habit for anyone who is truly a spiritualist)

Ghandi paused before responding. He said, “Please bring him back to me in two weeks and I will advise him then.”

The woman was confused, but did as instructed. Two weeks later, she again brought the boy to Ghandi and made the same request.

Ghandi smiled at the lad and said, “Young man, I would ask you to honor your mother as well as myself and refrain from eating sugar.”

The woman could not help but ask, “Great teacher, I am so curious … why did you have us to wait two weeks before you would say this to him?”

Ghandi said, “Because up until two weeks ago, I was still eating sugar.”

~~~~~

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“Prayer is not asking.  It is a longing of the soul.  It is a daily admission of one’s weakness.  It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”

Mahatma Ghandi

flickr photo “Meditation” from hkoppdelay

By Salome Shoombe

I hear many black people use the excuse why they are not successful is because they are not exposed or there are no opportunities, there are no jobs, etc. They accept the circumstances of their lives, thatswhy there is little to no development & progress within many black communities…, Many black people do not bother to become better…., many enrich themselves through crime…, Crime often leads to social evils such as alcohol, drugs/ sex & with that diseases & more negativity. It’s a vicious circle that is among black communities. There are universal laws like the laws of gravity. There are also laws that govern human conduct, the most notable for me is “Do unto others what you would have others do unto you”. I had to learn & accept that what goes around does really come around… in one way or another, somehow one will always pay for any bad deeds done… Let me tell Black people today that it has nothing to do with lack of opportunities but lack of your willingness to use ur mind…. Our mind.., or let me say our thoughts can make us rise or fall. They can work for us or against us, We can succeed or fail because of our thoughts, our thoughts control the way we feel or act. We laugh, we work, we love…, we experience joy & excitement, yet equally our thoughts can make us sick, we can be heavy, attached & burdensome, Thats why I always say become aware of your thinking. Because if you are, you can avoid negativity, you can nurture & grow to be great, to be successful.

we are all the same, thus I know that there is a battle that goes on inside all people. We all have two sides, One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority & ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion & faith. There are no good or bad people, they are just that side which they feed, If u feed the good side, you will be a good person, if u feed the bad side, you will be a bad person…. even good people are not so good sometimes….

Now if we face the truth we will realise that black is known for negativity, black is known for crimes for drugs, for poverty, for lies & deceit…, the list is endless. I would love to live to see the day when above-mentioned is not related to black people.

I want the black mind to realise that no matter what the problem, the main issue to work on is the self. I want the black mind to stop blaming circumstances, or the economy & lack of funds, do not blame the government, blame no-one but yourself…, you are at this point in life where u r because of your mindset…, problem is people often don’t learn from their mistakes & don’t realise that everything life offers are learning experiences…, there is more than just coincidence in a lot of things that happen. No problem ever comes to you that does not have a purpose in your life, I want the black mind to recognize that problems are opportunities in disguise.
I want the black mind to stop portraying itself as a victim, victims of the past, of colonialism, of lack of opportunities…. Yes many of us are victims, but maybe we victimize ourselves …
I want the black mind to start listening to itself & not to society & expectancies & beliefs imposed by society… because it is part of that society, it makes, it accepts, corrects, replaces or fails to correct & I repeat fails to correct all of society’s rules & mistakes. If you do what you want to do, go where you want to go & listen to yourself, you will be surprised at how comprehensive society will react….
I want black minds to stop the hating & the beef & to realise that one needs the friendly cooperation of others to make it. One needs to invest in the harmony in human relationships…. we need each other.

I want the black mind to be honest to itself, to stop denying to see that the people you think are your friends are actually bad company & to stop continuing going their paths. Stop going with the flow…, Live your own life, make your own mistakes & learn from them. The black mind must realise that one must remove oneself from the range of influence of every person & circumstance which has even a slight tendency to cause one to feel inferior or incapable of attaining the object of one’s purpose. Thus I always say choose your friends carefully, don’t let them choose u. Your friends will stretch your vision, or choke your dream. Those that don’t increase you, will eventually decrease you.

I want the black mind to learn not to give up when they have failed. Defeat is a circumstance that everyone meets many times throughout life. But one has to learn from defeat and not let it win. There are no mistakes in life, only lessons… There is no such thing as a negative experience, only opportunities to grow, learn and advance along the road of self mastery. Self-knowledge is the stepping stone to self-mastery.

I want the black mind to realize that it cannot stop thinking, & because it cannot stop thinking, it better think correct. I want the male black mind to stop running from responsibilities such as supporting their baby mama’s.

I want to see black minds learn to give constructive criticism & not negative criticism that is out to break down & destroy.

I want black people to realise that it is passion that should be their motive behind doing things & not money, money will be the reward for doing things passionately. My black mind has lived to see a black President in the United States. My black mind would love to see many more black people rise. My black mind would love to see more black Role models, I want to see more Martin Luther Kings, more Nelson Mandela’s, I want to see more black people make significant contributions to society, I want to see more Oprah Winfrey’s. I want to see more black minds that have the fighting spirit like Mahatma Ghandi, I want to see more black people that posess the love that Mother Theresa did,

I want to see more black minds go from ordinary to extraordinary. I want the black mind to start living at a level of awareness that is greater than it could be & should be than it is right now. I want the black mind to realise that it is attitude that determines how far it can go in life.

A única linguagem que é entendida mundialmente é a da morte, da destruição. É a única liguagem que é capaz de unir povos. Já parou prá se perguntar porque quando há uma guerra prevista, alguns povos se unem a outros apenas para não perder a guerra, ou prá ficar mais forte e vencê-la?

Guerras acontecem por religiões que não são as mesmas, para impor a outros povos a própria religião. Também fazem guerras por poder político, por território, para defender o seu ou tomar o dos outros.

Cada país forma seu exército durante tempos e tempos. Nunca há uma pausa. Os exércitos precisam estar sempre preparados para defender sua Pátria a qualquer instante. Nunca se sabe quando vai acontecer uma guerra, né?

E o que eu sempre admirei são esses caras, que dedicam sua vida inteira à defesa da sua Pátria, que é como a defesa de seu Deus numa religião. São coisas diferentes, mas com intensidades parecidas. O amor pela Pátria é a coisa mais linda que há. Mas eu nunca o entendi realmente. Deve ser por causa do jeitinho brasileiro de ser, daqueles que não tão nem aí prá nada.

O amor supremo à Pátria é como o amor supremo a Deus numa religião. A Pátria deve ser defendida sempre, custe o que custar. É sempre uma luta de autodefesa, onde não se deve importar-se com o oponente. Uma vida rival é uma glória a mais.

O amor supremo à Deus é como o amor supremo de um soldado à sua Pátria. A principal idéia defendida nas religiões quase todas é a defesa da vida.

E aí, soldado? Você é capaz de morrer pela sua Pátria, mas ao mesmo tempo, acredita em um Deus que considera pecado qualquer atentado contra avida.

Religiosamente falando, poderíamos citar como exemplo de ação, Martin Luther King, que entrou numa guerra prá vencer, sem ser às custas de derramamento de sangue. Ele se defendia e atacava apenas com palavras. Mas se voltando ao que eu levantei no começo do post, a única linguagem que é universal é a morte, a destruição, a intimidação. Por esses motivos, povos se unem, seja para se defender, seja para atacar.

Desde o início dos tempos são travadas guerras e mais guerras pela falta de argumentos, pela falta de entendimento entre os povos. E quem não vence nos discursos, vence nas guerras. Quem não é bom em argumentos, é bom em intimidação. É isso.

É lindo morrer pela Pátria, defender até o fim um ideal com unhas e dentes, sendo capaz de dar até a própria vida pelo que se acredita, mas talvez seja uma morte a mais em vão. Uma tentativa frustrada de se alcançar um ideal. Um jeito errado de lutar pelo que se acredita. Quantas vidas são necessárias para contar a vitória de um país?

As guerras não são inúteis, nem vão deixar de existir tão cedo. Quando não há nenhuma solução por meio de conversa, de entendimento, é preciso que haja uma guerra, ou então nada muda nunca. Quantas guerras foram necessárias até hoje para a humanidade chegar onde está? Enfim, para se haver paz, tem que existir as guerras. Não há como evitá-las. Cada um se defende como sabe, e infelizmente, quase ninguém sabe o jeito certo de agir para se defender.

Pela Pátria, matar não é pecado…

Nada no mundo é mais perigoso que a ignorância sincera e a estupidez conscienciosa.

Martin Luther King

Salome Shoombe

TRUE FRIENDSHIP!!! (By S.Shoombe)

Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But if you associate with eagles, you will learn to soar to great heights. Proverbs says: “A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.” The simplest but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate – for the good and bad. Think about it. Almost all of our sorrows spring out of the relationships we indulge ourselves into with the wrong people. Instead, keep out of the suction of those who drift backwards. The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. If you find yourself taking two steps forward and one step backwards, it is because you have mixed associations in your life. If a loafer isn’t a nuisance to you, it is a sign that you are somewhat of a loafer yourself. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking & negative acting people. A true friend is one who is there to care. They remain your friend even if you don’t deserve to have a friend. They will see you through when others think you are through. If you were to list your greatest benefits, resources or strengths you will find that some of the greatest resources are the people you know. A true friend sees beyond you to what you can be. Invest in good relationships. The way to make a true friend is to be one. Your wealth is where your friends are. As you grow your associations will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don’t help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don’t increase you, will eventually decrease you. Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don’t follow anyone who is not going anywhere. With some people you spend an evening – with others you invest it. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life Never go with the flow just to be accepted by friends & to feel like you belong. Do your own thing, better still go where no one dares to go. It is better to be alone than in the wrong company. We all need friends, but choose your friends wisely, don’t let them choose you. You should especially avoid friends that break you down. That criticise & call you all sorts of names like you are crazy & mad & outrageous…., simply words which hurt. Gain wisdom to recognise true friendship because true friendship is not suppose to hurt. We are unfortunately a very judgemental society that is very narrow minded, we often fail to see the bigger picture & people are often quick to criticise. Whether you do something, say something, even those that do nothing are criticised. Criticism has inflicted fear in many so some do not dare to air their views, or even chase after their dreams for fear of criticism, for fear of being called crazy…., if you go back in history you will find that most of the people who were called crazy, different, insane, mad & all sorts of names were the ones who made a difference in the life’s of millions of people & also in their own life’s. Let’s start with Jesus, Mahatma Ghandi, but also Bill Gates & Richard Branson, (Billionaires’ in Dollars & British Pounds) they were told by their families, friends & acquaintances & colleagues what critics always say. Chase after you dreams & keep walking, do not let anyone get you down. Success does not come overnight. It is a journey that needs careful planning. A journey that needs to be carefully worked out & crafted. Last but not least, I want you to always be positive & to think positive. As you think, so you are, as you dream so you become, as you create your wishes, so they create you. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships. Truly Great Friends are hard to find, but once you have found them, cherish them!!!! Much love, Salome!

Chris Brown recently came out in the public to apologize to Rihanna for beating the shit out of her. Why did he do it?

I feel, it’s because he wanted to re-establish that respectable image as a role model to young boys. In which, I am here to say that by beating her more severely than a Pinata at a Mexican Sweet 16 Party, he did just that. Chris Brown in my eyes is more popular, more noteworthy and has now earned his right in heaven.

Give me a chance to explain: Most notable religions instruct men to beat there wives. The Bible requests that “Wives should ’submit’ to their husbands” Submit being defined as, ” to give over or yield to the power or authority of another. To subject to some kind of treatment or influence.”  Treatment that can very well be physical treatment. The Koran thus agrees by instructing men to beat their wives. When in wrongdoing, under Koran rule, when a woman is disobeying (by the man’s standards) the man should, “first verbally admonish her, next ground her to the bedroom like a child, and finally when all else fails, to beat her. These are two prime examples of the Divine rule that God, or Allah, have established. So Muslims and Christians alike, start whoopin’ some ass in the name of the lord. Use your hymn books and bibles if that’s what makes you feel more comfortable.

Thus, I guess it is safe to say that Chris Brown, is not only a role model but a disciple of Jesus Christ. Please and Thank You. 

So, it’s obvious that men are not only more dominant than women, but better in every way possible except being cunts. Women are better at being cunts. Because they have cunts and their cunts have nerve impulses that serves as a mechanism for bitchy mood swings and oddish behavior which makes it okay for men to beat them when they get out of line. It’s totally justified. Elvis beat his women and Michael Vick made bitches kill each other for entertainment. Get Like Him!

But there are several reasons that are set in stone that proves Male dominance. 1. All women are racists. It’s just a proven fact. Even interracial couples have some underlining racists motive behind them. They live a LIE! For example, white women date black men, because duh: The Donkey Dick is undesirable. black women date white men, because, hell, black men are worthless in every aspect of life. (Even you, Denzel. Your movies are growing tiresome and you have no range in your acting abilities.) 2. Jesus was a man, not a cunt. Jesus was a badass that ruled everything, thus showing you that you should never give women the right to be in control of anything. 3. Men have penises. Men can use penises to splurge on women. Women like that because they are submissive and less dominant. If  you try to splurge on a woman and she resists, you have the Divine right and permission from all major Deities to beat them for being negligent and splurge on them anyway.

So to conclude, women are fascists! They would vote for Hitler. That’s why marriage has become a fascists dictatorship of oppression. Once you get married, men don’t have a say in anything. Not even the flavor of Kool-Aid that they would like to drink. Your right to your opinion is threatened by the use of violence. A woman’s view is as thus, “I’m going to kill or savagely beat anyone who doesn’t agree with me.” You fucking Nazis.

Thank you Dick Masterson.

Joan of Ark, “Joanie” was discovered near a roadside in Denton and picked up by Animal Services, who transferred her to Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Gainesville.  She was nearly starved to death, dehydrated and was so weak she could not even stand up for more than a minute or two.  The vet said she was the worst case of emaciation he had ever seen in a living dog.  She has no visible muscle mass and is literally skin and bones.  We don’t know how this happened, but Joanie is one tough little dachshund.  She’s learning to trust people again, and has learned that everyone who encounters her now wants to shower her with love and compassion.  Because she is so thin and frail, she eats small meals throughout the day.  She will need some dental work at some point in the future, but that will have to wait until she’s whole again.  Her blood work came back showing anemia, but amazingly there were no signs of illness or renal failure.  She is also heartworm NEGATIVE, much to everyone’s surprise.  She is now taking short walks outside for brief potty breaks, then she settles down for a nap in her soft little bed, covered in blankets.

So many of the abused or injured animals taken in by shelters require medical attention, medication, love and patience to become healthy and happy again.  This is where ATDR stepped in.  A loving and experienced foster family has welcomed Joanie into their home where she will be closely monitored and cared for around the clock.  Little Joanie has a long road ahead of her and she will require extensive blood work, a special diet, gradual exercise and lots & lots of TLC to see her through the next few months.  If Joanie has touched your heart like she has ours, please consider making a donation toward her ongoing care.  We will post frequent updates on this precious soul so that all who have fallen in love with her can follow the progress of her journey.  Our heartfelt thanks to Debbie Lhotka, Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Gainesville for taking the first brave step to save this special life, and for trusting us to do the rest.

Joanie enjoying the sunshine

Resting after her walk

April 16, 2009 – Joanie had her first visit with an ATDR vet today.   She is in a catabolic state which is preventing her from gaining weight – a result of severe starvation where the body starts breaking down to produce energy/calories.  He prescribed an anabolic steroid to reverse the condition, but it’s a controlled substance and not readily available.  Cindy, Joanie’s foster mom, called and visited about 20 pharmacies before she finally found one who will compound a special chicken flavored dose for Joanie.  It will be ready Monday, April 20th.  While at the vet’s office they weighed her – she weighs 7 pounds, but this INCLUDES HER BED.

Joanie’s doing as well as can be expected.  Her menu today consisted of two good sized hamburger patties (with cheese); 1/2 can of IVD brand Duck and Potato canned food (all spaced out throughout the day in very small portions), and she enjoyed a few very tiny licks of cherry vanilla yogurt for dessert.  She remains alert when she is awake, but she has been sleeping a lot, which is a good thing.

April 18, 2009 – Joanie is more alert today and resting comfortably in her bed, covered up with her fleece blanket in true dachshund fashion.  Cindy thinks she saw a little tail wag today, but can’t be certain.

April 19, 2009 – Cindy had some gardening to do today & it was such a pretty day Joanie came out for some fresh air.  She was very “active”, sniffing the air, soaking up the sunshine, even walking the rows of the garden for a bit.  All this activity made her sleepy so she rounded out the day with a nap under the apple tree.

April 21, 2009 – Joanie had her first dose of the anabolic steroid Winstrol yesterday.  Veterinary Pharmacies of America in Houston prepared it in “chicken flavored” liquid form and she’ll get it twice daily.  She has a very good appetite and her drinking has definitely increased since she started the Winstrol.  Cindy says she’s more alert today and has gone for two walks in the garden.  Her bark is a little stronger too.  She was weighed using a baby scale and it registered 3.56 pounds yesterday.  Today she weighs 3.58 pounds.

April 23, 2009 – Today’s update comes from Joanie’s Foster Mom, Cindy.  “Joanie has shared a week of her life with me as of today. Despite the fact there is very little change in her appearance, there have been very obvious changes in her personality and overall being.  She is stronger,  more alert and, though she rests a lot, she does not sleep as much. She does not growl when I go to pick her up like she did at first and I think that is because maybe she just feels a little better overall.  Her appetite continues to be good and her water intake is steady.  I put up a puppy pen outside under one of our big trees and she has spent the majority of yesterday and today hanging out – watching the birds come to the feeder above and over just a bit from her, enjoying the breezes and filtered sunlight and putting out an occasional much healthier bark when one of my crew gets too close to her pen for her liking.  I am pleased to report that she weighed 3.6 pounds this morning, before breakfast so she is going in the right direction so far!  I am going to need to get her a bigger bed too (actually two new beds – one for inside and one for outside).  She really enjoyed stretching out on a pillow today while outside.  She stretched out and put her little foot up in the air towards me as if to say “scratch my chest”, but we just did not quit there.  The absolute best part of the day today was when I picked her up to bring her inside she actually gave me a little lick on the cheek – I GOT A KISS!!!!  How great is that!?!?”

April 29, 2009 – Joanie had a small setback just after her 1 week update.  She became a little aggressive and it was obviously from the steroids, so her dose has been reduced and she seems to have leveled off now and is more like her former self.  She is so much stronger already and doesn’t wobble or fall forward nearly as much as she did only a week ago.  She’s up and moving around more and even played a little with her blanket today.  She went to back to the vet this morning and she weighed 8 POUNDS (without her bed)!!  The vet’s notes show she weighed 6 pounds on the 17th so she’s gained TWO pounds!  (Note – The baby scale was not right and we apologize for the inaccurate information.)  All the prayers, good thoughts, boiled chicken and steroids have made a significant difference in Joanie’s life.  Please keep the prayers and good thoughts coming; Cindy will take care of the chicken and steroids!!

May 13, 2009 – Hi everyone!  So sorry for the delay in posting an update on Joanie; our webmaster has been on vacation!  All the news on Joanie is good, as she continues to thrive and soak up plenty of TLC, good food and relaxation.  A few days ago she spent a big part of the day outside helping her foster parents, Mike & Cindy “work” in the yard.  She must’ve worked up quite an appetite because when she came inside she discovered her foster brother’s food dish and proceeded to eat the entire bowl of Wellness kibble!  As you can imagine, Wellness is now on her list of foods!  Her weight hasn’t changed much, but she has gained about a 1/2 pound.  Her attitude is wonderful, she’s much stronger and she’s moving about more & more to explore her surroundings.  We are all so touched by the outpouring of support and emails we’re receiving for Joanie!  Thank you all for your good thoughts and prayers for this tough little girl!!

May 21, 2009 - Look at the Glamour Girl!  The news continues to be good for little Joanie.  While she hasn’t gained much weight (she’s holding steady at 8.5 lbs) her coat is looking better and she’s feeling GREAT!  She’s alert, active and is pretty much Cindy’s shadow around the house.  What Cindy does, Joanie does; if there’s yardwork or gardening to be done Joanie’s right in the middle of things; and she has a bed set up in Cindy’s office so she can monitor all activity in there as well.  When she’s not with Cindy, she’s set up in the utility room with beds and several piles of blankets & sheets so she can hide in different parts of the room – and she does; she goes from pile to pile!  Her energy level is good; she can trot down the driveway and does it almost daily!  This past weekend Joanie attended a local animal event with Cindy and she spent some time visiting our volunteers while they worked the booth.  She got plenty of laptime as they took turns holding her in one of her new beds.  Here are some photos taken on Sunday, May 17th.  What a beauty!

May 28, 2009 - Joanie continues to grow stronger and Cindy says, “she’s extremely happy!!”.  She has so much rebuilding to do internally, but if you look closely you can see the improvements in her coat and overall appearance.  She’s grown quite comfortable in her new surroundings and has plenty of outdoor space to explore and enjoy.  Of course she also gets plenty of lap time and TLC when she’s not outside soaking up the sunshine!  Here’s a couple of photos taken a few days ago when she was out surveying the property.

July 8, 2009 - This update comes from Joanie’s foster mom. “Joanie has been on pancreatic enzymes for a little over a week now.  She’s been very interested in eating, along with getting up and around more.  She has varied her menu and is dining on two different brands of kibble, Wellness still seeming to be her favorite.  The dry food is down all the time for her, and 3 times a day she also gets her serving of wet food with the enzymes mixed in.  She recently took possession of a huge dog bed – it actually belongs to one of my Lab rescues, but she found it one day and has made it her own. The center pillow has been replaced by one of her favorite comforters though, because she was having a tough time burying herself under that big pillow!  It stays under the desk in the office, right next to the computer station and she can peek out and check on me periodically.  She had lost a little weight, but is back up to 8.5 pounds. Her first rib, closest to her chest, is almost gone from sight!

We continue the Winstrol only once a day now and just this week when I had the Vet call in a refill for her, the young lady at Veterinary Pharmacies of America said that the owner had read her story and was so touched by what we were doing for her that he instructed them to refill Joanie’s prescription at no charge!”

Donate to Help Joanie:  All Texas Dachshund Rescue

Source: Facebook/All Texas Dachshund Rescue, Inc

Posted:  Just One More Pet

“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

…Mohandas Gandhi

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From Introduction to My Religion, 1959:

”The Western man can accomplish great feats which according to other nations can be accomplished only by God. But he cannot do one thing. He cannot look into his inner self. This fact alone is enough to prove the worthlessness of the false glitter of modern culture”.

If Western culture has led the Europeans to indulging in wine and sex, it is because they are bent upon forgetting and wasting their ’self’ instead of seeking it. Most of their great and heroic achievements and even their good deeds are the outcome of their forgetting themselves. The practical ability of the Western man to make discoveries, inventions and provision of war equipment, originates from his escape from ’self’ and not from his extraordinary self-control. If man loses his soul, what is the use of his conquering the world?

And

“There exists only one truth in the world and that is the knowledge of self. He who knows himself, knows God and all others. He who does not know himself, does not know anything. In this world there exist one force, one freedom and one justice, and that force is that of ruling over oneself. In this world there exists only one virtue, and that is the virtue of liking others as much as one likes oneself. In other words, we should look upon others as we look upon ourselves. All other questions are imaginary and non-existing”.

Es hat sich mal wieder viel getan und einiges ist mit dem Thema Vergebung verknüpft. Und wie das halt so ist, fallen einem die Dinge plötzlich zu. Während eines Ausbildungsabends zum Thema Hospiz, sind mir zwei schöne Geschichten zugeflogen. Und Neuigkeiten von unserem Freund gibt es auch. Heute zuerst mal die Geschichte:

“Ich war fünfzehn Jahre alt, als ich einen Diebstahl beging. Weil ich Schulden hatte, stahl ich meinem Vater ein goldenes Armband, um sie zu bezahlen. Aber ich konnte die Last meiner Schuld nicht ertragen. Als ich vor ihm stand, brachte ich vor Scham den Mund nicht auf. Ich schrieb also mein Bekenntnis nieder. Als ich ihm den Zettel überreichte, zitterte ich am ganzen Körper. Mein Vater las den Zettel, schloß die Augen und dann – zerriß er ihn. <Es ist gut>, sagte er noch. Und dann nahm er mich in die Arme. Von da an hatte ich meinen Vater noch viel lieber”.

Mahatma Ghandi, Schlüsselerlebnis zum Thema Vergebung

“Kepuasan terletak pada usaha, bukan pada hasil.

Berusaha dengan keras adalah kemenangan yang hakiki.”

(Mahatma Ghandi)