Let's be Peace-Makers

In these past ten years or so we in Ireland, North and South, have been enjoying a stable and hopefully lasting peace. The thirty years of conflict, bloodshed and loss of life are more or less over. (It ended in the early to mid-nineties of the last century) Yet, as peace-makers we can never become too complacent, because there is much hatred and bitterness North of our border. Now, I am not saying for a minute that our brothers and sisters in the North of Ireland have a monopoly of these two vices - far from it. I readily admit that there is not a little hatred and bitterness in the hearts of some South of the border. However, statistics show that the North of Ireland is an extremely racist country. A report recently declared that some 20 or so Romanian people of the Roma ethnic minority had to flee back to their homeland because they had literally been burnt out of their homes. I am old enough to remember such happening in the Catholic areas of the North of Ireland in the early to mid 1960s. So, all people of good will, North and South of the border, and, indeed, all people of good will everywhere must be peace-makers with a deep compassion for all our fellow human beings! There is too much conflict in the world today - and there probably always was - but in these more enlightened days let's be conflict breakers or conflict busters.

Sadly religions of all hues have been more often than not repositories, and indeed often promoters, of hate and bitterness. Anywhere in the world where there is inter-national and indeed intra-national war oftentimes religion or interpretations of that phenomenon lie at its heart. We have to go beyond religion and find a spiritual ground or baseline - the only solid foundation for intra and inter-national peace. With these thoughts in mind I offer here some words from the wonderful Dalai Lama on the matter of the difference between Religion and Spirituality:

I believe there is an important distinction to be made between religion and spirituality. Religion I take to be concerned with belief in the claims to salvation of one faith tradition or another--an aspect of which is acceptance of some form of meta-physical or philosophical reality, including perhaps an idea of heaven or hell. Connected with this are religious teachings or dogma, ritual, prayers and so on. Spirituality I take to be concerned with those qualities of the human spirit--such as love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony, which bring happiness to both self and others.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama
From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary Craig, 2002. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Dark Side Of The Moon

The moon is a mysterious place


The moon hides an incredible secret


The only thing they haven't told you


Is that the moon is already inhabited

A SHORT MENTION OF THE DEATH OF MICHAEL JACKSON

(Note: This is a slightly revised form of a comment I left in Amrit Hallon's blog, Writing Cave.)

I find myself unable to ignore the death of Michael Jackson, as much as I might like to. The death of this sad man-boy-freak has become the usual media circus and I'm a bit sorry to join in. I do, however, have a few thoughts and ideas of my own to express.

This reminds me of the hoopla when Anna Nicole Smith died. There IS a difference, of course. Michael Jackson was a talented performer who actually did something of note with his talents. He has been at least on the periphery of my life since the late 1960s. Someone who had "always" been there is gone. It leaves a blank space.

Love is a strange thing. I have learned, to paraphrase R. A. Heinlein, the more I love, the more I CAN love. Each love teaches me to love a little more.

I care deeply about poor people, hungry people, cold people, sick people, oppressed people, hurting people - but I have learned that if I don't distance myself a bit, I'll go mad. (Some say I already have.) I do what I can, mostly by alerting people online, as I am physically unable to do much and my financial resources are small and dwindling. Then I do just a little more than I can, push myself.

My friends and doctors insist that I cut down on these 16-18 hour days, the world will go on just fine if Mai takes a nap in the park. They are right. Sometimes I wonder if all I try to do has any impact on anyone. Still, love compels me to try.

Was he a pedophile or simply a strange guy who had an innocent interest in children, being childlike himself? Was he an ogre of immorality or merely eccentric? I do not know. It is possible he did all the nasty things he was accused of. It is also possible that those were all false charges from people who wanted to open their wallets to put in large amounts of Michael's cash.

The death of Michael Jackson is just this: He brought music, dancing and joy into the lives of millions. He gave us a lot to talk about with his weirdnesses and eccentricities. He made our lives a little more interesting, a little less mundane. And that, my beloved readers, (as Martha Stewart would say) is a good thing.

Good-bye, Michael! The human heart is big enough to care about you and all suffering humanity at the same time.


In memory of two people who deserve to be remembered, this is my martyred son Sandeep's favourite MJ song. I must admit that there is something endearing about a love song to a (literal) rat!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSqo17o2a1w

Google Contest: Project 10 to the 100

I entered GlobaLove Think Tank in the
Google 10 to the 100th contest months ago.
I was expecting to get the results of the
contest in January but it seems the response was
so great it bogged down the process and the
announcement date is up in the air.
Here's Google's comment.

Thank you to everyone who submitted an idea.
We received over 150,000!

Due to the enthusiastic response we received,
it's taking us longer than we expected to review all the ideas.
Check back later, or sign-up to receive an email
update when we've announced the top ideas.

Link: project10tothe100

Psychotherapy

Every day

in every way

I'm getting better

and better


(repeat)

Young and Beautiful

When we're young

we don't think about the end


The end is always near

Rest in peace Farrah and Michael

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's life, in my estimation, is in many ways a testimonial to the convoluted and rapacious nature of the modern world. He was a person of extraordinary talent that faced many obstacles, including race, in his personal quest for meaning and recognition. Ultimately, his own personal insecurities could not withstand the withering power that fame can bring. He possessed a kind, loving and unconventional spirit that made it difficult for him to live in the stark human world where behavior outside of the limiting confines of "normalcy" is immediately held suspect. He attempted to construct a world hewn from his own inner life and nearly succeeded. I will always remember him for the depth and breadth of his immense talent and remarkable grace.

Ghost of Corporate Future

Click on the title to hear Regina Spektor's haunting voice tell the story of her song:

A man walks out of his apartment,

It is raining, he's got no umbrella

He starts running beneath the awnings,

Trying to save his suit,

Trying to save his suit.

Trying to dry, and to dry, and to dry but no good

When he gets to the crowded subway platform,

He takes off both of his shoes

He steps right into somebody's fat loogie

And everyone who sees him says, "Ew."

Everyone who sees him says, "Ew."

But he doesn't care,

'Cause last night he got a visit from the

Ghost of Corporate Future

The ghost said, "Take off both your shoes

Whatever chances you get

Especially when they're wet."

He also said,

"Imagine you go away

On a business trip one day

And when you come back home,

Your children have grown

And you never made your wife moan,

Your children have grown

And you never made your wife moan."

"And people make you nervous

You'd think the world is ending,

And everybody's features have somehow started blending

And everything is plastic,

And everyone's sarcastic,

And all your food is frozen,

It needs to be defrosted."

"You'd think the world was ending,

You'd think the world was ending,

You'd think the world was ending right now.

You'd think the world was ending,

You'd think the world was ending,

You'd think the world was ending right now."

"Well maybe you should just drink a lot less coffee,

And never ever watch the ten o'clock news,

Maybe you should kiss someone nice,

Or lick a rock,

Or both."

"Maybe you should cut your own hair

'Cause that can be so funny

It doesn't cost any money

And it always grows back

Hair grows even after you're dead"

"And people are just people,

They shouldn't make you nervous.

The world is everlasting,

It's coming and it's going.

If you don't toss your plastic,

The streets won't be so plastic.

And if you kiss somebody,

Then both of you'll get practice."

"The world is everlasting

Put dirtballs in your pocket,

Put dirtballs in your pocket,

And take off both your shoes.

'Cause people are just people,

People are just people,

People are just people like you.

People are just people,

People are just people,

People are just people like you."

The world is everlasting

It's coming and it's going

The world is everlasting

It's coming and it's going

It's coming and it's going

Mother Earth

Thank you mother,

thank you for my life.

The Big World

It's a big world.....

if you feel lonely.....

it's no wonder.....

In The End...

In the end...

all we have

is each other

Neda Agha-Soltan

"Voice of Iran"

"Angel of Freedom"

Neda means "voice" or "calling" in Persian,

she has been referred to as the "voice of Iran"

and "a symbol of pro-democracy protesters

battering the Islamic regime" in the world

Neda was shot and killed June 20th during the

2009 Iranian election protests. The graphic videos

were posted on the Internet, and her name quickly

became a rallying cry for the opposition

Power to the People

Fascism,

is fascism,

is fascism!

Life should have been simpler

A PUFF OF AFGHANISTANS NATIONAL PAST TIME NEAR KHOST

Kill Your Television

I'm addicted to TV

I'm a TV junkie

http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/

Good Night, and Good Luck

Edward R. Murrow (born Egbert Roscoe Murrow; April 25, 1908 – April 27, 1965) was an American broadcast journalist. He first came to prominence with a series of radio news broadcasts during World War II, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States and Canada.

Fellow journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss and Alex Kendrick considered Murrow one of journalism's greatest figures, noting his honesty and integrity in delivering the news.

A pioneer of television news broadcasting, Murrow produced a series of TV news reports that helped lead to the censure of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

On October 15, 1958, in a speech before the Radio and Television News Directors Association in Chicago, Murrow blasted TV's emphasis on entertainment and commercialism at the expense of public interest in his "wires and lights" speech in which he said, "During the daily peak viewing periods, television in the main insulates us from the realities of the world in which we live. If this state of affairs continues, we may alter an advertising slogan to read: Look now, pay later."

At the end of his 1958 speech, Murrow made a hopeful statement: "This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful."

Iran - 2009

Recent events in Iran demonstrate the inherent failings and intrinsic vulnerability of any government based on a body of inflexible concepts and authoritarian beliefs. In this particular example, a fundamentalist Islamic government took shape in 1979 after a successful coup against the Shah of Iran whose government represented an old-style regime based on royalty and in many ways maintained by clearly colonial interests. As a reaction to the excesses of its recent past, the new authority imposed a code of behavior and ethics based on Sharia.

The leadership of this new government originally had popular support, for the Iranian people felt that they had reclaimed their nation from foreign influence. Over time, however, the decision to impose an inflexible standard of behavior on the individual lives of the Iranian people that was structured to intrude on the most intimate details of living and that promised harsh punishments for those who did not comply was bound to fail. This is especially true in a country where two-thirds of the population is under thirty-five years of age within an historic era where instant communication is widespread and has no geographic boundaries.

This authoritarian regime, led by fundamentalist religious clerics, is now decidedly on the horns of a dilemma. If they are to retain power, they have no recourse but to come down harshly on the opposition. This intractable behavior is yet another example in the sad history of human civilization of the utter waste of human resources and human potential that is a natural consequence of the unquenchable search for power. What makes it especially poignant is that this attempt to control human destiny in order to make life fit into a restrictive and unrealistic mold will ultimately collapse at no small cost.

greatest robbery of 20th century with full UK and US aid

Where Ever It Is Dark - An Illustrated Poem

I originally posted this in my blog, The Road To Khalistan. I am also posting it here because I imagine the few people outside of our small, but vibrant, community, have any idea what daily life in an American school can be like to a young Sikh boy. Please read and enjoy. And maybe grow a little. And if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

I came across this poem one day while reading Preeti Kaur ji's blog, The World I Stitch. As I read, I saw pictures of all that our children go through in school, especially in America and I felt the need to illustrate her painfully beautiful poem. She has graciously given me permission to reproduce the poem here. The words are hers; I am to blame for the pictures. (She approves of them, though!)

I would suggest that any children experiencing such problems, go to Khalsa Kids. There is a lot of help there. Parents are welcome, too, of course!

where ever it is dark-- poem for sikh children- REVISED

where ever it is dark (revised, kid-friendly version) 12/7/07
for r. singh (especially) and children everywhere


after school
i tell my mummy
i don't want to go back
tomorrow

she asks me why

i tell her
today in the playground
bullies
push me
punch me
kick me
shout at me
potato head!
raghead!
alladin!
even osama bin laden!
everything i know
i am not

i fight back
throw a fist

imagine the bullies as monsters
call them ugly things too

my cheeks burn
my heart thumps

i am MAD

i didn't start this

i am just one
and no one listens
when i yell
stop it!
leave me alone!
no one helps me
when the bullies
rip the cloth
from my head
pull off
my patka

not even the friends
i swing with
everyday on the monkey-bars
or the kids
who swap sandwiches with me
in the cafeteria
not even the adults
who patrol the playgrounds
to make sure
everyone follows the rules

after
bloody noses
bruises
scratches
the teachers sit us down

a peace negotiation
where no one questions
the bullies

why am i a target?

inside
i am like a match
like the ones my daddy warns me not to play with
a blue flame
which grows shorter every second
burning my insides
faster than i expect

i go home
and cry

and cry

i tell my mummy
everything

my mummy
wraps her arms
around my shoulders
tells me she loves me
with her eyes

she unwraps
my joora
lets loose
my long hair
runs her fingers through

mummy whispers
your hair
is like the night sky
your hair
is the universe

she combs my kes
with a kanga
twists my hair firm
on the top of my head

a galaxy you carry high
mummy says

she takes the square patka cloth
angles it
like a diamond
sets the patka on my scalp
and ties it tight

mummy tells me
this patka
crowns you

one day
you will wear a turban
cloth as long as the seven oceans
the full span of the earth
will rest on your head

be a brave young prince
like Sahibzaada Zorawar Singh Ji
like Sahibzaada Fateh Singh Ji

when bullies
big as kings
threaten them
for carrying the universe on their heads

like true princes
when bullies
torture them
with three nights
in the cold
in the dark

when everyone wanted them to just be children
they raised their chins high

no tears
just the ways of the lion prince

with questions and conversation
a duty for the kingdom

mummy kisses my cheeks
i kiss her back

i tell her
i will go back to school tomorrow
i will be like a prince
a shooting star

bright and brave
where ever it is cold
where ever it is dark

pk

Letter to the President Regarding Health Care Reform

I am a strong supporter of the President. Health Care Reform is, in my judgment, a pivotal issue. Many citizens have voted for the President with this issue clearly in mind. I strongly urge the President to reject any proposed legislation that does not include a public option. I believe it is an outrage for the Democrats to propose legislation that explicitly prohibits a public option from directly competing with the private health insurers who have demonstrated their utter disdain for the public health as evidenced by the tens of millions of people who do not have access to meaningful health care. They are literally killing us as demonstrated by all the needless suffering endured by so many. The plan they are proposing is nothing more than a mechanism to use public monies to subsidize the for-profit companies.

The President should understand that he has the people behind him. In my judgment, he needs to take the offensive and clearly indicate what he will not accept. Otherwise, this is reform in name only and will consign us to an abysmal future where the public health is once again secondary to profit. I believe that if the President does not act decisively on this issue, an important opportunity will be missed. He has a wonderful opportunity to achieve greatness in the eyes of the American public.

To base national health care on a for-profit model is a totally bankrupt concept. Even though the Congress has demonstrated repeatedly the degree to which they have been corrupted by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, the President can appeal directly to his millions of loyal supporters. If he chooses to rubber stamp this approach, he will run the risk of disillusioning many of those who voted for him, myself included. This is a very important issue that must be attended to with the appropriate solution that will provide enduring and meaningful change; to accept less is a travesty, in my opinion.

Footsteps on the Moon

When men landed on the moon

they were surprised to discover

that they were not alone.

Providence

North Korea has built an arsenal of nuclear weapons.
Iran are suspected of doing the self same thing.
Here in Great Britain we have enough nuclear weapons to level the world, to bring rack and ruin raining down upon the heads of humanity along with our fellow animals.
So do the United States of America.
So do Russia.
So do China.
North Korea has escaped the wrath of the West which has to beg the question why?
Iran is now being handed the velvet gloved hand of friendship from President Obama as a token concilatory gesture. It is a most welcome move.
Prior to this act of goodwill there has been mounting tension between the two nations. The United States does not want yet another country building weapons of mass destruction and as we know from recent history a country that holds such weapons get the full of weight of the world's mightiest nations sent against them. Unless of course you are North Korea.
Iran's desire to have these weapons stems from mistrust; mistrust of the West and the USA in particular. Fortunately there is now a President in the White House who appears to be level headed and peace loving.
Perhaps if such a man with such a wealth of diplomacy had made the same gestures of peace, goodwill and friendship to the North Korean government then they to would not have felt the need to build an array of arms that are currently pointed at us all.
These are not new lessons. These are just constant repeats but still we repeat them. One day we might learn.
One day.
But then again one might as well be someday.

Emotion

So be aware,

you control others,

no matter how big or small

and you should do so,

with love,

For the Sake of Humanity

~{R}~

government money

Money is the blood that this economy pumps into circulation.
Capital has been disappearing into the organs that used to create supportive juices. The lack of jobs is only half the problem that the pre-existing jobs keep exposing as economically lacking. We can't help being so socialistic-ally connected by irresponsible conditioning.

The unbalanced attitude of being indebted is the health issue.
The most basic example of health is a balanced budget (or diet.)
Government has sold-out It's responsibility to create credit without debt.
Statistical education is the most important correction to knowing "Federal Reserve" accountability (& who "they" are.)
A U.S. Note as an equal democratic credit is the only administration that can bail-out capital criminal leakage (from "their" leverage.)
A country entitles itself to citizens by credit for participation creation.
The idea of taxes is a gambling device like roulette, when citizens actually deserve access to supportive assistance.

Government as an administrative model is the only expected generosity engine (to bail-out) while all other administrations seem to bail-on their responsibilities.

Plea for Paradise

Welcome to the Caribbean,
Where romantics are born
And frosty hearts will melt;
Seduction is suntanned skin,
Sunscreen scented sexuality
And sea breeze tousled hair.

Shore lapping indigo says
Lay your nostalgia to rest
Warm your aching limbs
In tiny pebble blankets,
Close busy overburdened eyes
Breathe in rhythmic waves;
My kindness keeps you safe.

Siren song paradise pulls
At yearnings of the heart
“Everyone wants to live here
But no one wants to move”
Lashing rainstorm tear reminders
Of what they’ve left behind
Come home, beloved miserable
Trapped and busy souls!

All are welcome on our shores.

O-Sensei: The Great Teacher

Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969)


The word "aikido" is formed of three kanji:

- ai - joining, harmonizing
- ki - spirit, life energy
- dō - way, path

The term dō connects the practice of aikido with the philosophical concept of Tao, which can be found in martial arts such as judo and kendo, and in more peaceful arts such as Japanese calligraphy (shodō), flower arranging (kadō) and tea ceremony (chadō or sadō).

The term aiki refers to the martial arts principle or tactic of blending with an attacker's movements for the purpose of controlling their actions with minimal effort. One applies aiki by understanding the rhythm and intent of the attacker to find the optimal position and timing to apply a counter-technique.

Historically, aiki was mastered for the purpose of killing; however in aikido one seeks to control an aggressor without causing harm. Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido declared, "To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace." A number of aikido practitioners interpret aikido metaphorically, seeing parallels between aikido techniques and other methods for conflict resolution.

(video clip)

8th day, of rest?

There are seven senses of what I am.

My sense of sight creates personal style with individual image development.
The sense of hearing wants me to develop a voice.
Our sense of taste considers who to do lunch with.
Some sense of smell will pick the space and bring the flowers.
The sense of touch is a body of relationships reaching for shared conclusions.
The sixth sense is the drama of opinion by critical awareness.

The health of attitude is the seventh sense of integrity &/or balance.

. . but what you think I am IS WHO? . . projected interest?

Live Right

The true self, being right

It's a humility in living

being able to admit being wrong

putting aside ego to love freely

prioritizing the importance of relationships

growing as a human being

having a critical mind

and doing what's right

instead of buying into complacency

~{R}~

PlayPumps

The PlayPump Water System uses the energy of children at play to operate a water pump.

There are more than 1000 PlayPump systems in sub-Saharan Africa, providing clean drinking water to more than one million impoverished people.

The PlayPump water system is a like a playground merry-go-round attached to a water pump. The spinning motion pumps underground water into a 789,500-liter tank raised seven meters above ground.

Roundabout Outdoor is a company that manufactures, installs, and maintains PlayPump water systems throughout sub-Saharan Africa. PlayPumps International is a nonprofit that raises the funds to donate PlayPump water systems to African communities and schools.

Sibling Rivalry

The color of my blood is red

the color of your blood is red

blood does not lie

it tells us that we are all

members of the same family

the Family of Man