Some thoughts about the past and future, by the immortals:
“Study the past if you would divine the future.” – Confucius
“Our reverence for the past is just in proportion to our ignorance of it.” Theodore Parker
“The future of a country is safe only in the hands of those to whom her past is dear.” Wm. Ralph Inge
“Belief in a future life is the appetite of reason.” Walter Savage Landor
As we collectively embrace a new decade may it be filled with positive endeavors that correct all the wrongs committed in what may one day be called the decade of oughtnots!
As we ought not have allowed only nine people’s votes to count when the Supreme Court selected George W. Bush to darken the halls of the White House, so should we ought not have let the Florida Secretary of State criminally mangle an election with prejudice, manipulation, and alledged illegalities.
As we ought not have invaded Iraq, a country who had nothing to do with 9/11; so should we have ought not allowed George W. Bush to speak lies regarding wmds in a State of the Union address or allowed him to ignore the Intelligence Briefings which predicted 9/11 before it’s fruition.
As we ought not have allowed the oil industry power via Bush the Second, so should we ought not have ignored the Kyoto environmental summit.
As we ought not have allowed the continued indulgences of banking and mortgage frauds, the frauds of Enron practices and the ponzi scheme frauds to continue unprosecuted, so should we have ought not allowed the continued imprisonment of innocent people who really are innocent. And although it is generally the poor who remained unjustly accused and imprisoned, may the next decade bring forth true justice for all -regardless of race, sexual preference, monetary value, and priviledged connection.
And finally, as we ought not have allowed the Katrina tragedies to fester as Bush gleefully congratulated one whose job performance was less than adequate; so shall we look to a future when not only the rich are provided for and pampered.
So here is to a spectacular new decade, filled with heath insurance for the people and the planet.
May peace and justice be brought to all nations and to the conscience of all peoples!
“Where there is no hope, there can be no endeavor.”
Samuel Johnson (1709-84) English author, lexicographer and conversationalist
May the yuletide season yield all that is moral, may it drown out all quarrel!
May it renew spiritual prosperity and bring end to all disparity!
May kindness, joy, and giving engulf all the living.
May thoughtfulness, gratitude, and love be part of the giving!
“The plainer the dress with greater luster does beauty appear. –Virtue is the greatest ornament, and good sense the best equipage.” -G. Saville
The food, the eggnog, the dessert; all fine and well but it is the binding of spirits, the embrace of loved ones, the sharing of laughter and memories, and the collective hope of all who gather which make the finest holiday recipe!
If each uninsured U. S. citizen daily honked their horn at high noon (in each time zone), on behalf of a healthcare bill that included but was not limited to a public option!
-the joke writer’s suggestion is not a call to any action of civil disobedience!
One could call it a really cool dharma since it involves metal but during this time of economic recovery and job search for many Americans this opportunity may be right up one’s alley!
It is being done in some corners, but how much countryside in the United States is cluttered with old cars, appliances, and other scrap metal? The answer, quite a bit! Therefore, for the jobless patriotic entrepreneur a huge opportunity is available to anyone who collects it all and then sells it to the local scrap metal dealer!
Just a thought that if taken to action would provide income, recycling of a precious commodity during a time of war and the beautification of the United States.
Go for it!
“Good-breeding is the art of showing men, by external signs, the internal regard we have for them. It arises from good sense, improved by conversing with good company.” – Marcus Porcius Cato
Subject: “Afghanistan”
“Eric –
Last night, President Obama laid out his plan to defend our national interest by refocusing our efforts on three clear goals: defeating al Qaeda, stabilizing Pakistan, and breaking the Taliban’s momentum in Afghanistan.
To achieve these goals, the President has authorized the rapid deployment of 30,000 more troops in Afghanistan, with a firm commitment to begin bringing our troops home in 2011.
It’s a clean break from the failed Afghanistan policy of the Bush administration, and a new, focused strategy that can succeed.
Please take a moment to watch the President’s address to the nation and read more about his plan.
Our new strategy ends the era of blank checks for Afghanistan’s leaders, facilitates a responsible transition to Afghan security forces, and begins bringing our troops home in 2011.
Please take a moment to listen to President Obama outline his plan — and pass this along to anyone you know who wants to learn more:
http://my.barackobama.com/AfghanistanAddress
Thank you,
Vice President Joe Biden”
