Where Do I Turn? - Continued . . .

Please read the post preceding this first.

I'd finished writing that post and began scanning B.I.D.E. Global Blog Feed in the sidebar, had a blog post catch my eye, followed it down and it lead me to another blog from which I must quote.

I put that man's picture here because he looks like a really decent person and I really can't tell what Faith he may have. Also, I bet he wouldn't hold it against a person if they belonged to a Faith other than his.

If you haven't read the post before this one, please do 'cause it will make this one make more sense; although, the 14-year-old Iraqi girl that I'll be quoting, really does make a ton of sense all on her own.

So . . .

Here's a quote from the blog, Days of My Life ~ Talk about daily life of a teenage girl in Iraq:

"I got a letter from a dear friend of mine telling me that the media says that the Sunnis kill the Shiites and the Shiites kill Sunnites in Iraq .. OOOOHHHHH Of course that is not true , Sunnites and Shiites have been living together for ages , they marry each other , I have relatives married Shiites women\men, if that was true , that means my parents’ uncle should kill his wife ,my mom’s uncle should kill his wife , some of my parents’ cousins should kill their wives\husbands !!!!!!!! and I should kill my two best friends , that is ridiculous…

"In my grandparents’ neighborhood, there are people from many religions there are Muslims(Sunnites, Shiites) , Christians , Subba , &Armenians.. they are more than neighbors , like one family , when my eye problem happened ( I had Deplopia) our Christian neighbors went to the church and lightened candles for me , and our Shiites neighbors went to Karbala , she traveled to another city , just to pray for me ( Karbala is a religious place specially for Shiites ), the examples are so many . I’ve talked about that in many posts . and said that in many interviews , and I will keep saying that till the people in the world start to realize , that Iraqis (Sunnites and Shiites) live in Iraq for more than 1400 years, they are MUSLIMS and IRAQIS.

"We go shopping together , if we need any help , we ask our neighbors to help us , because we are all Iraqis , no matter what are our religion , nor creeds , I didn’t know what are Shiites and Sunnites until I was 12 years old, and lately it appears that there are more creeds , Shafee and hanafy !!!!!! and other creeds , I don’t know which one I belong to , and I don’t even want to know , those names are not important , we all believe in the same god , and say the same prayers , no matter how do we stand and those formals if we put our hand together when we pray or not !!!!!!, what’s important is what is there inside our hearts .

"So , NO we don’t kill each other , the terrorists who kill Shiites are the same who kill Sunnites , it is impossible that Good Iraqis kill each other , no matter what is their religions nor creeds …
In my own big family , there are Arabs and Kurd , Sunnites and Shiites , Iraqis Americans , British , Turks , and Germans ( my parent’s uncle married a British lady , his daughter married a guy originally from Germany , and my dad’s cousin has a Turkish wife, many of my relatives married Shiites ) , what a mixture !!....

"From many nationalities and creeds. We are one big family..."

Where Do I Turn?

So much is wrong in the world...

So much effort must be spent just to stay slightly positive...

Most folks just give up.

Oh, they may still go to a church or mosque or temple but beyond a passing prayer for peace, not much gets done...

Our post, The Death of Violence !, has 64 simple and powerful things each of us could do, every day, to further peace...

But...

Beyond the good deeds we all need to do lies the need for a solid connection to a Spiritual Path.

Back in the post, My God, Your God, Our God, I listed quite a few Names of God from different cultures and Faiths. Right here, I want to list these names of the major Founders of Religion: Zarathustra, Krishna, Buddha, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, The Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh.

More and more people are coming to realize that these Prophets of God were all speaking the same "Language". When you look carefully at the core teachings of each of Their Faiths, you find the very same Truths. The only real variance in what They each brought to us is in the social laws, which must change periodically as humanity grows up...

So, how does a person decide which Faith to cleave to? If they're all teaching basically the same thing why do people fight over their religious beliefs?

According to a WebPage titled, Major Branches of Religions Ranked by Number of Adherents, there are twelve "classical" major world religions and 65 "branches" in those twelve "classical" styles of Faith.

If you look at that page, you'll find Many More "sub-branches"...

Ever get the suspicion that all those flavors of religion are created by people and may or may not have much to do with God's Wishes?

The more I talk to earnest believers in various Faiths, the more I find agreement that the Prophets each brought the Faith of God and people immediately began to erode It's pristine beauty and purity, created their own materialized variants, and made it quite easy for massive human slaughter due to "religious" strife !

This is one post I really hope to get many comments on...

Sing A Song of Peace

{ image credit }

<---- That's Cat Stevens. Thirty years ago, he took most of the world by storm.

He's back!

You can hear him sing his mega-hit, Peace Train, on this Video, as well as appreciate some images of Iran that are rarely seen.

Plus, there's a good message interwoven with the pictures and music about a different approach to current events!

Tags: music, Cat+Stevens, Peace+Train, Iran, muslim

How Dare You Show This Picture !

{ image credit }

I debated putting this picture here but things are getting to me. . .

How dare anyone do that to children !

How dare we not do more to put an end to it !

For those just tuning in to this blog, the post, The Death of Violence !, has 64 simple yet powerfully effective things most anyone can do to add to the momentum of peace in our world.

Some may say there will never be an end to violence since humans are just wired that way. For anyone inclined to say that (or even harbor it in the dark recesses of their minds), I'll offer A Force More Powerful. It's a WebSite, a book, a TV documentary, and much more. Their effort chronicles 100 years of non-violent response to violent circumstances--responses which
Worked !!!

Tags: dead+babies, dead+children, death, children, youth, child, global+warming, violence, non-violence, Season+for+Non-Violence

Losing Our Future . . .

This image is from the Guardian Unlimited and carries this caption: Iraqi boys in a refugee camp in Baghdad play with toy guns.

Since this is still a Season for Non-Violence and since children Are our Future, I want to make a Major Comment. If you're in your teens or twenties, you may not even be aware if it; if you're in your thirties or forties, you may be tuning in to it; if you're in your fifties or sixties, you're probably dealing with it big-time; and, if you're in your seventies or more, I hope you're over the hump and can relax...

Major Comment: The teachings from our parents and the signals from our environment are so powerful an influence in our childhood that most people have never gotten beyond them to discover their True Selves.

Just because most haven't doesn't mean you can't; but, the only sure way to break the bonds of unsuitable upbringing is the Spiritual Path. (Naturally, we can praise God for all the good influences...)

Here are some links for further exploration:
From Case Western Reserve University, an article on a new study, Kids Who Threaten Are Likely to be Violent.

From the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the article, Children and TV Violence, which has further links for exploration.

And, from the National Institute of Mental Health, a page full of valuable links for further study.
Here's a quote from that site:

"Not all children enjoy the "carefree" days of childhood. Unfortunately, when things start to go wrong, people often despair of being able to repair the damage.

"This is a time of high concern about violent behavior by young people. As a nation, we are in a period of reflection as to what can be done to stem this tide. Helping young people avoid or overcome emotional problems in the wake of violence or disaster is one of the most important challenges a parent, teacher, or mental health professional can face. Moreover, children often face violence in their own homes..."

N.B.: This is still a Season for Non-Violence.

Tags: non-violence, war, child, children, play, toys, childhood+development, parental+influence, youth

The Death of Violence !

We're already 8 days into A Season for Non-Violence.

Violence is still rampant on our Earth.

Can one person actually do anything about it?

Absolutely!

In fact, without many single people deciding they've had enough of animalistic responses to differences of opinion, we will All die (far too soon...)...

I want A Season for Non-Violence to speak to the world:

Vision

"As a human family we are asking the question: “How can any act of violence be recognized as a solution to the consequences of violence that we face today?” Violent actions and reactions are the scars of social, educational, and economic wounds... the voices of a spiritually inarticulate culture.

"The practice of nonviolence is initiated by choice and cultivated through agreement. The time has come to agree upon this as a global community--as if our lives, and those of our children’s children, depended on it. Our vision is of a better world for all human beings.

"To this end, we undertake “Gandhi & King: A Season for Nonviolence” by applying our efforts and resources to identifying, then bringing into focus the spectrum of grassroots projects and programs by individuals and organizations who are pro-actualizing a peaceful social order."

Mission

"Our mission is to create an awareness of nonviolent principles and practice as a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives and communities.

"Through an educational and community action campaign, we are honoring those who are using nonviolence to build a community that honors the dignity and worth of every human being.

"We are demonstrating that every person can move the world in the direction of peace through their daily nonviolent choice and action."

Still don't think You can do anything to help our embattled World?
I dare you to look through this list and Not find at least one positive action for yourself:

A Season for Nonviolence - 64 Ways in 64 Days ~
Daily Commitments to Live ByThese

principles for nonviolence were adapted by the Denver Area Task
Force for: A Season for Nonviolence - January 30-April 4, 1998

Inspired by the 50th & 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi
and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

1 -- Today, I will reflect on what peace means to me.
2 -- Today, I will look at opportunities to be a peacemaker.
3 -- Today, I will practice nonviolence and respect for Mother Earth by making good use of her resources.
4 -- Today, I will take time to admire and appreciate nature.
5 -- Today, I will plant seeds--plants or constructive ideas.
6 -- Today, I will hold a vision of plenty for all the world's hungry and be open to guidance as to how I can help alleviate some of that hunger.
7 -- Today, I will acknowledge every human being's fundamental right to justice, equity, and equality.
8 -- Today, I will appreciate the earth's bounty and all of those who work to make my food available (i.e., grower, trucker, grocery clerk, cook, waitress, etc.)
9 -- Today, I will work to understand and respect another culture.
10 -- Today, I will oppose injustice, not people.
11 -- Today, I will look beyond stereotypes and prejudices.
12 -- Today, I will choose to be aware of what I talk about and I will refuse to gossip.
13 -- Today, I will live in the present moment and release the past.
14 -- Today, I will silently acknowledge all the leaders throughout the world.
15 -- Today, I will speak with kindness, respect, and patience to every person that I talk with on the telephone.
16 -- Today, I will affirm my value and worth with positive "self talk" and refuse to put myself down.
17 -- Today, I will tell the truth and speak honestly from the heart.
18 -- Today, I will cause a ripple effect of good by an act of kindness toward another.
19 -- Today, I will choose to use my talents to serve others by volunteering a portion of my time.
20 -- Today, I will say a blessing for greater understanding whenever I see evidence of crime, vandalism, or graffiti.
21 -- Today, I will say "No" to ideas or actions that violate me or others.
22 -- Today, I will turn off anything that portrays or supports violence whether on television, in the movies, or on the Internet.
23 -- Today, I will greet this day--everyone and everything--with openness and acceptance as if I were encountering them for the first time.
24 -- Today, I will drive with tolerance and patience.
25 -- Today, I will constructively channel my anger, frustration, or jealousy into healthy physical activities (i.e., doing sit-ups, picking up trash, taking a walk, etc).
26 -- Today, I will take time to appreciate the people who provide me with challenges in my life, especially those who make me angry or frustrated.
27 -- Today, I will talk less and listen more.
28 -- Today, I will notice the peacefulness in the world around me.
29 -- Today, I will recognize that my actions directly affect others.
30 -- Today, I will take time to tell a family member or friend how much they mean to me.
31 -- Today, I will acknowledge and thank someone for acting kindly.
32 -- Today, I will send a kind, anonymous message to someone.
33 -- Today, I will identify something special in everyone I meet.
34 -- Today, I will discuss ideas about nonviolence with a friend to gain new perspectives.
35 -- Today, I will practice praise rather than criticism.
36 -- Today, I will strive to learn from my mistakes.
37 -- Today, I will tell at least one person they are special and important.
38 -- Today, I will hold children tenderly in thought and/or action.
39 -- Today, I will listen without defending and speak without judgment.
40 -- Today, I will help someone in trouble.
41 -- Today, I will listen with an open heart to at least one person.
42 -- Today, I will treat the elderly I encounter with respect and dignity.
43 -- Today, I will treat the children I encounter with respect and care, knowing that I serve as a model to them.
44 -- Today, I will see my so-workers in a new light--with understanding and
compassion.
45 -- Today, I will be open to other ways of thinking and acting that are different from my own.
46 -- Today, I will think of at least three alternate ways I can handle a situation when confronted with conflict.
47 -- Today, I will work to help others resolve differences.
48 -- Today, I will express my feeling honestly and nonviolently with respect for myself and others.
49 -- Today, I will sit down with my family for one meal.
50 -- Today, I will set an example of a peacemaker by promoting nonviolent responses.
51 -- Today, I will use no violent language.
52 -- Today, I will pause for reflection.
53 -- Today, I will hold no one hostage to the past, seeing each-as I see myself-as a work in process.
54 -- Today, I will make a conscious effort to smile at someone whom I have held a grudge against in the past.
55 -- Today, I will practice compassion and forgiveness by apologizing to someone whom I have hurt in the past.
56 -- Today, I will reflect on whom I need to forgive and take at least one step in that direction.
57 -- Today, I will forgive myself.
58 -- Today, I will embrace the spiritual belief of my heart in my own personal and reflective way.
59 -- Today, I will enlarge my capacity to embrace differences and appreciate the value of every human being.
60 -- Today, I will be compassionate in my thoughts, words, and actions.
61 -- Today, I will cultivate my moral strength and courage through education and creative nonviolent action.
62 -- Today, I will practice compassion and forgiveness for myself and others.
63 -- Today, I will use my talents to serve others as well as myself.
64 -- Today, I will serve humanity by dedicating myself to a vision greater than myself.

Tags: Season+for+Non-Violence, action, individuals, non-violence, vision

Who Are The Victors ?

{image credit}

I watched the Game (Super Bowl XLI) but not with as much enthusiasm as this fellow...

I never liked playing football as I grew up (loved basket ball, though) but I love watching it (and hate watching basket ball)! I think, since I'm a peaceable sort who would rather we all used non-violent means to resolve difficulties, my willingness to watch the sport is to admire sheer ability and rock-solid determination.

Actually, yesterday's display of rabid enthusiasm, strictly physical ability, and emotional determination had some redeeming qualities:

The Latino community was wonderfully represented in the pre-game show, the fact that the head coaches were black was celebrated (as well as their spiritual predilections and their years-long friendship), and I didn't see one personal fight on the field...

I don't fully understand why violent sports and war still hold such fascination for so many people. Sure they have marvelous examples of individual effort, team spirit, valor, courage, discipline, and determination (all exemplary virtues) but they certainly aren't the only (or best) places to find those virtues.

I'm reading a book now about the history of non-violence and, since we're in the Season for Non-Violence, you can expect to see posts inspired by that history . . .

Tags: "individual effort", "super bowl", "team spirit", black, courage, determination, discipline, football, sports, valor, virtue

A Pause for The Cause

Here comes the Super Bowl...

But...

I have my blog to promote, I've got my work at the Peace Museum to organize, I've got friends to make at the United Communities of Spirit, I've got all this research to do to back up all the Spiritual Commentary I intend to make, I have my new living situation to adapt to, I have the side effects from my medications to deal with, I've got the recent abandonment by a close friend to assimilate, I've got to face how that abandonment's tending to bring up other emotional issues from my past, I've got to . . .

Well, first, I've got to drop back and punt--release my grip on my will-power and let a different part of my brain look things over.

There's a wonderful tool I'll be using (tomorrow...) to give my creativity a chance to coax my Have-Tos into a shape that lets my Want-Tos out to play...

If you have a ton of things to do that seem to want to strangle your Spirit right out of your life, try FreeMind--a free Mind Mapping tool--a way to give a Heart-Beat to your Mind-Warps.

But...

Today...

I dedicate my time to the near-sacred sporting event that makes so much money for so many people--SUPER BOWL - XLI.

P.S. Knowing me, I'll be subconsciously processing how to do some Spiritual Commentary on the event, right here in my little blog...

Armageddon and Love

Armageddon: the scene of the final battle between the kings of the Earth at the end of the world.

< This image is from an atheist's view of the "End Times".

When will this final battle take place?

Is it happening now?

Who are the "kings of the Earth"?

What is the actual shape of the "battle"?

Religious interpretation is something only the brave, studious, or pure in heart should attempt...

I certainly won't attempt any serious interpretations, just a few imaginative ideas and a simple commentary.

Can you imagine that "kings" could mean "those in power" or the "source of power"?
If you can, consider the following ideas:

Anyone ever tell you the most predominant form of life on Earth is the lowly germ?

Can you imagine a battle between human kings and germs?

Check out: Pandemic flu may be only two mutations away.

Can you imagine a battle between human kings and Mother Earth herself?

Check out: Blame for global warming placed firmly on humankind.

Seems there are a number of responses to "the end of the world":
~ Fright
~ Flight
~ Paralysis
~ Prayer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things a person might die from:

* Old age
* Disease (normal)
* Disease (terrorist)
* Accident
* Physical attack (personal)
* Physical attack (war, terror, ecological, etc.)
* Psychological attack
* Boredom
* Fill-In-The-Blank

Ralph Waldo Emerson sums up my feeling about death in this world at war:

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

Tags: "global warming", armageddon, love, pandemic, terrorists, war