Better? What Better?

Rather than pointing out faults or cause for anger I am on a bent to find statements that inspire or pull me out of myself. Perhaps you can benefit from this as well?  Here are few items that you may find of interest.

First, another gem from the Dali Lama:

            “When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense

             Of respect towards others.”

Funny how that is. Kindness begins with letting the ‘other’ be in peace. Not your other; but the other persons who surround us at all times, even when we think we are alone on a mountain top. Or in a lonely spot in the middle of the desert. We are surrounded by others, seen or not. Be grateful and let the respect toward others build.

Second, Helen Keller profoundly affected America with her strength in spite of her physical limitations. One of her quotes that remain powerful is this one:

            “The only thing worse than being blind

             Is having sight but no vision.”

Born with no sight or hearing, Helen Keller became a person with insight, vision and enormous understanding. Each of us is endowed with what Helen did not have. How then do we acquire what she did have?

Third, Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested, jailed and beaten for his views. He stood up for the downtrodden and often became one himself. But his life and thought lives on to guide us. Here’s a thought I’ve shared in this space before:

            “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it

             As he who helps perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without

             Protesting against it is really cooperating with it.

                                                                                    ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Let us stand for right and take proper action to support it. Let us not quibble about the grammar or style of it.

Fourth, Maya Angelou deserves our attention and study. As a poet she embodies in a few words what others have written volumes about. Here’s an example:

            “I think a hero is any person

             Really intent on making this

             A better place for all people.”

Powerful, eh?

Fifth, Jason Read uses more words to make his point. Less elegant as well! But he does have a point to make. Here is one of them:

            “People who dismiss the unemployed and dependent as ‘parasites’ fail to

             Understand economics and parasitism. A successful parasite is one that is

             Not recognized by its host, one that can make its host work for it without

             Appearing as a burden. Such is the ruling class in a capitalist society.”

Think about that for a few moments. Did it surprise you at the end? Thought it might. Now continue thinking about it.

Sixth, in this season of charity it might be best if we thought a bit about who we are giving our money to. I think it good to remember this caution:

            “The Salvation Army is NOT a charity.

             They are an evangelical protestant church which uses donated money to

             Actively oppress gay rights. They have threatened to close tens of thousands

             Of New York soup kitchens if they are forced to adhere to civil rights laws

             When dealing with gay employees.

            They spend your money lobbying governments to prevent LGBT rights

             Legislation.

 Please research a charity before giving. Consider Doctors Without Borders

 Or Amnesty International.”

These items are all common sense. The other day a person labeled me a liberal. I demurred as a claimed centrist. She insisted I am liberal. I pointed out that her belief system is conservative and demands that all people other than conservatives are defined as liberal. But that is only a construct from their one perspective. Globally there is a broader perspective. And to that standard I hold and claim centrism. I can label myself. No other can do that for me.

In that spirit, let us reason together and claim our common humanity. If we are to build a better world or nation or neighborhood, let it begin with me and you working together. May we also claim the high road and focus on the best for the many. That would be better!

November 28, 2012