John Kerry war testimony at Senate Foreign Relations: 1971 and 2013 | Minnesota Public Radio News

This is chilling....

John Kerry war testimony at Senate Foreign Relations: 1971 and 2013 | Minnesota Public Radio News

2013: Quite A Year So Far....

I have been assessing the first month of 2013.    The only word I could find is this:  amazing.

The first shocking news within the past 24 hours was the news that was annouced: the US Economy actually shrank in the 4th Quarter of 2012.   I found this to be a shocker--to  say the least. People slowed down hiring, cut back on spending and generally were pessimitic. However, an analysis done by The Washington Post's Wonk Blog noted how the ups and downs in spending cuts. The Federal Reserve in the United States acknowledged the stall and has noted that its' bond buying program to spruce up the Economy will continue for the foreseeable future.

The changing of the Guard in Washington is also continuing onward. HIllary Rodham Clinton is riding into the Sunset after being in the limelight off and on for over 20 years. Her last day as US Secretary of State is in a few days as his successor, John Kerry was confirmed by a vote of 94-3 by the US Senate. John Kerry began as someone who was one of the key leaders of Vietnam Veterans Against the War and went on to be quite a force to be reckoned with in the United States Senate for 28 years. During his farewell address to the US Senate, he reflected upon how 61 Million People in the United States decided that he should not be President. But, as he noted, his career since his loss in 2004 was a testament to the art of the possible. Whatever disagreements folks may have had with him, he took Ted Kennedy's advise to be a leader and be involved as he has been. I would also suggest that Barack Obama owes him for the prominence given to him at John Kerry's convention in 2004 where it all began for him. It seems a lifetime ago.  

John Forbes Kerry begins his new adventure as Secretary of State with a very full inbox. There is the war in West Africa that has seen the French intervene in Mali to tight the insurgency by those who claim to be Muslims but have no clue about Islam. The locals regard them as thugs and losers--which is exactly how Al Qaeda is generally regarded throughout the Muslim World. I was reviewing reports by Britain's Skynews On Mali. It showed these thugs destroying tombs and dispensing their brand of justice--if one wants to call it that. But, I also saw the story of a courageous Professor who risked his life to save old manuscripts by sneaking them out of the Library in the ancient city of Timbakntu to preserve it. I initially believed the reports on how the thugs, thieves and murderes who had burnt everything. I was ecstatic when I saw the reports of this Professor. I sincerely hope that the man receives an award from UNESCO for his heroism.

Beyond Mali, there is Syria. The war rages on with no end in sight. What was shocking for me was a report of an Israeli Air Strike on a Convoy of Syrian Arms with Anti-Aircraft Missles on their way to Lebanon. Syria confirmed the strike. If that is in fact the case, it is a dangerous escalation of a very challenging tinderbox. I continue to believe that Assad's days are numbered. I believe this to be so when I see suburbs of the Capital, Damascus, being bombed daily from the Air and the Ground by Assad's forces. For me, though, the story of the 37 Year Old Woman that was featured on Sky News picking up Arms and serving as a Sniper for the Opposition underscored how Assad has truly lost it all. She's a mother of two--yet she's decided to fight for the future of her Children. This is as hunderds of thousands have escaped the carnage in Syria to take refuge in Jordan and Turkey. There has been over a billion pledged to help the refugees who have been displaced by the Syrian Revolution over the past 2 years.

Returning back to the United States, there is the raging debate over guns.
It has been over 45 days since Sandy Hook. 20 Children and 6 Educators lost their lives when they were massacred. The debate has continued and the NRA has flexed its' muscle in opposing moves to transform the Gun Culture. Those who wish to transform the Gun Culture are not advocating a revocation of the 2nd Amendment. One of the most prominent victims, Gabby Giffords, was before the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary and implored Congress to be courageous and bold and change the free wheeling way in which Guns seems to proliferate in the United States. What happened to her and all those who lost their lives on that terrible day was an absolute tragedy that is beyond words. Yet, the idea that somehow teachers should be armed and schools must have armed guards seem to be beyond the pale of the possible. The Police Chief of Baltimore County asked some very compelling questions during that very hearing. He shared the burden of the Gun--about how he had to spend $ 200 for the holster and how he had to think about its' safety every day. I also wondered about the agony of the Father of one of the Victims of Sandy Hook as he recalled that horrible day during a testimony before the Conneticuit State Senate Committee. What happened to him is the worst nightmare for any parent. I have been in meetings with my local School Superindenant where the issue of School Safety has been discussed.

Beyond Guns, there is Immigration and the biggest challenge of all: the budget. Although the US Economy dodged a bullet when an interim arrangement was arrived at regarding the National Debt, the deadline to figure out how to avoid Sequestration--which simply stated means that the entire Government will be cut substantially with profound implications for what has now become an anemic Economy that does not need another shock right now.

One key issue is, of course, climate change.    According to 350.org "..One of the strongest winter storms ever recorded spent the weekend spinning through the North Atlantic....Joelle never made landfall, but it recorded one of the lowest barometric pressures ever, and created waves 50 ft/15M high. Scientists predict that as the climate changes, these storms will be more likely -- and powerful as reported in  http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/article.html?entrynum=2336

 

Excerpts of this also published in http://www.outsiderviews.com.    All right reserved as per the Creative Commons License.

 

As the New Week is Before Us.....

There is never a moment where I don't forget why I am here--to do whatever I can to make a difference.   At times, during the challenges of the moment, it momentarily slips my mind until I run across thoughts from the leading lights of yesteryear that reminds me constantly what's important.

I shared these thoughts w/my Son to also remind him as he continues onward with his evolving development. I had the privilege to host an afternoon w/friends for him this past week-end to celebrate his upcoming birthday.    It is the biggest joy to be around youth and be part of their development.   I pray daily that the almighty grants me the strength and the wisdom to carry on.

Onward to the new week w/all its' possibilities:


It is in giving that we receive.
- St. Francis of Assisi

You can give without loving,
but you can never love without giving.
- Robert Louis Stevenson

Happiness... consists in giving, and in serving others.
- Henry Drummond

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.
- Albert Schweitzer

You can't live a perfect day without doing something
for someone who will never be able to repay you.
- John Wooden

Art of Conversing: Do You Meet these 10 Rules of a Great Conversationalist?

Another challenging week awaits!!

The insights shared here (which I have shared w/my students) is absolutely vital for success.

A Lot to reflect upon for sure:

Art of Conversing: Do You Meet these 10 Rules of a Great Conversationalist?

Living an Ethical Life: Lessons To be Learnt

I, like millions around the World, was shocked and disappointed when Lance Armstrong's fraud was exposed.    
The need to "win" and "be on top" seems to have overtaken any sense of decency before him.    One of the
best case studies I saw was on Personal Excellence that I have shared w/my students as a basic
case study of what "not to do".     It speaks for itself:

Case Study: Lance Armstrong’s Elaborate Doping Scandal (and 5 Important Life Lessons We Can Learn From It)

by Celes on Jan 23, 2013 02:33 am | Read Online | Discuss

In one of the biggest scandals ever uncovered in sports history, Lance Armstrong came clean about his use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) throughout much of his professional cycling career last Thursday (January 17) in a two-part interview with Oprah Winfrey on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

Lance Armstrong–Oprah Winfrey Interview: Key Highlights

I didn’t catch the interview when it was broadcast on TV. I only knew about the interview after it was over, when my friend Karl told me about it over brunch. It didn’t take long for me to locate the full interview online though. If you haven’t watched it yet, here are the links: Part 1 | Part 2.

(Watch them as soon as you can. OWN has been getting YouTube to delete the full interviews, so they might not even be online by the time you see this.)

Below is a video of the interview highlights (special thanks to Telegraph). Watch up to 0:50 to get up to speed on the lies he had fabricated and successfully shielded for a good 14 years (1996–2010) before former teammates such as George Hincapie, Frankie Andreu, and Tyler Hamilton began speaking out against him starting 2010 and United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) launched an investigation of him and charged him with doping in June 2012. He then confessed about his PED usage for the first time on this Oprah exclusive.

(If you are reading this in your e-mail client, the video will not be visible. Read this post on PE, complete with videos.)

(Here’s the video transcript from 0:00 to 0:50.)

• Oprah: So let’s start with the questions that people around the world have been waiting for you to answer. And for now, I would like just a yes or a no.
• Lance: Okay.
• Oprah: Okay. Did you ever take any banned substances to enhance your cycling performance?
• Lance: Yes.
• Oprah: Was one of those banned substances, EPO? (EPO is a performance-enhancing drug.)
• Lance: Yes.
• Oprah: Did you ever blood dope or use blood transfusions to enhance your cycling performance?
• Lance: Yes.
• Oprah: Did you ever use any other banned substances like testosterone, cortisone, or human-growth hormone?
• Lance: Yes.
• Oprah: Yes or no? In all seven of your Tour de France victories, did you ever take banned substances or blood dope?
• Lance: Yes.

Lance Armstrong: From Mythic Figure to Disgraced “Liar”, “Cheater”, and “Bully”

If you don’t know who Lance Armstrong is, he was a seven-time Tour de France (one of the most prestigious cycling races in the world) winner, cancer survivor, and founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a nonprofit organization to support cancer survivors.

I had previously featured his Nike commercial of him speaking out about his cancer as one of the 15 most amazing commercials that will inspire the greatest in you (#15 on the list). Watch below:

After USADA issued an official doping charge at Lance Armstrong in June 2012 (here’s USADA’s 202-page report with full-fledged evidence that supports their charge), Cycling’s ruling body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), stripped Lance of all his seven Tour de France titles and issued him a lifetime ban from elite competition.

His sponsors like RadioShack, Nike, Trek, Oakley, Giro, 24-Hour Fitness and Anheuser-Busch dropped him within one and a half days—a $75 million loss.

Lance’s foundation was renamed Livestrong Foundation and he resigned as its chairman, in what he referred to as his most “humbling moment”. Lance had regarded his foundation as his sixth child. (He has five children: three with his ex-wife Kristin Richard, and two with his current girlfriend Anna Hansen.)

5 Life Lessons We Can Learn from Lance Armstrong’s Doping Scandal

This post isn’t to berate Lance Armstrong or debate about the morality behind his past actions.

He was definitely wrong for using performance-enhancing drugs (PED) during his career and unfairly winning the Tour de France titles with the help of said drugs.

He has definitely betrayed the trust of fans around the world, friends, family members, and business associates with the lies he had fabricated and so vehemently concealed for over a decade.

There’s also no denying that he crossed the line big time when he insulted, sued, and issued personal threats at investigators, former teammates, and their family members who spoke out against him, under moral and legal obligations no less, having been sworn under oath.

I’ve created this case study to distill life lessons we can pick up from Lance Armstrong’s fascinating, over decade-long doping scandal. Scandals will come and go (think: Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, Jack Neo, Bill Clinton—no one talks about their past scandals today, with the exception of Tiger Wood’s case since it’s still in recent memory), but the biggest question is this: Beyond flagging the scorned personalities and berating them for things they cannot undo, what can we learn from these scandals as human beings, such that we will never commit these “mistakes” nor inflict the same harm to people around us?

Here are five life lessons I have picked up from the Lance Armstrong saga:

1. Have a Set of Values that Guides You in Life, so You Will Never “Lose Your Way”

• Lance: When I was diagnosed, I was a better human being after that. [...] And then I lost my way.
• Oprah: You lost your way.
• Lance: [...] it’s easier to say I feel different, I feel smarter, I feel like a better man today. But I can’t lose my way again. And only I can control that. I’m in no position to make promises; I’m going to slip up every now and then. But that’s the biggest challenge for the rest of my life—is to not slip up again. And to not lose sight of what I got to do.

Lance Armstrong spoke of the various atrocities he committed over the 16 years (1996–2012) to protect his mythic image of being that man who overcame all odds to beat cancer and proceeded to conquer seven Tours de France. He used PEDs, cheated through his bike races, lied about it (including under oath in a 2005 SCA deposition, which meant he committed perjury), bullied people who tried to come clean, and betrayed the trust of people who believed in him.

Lance Armstrong as a Bully

• Oprah: Were you a bully?
• Lance: *stumped look, followed by an awkward laugh, before finally acceding with a nod* … Yeah, yeah. I was a bully.
• Oprah: So, what made you a bully?
• Lance: I think just… again, just trying to perpetuate the story. And hide the truth.

In fact, Lance was so much the bully that he insulted his former teammates and friends (people like Emma O’Reilly and Betsy Andreu) with words like ‘whore‘, ‘crazy‘, ‘bitch‘, ‘alcoholic prostitute‘, etc., sued the people who threatened his story, and even issued death threats at them.

Watch the video below where the USADA head revealed death threats which he received from Lance himself during his 2012 Armstrong investigation.

Lies Lance Armstrong Made To Cover Up His Tracks

Lance was so convincing in his lies that many people, including his very own children, believed in him, even when unfavorable evidence from U.S. federal and USADA investigations began to mount and former teammates and friends began to speak out against him.

Check out this video of the times throughout his career where he denied (vehemently too, might I add) ever using drugs (courtesy of Telegraph):

I remember following Lance Armstrong on twitter before and seeing tweets where he staunchly spoke out against the people accusing him of doping. He called the prosecution a “witch hunt”, and that he had been tested no less than 500 times in his entire career and had never once been tested positive. He blasted the people who accused him of doping and retweeted the tweets of his many fans who advocated their belief that he did not dope.

I never took a stance as I have always been neutral to Lance Armstrong, but he seemed so convicted of his innocence then that I found it hard to believe that he was lying. Looking back, it’s kinda sad to know that he was lying through his teeth the whole time.

Never Thinking His Behavior Was Wrong

The funny thing was that he revealed in the Oprah interview that he did not feel his behavior (doping, lying, bullying, etc.) was bad, wrong, nor dishonest at that time.

• Lance: This story was so perfect for so long. [...] You overcome the disease, you win the Tour de France seven times, you have a happy marriage, you have children… I mean it’s just this mythic, perfect story. And it wasn’t true.
• Oprah: Was it a big deal to you? Did it feel wrong?
• Lance: At the time?
• Oprah: Uh-huh.
• Lance: No.
• Oprah: It did not even feel wrong?
• Lance: No. Scary.
• Oprah: Did you feel bad about it?
• Lance: No. Even scarier.
• Oprah: Did you feel, in anyway, that you were cheating?
• Lance: No. The scariest.

Fierce Desire to Win that’s Not Guided by Values

Lance’s answer to his blind-sided behavior? A relentless desire to win at all costs. This drive would have been great if it had been governed by certain core values. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

• Lance: Before my diagnosis, I would say I was a competitor, but I wasn’t a fierce competitor. And then in an odd way, that process (of being diagnosed) turned me into a person that… it was truly, win-at-all-costs. When I was diagnosed and I was treated, I said, ‘I would doanything I have to do to survive.’ And that’s good (Celes: in the context of fighting cancer).
  And I took that attitude, that ruthless, and relentless, and win-at-all-costs attitude, and I took it right into cycling.”

Knowing Your Values

The lesson I see here is to have a core values system that guides you in life. Not just performance-driven values like excellence, diligence and persistence, but also values that are in line with the highest good of humanity and our highest self, like truth, integrity, and honesty.

It is clear from the way Lance conducted himself in those 16 years that he was missing values of truth, integrity, and honesty. Actually, longer than 16 years, as Lance had been doping even before he was diagnosed with cancer in 1996. This led him to lose his way and get caught up in this big mess.

Do you have a set of core values that guide you? If yes, what are they? My personal set of core values which have been guiding me since 2008 are Excellence, Passion, Courage, Truth, and Authenticity. Truth, to me, encompasses being integritous and honest to others. These values, I live by them every single day, every single moment of my waking life. They guide my everyday thinking and decisions.

If you have yet to identify your core values, perhaps now is the best time to do so, aye? I recommend identifying five core values, no more, no less. These five values will make up the five points of a star, where the star is you. Read more about values, my concept of the five core values, and how to identify them in Day 15: Identify Your Values in Live a Better Life in 30 Days Program.

2. If the Culture Isn’t What You Want, Create a Different One.

• Oprah: So, you’ve been quoted as saying ‘We’ve one goal, one ambition, and that is to win the greatest bike race in the world, and not to win it once, but to keep on winning it. And to ‘keep on winning it’ means you have to keep on using banned substances to do it.
• Lance: Yes. And I’m not sure if this is the acceptable answer, but that’s like saying, ‘We’ve to have air in our tires. We’ve to have water in our bottles.’ That (doping) was… that was, in my view, part of my job.

Part of Lance Armstrong’s justification for doping was that doping was part of the (professional cycling) culture (at that time; he says that the sport is now clean thanks to the biological passport) and that he simply had to dope if he wanted to win.

However, he later acknowledged that he could have done better. He could have tried to stop the culture but didn’t.

• Oprah: You said it was not possible to win without doping.
• Lance: Not in that generation. [...] I didn’t invent the culture. But I didn’t try to stop the culture. And that’s my mistake. And that’s what I have to be sorry for.

If you are faced with a culture that violates your values, what would you do? Would you perpetuate that culture? Or would you change it?

Creating a Different Culture Through How I Run Personal Excellence

It might seem easy for me to say since I’m not in such a situation now, but my answer is this: I would definitely strive for my ideals and create a culture that is in line with them.

Yet, in a way I can argue that I do face such a situation at work. Running Personal Excellence in the online space, I often hear of people using spammy techniques to grow their presence.

Some purchase subscribers, Facebook “likes” and Twitter “followers” to create a larger-than-life image. Some purchase e-mail addresses to grow their mailing lists, a questionable action since the owners of said addresses did not provide consent. Some use backlink-building software, “spin” articles (i.e. create duplicate articles with the same content), and create useless sites to build backlinks and improve their SEO (read: spam). Some hire people to write content, only to post them as their own.

To me, these represent a culture not in line with what I want. I’m not interested to contribute spam to the internet, only the best content that adds value to people’s lives. I’m not interested to obtain people’s e-mail addresses in an unsolicited manner, even if it means my mailing list size is going to grow slower. I’m not interested to purchase fake “likes” and subscribers, because these will only be hollow numbers and will not mean anything to me. I’m not interested to have people ghost write material for me, since I can’t endorse what they produce.

Sure, not doing these actions might mean that I can’t grow PE as fast as I could. But so what? I don’t see how I add value to the world through these little gimmicks. I believe in the Golden Rule: One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. I know I hate spam. I know I hate it when people send me unsolicited mail.

Since I don’t like the existing internet spam culture, I rather create a different culture. I rather grow my presence through legit means in line with my values of Truth and Excellence. To me, that’s more honorable than other methods. And one can argue that that’s probably why  PE has such a strong following of real people with real voices today (i.e., all of you), rather than a soulless site that has no fan advocation. 

Read How To Say No To Others: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need and learn how to say no to others, including to a culture you don’t believe in.

3. Don’t Lie, Cheat, or Do Anything Unethical. The Truth Will Prevail.

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” ~ Mark Twain

“The story was getting out of control. Which was my worst nightmare.” ~ Lance Armstrong, on the public fallout after USADA’s charge and exposé of his doping

14 years of elaborate cover-ups, over 500 drug tests, and successful evasion of Tour de France’s doping controls to score seven victories—you would think Lance Armstrong would continue to stay unexposed if he was able to evade detection for so long.

He was able to escape the prosecution of even U.S. federals (something he claims not to be involved in). In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation of him, pursuing allegations such as fraud, drug trafficking, and witness tampering. In February 2012, after a two year investigation, federal prosecutors dropped the case without any explanation.

• Oprah: When they dropped the case, did you think, ‘Now. Finally over. Done. Victory.’?
• Lance: It’s hard to define victory. But I thought I was out of the woods.

However, in a twist of fate, in 2012 USADA launched their own investigation of Lance Armstrong and uncovered overwhelming evidence that he had doped throughout his professional career. In July that year, USADA charged Lance with possession, trafficking, and use of banned substances. He was then striped of his Tour de France titles, banned from elite competition, and nuked by his sponsors, all within the span of one and a half days.

Moral of the Story

The moral of the story? Don’t lie, cheat, or do anything unethical in the first place. No matter the circumstance, it does not justify bending the universal value of truth. Nobody likes to be lied to, and the fallout is never pleasant when the truth is revealed. For the trust that is lost, you have to work hard to earn it back. Even then, you may well never earn it back.

More amazing inspirational quotes on Truth & Honesty at Personal Excellence Quotes

Besides, when you lie, it’s already a given that you have make a new lie to cover the old lie. You are virtually signing yourself up for a lifetime of lies. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a very tedious way to live. Thanks, but no thanks.

As the Chinese saying goes, 紙是包不住火, which literally translates to “You can’t wrap fire with paper”. What it means is that the truth (fire) can never be covered up for long, no matter what you do or how hard you try. Lance tried to cover his lies up for 16 years and eventually succumbed to a confession after the huge public fallout following the USADA report. Truth will indeed always prevail.

Related article: How To Deal With Dishonest People

4. “It’s Not About the Bike”: As You Call Out the Bad in People, Don’t Negate the Good They Have Done Too.

Lance wrote a book in 2001, titled: “It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life“. It shares his story of “triumph” and “transformation” and his fight against cancer.

Given the scandal’s outbreak, detractors would probably joke about the title today and go, “Yeah it’s not about the bike. It has always been about the drugs.” There is also a gag going on Twitter now about anAustralian library rebranding Armstrong’s book as “fiction” rather than “non-fiction”, which turned out to be just the librarian making a good-humored joke in light of Lance’s confession.

Still, doping fiasco aside, Lance does have a heart for cancer survivors, being a cancer survivor himself. It shows during the interview. (Whether he was faking the emotions is a separate discussion altogether.)

• Oprah: What was the humbling moment that brought you face to face with yourself?
• Lance: I believe it was a Wednesday. Nike called. And this isn’t the most humbling moment. I’m going to get to that.
  And they said, basically, cliff notes here: That they’re out. Okay. *shrugs* And then the calls started coming. Trek. Giro. Anheuser-Busch. Everything. (Celes: These were Lance’s sponsors.)
• Oprah: On the same day? The same couple of days?
• Lance: Yeah. Couple of days. Everybody out.
  Still not the most humbling moment. Not a fun period.
• Oprah: But how did that hit you though?
• Lance: You know, in a way, I just assumed we’d get to that point. The story was getting out of control. Which was my worst nightmare. I had this place in my mind that they would all leave.
  The one person I didn’t think would leave was the foundation. And that was the most humbling moment.

The Good that Lance Armstrong Has Done

In 1996, Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer which had spread to his brain and lungs. Even though the doctor said he had a less than 40% survival chance, he beat the disease and was declared cancer-free in 1997.

In that same year, Lance founded Lance Armstrong Foundation (now Livestrong Foundation) which provides free support for anyone with cancer. The foundation has since raised nearly $500 million for cancer awareness.

During the interview, Oprah read an email her friend sent to her regarding Lance:

“I’ve heard that he is a real jerk.

But I will always root for Lance. He gave me hope in a very dire time. My first-born son had just been diagnosed with leukemia two weeks before his first birthday. And I’m in intensive care barely able to breathe, and my brother sends me Lance’s new book, ‘It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life‘.

I read it cover to cover, through the night. It showed me that there was hope for my son, to not only to live, but to thrive. I had a choice to make that night on how to respond to my son’s illness and teach him how to face the world.”

While this scandal showed that Lance was a complete fraud and bully, we should not negate his inspiring cancer survival story where he beat cancer when the odds were stacked against his favor.

We should not negate that his story (including the fake mythic part of it) has/had, in the past 15 years, inspired many around the world to step up, strive for their goals, and achieve their dreams, something they might not have done otherwise. 

We should also not negate that while Lance Armstrong could have continued lying straight to his death bed, he did not, and instead did this public confession, which has already triggered a huge public fallout, with people’s trust in him totally crushed and lawsuits starting to line up. He is facing at least three civil suits at the moment.

When you look at Lance and his doping scandal, and as you make your assessment about his character, remember the good he has accomplished, be it directly or indirectly, and not throw out the baby with the bath water. The bad that he has committed should not negate the good in him and the good he has done.

5. It’s Never Too Late for Redemption.

“I made my decisions. They are my mistake. And I’m sitting here today to acknowledge that and to say that I’m sorry for that.” ~ Lance Armstrong, during his interview with Oprah Winfrey

 To be honest, I’m not too sure if Lance was 100% honest during the interview. He claimed that he did not dope during the 2009 and 2010 Tours de France, though the USADA report provided evidence that he did.

If he was indeed lying, it was probably to protect himself criminally, as there is a five-year time span for statute of limitations. If his last doping was 2005, federal authorities would not be able to charge him since it’s more than five years ago. However, if his last doping was 2009, there is a case for them to open a criminal investigation against Lance.

But let’s say Lance did not lie during the interview and he was completely truthful. While it’s a confession that comes 16 years late, it’s better late than never. 

• Oprah: Are you facing your demons?
• Lance: Absolutely. Absolutely. Ya. It’s a process. And I think we’re beginning to process that now.

My Redemption

I remember after I quit my job to start my path in personal development in late 2008, I began this “outreach” program where I reconnected with people whom I had conflicts or misunderstandings with before (small ones really; I have never had major conflicts with people before). I also looked into my past grievances and released them one by one.

(Check out Day 24: Right a Past Wrong and Day 25: Forgive Yourself of Be a Better Me in 30 Days Program on how to get started on these yourself.)

Why did I do that? To be honest, I have never committed any major sins (save for white lies and what not). I’ve lived my life true to my integrity for the most part, even before I started conscious living in 2008.

However, I feel that I have to step up to the plate if I am to embark on this personal development path—growing and helping others to grow—full time. Past conflicts, misunderstandings, personal grievances, etc.—these are things I have to resolve if I want to be a role model to others. I have to walk the talk, and to do that, I have to first redress issues from my past.

And that I did. And that began my journey of self-healing, which then helped me to better help others grow.

First Step for Lance in His Path of Redemption

I’m happy for Lance that he made this confession. Lance’s former friend, Betsy Andreu, has confirmed that Lance is “someone who doesn’t know how to tell the truth and how to say I’m sorry”. Even if hedidn’t tell Winfrey the whole truth, or even if he came across as unremorseful in parts of the interview, the point is, this is a first step. 

“…I will spend the rest of my life trying to earn back trust and apologize to people. For the rest of my life.” ~ Lance Armstrong

I always believe everyone, no matter how far gone, always deserves a second chance. It’s never too late for redemption. And I believe Lance’s path to redemption is just starting now, beginning with this confession on OWN.

As I Reach Another Milestone ......

It has been an interesting month and an interesting year.      What I celebrate tonight is a milestone:  1550 Posts!!!   It may not matter in the grand scheme of things, but it is part of a process to constantly evolve.    I find this "thought 4 the day" I ran across while making the "Virtual Rounds" in Facebook to be soooooo interesting and timely.     I hope that I can be given the chance to continually make a difference.

There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout:

"This is me damn it! I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love! I am a whole complex package. Take me... or leave me. Accept me - or walk away! Do not try to make me feel like less of a person, just because I don't fit your idea of who I should be and don't try to change me to fit your mold. If I need to change, I alone will make that decision."
When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%, good and bad - you will be amazed at the opportunities that life presents you.
~Stacey Charter &

& Always pray to be.....

Onward to the next 1550 posts and all the possiblities it presents....

A "Thought 4 the Week"

Don't worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.
—Jack Canfield

Dr. King Remembered

Monday January 21 is the day that the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is celebrated.     What he did was beyond words.   He was an ordinary man who aimed to make a difference--by speaking out against injustice, against war and for love.    When he spoke out against Vietnam @ Dr. King on Beyond Vietnam, it is as if the same is ever more true about Afghanistan today as war rages on as the US is getting ready to withdraw.

Will we listen & remember?

Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective. - Martin Luther King, Jr. Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others? - Martin Luther King, Jr. We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. - Martin Luther King, Jr. Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness. - Martin Luther King, Jr. Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Expediency asks the question - is it politic? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? But conscience asks the question - is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it BECAUSE it is right. - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A "Thought 4 the Week" As a New Week Dawns...//10 Ways to Leave a Legacy | All Pro Dad

A new week dawns...and for America, a new era has begun:  Barack Obama's Second Term.

Everyone has their "challenge" to work to leave a legacy.    I reflected upon this and view these as quite timely as we all think about our own: 10 Ways to Leave a Legacy | All Pro Dad

2013 Has Begun in Earnest: Reflections in "Outsiders"

Link: www.350.org

Welcome to another year here in "Outsiders".

I wanted to begin with a pictoral retrospective of the historical context of "Outsiders". It has been quite a year that has seen profound change in the United States and around the World.

2013 has begun in earnest. As I write this, a war has been raging on in Mali with French Troops having been sent by a Socalist President to forestall the overthrow of the current Government of Mali as it battles the salafist rebels. Mali is a former French Colony that has been beset by insurrection. This was led, in large measure, due to the returning fighters who were in the employ of the Libyan Madman Gaddafi.
 Beyond Mali, Algeria also was the scene within the past week of violence, yet again. Terrorists took over a Gas Plant and took hostages. By the time the dust settled, a number of hostages were dead and the terrorists were also killed in the process. The World was not happy that the Algerians took it upon themselves to solve this problem. The problem has been that the current Algerian Government has been in the midst of an insurgency too after the Army crushed the moderate islamists in the 90's. Challenges continue to abound throughout Africa--including the powerhouse of the Region: South Africa.

The Middle East also continues to be in a state of flux. Iran is getting ready for Presidential Elections. However, the leading internal opposition figures inside the Country continue to be under house arrest. Recently, the wife of Mir Hossein Moussavi's father passed away. Mr. Mousavi and Dr. Rahnavard were given leave for a day from being under house arrest. Recently, Nasrin Soutodeh, the human rights lawyer and activist was given leave from prison after two years for 72 hours for a visit with her family after a heavy bond. The daughter of the former President, Mr. Rafsanjani, continues to be under detention at Evin Prison for anti-regime actitivies. Mr. Rafsanjani's son was given bail after posting his house' grant deed as bail. What I found quite amazing was the courage of Khomein's Grand Daughter who happens to be married to the brother of Iran's Former President, Mohammad Khatami. She spoke out against the dangers faced by the Country as it battles crippling sanctions. Moving onward to Syria, the killing continues with no end in sight. I found it amusing that the Syrian Foreign Minister called for negotations after having been part of a so-called Government that has basically destroyed the country. I could not understand how a university could be bombed as students were sitting for exams. When a Government is losing control of its' own Capital, it is only a matter of time.

Moving onward to Europe, the economy continues to be the talk of the continent. Germany is slowing down, Spain continues to suffer and the Greeks are suffocating from the collapse of their economy. Britain has been limping along as it battles continued austerity. Britain, though, has received a battering due to the snow that has crippled the country which is threatening to throw it into a triple recession. This is as it is facing a Scottish independence vote in 2014 and it recently had to deal with a raging Irish unionist protest movement that underscores the undercurrents of unification that would happen. As this dynamic continues onward, Cameron has said that he wants to remain Prime Minister as the Labor Party continues to remake itself to be ready to take the coalition on in a few years time.

Moving onward from Europe to Latin America, two pivotal countries have been at the forefront of my observations over the past 30 days. In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez has not been seen for a number of weeks though as he continues to battle cancer. The Venezuelan Supreme Court allowed him to delay his formal swearing in and the National Assembly granted him a leave of absence as his Vice President took over the running of the Country. The future of Venezuela is an open question--especially as it sits atop one of the largest reserves in the World. Beyond Venezuela, there is Brazil. The former President, Lula, apparently is slowly being dragged into the expanding corruption investigation that has seen a number of his former aides convicted. It has not directly impacted the current President of Brazil just yet. But the prospects of an unstable Brazil is of profound concern.

The United States, though, is where the action is. As I write this, Barack Obama and Joe Biden are due to be sworn in for President. The ceremonial swearing in, though, will occur on Monday in Washington. The second term of Barack Obama is bound to be just as momentous and challenging as the first one. The U.S. was able to avert the fiscal cliff. The Republicans have also already noted that they would allow a vote on the lifting of the US National Debt since it appears that they seem to realize that they better learn to govern and take a different tact that they have.

As the second term begins, the main battle as I see it is over Gun Control. The President's Gun Proposals are out and have created a huge firestorm on the right. The most hillarious one of all was the "call to action" from Rand Paul's Political Action Committee on noting how Guns were going to be taken away. What is startling to note is that there are over 300 Million Guns in the United States--yet there seems to be a push by the right and the National Rifle Association to have even more guns. Assault Rifles seem to have been especially popular since the debate has raged on about stricter Gun Control. In light of the Sandy Hook massacre, change will occur.

Barack Obama is taking office as the World is ever more complex, dangerous and undergoing profound political change. Such political change continues to be compounded as climate change continues to be ever more front and center. 350.org just noted that Jakarta, the Capital of Indonesia, was drentched in Rain and buried in Water. Municipal authorities in Beijing and Tehran were forced to take drastic measures to protect their populations as pollution reached dangerous levels. 25 Million People live in those two cities. The fires in Australia raged on for weeks due to extreme tempreatures of almost 50 degress Celsius.

It is tough to be hopeful as the new year continues onward. But, there is no other choice...is there?

Also available @ http://www.outsiderviews.com
 

The Beauty of Life

My "year of the rainbow' has started a bit "tough".    I remain ever more hopeful as I saw Tavis Smiley' conversation about Poverty in America.    I remain hopeful because of the move to finally bring some sense to the culture of violence that is our society right now.   One of my students shared this from Mother Theresa which goes to the heart of Ethical Living and how we must all remember it.     There is a lot to indeed be thankful for:

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.”

- Mother Teresa

A "Thought 4 the Week"

How Timely!!!

 “ Above all, don't fear difficult moments. The best comes from them.”

 Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909–2012)
 Italian scientist, senator Nobel Prize winner 1

Happy New Year!!!

The New Year has started..and the World is ever more challenging as ever.    Although the US averted a "Fiscal Cliff", there are other battles ahead.  The Iran Question continues to be very much at the forefront...as the Monk Debate of 2012 showed:    
http://www.munkdebates.com/debates/Iran-s-Nuclear-Ambitions

Year in Review 2012 - Project Syndicate

It is bound to be a fun year--to say the least.