Making the "Virtual Rounds": Daily Thoughts 4 the Day & A V-Thought 4 the Week-End

I have been making the Social Media Rounds for the weekend.  This is as I am watching history continues to be made in Egypt.    Marwan Bashara, the Great Al Jazeera Analyst, talked about how Egypt's 2011 revolution has yet to run its' course.   The country is polarized.  People have been killed.  The Anti-Morsi folks have noted that this has been an impeachment.   The Muslim Brotherhood has begun its' major push as its' Guide General (who was reportedly under arrest) spoke earlier. But, Bashara noted what about next time?  For now, the power is with the Generals.   I also am with Bashara in that bringing Morsi back is not the solution anymore.

Egypt, though, is emblematic of the power around the World as the entire World is aroused ever more.  It is not easy to be hopeful and motivated.  But there is no other choice as this "V-Thought" for the week truly indicates: Motivational Quotes

The Chinese always say for us all to live in interesting times.    We indeed are.   Power to the people!! :-)

Thought 4 the Week

Be Impeccable With Your Word.

Speak with integrity.

Say only what you mean.

Avoid using your word to speak against yourself

or to gossip about others.

Use the power of your word

in the direction of truth and love.

- don Miguel Ruiz 

Personal Reflections on Independence Day 2013

Today was a beautiful day.   For me it was special because I had a chance to once again join the City of Laguna Niguel's 24th Annual Run in the Park.  I was there with a contingent of Scouts and Scouters who helped to staff the event by serving breakfast, by collecting trash and simply there to make a difference.  It was just a beautiful day.

I also had a chance to spend time with family as it was my Father's Birthday.   I hosted my immediate family as my Son and his beautiful Mother were away on vacation in Hawaii.     As America celebrated its' day on July 4, our Scoutmaster sent out this beautiful admonition on what's important that all Scouts and Citizens must always remember...an very crucial remembrance of all that is important and is the essence of America:

On Independence Day we celebrate;

We celebrate the trust our nation’s first leaders invested in one another.

We celebrate loyalty they mutually pledged: their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

We celebrate the helpfulness of those who aided our fledgling country.

We celebrate friendship born in service and devotion to the aims of liberty.

We celebrate courtesy, the civility that both values our own ideals and treats those of others with respect.

We celebrate kindness our nation extends to welcome those seeking refuge and hope.

We celebrate our obedience to the laws of our nation, among which are those laws that allow us to challenge the law itself an orderly manner.

We celebrate cheerfully knowing that a nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal has long endured.

We celebrate the thrift, prudence and providence that have carried us forward.

We celebrate the bravery of millions who have defended our independence in word and deed.

We celebrate the clean, clear potential inherent in every citizen.

We celebrate reverently, honoring the many traditions of faith that live peacefully together.

We reaffirm our duty to country, to engender cooperation in seeking the common good and to uphold the dignity of individual independence.

We don’t ignore our differences but recognize the strength diversity brings to the foundation of our nation.

The sense of mutual respect and admiration for all is the essence of scouting and its' character building legacy that is part and parcel of what America's ideals represent.    It seems as if, at times, in the political discourse at the time it is forgotten.

Americans must also continue to remember the ugly legacy of slavery and how it continues to play a profound part as America changes and its' demographics are changing in ways that is yet to be realized.    I was thinking about this as I made the rounds in Facebook and saw this from the Zinn Education Project about the speech by the great Frederick Douglas

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sound of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants brass fronted impudence; your shout of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanks-givings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.” Listen to Danny Glover read a portion of Frederick Douglass's speech as part of Howard Zinn's The People Speak series here:http://bit.ly/14Vv2d5 and find link to full speech.

The question is whether America has changed--as the Supreme Court has told us it has or not.   I wonder.   There is also this article that appeared in the July 3rd edition of the Washington Post that has some hard truths that all should take account: The American Revolution...A Lot of Questions Still.....   As I read through this article, the one comment from Jefferson struck me especially that some in the Conservative Movement especially seem to have forgotten today.

The quest for a more Perfect Union Continues ever more--as America begins its' 238th Year as an Independent Nation.

Happy B-Day America!!

As America celebrates, I wanted to share this from Justice Brandeis that all persons striving for liberty must never forget.  I wish all friends in the US and around the World a wonderful 4th of July!! :-)

Reflecting Upon a Very Interesting Few Days...

What has happened in Egypt is nothing less than extra-ordinary. Mohammad Morsii has been deposed by the Egyptian Military and has been replaced by the head of the Judiciary in Egypt. What I found ironic was that he was a man appointed by Morsi i and had just taken office within the past week. Morsi was deposed by a Defense Minister who was also an appointee of his.

Over the past 24 hours, pundits throughout the World have been deliberating the "why" and the "how" it all came to this. What was clear was that Egypt was on the brink and as Borzou Darghani of the Financial Times noted, Morsi was the wrong man for the wrong job at the wrong time. The economic collapse and the deterioration of law and order was the beginning of the end. Morsi made some bold moves and I noted this throughout my comments throughout his one year in Office. But his increasingly dictatorial tendencies and lack of regard for the will of the people caused the hard fought gains of the Muslim Brotherhood to be withered away by a broad coalition that ultimately led to the Coup. I agree with Al Sisi's statement that Mosri's final speech was not helpful at all. 

The speech by Al Sisi, the head of the armed forces, was quite powerful in that it featured all key religious and political leaders--including Mohammad El Baradei, the former head of the IAEA who emerged as a key opposition leader and was appointed by the movement of the young who began a petition drive that culminated in some 22 Million People signing a petition for the President to resign. 

As I write this, President Mosri and key aides have been detained by the Army. I saw an unconfirmed clip that depicted the now ex-President being detained by security forces. What is crucial to recognize is how Egypt continues to be a pivotal player. It is the preeminent seat of Islamic thinking. It is the largest nation in the Middle East and has profound potentials. Unfortunately, though, she is looking to at least one more year of turmoil before a semblance of stability is recognized. I did laugh when I saw reports of Bashar Assad and the King of Saudi Arabia congratulating the new Interim President of Egypt. 

Beyond Egypt, I have been assessing the situation in Europe. I have been especially concerned about the situation in Portugal. Portugal's government is about to collapse after a number of key ministers submitted their resignations to protest against future cuts which again has brought the viability of the Euro into question. This is as France and Spain continue to also deal with profound economic challenges with no apparent end in sight. 

There are also three key hot spots around the World that must not be forgotten: Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Hundreds have lost their lives in Iraq. Pakistan just suffered the latest in a series of drone strikes despite protests again from the new Pakistani Government. As for Afghanistan, the Taliban are continuing their spring offensive. This is as a very insightful report recently documented the infighting within the Karzai clan as the jockeying has begun to replace Hamid Karzai as his term ends next year. 

The World is as eventful as ever--and ever more fascinating. This is also a day, though, that America celebrates its' independence and communities throughout the country will celebrate it with fireworks and parades. 

Happy Birthday America!!!

Not Forgetting.......

“What counts in life
is not the mere fact that we have lived.
It is what difference we have made
to the lives of others
that will determine
the significance of the life we lead.”
~ Nelson Mandela

July 2013 Has Begun: Some Brief Personal Thoughts

The new month and the new quarter has started with a "bang".    The position of President Morsi in Egypt is precarious at best as the Egyptian Army has intervened and given everyone 48 hours to intervene or else.    In the US State of Arizona, 19 fire fighters have lost their lives as the Western Half of the US continues to deal with temperatures that are over 100 degrees.  

I also begin this month here in this that started this "Virtual Labor of Love" by remembering all who have paid the price for freedom and democracy.   This is Canada celebrates its' day today and America is about to celebrate its' day later on July 4.   It is also fitting to remember this admonition from Madiba as he reminded us all “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived.  It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” ...I pray that that the almighty grants me this privilege to do my small part.  I wish all my brothers and sisters around the World the same.  :-)

I leave all w/this clip from Keiko Matsui's New Album, Soul Quest.   Enjoy and make it a great week:

A "Thought 4 the Week" As a New Month Begins.....

As I pray for this every day, I also was reminded--thanks to the daily thoughts from Jonathan Luckwood Huie--that as Hellen Keller said, "....As selfishness and complaint pervert and cloud the mind,
so love with its joy clears and sharpens the vision.".    I pray daily to do what I can to make a difference.

Onward to the new quarter..wishing all the very best..and looking forward to the very essence of better days:

Do we care enough about animals? - South 2 North - Al Jazeera English

I am working on winding down the quarter and gearing up for the new quarter before us while listening to this very scary show.    I was on "Social Media" earlier to share this to underscore what we must do.  I could not help but wonder whether we have the courage--a "Bee Hotel!!" :-)

Do we care enough about animals? - South 2 North - Al Jazeera English

Remembering All Who Are On the March 4 Freedom.....

Thank you to the Economist' KAL who, as ever, brilliantly depicts the true sentiments of the way it is..and how People around the World have arisen to demand basic human rights.   Two people have lost their lives in Egyptian Protests as I write this retrospective.

I salute all these brave souls.   They are living up to the admonitions of these great thinkers about how a better life can be possible:

Inaction breeds doubt and fear.

Action breeds confidence and courage.

If you want to conquer fear,

do not sit home and think about it.

Go out and get busy.

- Dale Carnegie

There are risks and costs to action.

But they are far less than the long range

risks of comfortable inaction.

- John F. Kennedy

Iron rusts from disuse;

water loses its purity from stagnation...

even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.

- Leonardo da Vinci