Category: Words to ponder

Words to ponder

Opinion, Words to ponder

Climate Change Report has Hope in it

The recent climate report issued by the UN has reason for hope in it. If humanity can plant 1.3 trillion more trees (enough to fill the space of the United States) the carbon in the atmosphere will be compensated for. This is good news in my mind because if we can quantify what it will take to help heal the planet then we can find a way to do it. Recent reports have been alarming in my mind, but this one stands out because while it says that things are dire; there are reasons for hope. Get together with family and friends and find places to plant some trees!

Opinion, Words to ponder

A major American paper calling the president a rat

Where are we as a country when the president calls a city disgusting and rat infested and the major newspaper of that city calls him a rat? What do young people growing up in this time think of dignity and respect for our institutions? How are we as mature members of this society supposed to explain this reality? The real question is how can anyone who is thoughtful and decent be okay with four more years of this?

Opinion, Words to ponder

Is the Statue of Liberty still a symbol of America?

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” is the first verse at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor. Apparently we are shutting the door to being the shining city on a hill, and becoming the torture garden for any who dare to come here seeking asylum. There are many who say that we have lost our way, and have become a pillar of selfishness on a planet that we have pushed to the limit of being able to support our species. We do little to lead the world in addressing the climate problem we have helped to create, and we allow our country to become the land of the cruel.

Opinion, Words to ponder

2020 will be a pivotal election

The elections of 2020 at all levels of government will be pivotal to the future of our species. Will the promise of America be maintained, and the growth of freedom worldwide continue to grow? Everyone aged 8 and over in the USA will have an important role in answering that question. I plan to spread the word about the importance of our learning, thinking, and voting in every way that I can. I have heard a lot about the greatest generation and I believe they earned that reputation. I hope today’s Americans live up to our potential, and honor the sacrifice of our ancestors by making fear secondary to hope.

Opinion, Words to ponder

Celebrating America’s Birthday

The more you know about the history of the USA, and humanity as a whole; the more grateful you become. Our country is the greatest in history in terms of wealth and power, but more so in terms of ideals and aspirations. Lately we have become hobbled in our pursuit of our potential because of increasing ignorance, tribalism, and small thinking. I am hopeful that the USA will emerge from this period triumphant and true to the highest ideals of mankind. I believe we have come this far by being number one in embracing truth. We must continue to pursue freedom by knowing the truth as A wise man advised. Happy Birthday America!

Opinion, Self improvement, Words to ponder

Words to ponder – Mark Twain on Life and Fear

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Mark Twain

I am not sure that I agree with Mark Twain about anyone being prepared to die at any time, but I certainly think he knows more about living fully than I do. Death for the living is an abstract concept. The living only know that death is a final exit from the lives that we know. I do understand the first part of the statement. Life is where the pain that we understand is, and we all know that life with illness or trauma can be extremely painful. So I guess if we are totally engaged with life (living fully) we understand that the end can come at any time…and maybe this is as prepared for death as we can be.

Opinion, Words to ponder

Truth is first line of defense for the Republic

There is a lot going on with our Congress and whether or not our representatives get a chance to review the facts of the Mueller Report. Will the executive branch get away with demanding that it control all of the evidence gathered about Russian influence in the 2016 elections, and the Trump campaign? If they get away with it; what will the executive branch be able to do in the future and avoid congressional oversight? Our Constitution is a plan of government that first describes the legislative branch, (Congress) because this branch through the House of Representatives being elected every two years is closest to the people. We don’t have a republic if our elected representatives are denied access to the facts collected by civil servants that we have paid for.

Self improvement, Words to ponder

Words to Ponder from Goethe

To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking.”

― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This quote provokes many questions and thoughts about the nature of discipline and translating thoughts into action. You have to first assume about this quote that Goethe is not referring to negative or evil thinking. Obviously it is wonderful that we do not act on our lowest thoughts. Goethe is likely referring to our highest thinking and ideas for ourselves and others and why we so often fail to follow up. Part of the quote’s genesis could be concern about fear or social pressure (hardest thing…act in accordance with your thinking) as well as individual weakness. What do you think?

Self improvement, Words to ponder

Words to Ponder – “Communication creates Clarity” – unknown

The words or quote “Communication creates Clarity” came to me as I listened to a Jocko Podcast. I imagine that someone has uttered these words at some point in the past, but I don’t know who. In his book “Extreme Ownership”, and on his podcast Jocko Willink talks a lot about the importance of communication amongst human beings who are trying to achieve a goal. My experience is that this is very true. If we can focus and understand the desired outcome of our efforts; we can synthesize our behaviors to achieve them. Distractions come in all forms and we struggle with our individual egos and perceptions as we go through life, but if we can see benefit for ourselves and others we can not just cooperate, but create synergy. The Bible says without a vision the people perish. Maybe the vision is the clarity that we seek in life.