You’re correct in what you believe! An old story. Two families moved into neighboring houses from different towns. The first one met one of their new neighbors from across the street, and asked how people in this town were. The old-timer asked: ”How were people in their old town?” They replied that they had been kind and generous people and received the opinion that “You will probably find that they are much the same here.”
Therefore: If you go out into the world with the attitude that you need to find enemies, you will find that there is no shortage.
Incidentally, if you go out in the world trying to find friends, you will likewise find a plentiful supply.
The USA (our current administration) has now gone out into the world, assuming everyone to be their enemy and has acted accordingly. Suddenly, a world that was so well disposed towards the USA (9/11, Hostages in Iran, etc.) is seeking ways to ditch the USA as a partner because, what was the instigator of free trade and democracy is behaving in a completely unrecognizable manner, without a hint of sharing in dialogue. The angry and combative position of this administration will pass, the question arises, at what cost to us, the simple folk.
Years ago I recall a conversation with a friend about our children and how frustrating it is, as they seem to not understand what we are talking about. It set me thinking and I wrote him a note about our position in their lives. The title was: I am your lighthouse; it is your journey. And I suppose this is all our interrelations. My function is to flash my light when you may not see, or signal with a foghorn when you cannot see my light, however the journey is our children’s or friend’s, and they will choose their voyage.
I always felt like the USA was the lighthouse, and it’s beauty, fine colors and position was reassuring. Suddenly, I am confronted by covetous behavior that I find difficult to reconcile with the earlier image. There is a side of me that is sure that we, the people, will not spiral to this behavior, and so I write to ask that we examine our thoughts and actions, with the objective of serving the great good, of caring, civility and reflecting not reacting.
Return to civility, discipline and consideration, needs to be rooted in genuine hard work not speculation. Our economy has become a casino serving those who have the chips to play. As I wrote from Aguascalientes and I re-witnessed in Sicily, Family and civility surpass most values in our human pantheon. Differences can be met by the willing. We can choose what that means without resorting to abuse, violence or revenge.
Yikes! Sorry, but I feel very sad that a wonderful idea and hard-fought journey to a perfect union is being scraped through spiteful behavior. My only recourse, it seems to me, is to find fellow thinkers who will each do what they can to find a solution which benefits the whole.
Our team is working on a new bright red Lip Balm, so that one can add a little flash to our lip nurturing line. Our team is very Taylor Swift orientated and felt a Swifty Red would be a great addition. Any comments?
Thank you for spending a couple of minutes with my writing,
Gjoko