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civact6
"If," by Rudyard Kipling -- A Great Poem
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(Note: It might sound a little sexist by modern standards, but should be read as equally applicable for women as well as men.)
"If"
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings -- nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run --
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!
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| August 20, 2005 | 9:59 PM |
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A Common Human Weakness -- Young Intellectuals Often Seem to Need Something to Sneer At
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G'Day All --
No doubt about it -- the world is awash with the consequences of human and institutional failings and stupidity. But how sad it is that some of the most intelligent and well educated among us seem to derive much more satisfaction out of "cursing the darkness, rather than to light a candle of their own."
When it comes to self-important young people who wish to pontificate at great length about the sins and shortcomings of others, I would be much more inclined to give serious consideration to their opinions if I knew that they had ever been personally involved in -- for example -- starting a credit union, operating a housing development project, helping to launch micro-business enterprises, working with rural communities to establish water systems, providing aid to children or the elderly, etc.
It always surprises me that such individuals can be so knowledgeable about every transgression and defect of someone else's religion, ethnicity, country, or culture, when the critics themselves are often sitting in the midst of poverty, hunger, injustice, ill-health, illiteracy, racism, fanaticism, violence, and inter-group hatred.
But, alas, that often seems to be one of the "occupational hazards" of being a young intellectual.
For persons who would like to put their "mental horsepower" to the test in a productive exercise, let me offer the following scenario for discussion:
"Your Mission, If You Choose To Accept It"
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/yourturf/mission.htm
It is by no means a "perfect" seminar exercise. If you have a better one to suggest, by all means please feel free to do so.
Peace, prosperity, and happiness to all,
Dave Matthews, Facilitator
The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
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| August 19, 2005 | 9:03 PM |
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Many Members of the Jewish Faith are Quite Intelligent -- Could This Be Why ??
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G'Day All --
Please don't misunderstand -- what follows is not intended to offend anyone, but only in a humorous way to stimulate a little thought and reflection by those who are so-inclined.
In my university anthropology class, the question arose one day as to why many people of the Jewish faith seem to be very intelligent and creative people. Here is the observation offered by my professor as one possible explanation:
Throughout Europe for nearly 1,500 or 1,600 years, if a peasant family of the Christian faith had a son who was extraordinarily smart and talented, there was only one place for him to go -- into the Priesthood.
As a Priest, if he was true to his vows of celibacy, he never had any children, and none of his genetic qualities were passed on to future generations.
My old professor smiled and continued, "All during these many centuries, however, Rabbis normally had large families."
Let me note that the professor's comment was not offered as a "scientific explanation," but only as a casual and somewhat humorous personal observation. Whether there could be any truth in his perspective you are fully capable of deciding for yourself.
However, if there is some validity in the concept, I find myself wondering what will be the effect upon certain ethnic groups in the Middle East if they make a long-term habit of recruiting "the best and brightest" of their youth to strap on explosive vests and become suicide bombers ?? Are they bringing about the systematic destruction of their culture's best genetic qualities ??
Or, to the contrary, is it only the *least* intelligent and talented young people who are being recruited ?? On CNN recently an ex-jihadi was interviewed and asked why he had decided not to blow himself up. He replied that, among other reasons, he had become aware that the same leaders who were enthusiastically promoting martyrdom to himself and his friends were secretly sending their own sons and daughters to the United States to study engineering and medicine.
So, where does the truth lie with regard to these matters ?? You, Dear Friends, are best suited to decide that for yourselves.
Peace and prosperity to all, and may all of your constructive endeavors be successful !!
Dave Matthews
Facilitator, The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
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| August 15, 2005 | 5:52 PM |
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Religious Fanaticism -- Attempting to Understand and Overcome It
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G'Day All --
Sad to say, most of the world's religions go through periods of appallingly violent fanaticism, during which anyone considered to be an "unbeliever" or "heretic" may be subjected to the most horrible kinds of torture and death -- all in the name of God, of course.
The best single book I've ever found to help understand the psychology of fanaticism and "mass movements" of all types (religious, political, etc.) is "The True Believer," by Eric Hoffer. I highly recommend it.
It is very unfortunate indeed that some sects of the Muslim faith are presently in a phase of insanely violent and destructive fanaticism. These same kinds of behavior were quite common for several hundred years in the Christian religion. If you have any doubts (and if you can tolerate images and documentation of a most horrible nature), I suggest you review material from the 1685 edition of "Martyrs Mirror," as provided by the Mennonite Library and Archives of Bethel College, at:
http://www.bethelks.edu/services/mla/images/martyrsmirror/
Full text is at:
http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/contents.htm
If you have a low tolerance for quite disturbing material, you may want to forgo the above sites. I have provided them only for the purpose of illustrating the fact that every religion is capable of being grossly perverted and misused by the darkest sides of human nature.
The question that we all must wrestle with is how to overcome such homicidal idiocy, and instead behave with one another in ways that are actually consistent with a loving and compassionate God, and that are pleasing in the sight of God.
Best wishes to all, Dave Matthews
Facilitator, The Civic Action Free University
http://www.tcafu.net
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| August 4, 2005 | 10:05 PM |
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