Know Thyself through POLITICS:
Jimmy Carter (U.S. President from 1977 to 1981) said:
“A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It’s a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity.”
Do YOU think we are strong?
Know Thyself through LITERATURE/WRITTEN WORD/LYRICS:
‘I’ve been waitin’ on a war since I was young
Since I was a little boy with a toy gun
Never really wanted to be number one
Just wanted to love everyoneIs there more to this than that?
Is there more to this than that?
Is there more to this than that?’– Foo Fighters Waiting on a War
Do YOU ever feel like this?…………… more “Know Thyself Post #35”
Wouldn’t It Be Cool If: we learned from PHILOSOPHY?
WIBCI: we understood and took control of fear?
The real destroyer of inner peace is fear and distrust. Fear develops frustration, frustration develops anger, anger develops violence.
Dalai Lama
The whole secret of existence is to have no fear.
Gautama Buddha
Do YOU feel that when you think about your future, is it with excited anticipation or fear? I believe the external world inserts the fear and knowing yourself diminishes it, what do YOU think?… more “WIBCI Post #35”
Wouldn’t It Be Cool If we learned from WRITTEN WORD/LITERATURE/LYRICS?
‘They laugh at me because I’m different; I laugh at them because they’re all the same.’
-Kurt Cobain
Are YOU more different or more the same?
Are the people YOU admire in the ‘public eye’ more different or more the same?
Are the people YOU admire in personal life more different or more the same?
Know Thyself :
Think about this:
Do YOU have any tattoos?
If yes:
If no:
Wouldn’t It Be Cool If POLITICS learned from LITERATURE?
In an essay by George Orwell about Charles Dickens, he says that the constant message throughout Dickens’ novels is:
‘If men behaved decently, the world would be decent.’
He doesn’t speak of upending the existing systems, nor give suggestions on how to fix that which is broken he just brings truths to our attention.
What do YOU think about his statement? Do YOU think this is still true today? Why or why not?
Know Thyself:
Try this:
Take off your shoes, and socks if possible.
Walk 10 paces in any direction.
Now walk 10 paces and really use all your toes, the ball of your foot and your heal.
Move about fully conscious of every part of your feet, ankles and limbs.
Notice how strong you can feel, how balanced and in control.
Imagine how conscious YOU could be doing anything with focus….what would YOU do?… more “Know Thyself Post #33”
Wouldn’t It Be Cool If: Everything were more honest?
WIBCI: We knew which or how much of the content in; emails, websites, blogs, emails, books, articles, and emails were created by AI?
That way we could put as much effort into reading it as was put into creating it.
AI is Stupid
What do YOU think?… more “WIBCI Post #32”
Know Thyself through LITERATURE:
I consider songs poetry and therefore, lyrics qualify:
“When illusion spin her net
I’m never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me”-Peter Gabriel Solsbury Hill
What do YOU think of these lyrics?
Do YOU ever feel like this?
Wouldn’t It Be Cool If we learned from HISTORY?
In 1789 after the fall of the Bastille prison in Paris, the beginning the French Revolution, the key to the Bastille was given to the honored Marquis de Lafayette who was instrumental in the success of the American Revolution.
Over many months, this key was shipped overseas, passing through the hands of Thomas Paine, eventually being presented to George Washington. This key was displayed in Mount Vernon.
Lafayette, and many French people were influenced and inspired by George Washington and the American Revolution they helped win.
Wouldn’t It Be Cool If leaders today honored and unselfishly appreciated each other?
What do YOU think?… more “WIBCI Post #31”
Know Thyself through PHILOSOPHY:
Who do YOU hate?
I’m not one of those people that think you shouldn’t hate. As long as you have a definition in mind if/when you use the word that is.
When you answer, consider ‘Hate’ in this context:
Who do you wish were eradicated from the face of the earth? Not just ‘not in my backyard’, not if only they would, nor can you answer with an idea or a sentiment that you wish didn’t exist. The answer has to be people whom are on earth right now that if you had your way would no longer exist.
Change your answer?… more “Know Thyself Post #31”
Wouldn’t It Be Cool If POLITICS learned from PHILOSOPHY?
In The Republic by Plato, Socrates discusses the four chief virtues necessary for justice to thrive in a city/State:
COURAGE, MODERATION, JUSTICE and WISDOM.
Take a present day leader and each of these four words….do YOU think they honor and exhibit these virtues?
What do YOU think of these four words?
Picture someone YOU admired as a kid, did they have all four virtues?
Do YOU?… more “WIBCI Post #30”
Know Thyself through PHILOSOPHY:
Jean Jacques Rousseau believed that:
‘..if many individuals are to be united into a common social enterprise, forming a governing agency is less fundamental than forming a distinct society that its members think of as we, to become a member of a we one must share certain basic values, practice common customs, honor shared aspirations, and engage in degrees of mutual helpfulness and responsibility.’
With whom do YOU consider yourself a ‘we’?… more “Know Thyself Post #30”
Wouldn’t It Be Cool If POLITICS learned from LITERATURE?
‘The past is very strong, it is true, at the present moment… Behold, it is walking and advancing. It seems the victor; this dead body is a conqueror. He arrives with his legions, superstitions; with his sword, despotism; with his banner, ignorance… He advances, he threatens, he laughs, he is at our doors. Let us not despair, on our side…
What have we to fear, we who believe?
No such thing as a backflow of ideas exists any more than there exists a return of a river on its course.
But let those who do not desire a future reflect on this matter. When they say no to progress, it is not the future but themselves that they are condemning.’
-Victor Hugo Les Misérables
Seems like the world was out of control when Victor wrote this. Reminds me a bit about today. I do desire a future and have reflected on this matter. One issue I have is that I think ‘Progress’ differs to a lot of people. Having more than enough is NOT progress for me and seems to be the stem of all our evils.
What do YOU think?… more “WIBCI Post #29”
Know Thyself through PHILOSOPHY:
‘I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.’
-Kurt Cobain
When YOU were younger, were you more loved or more hated? Did YOU do more loving or hating on people you didn’t understand?… more “Know Thyself Post #29”