May we all find peace within

This month’s Bloggers for Peace Challenge is Love Thy Enemy. How does one love thy enemy? I think it helps to clarify ‘like’ versus ‘love’. To love is to be responsible, to do what is best, and to bring no harm to another, or oneself. To like is more personal, or individual. I may like chocolate; you may detest it. I may like having animals around; you may feel they are pests. Likes vary from person to person, but most of us would probably agree that we do not like people who are selfish, cruel, or violent, aka enemies. It is ok not to like them, but we can still love them. We all have that choice.

‘Enemies’ are sentient beings too. When someone acts in an unkind or non-loving way, they are hurting inside. Finding compassion for their suffering frees us from…

I think it’s tragic that people have so many prejudices, especially about things they don’t understand. They don’t know what they’re missing.

Have you even known someone with: ALS,MS, Parkinson’s Disease, CP, Alzheimer’s, Tetanus, Pinched nerve, meningitis, Huntington’s Disease, Migraines, Epilepsy, Polio, stroke, or any of the other neurological disorder?

Would you tell someone who’d suffered a stroke to just talk properly? Unlikely.

Would you tell someone with ALS to stop being so lazy? No way.

Tell someone with Alzheimer’s they could remember if they just tried harder? Doubtful.

Someone with Parkinson’s to stop shaking, that they were just trying to get attention? Improbable.

Yet people with Autism are constantly told to grow up, smarten up, man up, stop being so lazy. People scoff, blame, bully, abuse, mock, make jokes, call names, etc.
Autism is a neurological condition just like any other. They have as much control over how…

H/t: LTL

The Huffington Post

“If we find out that someone in a piece was intentionally misled or if their comments were intentionally misrepresented, we do not air that piece. We would not air that piece. So, that being said, I hope you enjoy the following piece.”

That’s how Jon Stewart introduced Jason Jones’ Thursday segment on the Washington Redskins, a package that had attracted some controversy before it even aired.

In a Sept. 19 Washington Post article, the Redskins fans who appear in the segment with Jones reported feeling ambushed, endangered and defamed. Jones and his “Daily Show” producers interviewed the group of die hard fans, then brought them face-to-face with a group of Native Americans activists who fiercely oppose the team’s name and logo.

The segment also featured an interview with team owner Daniel Snyder, who reiterated his stance that the name Redskins isn’t offensive. “The name…

Fairy lights sparkle on tinsel
and snow drifts from a can
wishes come true inside parcels
placed beneath the tree
with secret smiles.

Laughter echoes with racing cars
whirring round a circle track
men being boys as turkey
roast and trimmings
arrive at the table.

Smiles of gratitude
and motherly nature for
dolls with long blonde curls
and eyes that cry femininity.

Plastic role models of what should be
buxom and sensual with waists too small
and fake painted smiles
that hid the tears for the missing
crossbar on a pink bike.

High fashion dictates
skimpy red dresses followed by white silk
with pink satin roses
but scissors left blonde curls
floating in oblivion
as dresses drank the rain
and the doll wore stolen khaki,

He doesn’t breathe in silence
as he takes the early train
travelling west to new discoveries
leaving the tears of the past
on the empty…