My state of the union
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners?
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
A very good friend of mine emailed this to me a few days ago. It set me off on a couple of my soapboxes. I'll do my best to keep it brief, but I have got to get it off my chest.
1) I hate turning on the news or going to my yahoo page and the headlining item is how Paramount fired Tom Cruise or Lindsey Lohan is always late to work. I believe I heard the other day that we have now been in Iraq longer than we were in WWII. South Korea, China, and North Korea are having nuclear weapons talks. Today Israel said it would lift the blockade after the Lebanese army and the bolstered international force take control of the country's ports and borders to prevent Hezbollah guerrillas from importing new arms. I don't give a fuck who Jessica Simpson is banging now.
2) Ever pay attention to how the media reports a bombing in one of the many countries we are patrolling? Listen closely and everytime they say " 32 people died today, 7 of which were American." As if the fact that the others lives weren't American they mean anything less. Human beings are human beings. Every single life is priceless and irreplaceable. My state of the union is grim. Less and less people take the time just to be polite anymore. We aren't seen as human beings. We're simply seen as something in the way of what they want or where they need to be. The media's excuse for not telling us what's going on in the world is that we don't want to hear it. There is a line in Hotel Rwanda about how we hear the news, say how sad it is, and go back to eating our dinner. I don't know how we can live with ourselves at that point. The only way this world has a chance is if we all get off our asses and do something. One voice can make a difference. One million voices can make changes.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners?
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
A very good friend of mine emailed this to me a few days ago. It set me off on a couple of my soapboxes. I'll do my best to keep it brief, but I have got to get it off my chest.
1) I hate turning on the news or going to my yahoo page and the headlining item is how Paramount fired Tom Cruise or Lindsey Lohan is always late to work. I believe I heard the other day that we have now been in Iraq longer than we were in WWII. South Korea, China, and North Korea are having nuclear weapons talks. Today Israel said it would lift the blockade after the Lebanese army and the bolstered international force take control of the country's ports and borders to prevent Hezbollah guerrillas from importing new arms. I don't give a fuck who Jessica Simpson is banging now.
2) Ever pay attention to how the media reports a bombing in one of the many countries we are patrolling? Listen closely and everytime they say " 32 people died today, 7 of which were American." As if the fact that the others lives weren't American they mean anything less. Human beings are human beings. Every single life is priceless and irreplaceable. My state of the union is grim. Less and less people take the time just to be polite anymore. We aren't seen as human beings. We're simply seen as something in the way of what they want or where they need to be. The media's excuse for not telling us what's going on in the world is that we don't want to hear it. There is a line in Hotel Rwanda about how we hear the news, say how sad it is, and go back to eating our dinner. I don't know how we can live with ourselves at that point. The only way this world has a chance is if we all get off our asses and do something. One voice can make a difference. One million voices can make changes.
posted by alwaysd | 11:57 AM
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