There is a thread through this whole tableau - of abuse, the in-crowd and the out-crowd, the in-crowd lording it over the out-crowd, people with "power" abusing that power - and the abused lashing back. It is amazing that things are so similar to when I was in high school, 40-44 years ago. Over the years I have learned that each of us is a special creation of the universe, of GOD. I have learned to value each individual, even though this is often a challenge. I have learned that when I reach out to anyone, I give life. When I maintain enriching relationships, life spreads to many. I have also learned that there is evil in the world. M. Scott Peck ("The Road Less Traveled") came to this same conclusion in "People of the Lie". When we abuse the powerless, we open the doors for evil to enter. You can think of this as a "force" of evil, or of Satan, or of darkness - whatever, it is there. When evil takes over, anything can happen. As a wise person observed, all that is needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.
What can we do? Perhaps it is time for the "leaders" in our schools - students, teachers, and administrators, to reach out to everyone - not to forestall violence, but because every individual has value. How do we do this? When we put our combined minds to work on any problem, wonderful things happen. It starts with realizing that every individual has value, and setting our vision on finding and affirming the value in every individual.
The way out of the Darkness is to walk in the Light. ------------------------------------------------ -
From Wil S.: "All the World is a stage, and all the people merely actors upon that stage"
From African wisdom: "It takes a village to raise a child"
We are each given the freedom to create our own reality. It takes family, peers, other adult leaders, and even strangers to help a young person define their reality. There are infinite resources to lead us astray, and it takes the village to bring us back to a good path. I have had the experience of working with young people who were abused; who have no grounding, no respect for themselves or anyone else, no sense of personal responsibility. These kids needed constant contact to stay out of trouble. When they reached 18, and no one had any enduring relationship with them, it took a few calls to the police when they abused society's trust and patience.
These Colorado kids were "normal" (troubled), from "good" homes, yet many of the danger signs were there. A lot of people passed up chances to do something about them, with them. These kids created their own reality and dragged a lot of beautiful people down with them. If there is something wrong, it is not the Internet or the freedom of information - it is a society that doesn't have time for a lost one, a society where you have to be part of the "in crowd" to be anyone. It's a tough road, being a parent. We need to be there for each other and for our kids. But the people around us need to be present to us and to our kids as well.
We all can do better. ----------------------------------------
When the handwriting on the wall says "leave soon bunkie", you don't have a friend around anymore to pass this onto, and you have a good offer in your briefcase. The worst feeling of all is to get canned and realize you could have left gracefully a few months ago.
Pessimists! This is a great opportunity!!
on
Killer Asteroid
·
· Score: 1
Absolutely!! Plenty of time to rendezvous, install a robust propulsion system on the asteroid, then tweak it when it is on the heliapogee - changing the orbit to direct it wherever we want to. What a great trip that would be. Start signing up volunteers now!!
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There is a thread through this whole tableau - of abuse, the in-crowd and the out-crowd, the in-crowd lording it over the out-crowd, people with "power" abusing that power - and the abused lashing back. It is amazing that things are so similar to when I was in high school, 40-44 years ago. Over the years I have learned that each of us is a special creation of the universe, of GOD. I have learned to value each individual, even though this is often a challenge. I have learned that when I reach out to anyone, I give life. When I maintain enriching relationships, life spreads to many. I have also learned that there is evil in the world. M. Scott Peck ("The Road Less Traveled") came to this same conclusion in "People of the Lie". When we abuse the powerless, we open the doors for evil to enter. You can think of this as a "force" of evil, or of Satan, or of darkness - whatever, it is there. When evil takes over, anything can happen. As a wise person observed, all that is needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.
- -
What can we do? Perhaps it is time for the "leaders" in our schools - students, teachers, and administrators, to reach out to everyone - not to forestall violence, but because every individual has value. How do we do this? When we put our combined minds to work on any problem, wonderful things happen. It starts with realizing that every individual has value, and setting our vision on finding and affirming the value in every individual.
The way out of the Darkness is to walk in the Light.
-----------------------------------------------
From Wil S.:
"All the World is a stage, and all the people merely actors upon that stage"
From African wisdom:
"It takes a village to raise a child"
We are each given the freedom to create our own reality. It takes family, peers, other adult leaders, and even strangers to help a young person define their reality. There are infinite resources to lead us astray, and it takes the village to bring us back to a good path.
I have had the experience of working with young people who were abused; who have no grounding, no respect for themselves or anyone else, no sense of personal responsibility. These kids needed constant contact to stay out of trouble. When they reached 18, and no one had any enduring relationship with them, it took a few calls to the police when they abused society's trust and patience.
These Colorado kids were "normal" (troubled), from "good" homes, yet many of the danger signs were there. A lot of people passed up chances to do something about them, with them. These kids created their own reality and dragged a lot of beautiful people down with them. If there is something wrong, it is not the Internet or the freedom of information - it is a society that doesn't have time for a lost one, a society where you have to be part of the "in crowd" to be anyone. It's a tough road, being a parent. We need to be there for each other and for our kids. But the people around us need to be present to us and to our kids as well.
We all can do better.
----------------------------------------
When the handwriting on the wall says "leave soon bunkie", you don't have a friend around anymore to pass this onto, and you have a good offer in your briefcase. The worst feeling of all is to get canned and realize you could have left gracefully a few months ago.
Absolutely!! Plenty of time to rendezvous, install a robust propulsion system on the asteroid, then tweak it when it is on the heliapogee - changing the orbit to direct it wherever we want to. What a great trip that would be. Start signing up volunteers now!!