Well check out what happened to 8 other 14 year olds on this day less than 100 years ago. Not so long ago in human history we did not have the choices, freedoms and economic security that most of us can now enjoy, at least in Europe.
In memory of Senghenydd
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"The work demonstrates that we are awash in social signals, and any social science that treats individuals as discrete decision-making creatures is nonsense. But it also suggests that even though most of our reactions are fast and automatic, we still have free will and control.
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Many of the studies presented here concerned the way we divide people by in-group and out-group categories in as little as 170 milliseconds. The anterior cingulate cortices in American and Chinese brains activate when people see members of their own group endure pain, but they do so at much lower levels when they see members of another group enduring it. These effects may form the basis of prejudice.
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In other words, consciousness is too slow to see what happens inside, but it is possible to change the lenses through which we unconsciously construe the world"
Extracts from an article by David Brooks, NYT, about 'social cognitive neuroscience'. See the rest HERE
Peace is, first and foremost, an attitude of mind and emotion. In order for peace to be translated into a physical reality there has to be a willingness to recognise the formula of understanding of the needs of each other.
When we are willing to adopt an attitude of mind and emotion that celebrates the uniqueness of each individual, then we have the tools to progress to a physical enabling of peace.
gg.
This blog writer congratulates President Barack Obama on the award of the Nobel Peace prize.
It is a long time since an American President has 'set the world' on a pathway of hope in the possibility of truly peaceful co-existence and shared responsibility for that co-existence.
Not all 'actions of peaceful intent' produce immediate result. However, this writer feels that Obama's contribution and leadership in shaping attitudes and emotions that are conducive to future peace certainly warrants this Peace award. 
When He - Albert Einstein (often regarded as the father of modern physics and an acknowledged massive contributor to the understanding of modern science and the universe in which we exist) said this…..
"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth
about this man – who was born 140 years ago today -
Then I take notice – and find out more about Mahatma Gandhi
(Time magazine named Gandhi the Man of the Year in 1930. He was also the runner-up to Albert Einstein as “Person of the Century” in 1999)…
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Technorati Tags: Einstein,science,universe,Mahatma,Gandhi,Time Magazine,runner,Person of the century
Searching the bodies at the morgue to try and find a relative. The pain and suffering is clear in the child's face. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to all who are enduring this tragedy.
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The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate
of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.
C. S. Lewis
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.Last May this blog also reported the incredible story of a young teenager from Guatemala whose heart was failing – and the incredible story of all the hearts that opened to help this amazing young man.
Here is a beautiful tribute that has been made by stillchillin2 on you tube
On 26th June we lost the physical presence of Juan – but our hearts
will forever be touched by the story of his heart and courage.
R:I:P
"Telling the future by looking at the past assumes that conditions remain constant. This is like driving a car by looking in the rear-view mirror" anon.
To be fair and objective, interpreting your own spirituality/beliefs by constant reference to the ancient experiencing/writings/traditions of someone else is a little bit the same as the above.
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Be gentle with yourself,Precious One. Allow your heart time to weep - for you, and we, have misplaced a great treasure and we must patiently wait for the floods of our feelings to subside before we shall see the shining of his/her presence in our hearts again.
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These days are precious days, let them move at their own pace and have no regard to how it may look to others. Try not to be angry and impatient with yourself but rather,if the burden becomes almost too heavy, decide to light a candle and as you light it concentrate,concentrate on one - just one - happy and joyful memory you have of that loved One…
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it will take you the rest of your lifetime and a lot of candles and even then you will not have exhausted the supply of wonderful memories that have been lovingly,magically woven into your being.
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It takes the joys of love to heal love's sorrows
. gg
Something else also happened this day as well as the 'official' start of WW2.
within 3 days 186 children had been starved, denied water and then
It always seems to be so disastrous for humanity when politics gets all mixed up with religion – especially if the religion is pretty mixed up in the first place
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
It is a source of constant amazement and, yes, dismay to me as I get older to observe how often people simply cannot dare,or trust, to be themselves or to be fully open.
Fearing they will be used, abused or cheated in some way they so often compromise themselves.
I have even witnessed,regrettably many times, great spiritual principles or beliefs traded and sold for a pocketful of dust.
No one can take your dignity if you do not give it to them.
No one can take your integrity if you do not sell it to them.
No one can steal your love, for in truth Love is only ours to possess in that moment that we give it away.Until that moment we are possessed by love.
gg
"...keep knocking, and the Joy inside will eventually open a window
and look out to see who's there."
- Rumi
I have always tried to believe in the POWER OF LOVE. I have tried to live my life within the reality of that belief.
Occasionally, life has tested that reality and tested it almost to the point of destruction – but never quite!
Always has come some incident,accident,event that has protected and defended the belief.
Today I finished participating in a singing course with angels – and the dancing melodies of their lovingness is as shimmering sunrays in the forests of my doubts.
I have always tried to believe in the POWER OF LOVE.
In almost 65 years it has never failed to triumph though the manner of it's victory may have,at that time,seemed to be the opposite.
LOVE does not concern itself with logic.
ggCharacter is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught.
(ps. I am aware that wrongs is spelt incorrectly but placed it there for the benefit of those people who find such happiness in constantly correcting others. Who am I to deny their joy?)
You know that truth which your spirit seeks to manifest to your consciousness at this time, all the rest is mind-games
gg
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OK! Everyone has a bad day now and then….so it's good to look around at what is happening,quietly, in this world……it's amazing the caring,sharing,loving that is going on
Check out this story HERE
OR
visit the website that has now been set up about this remarkable man and his family.
Talking about caring,loving, is easy. Doing it is tough – but uniquely rewarding.
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According to Chip Cronkite, the son of the legendary and 'most trusted American' of the age Walter Cronkite, his late Father had an ashtray on which was written the saying:
“Just give me the facts: I’ll mix ’em up when I quote you.”
A pretty good saying for people that work in the media……and a brilliant saying for those who 'work in religious orgs'……
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The interplay of energies emanating from a common source,unstoppably expanding the permutations of possibilities of experiencing.Experiences so unique,so individual as to be totally valid in their own right.
Not a galaxy exists, nor a star, a person nor a single ant,not even a single blade of grass that is not equally and powerfully involved in the process of this pathway. It is not only,as Einstein Schweitzer et.al stated as a 'will to live' for expression of the life force is more,much more,than simply existence. This interplay of energies is in constant,ever constant creative mode. It applies to all things, for there is nothing that has been created that is not wholly and entirely unique and the presence of which has enriched beyond imaginings the potentiality of the process
.As quickly as one experience is created,so an infinite number of permutations arise from that one incidence.
gg
Life musr be lived forward…can only be understood backward……rarely has the opportunity to be 'in park mode'….and is fairly meaningless when in neutral. (with acknowledgements to Kierkegaard)
