Croatia: Easter As Dawn Of Life


inavukic's avatarCroatia, the War, and the Future

Easter time in Zagreb Croatia Ban Jelacic Square Easter time in Zagreb Croatia Ban Jelacic Square

Wishing you all a Happy and Peaceful and Joyous and Blessed Easter!
I have chosen a Croatian poem that I hope will bring as much meaning to you as it does to me.

The Dawn of Life
(original poem by Boris Javor/Adrian Vinković Rangel; translated by Ina Vukic)

I have searched for the real me a long time,
I wandered across the world that’s filled with delusions,
and searched for the light of the first cause,
of new Sun for salvation to shine.

You, wake us so we can follow the Dawn of life,
You, allow Your goodness to lead us into
the Dawn of life.

Today I understood that we were given everything,
in accordance with the love that spreads from you.
And the time is coming when joy will ignite everywhere,
for that beautiful moment my heart watches.

You, illuminate…

View original post 127 more words

Candy Dish Haibun


Brenda Davis Harsham's avatarFriendly Fairy Tales

Some people can’t believe in themselves until someone else believes in them first.
— Good Will Hunting

Bluebells and snowdrops at foot of tree

My grandmother had a small two-bedroom apartment on the second floor of a building in Youngstown, Ohio. My parents would drop me off for a visit, and Grandma Myers and I would spend several days, just the two of us. We would visit Mill Creek Park and walk through the extensive flower gardens.

Each visit, I would perch on one of her two couches, and look through old loose photographs, older generations of Shumakers and Myers intermingling with newer ones in the disorganized drawer of her breakfront. She would sit beside me, naming people, so that I learned my family’s faces without ever meeting most of them. After several years, I knew who they all were myself. I loved looking through those photographs, most of them black and white, seeing my mother as she grew up.

On…

View original post 417 more words

Candy Dish Haibun


Brenda Davis Harsham's avatarFriendly Fairy Tales

Some people can’t believe in themselves until someone else believes in them first.
— Good Will Hunting

Bluebells and snowdrops at foot of tree

My grandmother had a small two-bedroom apartment on the second floor of a building in Youngstown, Ohio. My parents would drop me off for a visit, and Grandma Myers and I would spend several days, just the two of us. We would visit Mill Creek Park and walk through the extensive flower gardens.

Each visit, I would perch on one of her two couches, and look through old loose photographs, older generations of Shumakers and Myers intermingling with newer ones in the disorganized drawer of her breakfront. She would sit beside me, naming people, so that I learned my family’s faces without ever meeting most of them. After several years, I knew who they all were myself. I loved looking through those photographs, most of them black and white, seeing my mother as she grew up.

On…

View original post 417 more words

Promise Not Kept


Jackie Saulmon Ramirez's avatarParent Rap

By Jackie Saulmon Ramirez | April 16, 2014

Always a studious child, when it was time for the science project, she went to the library, chose an experiment and turned it in on time.

Can your children count on you? Can your kids count on what you say today meaning the same thing tomorrow?

When nine-year-old Chelsey was in the fifth grade, Mr. Ramirez wanted her to work harder and perhaps bring her Bs and Cs up to As so he made her a deal, he would give her $10 for every A she brought home the next marking period. Always a studious child, she was filled with renewed energy and spent more time on homework and studying for tests. When it was time for the science project, she went to the library, chose an experiment and turned it in on time. All the while she thought not only about…

View original post 821 more words

The Wounded Warrior Project


 

 

For a pacifist, dealing with the concept of soldiers is difficult. When I was young  and protesting the Vietnam War, I learned that though I object to war it is not the fault of the soldiers. We abandoned the Vietnam soldiers when they came home. We didn’t get what they had gone through and that they were doing the best they could in the circumstances. When Bush Sr. began the Gulf War, I sat on the floor in front of the TV crying. I was crying for all of the innocent people who would be victims of this war. I cried about all sons and daughters who would give their lives. All the parents who would be devastated.

 

Now, I see our children coming home and I see the damage that has been done to them. I can’t think about the purpose of these wars. I now know that we have to take care of the injured. The innocent citizens and our children. Today, the Wounded Warrior Project is a wonderful way for us to help the young people who are coming home damaged in body and mind. I don’t think about what happened but what they are dealing with now back at home.

 

One of my dearest friends’ sons did two tours in Iraq. I was freaked of course. He was shot and the Army called and told his parents, but also mentioned they didn’t know where he was.  I am sure every parent would understand  their emotions at this news. I contacted a university professor I am good friends with and she contacted a Colonel she knew. He explained that they probably knew but weren’t saying. In reality, he spent days at the Iraqi airport. He was then sent to Germany for surgery. He is home now and is doing well, but will not talk about what happened to him.

 

So keep an open mind and heart towards all the young people as they come home. We sent them away after teaching them how to kill. Now we are asking these young men and women to come home and pick up their lives as workers, husbands, wives, parents as if nothing had happened to them in the middle years. Our young people are damaged and they need to know they are appreciated, They need to know that we are here for them. And that America is willing to help them heal and that their healing is important to us. You can help with the Wounded Warrior Project if you want to. You can help someone’s son or daughter heal physically and mentally.

 

 

guarda5

Activist Prepares for Hunger Strike to Combat Police Brutality, Misconduct and Shootings in California


Prison Reform Movement's avatarPrison Reform Movement's Weblog- America: Land of the Free, Home of the Incarcerated

Please lend your support and share this article!!

By Gregg L Greer, Editor for One World

On May 13, 2014 A California Professor James Cosner will go on a hunger strike “to his death,” according to Cosner and Organizers (CAMPAIGN 4 JUSTICE) as a method of civil disobedience against the State of California in a battle for cause. Cosner’s desire is to bring national attention to the growing stream of violent deaths of many mostly young men (citizens)-the reason given-is the incredibly tragic way many have died (resulting at hands of Police) or better know as “Police Brutality.

Jame.3 (PS)

Although he (Cosner) has not fallen victim to directly to Police Brutality, Cosner though his long-term Social Activismhas dedicated his life to the rescinding of unethical social and economic aspects of the Criminal Justice policies in California and abroad. Additionally, Cosner has had dealings with law enforcement, which is not unusual and usually…

View original post 1,160 more words

The Holiday of Passover Part 2


Gratitude is a big part of Judaism and many other spiritual paths. The greatest story is the story of Moses. To save his life his mother and sister who had named this Jewish baby, put him into a tightly woven basket and floated it in the river. They prayed to G-d to keep him safe. The Pharaoh’s daughter found the basket and looked inside. She looked inside an found an infant, she knew is was a Jewish baby. She took him home to the palace and raised his as her son, naming him Moses. From the water I drew him. The Jews to this day have never changed his name back to his given name. For eternity the Jewish people show Adonai their gratitude for the life of Moses.

 

The evil of those who sought to destroy the Jews and made slaves of them must be remembered as well as recalling the kindness of those who intervened to deliver the Jewish people from slavery. Gratitude is so important, it’s meant to be eternal.

 

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”   —Cicero

 

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”   —Melody Beattie

 

 

passover

 

The Jewish people believe in family and  gratitude and education. Every Jewish child grows up knowing he/she must get a good education.

 

“I dreamt I stood in a studio

And watched two sculptors there.

 

The clay they used was a young child’s mind

And they fashioned it with care.

 

One was a teacher–the tools he used

Were books, music, and art.

 

The other, a parent, worked with a guiding hand

And a gentle loving heart.

 

Day after day, the teacher toiled

With touch that was deft and sure.

 

While the parent labored by his side

And polished and smoothed it o’er.

 

And when at last, their task was done

They were proud of what they’d wrought.

 

For the things they had molded into the child

Could neither be sold nor boutht.

 

And each agreed they would have failed

If each had worked alome.

For behind the teacher stood the school

And behind the parent stood the home.”   —Author unknown

 

 

passovergreet

A Passover blessing

 

 

“I doubt anyone will ever see-anywhere—a memorial to a pessimist.”   —Unknown

 

“Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself.”   —Golda Meir

 

The Jewish people have a tradition in many families to light not just two candles but an additional candle for every child in the family as well.  Parents explain to their children that every one of them brought extra light to their home when they came into their lives. The light of a candle, the sages teach, is a symbol of the soul.

 

“Rather light candles than curse the darkness.”   —Adlai E. Stevenson

 

“if a drop if ink fell at the same time on your book and on your coat, clean first the book and then the garment.”   —Talmud

 

” If you drop gold and books, pick up first the books and then the gold.”   —Talmud

 

” Jews are the People of the Book.”   —Mohammed, the Koran

 

 

guarda5

 

 

An Angel’s envy


Wonderful

AB's avatarPerspectives on Life, the Universe and Everything

Looking at your dwellings
Houses and farms
Mind wonders
About the lives you live
Full of hope
Amazing skills
Then we come around
Good or bad news
Changing your views
Amending your fate
Habits you hate
Make you believe
Or devoid of faith
Bed of flowers
Mourning wreath
We live eternity
You, a moment or two
Still, that much happiness?
May we have it too!!

20140122-123649 pm.jpg

20140122-123704 pm.jpg

20140122-123742 pm.jpg
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/daily-prompt-red/

View original post

Facebook Promote The Oldest Anti-Jewish Libel: Eric Lee


richardgoldengage's avatarEngage

This is a cross-post by Eric Lee

I learned this morning that Facebook has a page devoted to “Jewish ritual murder” which I found hard to believe — so I checked and found it’s true.

So, as one does, I used Facebook’s complaint procedure to formally report harassment.  After all, I do feel harassed — as a Jew and a human being — by people promoting vile anti-Jewish propaganda.

It took Facebook 32 minutes to respond, which is great.

Good to see that they care about racism and antisemitism and are as keen as I am to … wait a minute … here’s a screenshot of their response:

Screen Shot 2014-02-12 at 10

Just in case you can’t read that, here’s the essence of it:

You reported Jewish ritual murder for harassment.
Status    This page wasn’t removed
Details 
Thank you for taking the time to report something that you feel may violate our…

View original post 124 more words