"A house divided against itself cannot stand," Abraham Lincoln.
True, so very true were those inspired words by one of the greatest presidents we have ever and probably will ever be privileged to have run our country. Abraham Lincoln didn't fight for other countries, for oil, for coal, or for independence from another place. He fought for his own.
The Civil War had been fought. Hundreds of thousands lay dead. More Americans died in a single battle than in Iraq. And why did this horrid, horrid carnage happen? What would drive this slaughter of brothers and sisters, of ones own family? It was forgetting this one principal: A house divided against itself cannot stand. It all started with a disagreement. Were slaves worthy to be their own masters, to control their own fate? Were black men and women really ready to be allowed in the world as themselves?
When the North pointed to the Constitution, where it claims that "All men are created equal," the South decided that their own "house" didn't know the right of it. They were convinced that their "founding 'fathers'" were incorrect, much like we think our parents today are often wrong. So they went to war and killed many of their brothers and sisters just to defend their own misguided judgment.
It is just like what happens at home. When you have a disagreement with your brothers and sisters, and your parents take their side, don't you feel a little cheated? And don't you feel like you know better? Now of course I'm not saying that everyone feels this way on purpose, it is just a thing that is human, but do you see the pattern that is unfolding? Soon, you may be in outright "war" with your brothers and sisters and parents. Things like this happen all the time. They split apart families, and bring misery to many, many parents and siblings. Fortunately, in this example, the outcome is almost never death and killing.
When we have feelings of hate, or a spirit (yes, I am going to use the term) of unrest in a place or person, it only creates misery inside ourselves, and pity inside others. We need to shake off the burden of negative feelings, and start to embrace love, friendship, and brotherhood and sisterhood.
Another interesting thing in word breakdown (much like the "ship" in friendship) is the use of "hood." The use of that word implies that it is not something that just happens, nor is it something we become, but rather, it is something we take upon ourselves. It is a constant, unchanging commitment to stand united with our brothers and sisters, and take our stand together, following our parents, whether you want to look at leaders, teachers, parents, or even heavenly parentage, it becomes a duty to stand together, firm and strong.
How often have we heard the phrase "Divided we fall, but united we stand?" Is it a coincidence that such phrases crop up all over the place? Since the dawn of man, where a single man could spear a gazelle and feed himself, or take a company of men to spear a mammoth, and feed and entire village, we could always rely on the strength of others to gain much more. Today it has changed little. Sure we have great oceans and great religions in our way, but the mantle of brotherhood and sisterhood defies all boundaries. Just think how many wars we could stop, how many lives we could save if we just realized that we need each other. I think that that would be the one step that would lead to an incredible world.
P.S. Sorry for being late this week, but I was horribly sick yesterday.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Strength of Friendship
Friendship. It is funny to me, because friendship has the same suffix as partnership, hardship, and a lot of other "ship" words. The suffix -ship is the quality, condition, or state of being of something. So the word friendship doesn't refer to any specific interaction or feeling between two people, it refers to a "state of being a friend." It implies that friendship is something we become, not something we do or have.
For isn't being a friend the way to get a friend? That's one of the reasons why some people are silent, or included. They don't try and participate. A true friendship is something that we work to become, and just doesn't fall into our laps overnight. Friendship requires commitment, trust, and selflessness. Often greedy and self-righteous people don't have friends, because they don't realize that Greed and friendship are opposites of each other. Although friendship takes effort, it is worth it.
A happy man is never a lonely man. A lonely man is never a happy man. In almost every story of heroism in the world today, the hero or heroin has a companion, whether it be another person, or an animal, or an object. A thing they can talk to. Something they can interact with. We can draw strength from friends. Friends are always kind. Friends are the people you go to on a down day and say "I really need help." You can always count on friends. There is no coincidence in the statement: "The #1 way that people avoid suicide is through a good friend."
I have felt the good influence of good friends in my life. Each friend I have had has become part of myself, and has affected me. Friendship is a noble aspiration, an endeavor with more worth than grades and other distractions in life. Not that there can't be bad friends. Friends that have low standards, or who are interesting in immoral and bad things will only leave bad parts of themselves behind. We need to make sure we surround ourselves with friends who build us up, not friends that tear us down.
Everybody can be a friend to someone else. Someone in need, someone who doesn't have anyone to turn to. Being a friend can lead to greater things, like conversion to church, business partners, and even marriage. Almost everyone who becomes spouses with each other befriends their partner before they are married. Friendship creates bonds and seals that are unbreakable. It creates a people who are indivisible. It gives spirit to the fire of humanity, and moves us forward. Nothing would ever get done without humans who are willing to stand together for all time.
I would encourage all of you to find friends. It will bless you, no matter how many you have. You don't have to be popular, or have the newest cell phone, or wear the best clothes. All it takes is a little reaching and a little trying. And just remember, to get a friend, you have to be a friend.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Where Hitler Failed- Greed
It is late in World War 2. Germany controlled much of Europe. London was in flames, France was crushed. Concentration camps could be found in more than a dozen different countries. The coasts were covered with defensive cannons. The Nazi army was immense. So what made Hitler fail? He had all of those things, yet why did he lose in the end.
First, lets look at the forces opposing Germany. America, England, and the rest of the UN were trying to keep the Nazis from invading the rest of Europe. The Soviet Union was defending the area of Russia from Hitler. Some of the citizenry of various countries were rebelling. Even with all this opposition, Germany was still advancing on the rest of Europe.
The place where Hitler went wrong was in his prioritizing. Instead of focusing on one area at a time, he had his forces spread. Part of his army was in Russia, part in southeastern Europe, and part defending the whole coast of France and other shore countries. Hitler wanted all of the land of Europe at the SAME TIME!!!! Kind of foolish when you think about it, right?
So what drove Hitler to be so foolish in his actions? Simple, it was greed. He wanted it all really fast and without much effort. It made him rather miserable at times. We can relate this to ourselves. We all want things in life. That desire to have things is how humanity has survived in the past. But Greed is carrying that too far. The difference is that greed is the willingness to get things while hurting others.
Such a heartless endeavor always ends in sadness, misery, or defeat. Humanity has to work together to accomplish things now that there are so many of us in the world today. We can't afford to be greedy. Unfortunately, a lot of people today are greedy. Companies and Politicians are excellent examples for the greediness of humanity. Because of the greed of many, the future looks bleak. In order for humanity to survive, we need to give and not get, and be willing to share necessities with others.
First, lets look at the forces opposing Germany. America, England, and the rest of the UN were trying to keep the Nazis from invading the rest of Europe. The Soviet Union was defending the area of Russia from Hitler. Some of the citizenry of various countries were rebelling. Even with all this opposition, Germany was still advancing on the rest of Europe.
The place where Hitler went wrong was in his prioritizing. Instead of focusing on one area at a time, he had his forces spread. Part of his army was in Russia, part in southeastern Europe, and part defending the whole coast of France and other shore countries. Hitler wanted all of the land of Europe at the SAME TIME!!!! Kind of foolish when you think about it, right?
So what drove Hitler to be so foolish in his actions? Simple, it was greed. He wanted it all really fast and without much effort. It made him rather miserable at times. We can relate this to ourselves. We all want things in life. That desire to have things is how humanity has survived in the past. But Greed is carrying that too far. The difference is that greed is the willingness to get things while hurting others.
Such a heartless endeavor always ends in sadness, misery, or defeat. Humanity has to work together to accomplish things now that there are so many of us in the world today. We can't afford to be greedy. Unfortunately, a lot of people today are greedy. Companies and Politicians are excellent examples for the greediness of humanity. Because of the greed of many, the future looks bleak. In order for humanity to survive, we need to give and not get, and be willing to share necessities with others.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
European Witch Hunts- Paranoia
Paranoia is the unreasonable fear of something that possibly might happen. It can occur when you take a test, or when a family member takes a trip. It occurs a lot in parents and guardians of children. Paranoia is not a bad thing. It inspires us to do our best, and to defend and protect others. It helps us to love more dearly, and to make life better. But like a lot of other emotions, it can go to far and be unreasonable. A good example of that are the European Witch Hunts.
European Witch Hunts started in the early 14th century among common folk in Switzerland and Croatia. Women were accused of starting disease, cursing and enchanting people, and being in league with the devil. No one knew about disease or bacteria. There was no explanation for strange behavior (brain damage, illness, etc.). So, they blamed it on these women.
The women were condemned by the law, and then lynched, burned, or hung. Very rarely were women saved from this fate once they were accused. Everyone was paranoid, and they watched all of the local women very carefully. It was a time of fear and unreasonable blame.
They took this matter very seriously. So seriously, in fact, the French even burned the savior of their country, Joan of Arc, once she was accused of witchcraft. This behavior went on until the 1800's, when a law was passed banning accusing people of witchcraft. Even now, countries such as Saudi Arabia and Camaroon still allow women accused of witchcraft to be condemned.
See, a few sick cattle get sick around a milk maid, and the farmer gets paranoid of witchcraft. Europe harmed them self a lot more than they helped, because they killed between 40,000 and 100,000 condemned women alone, not to mention those accused of sorcery and being possessed by devils.
People get very Paranoid today. Some children are kept locked up in the house because they "might" do something, and become socially unaccepted. War after War has started because of suspicion of the other side. Paranoia is a good thing, but it is often over-used and abused.
European Witch Hunts started in the early 14th century among common folk in Switzerland and Croatia. Women were accused of starting disease, cursing and enchanting people, and being in league with the devil. No one knew about disease or bacteria. There was no explanation for strange behavior (brain damage, illness, etc.). So, they blamed it on these women.
The women were condemned by the law, and then lynched, burned, or hung. Very rarely were women saved from this fate once they were accused. Everyone was paranoid, and they watched all of the local women very carefully. It was a time of fear and unreasonable blame.
They took this matter very seriously. So seriously, in fact, the French even burned the savior of their country, Joan of Arc, once she was accused of witchcraft. This behavior went on until the 1800's, when a law was passed banning accusing people of witchcraft. Even now, countries such as Saudi Arabia and Camaroon still allow women accused of witchcraft to be condemned.
See, a few sick cattle get sick around a milk maid, and the farmer gets paranoid of witchcraft. Europe harmed them self a lot more than they helped, because they killed between 40,000 and 100,000 condemned women alone, not to mention those accused of sorcery and being possessed by devils.
People get very Paranoid today. Some children are kept locked up in the house because they "might" do something, and become socially unaccepted. War after War has started because of suspicion of the other side. Paranoia is a good thing, but it is often over-used and abused.
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