Yesterday Economist.com published a great article titled “In search of Dialogue: How to get Muslims and Jews talking?” This post is not about religion, but it is about dialogue. The article is reporting that this week in Cambridge, Britain, an open letter from leading Muslim scholars to the Jewish community was unveiled. The purpose of the letter is to conduct an open dialogue between leading scholars of both faiths. Any who, for every article that is posted on Economist.com, there is a section where readers can comment about the articles. The comments, in my humble opinion, have been way more interesting that the article itself.
Readers from around the world are commenting about the differences and similarities between Judaism, Islam and Christendom and how they have affected, offended and insulted each other.
If the world was all exactly the same, if every person was exactly the same as every other person it would be a very boring world. I have friends who are Jewish, Christian and Muslim and I love them all equally the same. For who they are, not for their religion. I think people have the personal choice and right to choose what religion they want to belong to and no one should object to that. Now, how we relate to each other, does not have to be about how our religions relate to each other.
PUSH. PUSH. PUSH. I think the problem lies in the word PUSH. We push our believes on everyone else. Jews on Muslims, Muslims on Jews, Christians on Jews, Jews on Christians, Muslims on Christians and Christians on Muslims. We need to stop pushing!!! I feel sometimes the U.S. tries to push “democracy” on the whole world (and maybe with that some Christian values as well) and we have to understand that not everyone likes to live in a democratic world and not every one wants to be Christian. And that goes for all religions. In a way terrorism, is a method used by a seldom few to force or to make others see that they won’t succumb to Christianity, democracy or so called “Western” values. And that is fine. We need to be able to talk to each other and do business together, and have dinners together and laugh together. We do not need to go to church/temple/mosque together. Educated people are everywhere. Well, let’s be educated and deal with each other as civil citizens of humanity (which we all are) and stop pushing and hating each other. You pray to whomever, respect me and let’s have a great meal and talk about the weather…
“Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.”
–King Whitney Jr.
“May this new chapter in your life be full of wonderful discoveries…I know in my heart you will only grow to be a stronger more beautiful woman than what you are already are…Buena Suerte Amiga!!!
A very good friend of mine and I were having a discussion yesterday about self-preservation in relationships. Now, what do I mean by self-preservation? That selfish feeling you have to protect yourself from others in order to avoid being emotionally hurt. What are the consequences of self-preservation? Hmm…I could name a few such as:
1. You keep your heart closed to others, that way you never seem to get too hurt because you really do not feel that much for them
2. You end up alone, but this feeling of solitude is acceptable since the trade off its just a life of instant gratification
3. Ultimately, you possess a feeling of superiority due to this separation from everyone which makes you seem arrogant
Point is that you keep everyone at an arm’s distance so you don’t get hurt. But I ask, are we really that screwed up as a society that we need to keep everyone away because we are so scared to let anyone in? Geez, it is annoying. Is as if everyone past the age of 22 had some deep emotional issues they don’t want to open themselves to the possibility of friendship or love. What is the big deal if you commit to someone? If it doesn’t work out then you break up. Yes, it hurts, but you won’t die and you will live. Live a life of passion and full of love…
Being from South America I guess that is one of the things that I miss the most. Every time I go back, I always find how people are just so giving. They give you directions, or they give you a plate of food, or they give you a couch to crash on for the night or they give you their heart. They are just so giving. And it is so refreshing. Yes, people get hurt, but you keep on going. That is what life is about. It is not to keep yourself in a jail cell so you keep off all the people that “could” or “might” hurt you. I mean keeping everyone at an arm’s distance, does that really make you happy. Having physical interchanges with others, is that really fulfilling? Personally, it isn’t for me. And personally, I don’t get it either and I have been living in this country for 19 years. But for now I am here, so I will have to put up with it.
I promise I will write later this week…but for now I leave you with this quote…
“It is your work in life that is the ultimate seduction”
–Pablo Picasso
Well, I am guilty of it. I got a blackberry back in November and I have been addicted to it ever since. Today the BBC News published an article about the severity of the “crackberry” addiction. I honestly think is hilarious. But so true.
I sleep with my crackberry by my bedside. And I have noted that I do wake up several times to check it. I am constantly checking it. I’m on it all the time. But you know what the coolest thing that I discovered??? Not only do I get my messages, internet and email and it keeps my appointments and alarms in place. It tells me where to go when I need it. Yes, I installed Google maps on the thing and this past weekend in New York City it was a godsend. It locates where you are, you punch in where you want to go and it tells you how to get there. Voila! I was able to find my way around with no problem. Glorious!!! How I lived without it before I don’t know…but I love my new addiction…
PS. NYC I think is one of the worse crackberry offenders. Everywhere you turn people have them and they are always on them-on the train, at dinner, walking around wherever…they are always connected…
PSS. The blackberry messenger is the best thing ever too…
So, I got paid today. Niceeee…money in and immediately thereafter money out. I’m just the middle man…hahahaha…but I did notice one thing today. My student loan monthly balances were significantly lower. Niceeeeeeeee…these interest rate cuts have worked to my advantage. Not only am I still paying the same amounts, now I get to pay more of the principal and less interest.
In an article in the New York Times, they reported that yesterday both Ben Bernanke (Chairman of the Federal Reserve) and Henry M. Paulson (Treasury Secretary) scaled back in their optimistic forecast and stated that a recession is imminent when they appeared before congress. Now, not all is bad news. This means more interest rate cuts and supposedly that stimulus package which means you will get a check sometime in May 2008. Be wise. No Gucci purses anytime soon. (Shucks!!!) If you have a stable job, keep it for now, and save. Pay off your balances, since now you are paying more of your debt and less interest, and if you are lucky to have some extra cash, invest…cause properties are going to get even cheaper…
So, it’s not all bad. It is about creating an opportunity amidst the storm…
For now…I’m off to NYC yet again to hang out with Mers…Happy President’s Day to all…
In Latin America, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in September not February and it is also a day that celebrates friendships and not just romantic relationships.
So in the spirit of the way that I view this romantic holiday…
Happy Vday to all of my wonderful friends and loved ones…for you add more meaning to my life than you could ever imagine…be happy and merry…for today you are being celebrated!!!
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
–Winston Churchill
As I was walking to Starbucks yesterday in like 15 degree weather and my lips felt as if they were going to freeze, I had a realization. I had been compromising myself and living in planet X or Y. I was in dreamland. Really, I was. I was preaching to the choir about self worth and this and that and really being a hypocrite because I was not putting into practice in my own life.
That stops now. I guess with age comes more self assurance. Some might call it bitchiness, but I call it knowing your own self worth. If you don’t value yourself and take care of yourself, no one else will do it for you. And as I think about that…and realize that…I pledge to do the following:
1. Walk with my head up high
2. It’s my time and my time only…
3. I will not beg, and I will not hope for things to change. They are what they are and I should just realize it and move on
4. I cannot stall. I need to move forward. If I am feeling like I am stalling in a situation, then I need to asses it, come up with a plan and a solution, take care of it and move on.
5. And most of all, live life to the fullest. Start everyday with a smile and not let negativity damper my day, for it is my life and my day as well…
So, some call me crazy, some call me demented, but I am just going to keep going, keep fighting and not settling or taking $h!t from people…because…I’m worth it!!!
I am addicted. I am addicted to someone. A special someone who gave me a special bracelet this past Christmas. But things are over between that someone and I. Oh they are so over. But like any addiction the withdrawals are a bitch. I miss him. I miss his smell. I miss his looks, his touch, his voice, his eyes, his hugs, his kisses, his everything. I remember how he sleeps or how he loves to eat cereal at 3 am. How I miss him. Will I ever get over my addiction? I’m doing this cold turkey and it’s so hard. I have the jitters. And the shakes. And I don’t know what medicine to take. Or what doctor to go to. I just lay in bed, thinking, missing, crying in desperation. Where to go? What to do? Should I leave the country? Should I run to another dimension? How can I fill this void? This anxiety…I can’t keep running away…from him, from my problems, from my addiction…Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…
I just smile…to the world. But my heart, my heart is in pieces. Thousands of pieces. And the withdrawals…could sometimes be lethal they say…and even though love doesn’t kill, I feel dead.
