The days you work are the best days.
Georgia O'Keeffe
____________________
Hi. Since I can't open my journal I won't even know if this entry has been posted until someone leaves me a comment to tell me.
--------------------------
During my 45 + years as an entertainer going on the stage was a privilege, an honor and a pleasure. It was also my work. I recall a few incidents from my career that the quote from O'Keeffe reminds me of.
In a professional theatre the actors are required by union contract to be at work one half hour before the performance. There are some actors who like to squeeze in at the last second which I always considered childish and disrespectful, though not wrong. But sometimes they wouldn't sign in, which meant someone from stage management had to go looking for them to make sure they were there. I usually always arrived an hour and a half before performance because the theatre was where I wanted to be.
I was playing Scrooge in a production of A Christmas Carol and because there was little time between when he wakes up from his awful nightmare and goes out to buy the goose and visit his relatives, I had a quick costume change. I had one minute to go from the bed clothes to an elaborate period suit with overcoat scarf, gloves and hat.
My dresser was a retired Broadway actress who knew what to do. The first time we rehearsed it it took about two and a half minutes. We got it down to a minute by the first performance. While the change was going on there was a group of madrigal singers on the stage doing a song. After a few performances we got the costume change down to thirty and then twenty seconds. I went out and joined the song.
The next day the dresser said that she was very impressed with what I had done. I could have stayed in the wing and rested but that I chose to go back out. It was because the stage was where I wanted to be.
One evening, after rehearsal for a new play, the playwright handed me a one page speech he wanted inserted in a certain scene. He said to get it in whenever I was ready. I memorized it that night and spoke it in the next day's rehearsal. One of the crew said to the stage manager "He already knows it." She replied "I'm not surprised." That remark pleased me.
I have had other jobs that weren't so exciting. In fact, some of them were down right nasty. But the principle is always the same, I think. Learn the job, see what the task is, observe the problems, figure out how to solve them, do the task and do it enthusiastically, completely and to the best of your ability. Self-satisfaction for work well done is a good reward. It makes your day.
DB
______________
Thanks for staying around.
***********************
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Natural Nepotism 7/06/09
They are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behind.
Native American proverb
********************
Salutations
------------------------
On July 4th last year my brother died. Saturday afternoon his ashes were spread into the Atlantic Ocean from a sail boat. The ceremony was conducted by his two children, my niece and nephew, whom I hardly know. They were carrying out my brother's wishes. He was a man of the sea.
Over the years I have lost four grandparents, only one of whom I ever met, both parents, a bunch of aunts and uncles, some of whom I never met, cousins I know nothing about, my sister and eventually my brother. I am the only remaining member of my family.
So now I would seem to be in a state of disconnectedness and anonymity. I definitely fell that way most of the time; more of a vagabond than ever. I have no grandchildren to ask me questions, no birthdays to celebrate, no college graduates to congratulate, no brides and grooms to send good wishes to. I sit and write my journal entry every day hoping it will be read by a few friends and some total strangers, that it will have a meaning for someone, touch someone's life in a positive way. But I only get at most about 20 readers everyday.
But this past Independence Day got me thinking about just how large my family really is. Since I can't have my feet firmly planted in some family environment I have to look around at exactly what it is I am a part of. I think about the wigs, bonnets and coon skin caps of the early settlers of my country and what they went through to make a new nation come alive. Those are my ancestors. There were hard winters in a hostile environment. There was a desperate war, which they won. There was disagreement, rivalry, fist fights in Congress, duals, failures and successes. A country was being hammered out on the anvil of danger with a blacksmith's will to shape it and make it work.
Then the others came, the immigrants, looking for freedom and the right to live up to their potential in a new world, unfettered by a suppressive government. Those are my ancestors. They came, established themselves, learned how to live here and become a part of the new nation, contributing their cultures and it's wisdom to the grand mix.
As the nation grew a new enemy arose that had to be destroyed, the native. But the natives fought back. Those are my ancestors. It seemed that the Native American was the unwelcome immigrant. But eventually the earth turned, the smoke settled on reservations and tribal councils and the native began a slow process of learning about and insisting on his rights, becoming part of a new nation, accepting and being accepted, and now being allowed the dignity to bring his culture and wisdom to the grand mix. I support that process. They are my brothers and sisters.
Ruthless businessmen imported men, women and children from Africa, in chains, and sold them on an open market. Those Africans are my ancestors. They worked the land and made the crops grow. Many of them were horribly treated. But they were humans and they also had rights. My ancestors fought a war over those rights. The war was won. Though there are still struggles, which I also support. The African is now free to vote, get an education, take a respected place in society and hold public office. They are my bothers and sisters.
Almost every day there is a parade of cheerful students from the local elementary school on their way to the local library just down the street. I like to see them passing by and hear their chattering, I think that there go the scientists, artists, doctors, teachers, astronauts of the future, Those are my children.
I have a very large family.
DB - The Vagabond
____________________
Thank you for reading this.
****************
Native American proverb
********************
Salutations
------------------------
On July 4th last year my brother died. Saturday afternoon his ashes were spread into the Atlantic Ocean from a sail boat. The ceremony was conducted by his two children, my niece and nephew, whom I hardly know. They were carrying out my brother's wishes. He was a man of the sea.
Over the years I have lost four grandparents, only one of whom I ever met, both parents, a bunch of aunts and uncles, some of whom I never met, cousins I know nothing about, my sister and eventually my brother. I am the only remaining member of my family.
So now I would seem to be in a state of disconnectedness and anonymity. I definitely fell that way most of the time; more of a vagabond than ever. I have no grandchildren to ask me questions, no birthdays to celebrate, no college graduates to congratulate, no brides and grooms to send good wishes to. I sit and write my journal entry every day hoping it will be read by a few friends and some total strangers, that it will have a meaning for someone, touch someone's life in a positive way. But I only get at most about 20 readers everyday.
But this past Independence Day got me thinking about just how large my family really is. Since I can't have my feet firmly planted in some family environment I have to look around at exactly what it is I am a part of. I think about the wigs, bonnets and coon skin caps of the early settlers of my country and what they went through to make a new nation come alive. Those are my ancestors. There were hard winters in a hostile environment. There was a desperate war, which they won. There was disagreement, rivalry, fist fights in Congress, duals, failures and successes. A country was being hammered out on the anvil of danger with a blacksmith's will to shape it and make it work.
Then the others came, the immigrants, looking for freedom and the right to live up to their potential in a new world, unfettered by a suppressive government. Those are my ancestors. They came, established themselves, learned how to live here and become a part of the new nation, contributing their cultures and it's wisdom to the grand mix.
As the nation grew a new enemy arose that had to be destroyed, the native. But the natives fought back. Those are my ancestors. It seemed that the Native American was the unwelcome immigrant. But eventually the earth turned, the smoke settled on reservations and tribal councils and the native began a slow process of learning about and insisting on his rights, becoming part of a new nation, accepting and being accepted, and now being allowed the dignity to bring his culture and wisdom to the grand mix. I support that process. They are my brothers and sisters.
Ruthless businessmen imported men, women and children from Africa, in chains, and sold them on an open market. Those Africans are my ancestors. They worked the land and made the crops grow. Many of them were horribly treated. But they were humans and they also had rights. My ancestors fought a war over those rights. The war was won. Though there are still struggles, which I also support. The African is now free to vote, get an education, take a respected place in society and hold public office. They are my bothers and sisters.
Almost every day there is a parade of cheerful students from the local elementary school on their way to the local library just down the street. I like to see them passing by and hear their chattering, I think that there go the scientists, artists, doctors, teachers, astronauts of the future, Those are my children.
I have a very large family.
DB - The Vagabond
____________________
Thank you for reading this.
****************
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Mercy's Measurement 7/05/09
One can pay beck the loan of gold, but one is forever in debt to those who are kind.
Malaysian proverb
*****************
Welcome.
------------------------
One day I was walking down 9th Avenue in New York City when I saw a crippled man sitting on the sidewalk with his back against the wall at about 56th Street. A woman had stopped and reached into her shopping bag to offer the man a large breaded pretzel. He said "I can't chew that" and handed it back.
I stopped. I told him to take it. I said that the woman was being kind to him. That if he couldn't chew it to break it up in small pieces and hold them in his mouth until he could swallow them. But if someone was showing mercy, not to refuse it. He took the pretzel. The woman went on. I told the guy that if he had to live on the street then he had to improvise. I've been a beggar. I know what the rules are.
Friday afternoon I was doing some shopping. I went into a store I visit regularly but not often. As i was making my purchase I began to feel quite ill. I wasn't sure I could make it home. The owner and only salesperson saw the look on my face and said that I didn't look well. She asked me what the trouble was. I said I didn't know but that I had to sit down. I was feeling miserable.
She immediately set to making me comfortable, brought me a glass of water and let me use her private rest room in the back of the store. After a while I was feeling better and managed to make it home.
There is no way I can ever adequately repay her for that kindness except to pass it on. She could have easily dismissed me out the door, but instead her instinct was to help. That is the lesson of the day: to develop a habitual instinct to show kindness and mercy to a suffering creature and not turn away in fear and disgust.
Kindness breeds kindness. If I hadn't come along the woman on the sidewalk would have been deprived of the satisfaction of helping a poor cripple and he would have deprived himself of some food simply because he was feeling sorry for himself.
At first I was embarrassed to be invited to invade the store keeper's private quarters, but she was so gracious and positive about it that I was able to recover from my misery with a heart full of gratitude.
Writing checks is good if you have the money, but on-the-job, hands-on mercy is the best.
DB
____________________
Have a day to remember.
**********************
WEEKEND PUZZLE
This puzzle is in 2 parts, Part A and Part M. (What? You'll get Parts B through L at another time, Keep your shirt on.)
Part A: Below is a list of the 13 original states. They are the reason we have 13 stripes on our flag. Your mission is to tell me what is wrong with this list. (Note: "Too many." is NOT a legitimate answer.) DON'T CHEAT !
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Part M: How did they become the first 13 states?
There is 1 Winner and 4 Honorable Mentions so far.
Good luck Email Lions. Good luck Blogspot Tigers.
Answers will be posted on or about 9 p.m. Sunday
Malaysian proverb
*****************
Welcome.
------------------------
One day I was walking down 9th Avenue in New York City when I saw a crippled man sitting on the sidewalk with his back against the wall at about 56th Street. A woman had stopped and reached into her shopping bag to offer the man a large breaded pretzel. He said "I can't chew that" and handed it back.
I stopped. I told him to take it. I said that the woman was being kind to him. That if he couldn't chew it to break it up in small pieces and hold them in his mouth until he could swallow them. But if someone was showing mercy, not to refuse it. He took the pretzel. The woman went on. I told the guy that if he had to live on the street then he had to improvise. I've been a beggar. I know what the rules are.
Friday afternoon I was doing some shopping. I went into a store I visit regularly but not often. As i was making my purchase I began to feel quite ill. I wasn't sure I could make it home. The owner and only salesperson saw the look on my face and said that I didn't look well. She asked me what the trouble was. I said I didn't know but that I had to sit down. I was feeling miserable.
She immediately set to making me comfortable, brought me a glass of water and let me use her private rest room in the back of the store. After a while I was feeling better and managed to make it home.
There is no way I can ever adequately repay her for that kindness except to pass it on. She could have easily dismissed me out the door, but instead her instinct was to help. That is the lesson of the day: to develop a habitual instinct to show kindness and mercy to a suffering creature and not turn away in fear and disgust.
Kindness breeds kindness. If I hadn't come along the woman on the sidewalk would have been deprived of the satisfaction of helping a poor cripple and he would have deprived himself of some food simply because he was feeling sorry for himself.
At first I was embarrassed to be invited to invade the store keeper's private quarters, but she was so gracious and positive about it that I was able to recover from my misery with a heart full of gratitude.
Writing checks is good if you have the money, but on-the-job, hands-on mercy is the best.
DB
____________________
Have a day to remember.
**********************
WEEKEND PUZZLE
This puzzle is in 2 parts, Part A and Part M. (What? You'll get Parts B through L at another time, Keep your shirt on.)
Part A: Below is a list of the 13 original states. They are the reason we have 13 stripes on our flag. Your mission is to tell me what is wrong with this list. (Note: "Too many." is NOT a legitimate answer.) DON'T CHEAT !
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Part M: How did they become the first 13 states?
There is 1 Winner and 4 Honorable Mentions so far.
Good luck Email Lions. Good luck Blogspot Tigers.
Answers will be posted on or about 9 p.m. Sunday
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Learned Leaves 7/04/09
The best thing about the future is it only comes one day at a time.
Abraham Lincoln
*****************
Good day to you.
------------------------
Today is America's Birthday - 233 years old.
Here's to the true patriots, the common people, the Americans.
Here's to those who dared to make it happen. Here's to the men who dared to sign for independence and gave their lives for it. Here's to those who dared to drop everything and take up arms to protect their lands, their families and their neighbors, to the farmers who dared to defend the bridge and their weapons against ranks of the strongest army in the world and chased them away, to the freed slaves and others in Boston who dared to stand up against the English rifles and were the first Americans to die for it, to those who dared to dump a precious cargo into the bay rather than to allow the government to line its pockets and those of its businessmen at America's expense, to those who dared to cross the ice bound Delaware River on a freezing night, the river I see from my own window, to chase the enemy from Trenton, to those farmers and merchants who dared to spend a blazing hot Phildelphia summer behind closed doors to write a constitution.
Here's to those who dare to make it work. Here's to the farmer and the fisherman, to the miner and the forester, to the carpenter, the mason and the gardener, to the teacher and the preacher, to the banjo player, the trumpet player and the church organist, to the tailor and the cobbler, to the actor, the singer and the dancer, to the truck driver, the bus driver and the cab driver, to the fire fighter, the cop and the paramedic, to the lineman and the lighthouse keeper, to the longshoreman, the teamster and the transit worker. to the typist, the printer, the mail carrier and the factory worker.
Here's to the true patriots, the common people, the Americans.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
DB - Vagabond Journeys
_______________________
May you have a joyous day, what ever country you live in.
***************************
WEEKEND PUZZLE
This puzzle is in 2 parts, Part A and Part M. (What? You'll get Parts B through L at another time, Keep your shirt on.)
Part A: Below is a list of the 13 original states. They are the reason we have 13 stripes on our flag. Your mission is to tell me what is wrong with this list. (Note: "Too many." is NOT a legitimate answer.) DON'T CHEAT !
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Part M: How did they become the first 13 states?
There is 1 winner so far.
Good luck Email Lions. Good luck Blogspot Tigers.
Answers will be posted on or about 9 p.m. Sunday
Abraham Lincoln
*****************
Good day to you.
------------------------
Today is America's Birthday - 233 years old.
Here's to the true patriots, the common people, the Americans.
Here's to those who dared to make it happen. Here's to the men who dared to sign for independence and gave their lives for it. Here's to those who dared to drop everything and take up arms to protect their lands, their families and their neighbors, to the farmers who dared to defend the bridge and their weapons against ranks of the strongest army in the world and chased them away, to the freed slaves and others in Boston who dared to stand up against the English rifles and were the first Americans to die for it, to those who dared to dump a precious cargo into the bay rather than to allow the government to line its pockets and those of its businessmen at America's expense, to those who dared to cross the ice bound Delaware River on a freezing night, the river I see from my own window, to chase the enemy from Trenton, to those farmers and merchants who dared to spend a blazing hot Phildelphia summer behind closed doors to write a constitution.
Here's to those who dare to make it work. Here's to the farmer and the fisherman, to the miner and the forester, to the carpenter, the mason and the gardener, to the teacher and the preacher, to the banjo player, the trumpet player and the church organist, to the tailor and the cobbler, to the actor, the singer and the dancer, to the truck driver, the bus driver and the cab driver, to the fire fighter, the cop and the paramedic, to the lineman and the lighthouse keeper, to the longshoreman, the teamster and the transit worker. to the typist, the printer, the mail carrier and the factory worker.
Here's to the true patriots, the common people, the Americans.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
DB - Vagabond Journeys
_______________________
May you have a joyous day, what ever country you live in.
***************************
WEEKEND PUZZLE
This puzzle is in 2 parts, Part A and Part M. (What? You'll get Parts B through L at another time, Keep your shirt on.)
Part A: Below is a list of the 13 original states. They are the reason we have 13 stripes on our flag. Your mission is to tell me what is wrong with this list. (Note: "Too many." is NOT a legitimate answer.) DON'T CHEAT !
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Part M: How did they become the first 13 states?
There is 1 winner so far.
Good luck Email Lions. Good luck Blogspot Tigers.
Answers will be posted on or about 9 p.m. Sunday
Friday, July 3, 2009
Knowledge Kindling 7/03/09
We need men who can dream of things that never were.
President John Kennedy
************************
Hail !
---------------------------------
Whenever I experience an original work of art I want to be astonished. Whether it's a song, a dance, a picture or a story, I want the artist to take me someplace I've never been before, somewhere beyond knowledge, beyond my knowledge. I want to see even more perceptively than ever a challenge to the so-called authority of realism. I want existence redefined for me. I want to see a new world, or an old world in a new place. I want to see the stars rearranged. I want to see something that has never been become a reality.
Is such art possible? Or is it something beyond art? A new art perhaps. Will it be possible some day for an artist to eliminate the technically limited and create purely from imagination, to make the image become reality by the imagining of it?
If so it could only be done by someone pure and innocent who can imagine only the beautiful and true. Such a one would be an ubermensch of an artist. I believe it is not outside of the realm of possibility.
As an artist I know, as every artist knows, there are moments when the creative process seems to be going on by itself, when the artist is merely an observer of it. Those are the moments when I feel that there is another character, another intelligence at work and it is between imagination and the art, having freed itself from the middle man, me, the artist, At those times it is interesting to ponder who or what is the real artist. the real creator.
Now ponder what that same mysterious process would be like in the realms of nation building, invention, exploration and discovery. That is a question that has puzzled some inspired philosophers over the years. Do we believe what we see or do we see what we believe? Is reality what we think it is or does it become what we think it is? And is it possible to change the reality we see, creating a new reality by how we imagine it. This all may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but so was going to the moon a few decades ago.
DB - Vagabond Journeys
_____________________
TGIF - Thank God I'm Functioning
*****************************
SUMMER QUIZ
This is not a contest.
A young man out west just took home 88 million dollars from the lottery.
Whether you play the lottery or not, if you suddenly had 88 million dollars, or the equivalent of whatever your currency is, what are the first three things you would do with it?
You have all summer to answer if you wish.
7 responses so far.
DB
President John Kennedy
************************
Hail !
---------------------------------
Whenever I experience an original work of art I want to be astonished. Whether it's a song, a dance, a picture or a story, I want the artist to take me someplace I've never been before, somewhere beyond knowledge, beyond my knowledge. I want to see even more perceptively than ever a challenge to the so-called authority of realism. I want existence redefined for me. I want to see a new world, or an old world in a new place. I want to see the stars rearranged. I want to see something that has never been become a reality.
Is such art possible? Or is it something beyond art? A new art perhaps. Will it be possible some day for an artist to eliminate the technically limited and create purely from imagination, to make the image become reality by the imagining of it?
If so it could only be done by someone pure and innocent who can imagine only the beautiful and true. Such a one would be an ubermensch of an artist. I believe it is not outside of the realm of possibility.
As an artist I know, as every artist knows, there are moments when the creative process seems to be going on by itself, when the artist is merely an observer of it. Those are the moments when I feel that there is another character, another intelligence at work and it is between imagination and the art, having freed itself from the middle man, me, the artist, At those times it is interesting to ponder who or what is the real artist. the real creator.
Now ponder what that same mysterious process would be like in the realms of nation building, invention, exploration and discovery. That is a question that has puzzled some inspired philosophers over the years. Do we believe what we see or do we see what we believe? Is reality what we think it is or does it become what we think it is? And is it possible to change the reality we see, creating a new reality by how we imagine it. This all may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but so was going to the moon a few decades ago.
DB - Vagabond Journeys
_____________________
TGIF - Thank God I'm Functioning
*****************************
SUMMER QUIZ
This is not a contest.
A young man out west just took home 88 million dollars from the lottery.
Whether you play the lottery or not, if you suddenly had 88 million dollars, or the equivalent of whatever your currency is, what are the first three things you would do with it?
You have all summer to answer if you wish.
7 responses so far.
DB
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Just Journey 7/02/09
Every generation needs a new revolution.
Thomas Jefferson
********************
Greetings, interesting one.
---------------------------
Search for ventures and adventures. Revolutions are not made from inventing an entirely new way of life, nor creating a world that doesn't exist, but from exploring the realities of the world we live in and discovering new things about it. The seeds of a new world are already in the ground and putting down roots. It is necessary and well worth it to observe the growth, care for the tender shoots and pull up the old, perennial weeds that would choke them.
Revolutions come from exploring, discovering, adapting and correcting mistakes. ":What ever happened to the good, old days?" They're gone, and these are the good, new days. Or thay can be if we don't try to hold on to ideas that have had their day and are ready for the museum. John Cage said that he didn't understand why people are afraid of new ideas. We should be afraid of the old ones, he said.
There are great things to be learned form the past, to be sure. But why round up a bunch of old cattle and try to sell them as the only healthy herd when you've got calves in the barn. Lyndon Johnson said "We can draw lessons form the past, but we cannot live in it."
And now, here we are, a mere decade into a new century, and we have the opportunity to revolutionize the world into a place with no war, no killing and no development and proliferation of earth destroying nuclear weapons, with the majesty, magnificence and magic of outer space scratching at our door, and the International Space Station doing its arabesque around the globe.
My country, one of the greatest achievements of the human race, though flawed and frustrating, is about to celebrate another year of survival. That is a miracle, considering those who would like to back it up, divide it and deprive it of its essential vitality. On this birthday it's a time to regenerate and revolutionize our thinking , no matter how old we are.
DB - Vagabond Journeys
_____________________
Smile for me.
********************************
Thomas Jefferson
********************
Greetings, interesting one.
---------------------------
Search for ventures and adventures. Revolutions are not made from inventing an entirely new way of life, nor creating a world that doesn't exist, but from exploring the realities of the world we live in and discovering new things about it. The seeds of a new world are already in the ground and putting down roots. It is necessary and well worth it to observe the growth, care for the tender shoots and pull up the old, perennial weeds that would choke them.
Revolutions come from exploring, discovering, adapting and correcting mistakes. ":What ever happened to the good, old days?" They're gone, and these are the good, new days. Or thay can be if we don't try to hold on to ideas that have had their day and are ready for the museum. John Cage said that he didn't understand why people are afraid of new ideas. We should be afraid of the old ones, he said.
There are great things to be learned form the past, to be sure. But why round up a bunch of old cattle and try to sell them as the only healthy herd when you've got calves in the barn. Lyndon Johnson said "We can draw lessons form the past, but we cannot live in it."
And now, here we are, a mere decade into a new century, and we have the opportunity to revolutionize the world into a place with no war, no killing and no development and proliferation of earth destroying nuclear weapons, with the majesty, magnificence and magic of outer space scratching at our door, and the International Space Station doing its arabesque around the globe.
My country, one of the greatest achievements of the human race, though flawed and frustrating, is about to celebrate another year of survival. That is a miracle, considering those who would like to back it up, divide it and deprive it of its essential vitality. On this birthday it's a time to regenerate and revolutionize our thinking , no matter how old we are.
DB - Vagabond Journeys
_____________________
Smile for me.
********************************
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Inimical Inspiration 7/01/09
It is dangerous to speak the truth. It is more dangerous not to.
DB - The Vagabond
*****************
Come in, sit you down.
---------------------------
"He who'd make his fellow creatures wise, should always gild the philosophic pill" wrote W. S. Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan).
Why is speaking the truth so dangerous? Because many people don't want to hear the truth and they would rather kill the messenger than listen to the message.
Why don't they want to hear the truth? Fear. The truth may upset their preconceived notions of the way things are, and their habitual ways of thinking. Or the truth may go contrary to what they have been told by someone they love and respect. Or the truth may expose something of which they are ashamed, something that is hiding. There is even the compassionate need sometimes to avoid speaking the truth so as not to hurt someone else.
Then why is it more dangerous to not speak the truth? Truth has a way of revealing itself one way or another. Sometimes the truth is a warning. If I don't speak the truth someone or something will, and thus take the blows.
I was walking down a street in lower Manhattan one day. There was a man approaching me from the other direction. As he got close I noticed another man coming out of the ground floor of a warehouse building with two long, large, sharp, metal beams on his shoulder. The two men could not see each other. I could see a potential injury about to happen, I held up my hand to the man on the sidewalk and barked at him to stop. a second later I did the same to the man with the metal beams. They both looked at me as if I was a mad man. Then I motioned for the man with the beams to come forward. He did and when the two men saw each other they realized what I had done and thanked me.
Over the past several years intelligent, knowledgeable people have been warning about the follies of bloated mortgages, insecure loans, junk bonds, skyrocketing interest rates and the instability of the market. Many people treated those warnings as just so much negativity and anti-Americanism, while so-called authorities were preaching the opposite. But some people heeded the warnings, which were not pleasant to hear, and converted their assets, opting for frugal living and low risk investments, thus averting the dangers. Others drowned in debt.
If you see a crack in the dam and you tell people, most of them will laugh at you and accuse you of being a lying troublemaker. But someone may listen, investigate and plug up the crack. If you see the crack in the dam and don't tell people, someday you're going to drown your neighbors.
DB
*************
Have warm thoughts, but not too warm.
DB - The Vagabond
*****************
Come in, sit you down.
---------------------------
"He who'd make his fellow creatures wise, should always gild the philosophic pill" wrote W. S. Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan).
Why is speaking the truth so dangerous? Because many people don't want to hear the truth and they would rather kill the messenger than listen to the message.
Why don't they want to hear the truth? Fear. The truth may upset their preconceived notions of the way things are, and their habitual ways of thinking. Or the truth may go contrary to what they have been told by someone they love and respect. Or the truth may expose something of which they are ashamed, something that is hiding. There is even the compassionate need sometimes to avoid speaking the truth so as not to hurt someone else.
Then why is it more dangerous to not speak the truth? Truth has a way of revealing itself one way or another. Sometimes the truth is a warning. If I don't speak the truth someone or something will, and thus take the blows.
I was walking down a street in lower Manhattan one day. There was a man approaching me from the other direction. As he got close I noticed another man coming out of the ground floor of a warehouse building with two long, large, sharp, metal beams on his shoulder. The two men could not see each other. I could see a potential injury about to happen, I held up my hand to the man on the sidewalk and barked at him to stop. a second later I did the same to the man with the metal beams. They both looked at me as if I was a mad man. Then I motioned for the man with the beams to come forward. He did and when the two men saw each other they realized what I had done and thanked me.
Over the past several years intelligent, knowledgeable people have been warning about the follies of bloated mortgages, insecure loans, junk bonds, skyrocketing interest rates and the instability of the market. Many people treated those warnings as just so much negativity and anti-Americanism, while so-called authorities were preaching the opposite. But some people heeded the warnings, which were not pleasant to hear, and converted their assets, opting for frugal living and low risk investments, thus averting the dangers. Others drowned in debt.
If you see a crack in the dam and you tell people, most of them will laugh at you and accuse you of being a lying troublemaker. But someone may listen, investigate and plug up the crack. If you see the crack in the dam and don't tell people, someday you're going to drown your neighbors.
DB
*************
Have warm thoughts, but not too warm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)