Can't we all just get along?

[mainestratman]

I have a dream.

That dream is one day people will set aside their differences and work together to benefit the community, the state, the country, the world.

For the first time since the Cold War, I'm scared about the future. There is so much hate running rampant and unchecked. The inevitable conclusion to such a rapidly growing expansion of power is explosion.

No, this message isn't politically or religiously motivated. Just what's in my head and heart this day.

[Robert****]

I agree. I thought the same thing after I saw "How To Train Your Dragon" - great family movie by the way.

[Jimi75]

Some days ago I heard a wise man say that we can not speak about MANKIND anymore, we can only speak about SINGLE HUMAN BEINGS.

Poeple started throwing values like for e.g. cutural heritage, religion, family values etc. over board to become a fast living society where it is more important to have a flat screen than educating your child or respecting your parents and now they are confronted with the results.

[sumitomo]

I hear ya Maine,I fear there will be War between the citizens and the government of our nation if things keep going the way they are going.Sumi

[Eric***]

Yup. I spent a lot of time thinking about this last night, actually. I feel like sometimes it's not anybody's dream to be happy, but rather to just be better than everyone else.

[sunvalleylaw]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLs5R...eature=related

In my job, I see so much conflict. And lately, it has gotten harder and worse, with all the financial pressures on people. But I also see a lot of people up here in my little valley getting back to basic values, and love of their environment. I hope those with hope, and love in their hearts win out in the end. I believe they will. I have to.

Ok, that was a bit melodramatic sounding, but those are my honest feelings. Have a good Friday fretters!

P.S. I also wonder if the coverage we read every day focuses too much on the fringe elements of hatred, though I agree those elements seem to be amped up these days. Most folks I know are much more moderate than those you hear about mostly on tv, internet, etc. Kinda like the skinheads getting all the coverage years ago, and the KKK before them. But anyway.

[Tig***]

3 words which I wish were in every heart, thought, and action...

Integrity

Compassion

Love

There is no left or right, only up or down
(regarding which way we as individuals, political groups, countries, races, societies, or as a whole, are heading)

[Eric***]

3 words which I wish were in every heart, thought, and action...

Integrity

Compassion

Love

I think that's a pretty good way to put it.

Who's that in your avatar these days?

[Tig***]

I think that's a pretty good way to put it.

Who's that in your avatar these days?

Sean Costello
(blues prodigy that we lost all too soon 2 years and 1 day ago)

[mainestratman]

Thanks for having my back, guys.

It's a little bit funny, really.. in my line of work (oh yeah.. I'm employed finally! Kinda...) there is no such thing as color, religion, gender, orientation, political affiliation.. any of that stuff. When the pager goes off, I get in my ambulance, go to where help is needed and do what I can to help.

It doesn't matter if my patient is Hitler or MLK Jr. Doesn't matter if my patient is Palin or Obama. Doesn't matter if my patient is the Dali Lama or the Pope. Doesn't matter if my patient is Michael Phelps or Greg Louganis (sp?).

Yet every day there is a constant war. Pick something. There's a war about it. Even "cover bands" vs. "original bands" are at each others' throats.


Beer time yet? First round is on me.

[Eric***]

Thanks for having my back, guys.

It's a little bit funny, really.. in my line of work (oh yeah.. I'm employed finally! Kinda...) there is no such thing as color, religion, gender, orientation, political affiliation.. any of that stuff. When the pager goes off, I get in my ambulance, go to where help is needed and do what I can to help.

It doesn't matter if my patient is Hitler or MLK Jr. Doesn't matter if my patient is Palin or Obama. Doesn't matter if my patient is the Dali Lama or the Pope. Doesn't matter if my patient is Michael Phelps or Greg Louganis (sp?).

Yet every day there is a constant war. Pick something. There's a war about it. Even "cover bands" vs. "original bands" are at each others' throats.


Beer time yet? First round is on me.

I feel like there's frequently a lack of understanding in all of the arguments (e.g. the ones you listed), like we don't want to take the time to listen or understand, so arguments just ensure. That's an oversimplification for sure, but my 2 cents.

[Radioboy950]

It's emotionally draining...isn't it?
I'm outta gas when I get home after writing and talking about it in the media every day.

@Jimi75--Spot on, brother. Couldn't agree more.

[Blaze]

I watched this documentary last week ,scared me a little ...

The 4 extracts play one after the other..


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...04317#29778411

[poodlesrule]

It's a little bit funny, really.. in my line of work... there is no such thing as color, religion, gender, orientation, political affiliation.. any of that stuff. When the pager goes off, I get in my ambulance, go to where help is needed and do what I can to help.

Thank you for doing that MSM. There is a reality there, about people (all of them!), that this kind of job brings I think

I have great respect for this kind of work.

I love nurses too. Seriously. My oncologist is a swell guy.

[bcdon***]

If you don't want to be bummed out: turn off your TV and stop reading the "news." It's all propaganda, anyway. There is simply no reason to fret about things beyond your control. Spend all that extra time and money you just reclaimed on the things that you love and that make you happy.

[syo***]

I started writing what I believed to be an original thought and realized that it was lyrics from a Peter Gabriel song...

Indeed, "fear is the mother of violence". Fear is what makes otherwise reasonable people unreasonable. Fear of weapons of mass destruction, fear of the left, fear of the right. Fear that someone might compromise what I, my family, my community, my country possesses.

I do believe that mankind has evolved in many positive ways. I think that an individual's capacity for compassion has grown considerably over the centuries. But the drumbeat of fear has the power to reduce us to our baser instincts.

We will be well out of this life in the blink of an eye. Best to learn to give when asked and seek to take nothing away. As one wise person said a few posts above me:
Integrity, Compassion, Love.

Sounds good to me.

[bigG]

Man, what a great topic, and one that's had me concerned for the last three or four years, especially.

I have come to the conclusion (realization?) that this country, and this world, are in BIG trouble. And I'm afraid it's so far gone that it's likely unfixable at this point (I hope I'm wrong).

I stopped reading newspapers and watching the news on TV some years ago, for numerous reasons, but the main reason was that it all just upset me too much, and I realized that there was NOTHING I could do about it.

The main problem, as I see it...the bottom line, is that money - the dollar bill - has become more important than people, human beings. And that, my friends, just disgusts me.

This is also the reason that I decided, in 2006, that the money I had saved in the bank over the years, for my old age, would be put to much better use right now, in buying the things that I want, and have wanted over the years, and getting the enjoyment NOW (thus all the gear purchases in the last 3-4 years, and, especially, the most recent Martin guitars). Because, quite frankly, I don't hold out much hope for the future (of this country in particular), which really makes me sad for my three children and their children (my five grandchildren).

So, I keep pretty much to myself, my family and a few close friends, and try to ignore the world outside of that small group, and do what I can for them, as they do for me.

Am I sticking my head in the sand? Yes, and by choice. At my age (59), and with all that I've seen happen and been involved with over the years, I'm REALLY tired. I'm gonna take care of me and mine from here on out. It is now up to the younger generations to worry about, and try to fix this god-awful mess we're in. I've done my time - now it's your turn, and I wish you all the luck in the world. I REALLY hope you can turn things around.

Can't we all just get along? I sincerely, from my heart of hearts, hope it turns out that way.

My 2 cents...

G

[Eric***]

I'm gonna take care of me and mine from here on out. It is now up to the younger generations to worry about, and try to fix this god-awful mess we're in. I've done my time - now it's your turn

Wow. Great attitude.

[bigG]

Wow. Great attitude.

Not attitude at all, Eric. Simple reality...pragmatic decisions. My SUBJECTIVE (one of the most important words in the English language) decisions, of course, for my life. Works well for me. I'm quite happy and content, don't worry about much, and definitely stop and smell the roses at every turn, living life one day at a time and enjoying it. It took me quite awhile to finally get to this point...but I've made it.