Thru Other Eyes

My Rosh Hashanah and Ten Days of Awe 2010

 Here’s a nice thought for us: “When the power of love is more highly valued than the love of power, we shall know peace.”

Maybe there is a god, one god. I don’t know. I do ponder the question though that if there seems to be One Rule above all others does there have to then be One Ruler? Because there certainly seems to be this one rule, that if practiced, would create what we would certainly call in common vernacular, 'heaven on Earth.'

“When the power of love is more highly valued than the love of power, we shall know peace.”

This past week the Jewish New Year began. Rosh Hashanah is the first stage in the Ten Days of Awe - ten days of spirituality, introspection, family celebration, charity, forgiveness, fasting and prayers in preparation of God's judgment which is felled on Yom Kippur. Also this past week Moslims ended the holy month of Ramadan and celebrated Eid ul-Fitr. Ramadan is a month of fasting, introspection, family celebration, spirituality, charity and prayer. Eid ul-Fitr continues all of Ramadan's themes but seems to trade the theme of fasting for the theme of forgiveness. At least that is a central theme of Eid il-Fitr from my experience sharing the Eid holiday with Muslim friends in Malaysia.

What always strikes me, especially when the holidays fall together or in close proximity to one another, is the incredible similarities between these two holiest of holy periods. The experiences that both holiday periods strive to create are on the same wave length and share all the same themes: fasting, charity, prayer, celebration and introspection. All for the purpose of spiritual renewal and forgiving and being forgiven.

Nederland - De Kikker in Koud Water

 De 9-11 ‘antimoskee’ toespraak van Wilders in New York is nu achter de rug. Velen reageren met opluchting op een toespraak dat voor Wilders’ doen als gematigd gekarakteriseerd wordt. In het algemeen wordt het afgedaan als niets bijzonders, geen ophef waard en zeker geen gelegenheid voor twijfels omtrent het te vormen rechtsminderheidskabinet met gedoogsteun van Wilders.

 

De coulante reactie op Wilders’ optreden doet mij denken aan de parabel van de kikker in koude water. Zet een kikker in een pan koud water, warm het water langzaam op, en de oh zo geleidelijk stijging in de temperatuur ontgaat de kikker compleet. Hij blijft nietsvermoedend zitten totdat hij dood gaat in kokende water.

Wilders’ toespraak en de reacties erop laten zien

Think about it

Of course it's not 100% true, but it ain't far off. Under whose stewardship did the world's financial system and economies get fucked up? And Iraq and all the associated costs in 'blood and treasure'? And the years of neglecting Afghanistan? Katrina recovery? I'm surely forgetting alot.

(Thanks to some Facebook friends for circulating this great poster)