“To discover real good news is really great joy; to know bad news and stand opposite and do something for against is courage; to close eyes to avoid know something bad is … to become cowards…” [Olga Bleykhman]

We all know the Kassandra-effect, no one listens to the truthteller. Or “Don’t kill the messenger”. People want to hear good news, but they tune in to the news channels showing one catastrophy after another. The discussion I copied this closing remark from was on LinkedIn Q&A.

Water flows
eating rocks
growing trees
feeding life

we got to learn
to accept change
as a basis for life

A thesis I once read asked: What if the solar system is what we consider an Atom? Planets (electrons) circling suns (protons/neutrons)? Then universe may be what we believe to be “god”. Hmmm… Thinking a step further? What if our entire universe is nothing but one atom making the body of god?

Human Neurons

Internet (by opte.org)

» Jürgen

One man’s theology is another man’s belly laugh. [L. Long]

Honor means something very different to most people. But the concept is rather easy. It is “self-respect”. So if honor is in low supply, so I think is self-respect.

Wikipedia summarized it very well: [Honor|Honour] is the evaluation of a person’s trustworthiness and social status based on that individual’s espousals and actions. Honour is deemed exactly what determines a person’s character: whether or not the person reflects honesty, respect, integrity, or fairness. Accordingly, individuals are assigned worth and stature based on the harmony of their actions, code of honour, and that of the society at large. Honour can be analysed as a relativistic concept, i.e., conflicts between individuals and even cultures arising as a consequence of material circumstance and ambition, rather than fundamental differences in principle. Alternatively, it can be viewed as nativist — that honour is as real to the human condition as love, and likewise derives from the formative personal bonds that establish one’s personal dignity and character.

In today’s industrial societies, I believe “Honor” is in low supply. Many managers and politicians showing neither honesty, nor respect, integrity or fairness, as I expressed in my business related Food For Thought-blog.

» Jürgen

Based on Love vs. Friendship I got into a discussion what love is not.

Love is not, if one forces you to love. Or manipulates you. If one threatens to suicide if you don’t love. Neither if one dominates you, bosses you - nor if one beats you. Many times, love is mistaken for it. But that is not love!

Yes, under these circumstances one may dominate. It usually is part of a good relation that you complement each other. What the one can, the other may be less good at. Like I can handle electricity and telephones, but I am not good at wallpapers and renovation. Or I like to cook (preferrably not alone though), but my cleaning readiness needs the one or other push occassionally. Yeah, that’s me. Other couples have different setups. But none of my friends threaten their spouses to make them stay. None bosses around, but all show a deep respect for their own.
We all have our flaws, shortcomings, roughes and edges. That does not make us any better or worse than another. If you don’t love your loved ones with all these edges and flaws, sorry, you do not love.

Reliability I was asked. Reliability is part of honesty and respect. If I tell you I do something for a friend, I do it at all cost. Sometimes even if it was meant as a joke Reliability is important!

Intolerable Cruelty: Knowingly giving false hope to one you know loves you.
The result must be him/her suffering! The longer it takes, the more suffering…

» Jürgen

Would Marco Polo have been able to survive the first year of travel if he had been as focused on cultural differences as many people today are? Would my best friends not only be Germans?

“Build a wall around Russia” an Irish consultant told me lately (2008) on LinkedIn when I asked a question on my research about a Russian province. Those are the proud but prejudiced idiots that make our world miserable. Full of hatred for things they do not understand.

Russian friend Olga wrote me about making friends in Russia:

1. Be honest and keep your promises, have and show out respect to the country and to the people. Show you trust the Russian side as much as all other countries.
2. Behave yourself to the Russian partners, colleges etc. same as from other countries.
3. Underline what is in common in life, business etc. - not what differs.

She closes: … Usually Russians are open-hearted and friendly people

But these are universal truths. Honesty. Respect. Faith. Reliability.

Xenia, the concept about hospitality is natural in most societies. It requires as much effort from guest as from host. Did Marco Polo not make friends across the barriers of culture or language during his travels?

» Jürgen

The Ten Commandments are frequently discussed as outdated or even obsolete. Based on a discussion by Maureen Johnson with her father in To Sail Beyond The Sunset, concepts of Alan Dean Foster in his Commonwealth and many discussions with friends, I came up with the following 10 New Commandments.

If you object, please discuss with us.
If you like them, spread them!

1. There is a god. All variants in the end are facettes of that same truth.
2. Do not murder or command murder.
3. Honor and foster love and live in all it’s facettes.
4. Love your spouse, children and friends and nourish your love.
5. Raise your children that they are proud about their heritage.
6. Help when you can.
7. Treat all live with respect. Foster nature and it’s resources.
8. Do not acquire valuables without a fair compensation.
9. Do not lie without a very good cause.
10. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
    courage to change the things I can,
    and the wisdom to know the difference.

1 Don’t believe the priests or politicians trying to convince you differently.
2 That includes mass murder as war. The sin.
3 is main to 4, 5, 6, 7… Not limited to human life, but also nature!
4 includes to spend time with the family (nourishing, “Sabbath”)
6-8 includes not to abuse labor
10 Thank you friend and co-author Ice-Sphinx for suggesting the Serenity Prayer as No. 10!

» Jürgen

a new momentum
one that could have been yearning
for a moment more

stifling look that his
mirror was smiling with the
widest of eyes brown

think I was starting
to think I was starting to
think I have spare time

down most of life churches
we’ve seen on this bulbine which
I have to grow in

towering above
the lantana planted there
against the skyline

I put away just
in case of a soft storm or
winds that visit

the dust yesterday
and I am now watching
as it is covered

xsapph

This is friendship.

Unaffected,
natural progressive harmony,
streams that mesh into one
the murmur of throaty thunder
then a piercing shard of light
slashes the horizon
diamond brilliance
it’s clarity:
simple Self-sacrifice,
requiring no prior planning,
absolution, or apology.
Spontaneous simplicity
it just simply is.

Grimy indifference would ne’er
comprehend or act.

Yet… I can also reflect on another thought that supposes …
It is a delicious quote by an exquisite talent that was lost when he was shot down in the war in the bunkers…

“The sacrifices of friendship were beautiful in her eyes as long as she was not asked to make them.”

by: [H.H. (Hector Hugh) Munro] Saki (1870-1916), Scottish author. Beasts and Super-Beasts, “Fur.” Pseudonym oh Hector Hugh Munro.

xsapph

Another concept in the context of “love” and the ancient Greek definitions is Xenia:

I always called this “Open Door Principle”. Anyone is welcome any time.

There is a simple rule I get very upset if it is ignored: You are guest. You do not own the place for being offered my hospitality. I happily share what I have, but the rules of courtesy and my household are applied. And I shared even to people I did not know in case of need. And made “friends” doing so.

The most common rules for anything applied to the ancient Greek rules:

» Jürgen