I can not imagine what it is like there. I have not been to Paris and other parts of France since the day before they opened the borders from having to get a visa. We actually were turned away at the border ( a buss full of seniors and "me") We had to turn around and go back to Spain to get the Visa. It was actually the celebration of the 200 years and there was a incredible large cake in the shape of the World ( Globe ) and the "Tour de Eiffel" piercing through it! I believe that was 1989. I was traveling with a Catholic group. The Father was a 95 year old man that went each year to show others around Europe and I went along as My Stepfather invited me. Much I was exposed to about religions was from him. At that time he was more interested in Zen, Buddhism, Hinduism, and some other metaphysical beliefs. but he was one that studied them all to find something he was looking for. He was a brilliant man that taught Ancient History. I wish he was still with us. He died while I was staying in Pasay City with a family there at their compound. It would be interesting to hear his views on what is going on in the World today. Sadly and humiliating for a man of such a grasp of ancient cultures was the Alzheimer's that robbed him of all his memories and finally after driving him to the point of madness he passed away. My youngest sister took him in and cared for him for the last years of his life. I learned a lot from him though and much to my dismay my siblings have taken many of the books he studied that were in my Mother's estate when she passed away this year. So, I know this is mostly irrelevant to the thread but maybe it will help for me to share just a little about my life as it is constantly misunderstood by people I meet. I do hope that one day I will see France again. Fatima was a place that was so full of spirit that it was in the air...it did not matter what you thought about, it was just like an automatic sensation that was indescribable to those that have not been. ;-}
If you become a "tree" it might be wise to plant yourself in Oregon deep in the forest where they are not in danger of cutting you down. One of the protected ones. Or maybe in the Redwood Forest in Northern California. I think they are really grand and beautiful there as well.
I swear I must be invisible or something. I share my own experience here, and then I try and offer a hug and a rose to someone that looked like they could use it but what is the point when no one interacts with you????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Just curious.
I had to reflect and I do not think I would Hug someone because of their beliefs. I can say from my past experiences when I lived very close to a Mosque that the men and women I was around in the stores or in public were very distant as though they were using facial and body language that said "do not talk to me". My fiance at the time was cutting about 25 heads of hair a day and I would bring her lunch. When the man was Muslim he immediately gave me a very strong stare even though as I approached he was just having a great time chatting it up with my fiance. I was always friendly but there was never any reciprocation. If a Muslim woman came in to my salon they were usually very put off because there was not a private room for them to get the service. I always remained professional and genuine. So I truly do not think it is whether I would give the hug or join in pleasant conversation. It is more like will I one day be accepted and not prejudged. I think if anything I have always been dismissed by Muslims here locally. This is over a period of 20 years.
I lost that earlier this year. I know what it is like to have no family and very few friends in the world, even less in town and I am not the kind to ask for help. So I have suffered, earlier this year I thought I might die, but I could not even say it out loud because I needed every last bit of confidence to drag my body back home and have been healing up ever since. If those refugees have a support system like me then they better be very strong and be careful who they accept as friends or that offer help. Sometimes we have to sacrifice something to gain another. And sometimes we have to stand strong. And sometimes we die far too much younger then we should.
Also it was pointed out to me a certain trend which is, passing laws here in the USA to outlaw being Homeless. Punishments might be fines and/or then of course jail. Or, in some cases to remove from the city limits. I can speak for this area that we have a lot of homless people and they are only growing. We have to figure this one out before we just go pretend we can do it for others. So if the infrastructure of our own is repelling ( and has no idea how to help) our own, than what business does anyone in a official capacity have in bringing in more. I do not believe they do. Even this money that we have given to Syria Refugees, 4.5 Billion since 2011? Who got the money? It all seems like a magic show and things are disappearing but no one is clapping. As usual there is probably way more to this than meets the eye.
It makes no sense at all. I wonder if at least the people that are able would rise up against their oppressors. I know that here in the US we already have so many issues that we cant fix so how are we able to fix theirs>?? (Not directed at anyone in particular),, Also I think that as some expressed and I add that once the people are brought into any country they fall into the cracks and they are here forever.
I was reading today that the British Prime Minister is on Board with a pro-active aproach and I also saw this >
""AP reports that French President Francois Hollande will travel to Washington and Moscow later this month to discuss ways of increasing international cooperation to smash the Islamic State group and settle the Syrian crisis.
A statement from Hollande's office says he will meet U.S. President Barrack Obama on Nov. 24 and Vladimir Putin on Nov. 26.""
I believe that this is just the straw that broke the camel's back. (the terror and death inflicted on Paris) And that this business of coming into many countries and pushing their weight is and has been causing unrest. Now with this bombing and killing it is just way too much.
well, I know less than you do but I think that they usually will not say it out loud till after it has been executed. I think right now or a day ago they (USA) could not make a large retaliation in that France stood up and took action. I believe we gave help in handing them targets that were already filed. But France being hit like this did bring them back into the fight in a big way. I think if we are hit than we will retaliate in a very big way. Maybe even to a point that we could lose some of the ways we are living right at this time. There is so many wars being fought on many levels and different places. Some of the biggest are happening in silence over the internet. People may not realize it but there is a lot going on that we are not aware of. I just hope that we do not all wipe each other away.
I read this today, I am curious if there was any mention of this in that speech or questions about it from people that watched. Or maybe the video was not verified. I have no idea. ========================================================================= ""The Islamic State warned all countries taking part on airstrikes against the terrorist group in a new video Monday, threatening to attack Washington just as it did Paris last Friday, leaving more than 130 dead and hundreds injured.
"We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day God willing, like France's and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington," a man in the video said, according to Reuters, which could not verify the video's authenticity.
The video comes hours after U.S. warplanes bombed 116 oil trucks in eastern Syria, in a new effort to cut off the group's ability to transport crude oil that it has been producing in the country.""
It may not help everyone...., But I would be foolish to believe that it does not help many to help their own struggle through these times " Past, Present and Future"
True, there have been actions that are so large I am still processing the reality of it. Where it will go from here remains to be seen, but I would say it is not going to just be forgotten, or forgiven as the new morning shall break. I do hope that is some unseen way that there will be some long term "good" that will come from all this. For instance, a realization that we can not just sit around and expect it to disappear without some serious thought and most likely action from some that others may not expect. "Do not shake, contents volatile" Seems to be the "theme". Though they have already shaken the world so to speak...
Dragos1 Forum Posts (1,982)
<<< treehugger ;-}
RE: Hug a Muslim
I can not imagine what it is like there. I have not been to Paris and other parts of France since the day before they opened the borders from having to get a visa. We actually were turned away at the border ( a buss full of seniors and "me") We had to turn around and go back to Spain to get the Visa. It was actually the celebration of the 200 years and there was a incredible large cake in the shape of the World ( Globe ) and the "Tour de Eiffel" piercing through it! I believe that was 1989. I was traveling with a Catholic group. The Father was a 95 year old man that went each year to show others around Europe and I went along as My Stepfather invited me. Much I was exposed to about religions was from him. At that time he was more interested in Zen, Buddhism, Hinduism, and some other metaphysical beliefs. but he was one that studied them all to find something he was looking for. He was a brilliant man that taught Ancient History. I wish he was still with us. He died while I was staying in Pasay City with a family there at their compound. It would be interesting to hear his views on what is going on in the World today. Sadly and humiliating for a man of such a grasp of ancient cultures was the Alzheimer's that robbed him of all his memories and finally after driving him to the point of madness he passed away. My youngest sister took him in and cared for him for the last years of his life. I learned a lot from him though and much to my dismay my siblings have taken many of the books he studied that were in my Mother's estate when she passed away this year. So, I know this is mostly irrelevant to the thread but maybe it will help for me to share just a little about my life as it is constantly misunderstood by people I meet. I do hope that one day I will see France again. Fatima was a place that was so full of spirit that it was in the air...it did not matter what you thought about, it was just like an automatic sensation that was indescribable to those that have not been. ;-}