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Of the many difficulties currently faced by mankind, one is, as it always has been, getting along with others. In the somewhat distance past, each village was nearly an island, and xenophobia led to misunderstanding, which led to conflict, which led to fighting and suffering, and so on.....cause and effect. Generally, there have been, consistently throughout history, the same reasons for conflicts between peoples, groups, cultures, countries, etc.: territory, resources and religion. In those far distant times I have referred to, ignorance was somewhat understandable. Today, given all the possibilities for educating oneself, I find it difficult to see it as understandable and tend to view it as more likely willful.


The problems now occurring between the Christian world and the Islamic word are devastating. What we see on the news, what we read about in the West, certainly gives a very negative impression of Islam. However, is it realistic, I wonder, to assume that millions, billions of people who believe in Islam are indeed as narrow minded, violent, and primitive in their thinking as they seem to be, based on what we see in the news?

My point here can be simplistically encapsulated in the term "cultural sensitivity." That's what I am getting at. What we see in the news is a very limited perspective of what goes on within Islamic culture. I was once visiting a country where, in part of that country, a full scale war was going on. Based on news reports, one would think it would be a very dangerous and scary place; on the contrary, only if one was in the general territory of where the fighting was going on was there any real danger--in the rest of the country, business went on as usual.

It is much the same regarding the perspective we have on Islam. The people who are blowing up innocent people are extremists. The vast majority of Muslims do not support them. When you see people in the streets cheering because the World Trade Center has been attacked, this is a very limited number of people, no different than if there is a protest in your city—downtown the streets may be packed with people, but 90% of the population is sitting at home, not involved and not supporting what is going in those protests.

Christianity and Islam are not the same. The tenets of the two religions are not the same. The perspectives of people who adhere to these two religions are not the same. Whilst it is offensive to many Christians to question Christ’s sexuality, it is not a taboo within our culture, and we are not breaking a religious law when we do so. Images of Christ or god are not forbidden in Christianity. They are forbidden in Islam. Normally, in the mainstream of Islam, no one would consider imposing serious punishment for breaking these laws, and interpreting the Koran as a basis for doing so is no different than interpreting biblical references to homosexuality a certain way and stoning homosexuals. Only fundamentalists and extremists believe in such punishment.

The vast majority of Muslims are neither extremists nor terrorists nor do they support them. However, the perspectives on life may be quite different because of culture and religion. What is acceptable in one culture is not acceptable in another, not because one culture or religion is more reasonable or unreasonable but because it is different. Those differences may be difficult to fathom, to understand, and to accept….but the value of having an open mind is that, whether or not one understands or embraces an idea, one may choose to respect that idea.

If we could learn to accept and respect our differences, even though we don’t understand them, what great strides we would make in creating more peace and stability in the world—and it works on both sides of course. But I don’t adhere to the philosophy that because someone has said something nasty to me, I then need to spew back something nasty. Tit for tat gets us nowhere.

He is there for me everynight
When I snuggle down in my bed
He is in my head
Does he care?
No matter
He is there
As I drift to sleep
You see
Dreams are free
He is my fantasy.
By: The dreamer of dreams

I was talking to a guy online and we where planning on going to the movies but the guy never showed up. So I sat at my house enfront of my computer and talked to my friends.

It’s almost Memorial day again. My ghosts no longer haunt my dreams and the screams of battle are much quieter now, but as memorial day approaches each year my chest starts to hurt where that AK-47 found tried to pierce my heart and my old legs still tremble at the thought of so many times we carried the dead and wounded to safer places, somehow hoping to save them all.

There will be flags, and music, speeches and of course many “thanks for your service” through the day; all meant with the greatest of sincerity, but only those few kind words and the knowing glances of the other vets will really fill the void left empty by one less homecoming.

We who have felt the sting of battle and carry the memories of too many fallen comrades do appreciate your thanks and your appreciation, but forgive us if we are a bit preoccupied and don’t remember to always look up and smile. The weight and the guilt of having survived is often a heavier burden than we choose to reveal and there are so many to remember and to thank, for they are the real hero’s and we pay them homage by recalling many times that were divided by much laughter, and fear that none can truly describe … but mostly regret that we cannot change places with them.

They are the true hero’s that we will never forget and with the current times, more and more new hero’s enter the realm of memories every day and their young friends will bear the burden’s that we old vets know all too well. So if you want to help, truly help, don’t just “thank us for our service”, but take an active role to make sure that every vet gets what they deserve. The young need mending in body and in spirit. They need better education, consideration, and opportunities to get a job and make a living, no matter their condition.

So, as you celebrate this memorial weekend with the cookouts and family, auto races and other grand celebrations, also remember the many young men and women half way around the world, that are putting themselves in harms way just so we can continue our way of life.

God save the veteran and every person that puts their life on the line for that old tattered cloth and everything it stands for …..

I got this in a email and I thought I'd share,

It has taken some time, terribly disrupted many lives, trampled upon the liberties & pursuit of happiness of an entire community. Best of all, it has exposed the incompetence of at least one judge and the entire legal infrastructure of a number of state agencies. We are of course talking about the recent ruling of a three judge at the State Court of Appeals.

The court recognized that while there was some cause for concern in the case of an anonymous caller that registered a complaint with the state Child Protective Services agency, the state had no right to collectively persecute the religious organization, nor were they right to separate 440 children from their families based upon what was wholly agreed upon little to no evidence.

While this entire scenario has yet to be completely played out, it does send a message to the state that they would be wise to pay attention to. The state is not all powerful and cannot interfere with the activities and rights of the family. It also does not have the right to separate family members, against their will, without significant evidence of harm to family members. And lastly, perhaps the most important part of the ruling is the fact that this court apparently recognizes that this entire incident may indeed be more about the religious followings of this group more than anything else.

There are many that disagree with the philosophy of the FLDS, including myself. I find many of their practices to be horrific, but I also recognize that this is my personal opinion and regardless of how strongly I feel, I am compelled to seek protection for this groups rights because those rights are guaranteed under our constitution as the right to practice one’s religious beliefs without fear of prosecution or retribution. I am disgusted at the idea that any 50 year old man would take a bride that may have been forced, against her will, to engage in marriage; but I am reminded that a mere 100 years ago this was still a common practice and 200 years ago it was the standard practice of the day. It was the practice that allowed young people to come together, battle the elements, move westward and settle this mighty country, being key contributors to the success of our grand idea we often call democracy. Our lives are now relaxed and while life itself is no less demanding, the risks we face are more of our own making than those tossed at us by mother nature and the rules of sheer existence. Perhaps this ease of life has taken away from our ability to distinguish what is truly essential and what is the folly of the mind, given too much non-productive time.

Isn’t this just common sense? The foundation of this country is based upon individual rights, freedoms, and guarantee’s, yet we constantly forget that we have these rights and we are seeing an entire generation that believes that the rights of the state are greater than our individual rights. Those that serve as a reminder are frequently given unflattering names and insulted for being capable of thinking.

Once again, I would encourage each and every reader to put on their hat of a Professional Citizen and make it your practice to point out the obligations and restrictions on those of authority. Remind them that theirs is the duty to serve, and their service is to the people; not the other way around. Each of us has an obligation to remember all that came before us, many of whom sacrificed their very lives for the freedom’s we enjoy. From the streets of Bagdad back to the shores by Plymouth Rock we have willingly fought for the very rights our constitution guarantee’s and if we choose to relinquish those rights to a handful of political thugs that would attempt to take them away, then all that has been gained and all that sacrificed, will have done so in vane.

I see many faces
Pretty and beautiful
But not the one I cherish

See many lovely smiles
But not the one I Love

Hear many sweet voices
But not of my angel

Shake many hands
But not holding any

Spend my time with many
But not the moments

Share my Ideas
But the dreams are for you

Walk down with the folks
But never hand in hand
I am with many
But lonely without you

I go back home everyday
But not home without you

I pass my life
But not living without you

This one has just well .......
Blown my mind?
The Mystics Dream....Lorena McKennitt.....
Dances of Wolves was my all time favourite but now ...mmm dont have the nounce to be able to put it up the Video here????