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 Posted elsewhere, but very much why we started this group... July 25, 2004 4:56 PM

There is, of course, a cure for hate. It's about as likely as stopping plate-tectonics, but it exists. It is this (from the perspective of someone/s who have many, many reasons to know -- not least of which is a master's degree with a thesis topic of 'Peace Begins at Home: the Relationship of Domestic Violence to World Peace'): 1. If every person* on Earth were raised to be free from fear -- of the different, of the unknown, of confrontation, of truth, of hirself, of death -- that would be a start. *assume I am talking about human persons unless I say otherwise. 2. If every person on Earth were raised to to be free to be -- different, hirself, unique, sick, healthy, outspoken, confident, aware, empathic -- that would be progress. 3. If every person on this Earth really understood that no person is 'better', or 'inferior' to hirself, regardless of -- social status, religious preference, affectional orientation, national/cultural/historical animosity, age, etc. -- that would make a difference. 4. If no person on this Earth was capable of treating any member of the Mineral, Vegetable, Animal Realms, differently from how s/he would wish to be treated -- as an object, an enemy, a tool, a threat, a monster -- that would make a significant difference. 5. Since we are all slaves to the clumsy tool of language, if every person on Earth were to understand both how clumsy a tool language is, and to work to make communication happen -- by not imposing cultural, social, historical, and largely unconscious assumptions on the language used by others, by asking'what do you mean?', and 'how are you using this word in this context?', and being open to different usages (to say nothing of learning as many languages as possible) -- communication might start to happen. NB: This is work. 6. If every person on Earth were willing (barring those who are mentally incapable) to make the effort, and this effort DEMANDS total tearing down and restructuring the way ALL of us think, to actually create Global Communication -- it could really start to generate Global Understanding, which would cure hate. 7. This still leaves truly complete, whole-person healing for all those who are damaged, in this world. Mental illnesses need to be treated, respectfully, and properly. Physical illnesses need to be treated likewise. Pain needs to be understood, be it emotional, physical, temporary, or chronic. This is a crucial element of Global Understanding. 8. No person can even begin to approach this sort of understanding, without losing the shackles of competetiveness (Capitalism), nationalism/patriotism, and all the other -isms. The Christian Golden Rule is: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. The Jewish version, which we prefer, is: 'Do not do unto others as you would they did not do unto you'. To think about? Leïlah el Khalil Zendavesta, MAR  [ send green star]
 
The witches version of that is July 27, 2004 6:58 AM

"What ever you do to others, will be done to you." Ketutar  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Buddhist version February 19, 2005 8:10 PM

The Buddhist version is that everything that happens to you is the result of causes and conditions created by your own past actions, and everything that will happen to you is being created by your thoughts and actions now.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
What's "wrong" with March 05, 2005 7:41 AM

"any other -isms"? There are a lot of -isms which promote understanding for me. Be labeled it is not a gift, but it is just a way to feel some union, and somewhat force to impulse whatever you are working with. I believe there are a lot of misunderstanding with some -isms, don't believe they are a homogeneus mix of the same thinking but the same object study. As when you study history, you must call it history to be a historicist, it is just a label, but as any other word. I still don't understand what is happening to still demonizing so many -isms. Antismsism?
Just the point where I do not agree.
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sorry I forgot March 05, 2005 7:52 AM

I quite agree that the suffix -ism has its origins in a "radicalization of".. That is socialism - a radicalization of what is social; nationalism - a radicalization of what is national; christianism - a radicalitacion of what is christian... And I admit that it has been in some cases a horrible reality to contrast, and I understand that some integrants of a -ism movement, may want to get released of that cross and talk about "what is social" better than "socialism" and so on.. But at the same time, a radicalization is in its origins, a travel to the root, travels to the root and this journeys of works and study lead us sometimes to comprehension. A radicalization, going to the primarily cause, to the original root : that journey leads us to a full comprehension of many many subjects, and I believe that through that comprenhension, understanding we get released of many shackles.
I'm ending the ramblings now, I promise.
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babel August 09, 2006 9:02 PM

what would you give to have been alive during the 'pre tower of babel period'

to be able to communicate clearly with every brother & sister on earth without the barrier of misunderstanding

if you read the account in the bible with without prejudice , you may get a glimpse of what the terms concerning 'approaching heaven' ... etc , are referring to in terms of how this would empower mankind

personally , i see it coming around again within the context of the internet

i love words & i hate words , i love to study alphabets & languages even though they are hopelessly impotent & anemic in their ability to convey even the most obvious truths

the only universal language on the planet today is music

regardless of the culture of its origin , music is able to inspire , educate & entertain everyone without need for clarification or justification

it is the language that we each are able to share & love

it is the language of the soul

so perhaps as we journey through our meditations on language & its limitations & abuses , we might also contemplate what we , as speakers on this world stage , are capable of in terms of  enabling mankind to once again seek & rebuild that 'tower which reaches up to heaven' 

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Golden Rule August 09, 2006 9:16 PM

Yes, the Golden Rule is the most ancient ethical guideline that we know of. In Brahmanism: "This is the sum of duty: 'Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you.'" From the Mahabharata, written long before Christ walked the Earth. From Jainism: In happiness and suffering, in joy and greief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self." Roman Pagan Religion: "The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves." Shinto: "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form. Sikhism: "Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone." Zoroastrianism: "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Plato: "May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me." (4th century BCE) Yoruba: "One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts." (Nigeria) So we have more than one common language, we have the language of the heart, which is part of the Ageless Wisdom of Humanity. Namaste, ND  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
music = universal language January 21, 2007 11:16 AM

To water,

just wanted to ask.. if music is the only universal language are the Deaf then left speachless??  Not saying they cannot make music but they do not hear it. 

colleen

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 January 22, 2007 6:29 AM

richard wagner was not a musician , he wrote his epics on paper , much like einstein.  beethoven wrote the ninth symphony while essentially deaf

my guess would be if you can make music then you are no more "speechless" than many who can speak & hear perfectly.

deafness is an obstacle to what i have considered the universal language , thats why it is called a disability.  it surely is not a life sentence of solitude and feebleness , as proven by so many outstanding and powerful deaf citizens in history and around the world.

if i recall correctly , my thoughts on the day i wrote my prior post were concerned with identifying a tool that would be common to humankind as well as available as a portal of communication at any time and anywhere , thus , universal.

perhaps there are other means of reaching perfection 

 [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Not a musician? January 22, 2007 12:40 PM

I really don't care for Wagner's works, but he was definitely a musician. I don't quite understand how you can say he wasn't. He wrote his "epics" in his head as he was transferring them to paper. Can you elaborate on this point?  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
okay here's one more "ism" July 11, 2007 9:28 PM

We want to be better people and this group specifically wants to use what we say or what we write carefully so that we can make things better.  To me, better means with more love.  So, let's learn how to use our language carefully and change each of our own personal language to portray as much of that love and respect for all.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
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Inclusive Language -- Reshaping How We Think in Words
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