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“I’ve found a relatively short list of good friends to be my most valued asset. How very blessed I am that my wife is on that list.” (JH) Of Palestinians and Israelis:  “I suggest that by their actions and "expressed goals", it is impossible for either of these entities to be defined as perfectly trustworthy or impartial.  Ultimately, the ongoing conflict has as much to do with irreconcilable religious differences as it has to do with land.  And because of that, all that can ever be Expected is the possibility of  "peace here and now".  Or perhaps better said, "relative peace here for now".    This type of peace is only achievable by resolute arbitrators and facilitators during any given time frame.  And in that respect we play and have played our role (with our own beliefs in tow). Arbitration of this sort will never result in the dissolution of warring factions and the ultimate resolution of differences.  Because Religions are the very definition of Intransigence.  They are Beliefs by definition and represent an unwillingness to change.  These two communities are Tribal Enemies and their continuous conflict represents the intricacies and shortfalls of humanity.  Right down to tribal interpretations of what God wants of them and to what degree they will fight and die to defend their "beliefs".  Both positive and negative Intransigence is perfectly expressed in this sort of Religious Idolatry.  If it was really only about land, competent arbitrators certainly could have resolved the differences many, many years ago.” (JH)
JOSEPH  HOLBROOK JOURNAL
(Gathering the marbles) “ Design / is about foresight. Evolution / is about adaptive change. Evolution allows tremendous pliability over time.” (JH)  “I wonder if cannibals thanked god for their food.” (JH) 
"Only two things are certain: the Universe and human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the Universe"
                                                                                                                                                  (Albert Einstein)
"There's nothing quite so difficult as being a procrastinating perfectionist." (JH)  “As far as I can determine, I’m in a sect by myself” (JH) I say, better to be buried Than have passion Crushed or torn away. An Artist’s life isn’t worth much Without Love and inspiration. (JH)
A favorite Einstein quote says:  "You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it.  You must learn to see the world anew."  I find myself wishing we were a wiser, more enlightened, more evolved animal by now.   I believe that the necessary information is out there to grasp and bring into play.   There just doesn’t seem to be the wisdom to do so.  (JH)
“Inevitable”
“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man.” ( Bertrand Russell )
Some favorite Bertrand Russel quotes
“The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others.” (Bertrand Russell)
“There doesn’t seem to be enough support out there for the fact that, The Good Win.”
(Jeannette Caress)
A friend uttered an interesting perspective today: Back to: “HOME” page
“Only a Mother is impressed and entertained by every effort.” (JH)
What we don't seem to have is access to that elusive "Wisdom Application".  If we don't locate the characters in this performance who have access to that App within the next few years, I fear the only thing we’ll have to smile about is our glorious past. (JH)
It seems that many of the good things end too soon.  
And many bad things, not soon enough.
Since time is out of our control, both sentiments hint at the perfect reason to let it all go.  (JH)
NOTE A FEW NOTES
My response is always the same whenever I hear a singer performing vocal gymnastics while singing  The Star Spangled Banner.  I’m not talking about style here, but about individual bravado.  It’s my belief that they’ve missed the point.  
The Star Spangled Banner
A billion days ago no-one walked the face of the earth on two feet.
  (Do you suppose that a billion days from now that phenomenon might reoccur?) (JH)
CONSIDER . . .A BILLION
Capitalism is the unequal distribution of wealth while Socialism is the equal distribution of poverty. (Anonymous)
Meditation
I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another. (Thomas Jefferson)
Socialism ( BACK TO “JOURNAL ENTRIES” mailing ) HOLBROOK ART
Generally, Beliefs are not necessarily braced by fact.  They are only backed by the choice to employ them.  They are opinions so personal and emotional that some will choose to die for them.  Some will choose to Kill for them.  It seems only reasonable to be Very careful about what we believe.  And equally cautious about what those around us cling to. (JH )
BELIEFS “I don't mind at all being corrected on the mistakes I make. But hearing about the ones you expect of me seems downright diabolical.” (JH )
“Meditation is not only an invaluable tool, it's a natural ability.  Not utilizing meditation is rather like being able to walk, but choosing not to because it's easier just to sit and do nothing.  Ironically, Meditation involves just sitting and doing nothing.  It’s a shame when people avoid something only because others have attached their religion to it.” (JH)
Today, I asked a successfully retired friend of mine what he was up to. He said he was thinking about making a list of things to do. I found it the most perfect phrase, because what I knew he was really saying was: I’m doing absolutely Nothing, but doing it with great purpose. (JH)  THINGS TO DO No enlightened person is concerned about how they're thought of by people in a lessor condition. (JH) 
I wonder:  If one worshiped the Sun as God, would atheists claim that it doesn't exist? (JH)
A NEW PARADIGM I don't blame Religion per se for past and future carnage.   I only blame plain old ignorance and stupidity that mankind continues to perpetrate in its name. (JH)    2003 - 2010 JOURNAL ARCHIVES by request only lines from an epic poem. . .yet to be written. 2011, the First of May,  A day not soon forgotten. Fate was Sealed and Life was repealed,  For that cut throat Osama Bin Laden. (JH) If God is a concept beyond comprehension,  then no matter What one says,  it falls so far short as to be erroneous. (JH) All of Joseph Holbrook's images and commentary, "Quotesmefiles" © etc., within this web site, are copyrighted. Written permission is required for any use. "One's 'Search for God' ceases  when the phrase is recognized as an oxymoron." (JH)  "It seems that genuine camaraderie will share any tenet." (JH) “I don't attest to believing in "Original Purpose",  but I find meaning everywhere.” (JH)  "Only the person behind the act knows whether its purpose was born of generosity or duplicity.  And sometimes even they’re surprised." (JH)  “I quit drinking beer about 7 years ago and I miss it .   Beer is sort of like a well trained mongrel dog.   It's inexpensive, but does just what you ask of it.  You tend to miss that kind of a dog.” (JH) "Being Manic Depressive might be Sad. . . . . but you’d be Glad to know about it !!.” (JH) "I see more in a rock than most see at a movie." (JH)
There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me. (Thomas Jefferson)
Power is not alluring to pure minds. (Thomas Jefferson)
Gardening: “ It seems I have best results when I attend to succulents and the like. They're robust and forgiving if I don't water at the appropriate times. I just don't do as well with delicate plants and flowers that shrivel without protection and attention. Some would say that might be said about the people in my life as well.“ (JH)  “The entire Truth can be said to contain All paths of human understanding that are possible. To presume access to understanding The Truth lies in One particular path and a single collection of signs is such a narrow definition, that it must be termed short sighted at the very least.” (JH)  Illegal Immigration: “Observing that ethnicity is generally a factor in illegal migration is like observing that height is generally a factor in basketball. To imbue that factor with imagined persecutions and bigotry is not only inaccurate, it’s immature. Illegal Immigration is as wrong as stealing.” (JH) Family Values: I don't even recall hearing the term before we “lost” them. Now Politicians promise their return. Politicians were so instrumental in the loss to begin with, responsibility for any retrieval is highly doubtful. Nurturing and wholesome pursuits is rare if not absent among politicians.” (JH)  “ Though I don't keep a diary or consider myself a writer, now and then I do enjoy jotting a line about things of interest to me. Maybe an observation or a quote. Occasionally something more.” WHITE LETTERING = Title or Link 2011 COMMENTARIES Collection “ ...thinking for awhile “ JOURNAL ARCHIVES (by request only) All of Joseph Holbrook's images and commentary, "Quotesmefiles" © etc., within this web site, are copyrighted. Written permission is required for any use. Joseph Holbrook Journal Unfortunately, the welfare of our Republic no longer lies with wise people who know how to wield the wisdom of history and clear a path for tomorrow. It lies instead with jugglers who only play at the roles. I suppose to be kind, that’s all they're capable of. (JH)  "You have Too much time on your hands!" translates into accusers seeing little or no value in another’s personal pursuits. Personally, I take it as a compliment because more often than not I'm pursuing things invisible to that sort of accuser anyway.” (JH)  “There is nothing but God. That realization is unlike any other. Eyes open to an ongoing revelation of who and what we are. Each one of us, all of us, an aspect. An emergent property of ALL that is and can be. Quite simple really. God is ALL, or the same as. The evidence and elegance is so staggering and completely all inclusive as to preclude any requirement of "Belief". And it simply couldn’t be more personal. (JH)
“There is something incredibly compelling about watching a good man wrestle with his soul.”  (anonymous)
Of Palestinians and Israelis (from an email)
“Clinging to a belief is not Faith.  Faith is being completely open to WHATEVER THE TRUTH IS.” (Alan Watts)
“Many Social Movements are spurred by some Credible Concern whose time has come. Yet the impetus of the Movement can be commandeered by people who have somehow missed the point.  So often . . .THOSE are the people that the MEDIA present to us.  We need to be cautious. Always look to uncover the original reasons and the original thoughts about it.” (JH)  A disappointment for all thinking people is that:  Though the past can be known and the present can be seen, it doesn't seem to prevent repetition of errors.   Thinking People “believe” we're better than that; however, that may only outline the limits of Belief.  The fact is, we must all BE better than that. . . concurrently.   Which obviously is not quite so easy.  * "All we have to do is agree on The Truth"    And that line perfectly outlines just how far away we are from concurrency. (JH) 
“A stupid man's report of what a clever man says can never be accurate, because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand.”   Bertrand Russell
I am familiar with the perspective of God in Religion. Mine is neither so anthropomorphic, nor distinct. Most people want to pursue a relation, whereas I find God inherently personal and gloriously impossible to retreat from. (JH)  A high Intelligence Quotient is not necessarily synonymous with Smart. It doesn’t account for capacities of humility, sympathy, empathy and compassion, just to name a few.  A genius might have some missing parts, so be cautious about what you expect from his actions and answers. (JH) I have faith in a mental paradigm that promotes enlightenment, harmony and understanding.  On a planetary scale it would manifest as a "universal epiphany" and mark the potential for what could be termed an evolutionary jump.  It would be a step toward (something like) a shared consciousness and a common certainty.  And as a step closer to harmony, it could and should be interpreted as inspired by The Truth.  Inspired by God. It would unify human goals and the term "agreement" wouldn’t be required nearly as much.  “Innate Concurrence” would become a more suitable term.  Mankind's personal and civil direction from that point would be so different as to be unrecognizable in todays parlance.  In other words, we’re unable to know Now all that it would mean Then.  Civilization could literally become a different sort of association through which new processes and cooperation would manifest new results and new directions. I do think it's possible, though I don’t know about probable.  I haven't a clue as to what could bring it about (it wouldn't be an epiphany if I did).   In the mean time, I have only my own personal endeavors and the efforts of those who explore and extoll similar thinking.  Results continue to substantiate my faith in the concept.  (JH ) I no longer Expect common consciousness from a government whose paradigm is as ill as ours.  In other words:  Whatever is proved or disproved about our government's actions means very little to me anymore.   I simply no longer Expect a correct and pure Answer and Direction from that entity.  You must understand though that I will be delightfully surprised, celebratory and very thankful that if, while I'm here to observe it, the next group turns out to be a good one.” (JH “I’m not always looking for answers. Most of the time I'm just looking around for a better idea of what I should be looking for.” (JH)
“Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes” . (William Gibson)
Expectations of the self-centered (Commentary click. ) Miracles are Natural: Absolutely All that is possible,is Natural.   We are quite uninformed  about ALL that is possible. Some people take everything for granted no matter what happens.  Others marvel at every blade of grass. There are interpretations and attributions about mysterious Possibilities.  Yet. . . Absolutely ALL that is Possible is Natural.    Miracles are Natural (JH)
 
“I have tremendous faith in the Possibilities for everyone. Just not everyone at the same time.”(JH) A friend shared by email his admiration for his wife’s ability to be so positive while dealing with her physically disabling ordeals. Yet he can't seem to stop bitching about HOW IT AFFECTS HIM ! He gets aggravated with himself for his lack of patience. My email return: Trust me, I understand completely.  (The following is not advice.  It's just what I've done.) Last year I was having some trouble with the same sort of thing. . . ..a variety of situations  (and people) that were demanding so much of my time, and my mind.  Same results. After some months, I called a friend that has had insight about such things.  During our conversation she said:   "No matter what it is, I just do the thing that's right in front of me.   I only do that thing.  When I'm done I just do the next thing that's in front of me."  As simple as it sounds, it helped.   It does require an effort to adopt "quality of time" (Pleasing, Peaceful and Creative if I'm alert) as a priority over Location, Activity, Inconvenience and Anger.   Attitude change is a result. . . not a goal.   It takes practice and it doesn't work all the time, but it works better the more I use it. (JH) On “Antiques Road-show”, the beauty, history and creativity of an item is talked about first, before monetary value is even mentioned. It’s an attempt to enjoy the art of it all before “profit” takes the stage. As much as we don’t want to admit it, “profit” can take Over the stage and used as a filter to re-evaluate aesthetics. Which may be interesting, but hardly desirable.(JH)