reed writes

He was just a little boy. But he possessed a special quality that allowed him to become larger than life itself.

He was an ordinary child who, from the moment he became aware, faced a life-threatening health situation.

He had an astonishing intellect.

He believed that he was the channel for a greater message to the world.

Poetry came easily to him. Ideas germinated in his mind like fertile seeds in a warm moist springtime.

He was dedicated to sharing an important message.

It was a message of peace, love, understanding, tolerance, acceptance and so much more. It was a multi-faceted message from a boy who lived every day to the fullest, knowing that each of those days carried a number.

We all know about Mohammed, the great Jewish Patriarchs, Jesus, Baha’ullah, Buddha, etc. But despite the magnificent propaganda machines of the 20th and 21at centuries, we don’t know enough about Mattie.

I’m just going to summarize one of Mattie’s last letters. It was written to his Mom, Jeni and it concerned international trade. (I think it’s particularly applicable in the wake of the disastrous and meaningless meeting of the “Creme de la Creme” in Toronto.)

“Trading Ideas”.

Every year we must recognize the tragedies that occurred on September 11th., 2001.

I am proposing a a “true world trade day” to take place every September 11th.

This new “World Trade Day” can foster better relations between all people of all religions and nationalities.

For example one person might choose to trade a book or an idea with someone in a distant land. How great would that be??

By celebrating “World Trade Day” with a respectful and future-oriented attitude, we’d do at least 2 things:

1. we’d pay honour to those who died on sept. 11th;

2. we’d plant the seeds of peace for all those who live through the future observances of 9/11, every year.

Love to all,

Mattie.

(Now how great is that?)

I urge you all to read Mattie’s book, “Just Peace”.

For reasons which are beyond my control, but which have to do with my long-standing respect for democracy and the responsibility we citizens have for ensuring its continued health and viability, I will not be posting any political messages on this blog until October 15th.

Instead, RW will post a daily quote and/or anecdote from recent history.

Most of the quotes you will see over the next days will be from a book I recommend. It’s by Nicholson Baker and it’s called "Human Smoke".

Thank you for your indulgence.

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Quote of the Day…from Human Smoke, by Nicholson Baker

It was 1914.

"The British Blockade," Churchill later wrote, "treated the whole of Germany as if it were a beleaguered fortress and avowedly sought to starve the whole population — men, women, and children, old and young, wounded and sound — into submission."

Russia, the U.S. Britain…these are the real terrorist states, enabled by their handmaidens in Canada and Europe.

The best book I have ever read on the background and terrorist history of these western countries plus Russia, is by Noam Chomsky – the linguistics professor from M.I.T. It’s called simply, "Noam Chomsky, 9-11" and consists of his answers to a series of questions about potential reaction to the terrorist acts of bin Laden’s criminal gang in 2001.

Chomsky’s answers are prescient and absolutely right on the mark. They were made in 2001, following the attacks in New York and Washington. And that makes them all the more remarkable.

Interestingly, the good professor spells out precisely what would happen – what actions the U.S. would likely take – and what would be the consequences. It’s not a very big book but it is certainly chock full of relevant information and deeply informed opinion.

My view on Russia

(As far as Russia and its behaviour in Chechnya and Georgia are concerned… merely a carbon copy of America with a slavic face.)

In any event, I am recommending this book very highly.

I ought to have mentioned in my post of june 17th, that I had just finished reading a remarkable book – The Jesus Sayings: The Quest for His Authentic Message – by Rex Weyler and the posting simply flowed out. By the time I had reached the half way point in the book I knew that I wanted to review it.

It’s more than just an inspiring book, it’s one that opens doors for the reader and offers insights into our history that are refreshing and candid.

Weyler comes out of a deeply Christian upbringing, childhood, youth, young adulthood and became a student of how the Bible and particularly the Jesus part of the New Testament came into being.

The book raises intriguing questions about the humanity of Jesus and traces the fragmentation of the "Jesus Movement" following his death.

It raises important questions about the motives of Christian leaders, officials and instutions in altering and even abandoning the fundamental Jesus message.

"The Jesus Sayings" is not just a book about Jesus. It’s not just a book about Christianity or even religion…it’s a book about us. About where we have been, where we are now and where we might go if we can just get our act together.

You can read other comments on this book here.

It’s a great book.

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A more complete biography can be found at wikipedia.

Bill Moyers has written about the crisis in American democracy in his latest book, "Moyers On Democracy".

He says, "I have been lucky enough to spend my adult life as a journalist, acquiring a priceless education in the ways of the world, actually getting paid to practice one of my craft’s essential imperatives: connect the dots".

He points out that an essential quality of democracy is equality for all. Then he quotes Edward R. Murrow, "No one can eliminate prejudices — just recognize them."

But Moyers, like Murrow before him, is part of a social elite, privileged to observe, criticize and recommend. He imagines himself to be in touch with the average person, but how can he be? He sits in the comfortable anchor chair of the American Public Television Network, P.B.S.

He says, "Extremes of wealth and poverty cannot be reconciled with a genuinely democratic politics". And yet, like Murrow, he has lived all of his professional life in the upper third of rich America.

What Moyers fails to grasp in his yearning for the idealism he imagines in America’s past, is that democracy can be shattered by the very people who claim so eloquently, to defend it. For example, Moyers quotes Abraham Lincoln at length as the great democrat.. And yet it was Lincoln who assisted in the destruction of democracy in America, by leading the country into a civil war. That act had the effect of creating a brand new class of corrupt Americans, who grew rich on the arms trade and subsequently came to dominate American society in most spheres of business. War taught America how to  amass great fortunes.

Instead of following a genuinely democratic path and permitting the unhappy southerners to secede – perhaps by means of a plebiscite or referendum, Lincoln chose violence…the most undemocratic of all choices.

War never solves problems; it only creates more. When a majority of southern Americans wanted to secede from the union, Lincoln as President, ought to have let them go. He could then have used peaceful means to change their minds. He could have encourage those held in slavery to seek refuge in the North.  Instead, he chose to do violence by declaring war on the secessionists . 

The American Civil War was a pivotal point in U.S. history. It gave rise to the belief that the solution to human problems might lie in waging war.

He eulogises Roosevelt as the herald of a "progressive era". When in fact, Roosevelt was a racist who declared to his friend Henry Stimson, "This is a protestant country.Catholics and Jews are here on sufferance".

Mr. Moyers is a decent man and a good journalist. He was a loyal servant of government as spokesman for Lyndon Johnson.

But in this book,  he gives us an over-idealized view of the history of democracy in America.