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”.

Every so often a blog comes across my screen that jumps right out at me. It happened today, when an alert I had set up to monitor stories on the disastrous Conservative policy respecting prison farms produced an item from a blogsite called Ramblings and Rumblings.

I’m not going to clog up the sphere with my words when you can read a fascinating, insightful and touching column, by clicking right here.

Henry Siegman, director of the U.S./Middle East Project, is a visiting research professor at the Sir Joseph Hotung Middle East Program, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is a former Senior Fellow on the Middle East at the Council on Foreign Relations and, before that, was national director of the American Jewish Congress from 1978 to 1994. Here is what he wrote in Ha’aretz, Israel’s largest daily newspaper.

By Henry Siegman

Following Israel’s bloody interdiction of the Gaza Flotilla, I called a life-long friend in Israel to inquire about the mood of the country. My friend, an intellectual and a kind and generous man, has nevertheless long sided with Israeli hardliners. Still, I was entirely unprepared for his response. He told me—in a voice trembling with emotion—that the world’s outpouring of condemnation of Israel is reminiscent of the dark period of the Hitler era. (more…)

Reed previously spoke out for independent parliamentarians. The more I reed the more I think he’s right. 

Our systems at every level are bloated beyond even their own definitions but they won’t look in the mirror. Nobody insists they do.

believe it or not, we need to look south  for inspiration.

It’s nice when someone buys you lunch but to expect it all the time, and only haute-cuisine because electors bought your line is ridiculous, disgusting and probably well-spiced with criminality.

But audit? No, no, no.

Whatever the question is in Canada today, Ignatieff is not the answer.  The Harper forceps-delivery  clowns will continue to gain ground.

I am just one voice on cbc.

Three quotes passed along to me by my friend, Charles Small.

These thoughts are helping me deal with a 3-week writer’s block, which has been painful and debilitating.

The Quotes -

“A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”

– Thomas Mann (1875-1955)

“I get a fine warm feeling when I’m doing well, but that pleasure is pretty much negated by the pain of getting started each day. Let’s face it, writing is hell.”

– William Styron (1925-2006)

“Writing … is a deeper sleep than death … Just as one wouldn’t pull a corpse from its grave, I can’t be dragged from my desk at night.”

– Franz Kafka (1883-1924)