I enjoy asian food, and I look for wisdom within each fortune cookie. Recently, I received a true gem.
"He who climbs highest is the one who gives another a hand up."
This thought is one of purity and truth. Carry it forth into this new year.
Showing posts with label Social Conscience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Conscience. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Friday, September 16, 2011
DOUG
On a rainy night in Kittery, Maine, Doug greeted his customers, with a warm and inviting smile, as they entered Ruby's Diner. Doug has a square, muscular build and is the father of six. Last year, after working for a company for fifteen years as a graphic designer, he and other colleagues with tenure and higher pay were laid-off. As he spoke, Doug's attitude was upbeat, and he had a positive outlook.
Doug was reared in Kittery. He spoke highly of his friends, many of whom he has known since childhood. When Doug lost his job, his friends surrounded him and his family with love and support. Two of Doug's friends own Ruby's, where he works as an assistant manager and waits tables. You couldn't ask for a more gracious host than Doug.
As Doug spoke of his and his family's economic belt tightening, he said that they had lots of things, but they were all old and paid for. Apparently, Doug and his family had always lived modestly but, with a diminished income, they lived even more creatively and frugally. One such measure was to raise chickens for eggs and meat.
On the up side of the economic downturn, Doug spoke of enjoying having more time to spend with his children, who enjoy fishing and outdoor activities.
For their summer vacation, the family drove "Hank the Tank," their 1984 RV, to Colorado. En route, the fan belt broke, and repairs entailed a costly tow. After that experience, Doug said he carried extra fan belts and could change one in fifteen minutes flat.
Radiating with love, Doug went on to extol the many virtues of his wife, a school teacher. He proudly stated that he and his wife had cleaned motel rooms that summer, and they had outworked the "kids."
"Kids don't know how to work today," said Doug. "They're always smoking, talking on the phone or texting."
As a footnote, Doug added, "If you're a hard worker you can always find a job."
As we say in Oklahoma, Doug hit the nail squarely on the proverbial head.
Doug was reared in Kittery. He spoke highly of his friends, many of whom he has known since childhood. When Doug lost his job, his friends surrounded him and his family with love and support. Two of Doug's friends own Ruby's, where he works as an assistant manager and waits tables. You couldn't ask for a more gracious host than Doug.
As Doug spoke of his and his family's economic belt tightening, he said that they had lots of things, but they were all old and paid for. Apparently, Doug and his family had always lived modestly but, with a diminished income, they lived even more creatively and frugally. One such measure was to raise chickens for eggs and meat.
On the up side of the economic downturn, Doug spoke of enjoying having more time to spend with his children, who enjoy fishing and outdoor activities.
For their summer vacation, the family drove "Hank the Tank," their 1984 RV, to Colorado. En route, the fan belt broke, and repairs entailed a costly tow. After that experience, Doug said he carried extra fan belts and could change one in fifteen minutes flat.
Radiating with love, Doug went on to extol the many virtues of his wife, a school teacher. He proudly stated that he and his wife had cleaned motel rooms that summer, and they had outworked the "kids."
"Kids don't know how to work today," said Doug. "They're always smoking, talking on the phone or texting."
As a footnote, Doug added, "If you're a hard worker you can always find a job."
As we say in Oklahoma, Doug hit the nail squarely on the proverbial head.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
WILLIAMSTOWN MATRON
Clark Art Museum,
Williamstown, Massachusetts,
Matron,
Volunteer, maybe a board member,
Smooth, understated money,
Her hands unsullied by work,
Attention for her daughter and collie dog,
But others unworthy of glance
Her forebears,
Empire builders,
Their wealth built on the backs of others.
Their greed tramped through the pages of history.
The "Great Depression" of the 1930s,
The Grapes of Wrath,
Now banned in libraries,
Because its truth is too "socially offensive."
The "Great Recession," (supposedly 2008-2010, but continues still),
Corporate magnates, bankers and Wall Street hustlers,
Gambled with others' money, lied to and stole from those who trusted,
Received government bail-out money,
But continued to foreclose on homes and small businesses,
Like 1930s tractors rolling over farms and homes,
Yet another generation of Joads,
Except the wealthy,
Who own the media and
Feed us pabulum and their spin of the "truth"
Williamstown matron,
Hear the words of Kate Barnard (c. 1875-1930),
"How can a woman wear diamonds in a country where little children starve?"
Williamstown, Massachusetts,
Matron,
Volunteer, maybe a board member,
Smooth, understated money,
Her hands unsullied by work,
Attention for her daughter and collie dog,
But others unworthy of glance
Her forebears,
Empire builders,
Their wealth built on the backs of others.
Their greed tramped through the pages of history.
The "Great Depression" of the 1930s,
The Grapes of Wrath,
Now banned in libraries,
Because its truth is too "socially offensive."
The "Great Recession," (supposedly 2008-2010, but continues still),
Corporate magnates, bankers and Wall Street hustlers,
Gambled with others' money, lied to and stole from those who trusted,
Received government bail-out money,
But continued to foreclose on homes and small businesses,
Like 1930s tractors rolling over farms and homes,
Yet another generation of Joads,
Except the wealthy,
Who own the media and
Feed us pabulum and their spin of the "truth"
Williamstown matron,
Hear the words of Kate Barnard (c. 1875-1930),
"How can a woman wear diamonds in a country where little children starve?"
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