Wisdom of the ancients...

[negrito7]

"...by choosing what is good or bad we are men of a certain character, which we are not by holding certain opinions." -Aristotle, Nicomachean EthicsA great reminder from that sage of old...who we are is not determined by what we say we believe but by what we do. This is the difference between the faith that produces fruitful works and the belief

Comments

[gelitheaustrian]

I hope there were some Austrian Chrismtas Carols played as well ... ;)I'm leaving in a week, too. And, yes, it will be a welcome break, as well!

[negrito7]

I'm afraid there were no Austrian Christmas carols, but there will be some eating of Austrian creme pudding with my friend David today at lunch :o)

[lacyrose81]

that's an inspiring quote. I might put it somewhere I can see it daily...thanks ramon. :)

[methy413]

Yea for Puerto Rico! Tell your parents hi for me and that we all miss them in Little Rock too.

[icewinddragon]

Music is fun, even if ones skills may be substandard for any presentation.

I often find myself wondering about what i preach, and what i live. I have seen it necessary to occasionally adapt my beliefs to what i can live - how sad that may be. But i have found that there are things that i am just not willing to do/to give up, and it would be hypocrisy of the worst kind not to acknowledge that.

"Rising to the Occasion"
was one of the entries you wrote that i found very intriguing and spent quite some time thinking about. I very much agree with the message - and living it, as you said, often is far from easy.

This entry on the other hand contained some ideas that i found highly disagreeable, just like your disposition towards it and had it saved for the longest time, thinking whether and if how i should reply. I think that even an ugly cussword like nigger does in no way justify violence, and i am no stranger to being called names or having to live with how they change peoples minds. I believe that to change the names - forbid the

[negrito7]

Thanks for the feedback. The second post necessarily included my first instinct to contemplate violence...it's there inside of me now matter how much my brain and heart say it's ridiculous. But, I am in agreement with you that violence solves next to nothing.

As for changing the meaning of words, you know a lot of black people say "nigga" to each other and assert that they are trying to take the term and make it a mark of the dignity they have for each other. But, when a white person says it, it still stings, so I think that this approach is not useful. However, banning the use of words does not help either. Changing hearts and minds is the only approach that is worth pursuing.

Likewise, I think writing this essay will be good for me no matter what, and winning it is definitely not the point. Now we'll see if I can get it in gear to do the research necessary to write an informative essay.

[methy413]

I am actually doing research for an essay that I probably won't write due to the fact that my mind can't comprehend writing an essay for no good reason besides putting my research onto paper. I guess that it is still the student in me. Maybe I need a contest to enter.