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Más que una noche de música con Silvio Rodríguez

Jorge Fusaro — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:40:41 +0000

The following article is in Spanish. If you wish to translate it, please hit the “google translate” link above.

Silvio y Jorge

El pasado Domingo, 28 de Mayo del 2010, el cantautor cubano Silvio Rodríguez, visitó La Isla Del Encanto luego de 13 años de ausencia. Silvio nos complació con un concierto magistral de casi dos horas y media. Posteriormente, tuve la oportunidad de conocer a Silvio y su esposa en el camerino, un momento de mucha alegría para un fanático de muchos años.

En los próximos días recibí un email de un primo que, a través de Facebook, supo que fui al Choliseo a ver a Silvio en concierto. En su email me escribe:

Mi primo solo para recordarte que Silvio representa todo por lo nuestra familia y la de miles de cubanos estamos en una tierra extraña, claro que gracias a dios somos libre para ir a donde uno quiera a ver lo que queramos, cosa que no se puede hacer en cuba de donde el viene a no ser que seas un comunista rabioso capaz de perseguir, censurar y chivatear a sus propios hermanos como lo ha hecho Silvio por todos estos años. Espero no te molestes conmigo.”

Pocos de ustedes sabrán que mi abuela y madre son cubanas. Nacieron en Guanabacoa, La Habana, Cuba. Le tengo mucho amor y respeto a mi familia y este artículo no es para exponer a mi primo ni hacerlo sentir mal. Puedo entender y respetar su dolor y frustración con lo que representa Silvio para él y muchos otros cubanos que viven en Cuba u otros países del mundo.

Mi contestación:

Primo,

Gracias por tu mensaje. No me molesto contigo y te agradezco hayas escrito. Entiendo y respeto tus sentimientos, que son muy tristes.

Como mi familia es cubana, siempre me he identificado mucho con la cultura. Esta pasión me ha llevado a estudiar la historia y excavar anécdotas del pasado al igual que relatos cotidianos.

El movimiento socio-político catalogado como “comunista” es controversial debido a las diversas interpretaciones que varían dependiendo de: quien lo define, quien lo promueve, quien se opone y las experiencias de cada cual.

Sin embargo, la música de Silvio trasciende el pasado de Cuba, la revolución de los 50 y 60, Fidel, Camilo, el Che, el comunismo, el marxismo y la historia de las ultimas décadas. No es catalogada como música cubana en Cuba ni en el mundo ni tampoco es música limitada a una audiencia en particular.

Silvio también le canta al amor, la esperanza, la justicia, la mujer, la paz, al ser humano, la Creación, al romanticismo, a la naturaleza, etc

La mayoría de artistas musicales (como seres humanos y en el contenido de sus líricas) representan una serie de valores que chocan conmigo. Si su conducta o mensaje fuese el único criterio, mi colección musical seria muy limitada; una colección homogénea y un poco aburrida.

Por estas razones es que puedo valorar, respetar y celebrar el arte, sin estar cien porciento de acuerdo con el artista.

Feliz Día de las Madres: 2011

Words of Wisdom for Today – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jorge Fusaro — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:25:33 +0000

“Power at its best is LOVE implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is LOVE correcting everything that stands against LOVE.” -MLK, 1967.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and leader in the civil rights movement. He became one of the few historical icons of human rights, along with Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, to seek justice via non-violent means.

King fought a non-violent fight so that you and I would be respected and valued by the “content of our character” rather than be judged by the “color of our skin.”

I believe King’s message of hope, love, and unity to end discrimination (of all types), abolish poverty (worldwide), and oppose war (Vietnam or any other war) is more important today than ever before. His prophetic vision continues to inspire those who believe that faith is not simply believing, but is also a call to redeeming action. Faith without works is empty, just as works without faith is empty. God expected Israel to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”

Lets recall some of MLK’s words of wisdom and truth:

Champion Non-Violence: “Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.” (MLK, Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 12/1/1964.)

End Discrimination and Racial Segregation: “Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them.” (MLK, 8/16/1967).

Abolish Poverty: “The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.” (MLK, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967).

Oppose War: “The bombs in Vietnam explode at home; they destroy the hopes and possibilities for a decent America.” and “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” (MLK, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk

The catastrophe in Haiti has brought worldwide attention to the poorest country in the Western world. Lets remember the voices of those who came before us and do things that truly matter: lets give generously. If you already donated, great. Try to give a bit more and motivate your friends to give. The time is now. Consider these words by King: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Do you think MLK’s message is relevant today?

You are encouraged to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Thanks for sharing!

TIP: If you have not read any of Martin Luther King Jr. books, I recommend you read Strength to Love and Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? If you are a communicator and aspire to lead, inspire, and mobilize people, I suggest you listen (and study) MLK’s superb oratorical skills.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.

An Urban Legend and A Response to Pat Robertson: Did He Go Too Far?

Jorge Fusaro — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:52:05 +0000

Damon Winter/The New York Times

In this article, I want to address “Haiti’s pact with the devil” and a response to the insensitive remarks by Pat Robertson.

A lot has been said about Haiti and this is only the beginning. My other blog posts can wait. Haiti has captured my heart. More than 100,000 are presumably dead. The earthquake has been declared the worst disaster the Western hemisphere has witnessed in 200 years.

An Urban Legend

Allegedly, Haiti made a deal with the devil 200 years ago and this is why they have suffered so many hardships and terrible consequences. This legend has been carried around for decades. Yet research indicates, there is no factual or historical evidence that Haiti made a pact with the devil. In fact, 95% of the country claim Christian beliefs (80% Roman Catholic and 15% Protestant). However, voodoo practices from the ancient African religion, are practiced by some Christians.”There are an estimated 45,000 Americans in Haiti, many of whom are Christian missionaries and relief workers (source).”

Many reports from Haiti state that after the earthquake tons of people fled into the streets, crying out to Jesus for help.

The legend goes like this: A group of rebelling slaves led by voodoo priest Dutty Boukman at Bois Caiman in 1791, allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over their French masters. This sparked a revolution that expelled the French and established the Republic of Haiti in 1804. Dr. James C. Denison notes that the oral tradition of the story is unclear: “One tradition claims that Boukman led his slave followers in a voodoo ritual in which they slaughtered a pig and drank its blood. Then they allegedly made their pact with the devil: if he would free their people from the French, they would serve his spirits on the island for the next 200 years. By dedicating their country to Satan, they caused the economic deprivation and natural disasters which have plagued Haiti over the last two centuries.”

Andrew Jones wrote on his blog:

“Bill Ross, a commenter on my blog post yesterday, pointed me to a well thought out and well researched article by a Christian Haitian man named Jean R. Gelin, Ph.D. His article is called God, Satan and Haiti. Jean Gelin’s conclusion: “I have yet to find a good evidence of even the idea of Satan’s assistance in the Independence War, let alone a satanic pact.“ God, Satan and Haiti, 2005.”

An unChristian Response?

The Internet is plagued with posts, tweets, and comments regarding fundamentalist preacher Pat Roberton. Dr. Robertson (and other misinformed folk) implied that Haitians brought this catastrophe on themselves for having made a “pact with the devil.” Like noted above, evidence suggests this pact is an urban legend, it ever occurred.

Could Pat Robertson have chosen better words? I believe he could have, but am not surprised coming from a man who called for President Hugo Chavez’s assassination and said Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment to the people of New Orleans. Additionally, “In 2001, Robertson blamed the September 11 attacks on “the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way—all of them who have tried to secularize America,” he said. “I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen.’” (via CT).

Where is the love and compassion? What is Christian about Robertson’s remarks? My faith teaches that God is love, not hate. “Robertson’s loudness and shock-jock verbiage seems strange and oddly uncompassionate. It felt like he was trying to tell us how tough he was, not how compassionate God is (Donald Miller, read his excellent blog post!).”

A Jesus-centered response is one of compassionate and unconditional love, grace, reconciliation, restoration, and compassion. That is the message Haitians are craving to hear; a message of hope, love, and peace in the midst of their pain, suffering, and brokenness.

It is important to distinguish between the way man represents God and Jesus, versus the way God and Jesus represent Themselves in Scripture.

Tony Campolo, professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University, wrote:

“Help them [Haitians] to hope! Help their prayers to be answered! I don’t believe God called this disaster down on Haiti, but I do believe God’s grace and love, flowing through those of us who are surrendered to God’s will, can bring healing and redemption to our Haitian brothers and sisters. Please, please, please … do what you can.”

Three things to learn here:

Do not judge or speak on God’s behalf
Do not blame, instead, seek to bless and impart hope
Do your research, especially when speaking in public.

Lots of evil things happen, everyday and everywhere, so why hasn’t God destroyed everyone and everything?

Truth is, we can’t really know what is happening between God and Haiti and what are God’s intentions. “Earthquakes happen everywhere, even in places where people have made a pact with God and not the devil (Andrew Jones).” Once thing we can rest assured of is: God loves His people, He longs for them, and His peace surpasses our lack of understanding.

Jim Wallis, author, president of Sojourners, and advocate for the poor wrote: “My God does not cause evil. God is not a vengeful and retributive being, waiting to strike us down; instead, God is in the very midst of this tragedy, suffering with those who are suffering. When evil strikes, it’s easy to ask, where is God? The answer is simple: God is suffering with those who are suffering.”

Lets continue thoughts praying and supporting the people of Haiti.

What do you think about this scandal?

As always, you are encouraged to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Thanks for sharing!

How to Pray for Haiti and its People

Jorge Fusaro — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:48:15 +0000

Why help Haiti? Haitians are extremely vulnerable because of poor infrastructure and extreme poverty (poorest in the Western Hemisphere). We can take care of the poor in crisis.

Haitians are a people in crisis and need all the help possible. It is our duty to love [and help] our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Because we have too much. Haitians live under $2 a day. That’s the prize of a bottle of water!
Through prayer we can make quite an impact: “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results (James 5:16).”

How to pray for Haitians? If you are a person of faith, please join others as we intercede together for the people of Haiti. If you have never prayed before, consider making an exception for others and see what happens.

Pray for God to bring Peace among the people and prevent violence, riots, and more crime.
Pray for healing to those who are broken in body and/or in spirit.
Pray for refuge for those who are homeless, have no clothes and nothing to eat.
Pray for the local government to lead selflessly and efficiently.
Pray for the nations of the world to be moved with compassion and a desire to serve.
Pray that survivors do not lose hope and will look upward for faith, understanding, hope, and love.
Pray for unity and reconciliation among the Haitian people.
Pray for a deeper global understanding and solidarity between the wealthy and the poor.

“Haiti is a country where a tiny transnational clique of wealthy and well-connected families maintains a grip on industrial production, international trade, and political and social life. Meanwhile, 80% of their fellow citizens live in poverty, with 75% surviving on less than $2/day; 70% are unemployed; life expectancy is 52 years; infant mortality is 62 per 1,000 live births; there is a raging health crisis with grave HIV/AIDS infection rates, and the list goes on (Peter Hallward, Haiti, Aristide and the Politics of Containment. Quoted by Niraj Joshi, Global Research.)

Other ways to Help and Where to Give: The least we can do is pray and give generously. Give today and skip a meal if necessary. Skip a meal or a weekend activity if necessary. People die everyday because they have nothing no food! One meal less will not kill you. Let’s share what we have with those in greater need!

Yele Haiti (Wyclef Jean’s organization) – Text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the YeleHaiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill), or you can visit Yele.org and click on DONATE.
Doctors without Borders – international medical humanitarian organization (Awarded the Nobel Peace in 1999) committed to bringing quality medical care to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe.
Red Cross - Text HAITI to 90999 and automatically donate $10 to Red Cross! Confirm with YES. The donation (coordinated through the White House) will appear on your cell phone bill.
If you are in Puerto Rico, go to the Hiram Bithorn Coliseum (Hato Rey), Paquito Montaner (Ponce), or Estacion de Bomberos (Yauco) to donate clothes and other relief items such as medicines, blankets, shoes, bottle water, and canned food.
Save the Children – Providing help to Haiti since the 1980s.
World Vision – Worked in Haiti for 30 years and has some 370 staff in country. The website also provides information about how to sponsor a child in Haiti or other locations. Click here to donate.
Cnn.com/impact – plenty of other resources to donate/volunteer compiled by respected journalists.
How can you help? (Chris Anderson, TED curator)

You may wonder, what will happen after disaster relief??? Recovery takes years. That is why long-term support is critical. Consider giving to Beyond Borders, an organization with a respectable record of sustainable support inHaiti.

God bless the people and the country of Haiti!

L’union fait la Force!

If you have any other suggestions or resources, share them in the comment section below. Please forward and share this article with people you know who may be interested in donating, volunteering, and praying for Haiti and its people. Take action. Thanks!

Human Trafficking in the 21st Century is No Joke

Jorge Fusaro — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:45:58 +0000

*One voice to End Slavery*

Few things infuriate me. Human trafficking is one of them.

This form of modern-day slavery is the 2nd largest illegal industry after drug trade. It is a highly sophisticated form of organized crime that has overtaken the illegal trade of weaponry today. The UN estimates that 1-4 million people are trafficked worldwide every year.

Human trafficking is illegal in every country in the world and happens in every country of the world. However, justice has not yet been served.

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to deliver a seminar on this topic, among other social justice issues, to a group of youth in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, only a handful of youth knew about this. Parents and adults were also clueless about the gravity of this issue. Perhaps you are too. Hopefully, this short article will shine some light. Your friends and coworkers need to know about it too. Share the facts. This needs to stop.

January 11th was the first annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the United States. I am hoping that this day will raise awareness in the US because, statistically speaking, human trafficking is more than likely happening around you.

If you thought slavery was abolished in the 19th century, sorry to disappoint you. It is estimated that about 27 million people were enslaved in 2008. The American government estimates that up to 17,500 people are trafficked into the US each year for purposes of labor and commercial sexual exploitation.

The victims of human trafficking can be used in a variety of situations, including prostitution, forced labor (including bonded labor or debt bondage) and other forms of involuntary servitude (via Wikipedia; thorough and informative link).

The words of Martin Luther King Jr. ring true, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Human trafficked victims have no voice.

If this has not shocked or surprised you yet, consider this: There are more people forced into modern-day slavery today than in the transatlantic slave triangle. What does this say about society? humanity? international human rights? power and justice?

People working to abolish human trafficking address three main challenges: 1) Locating the victims, 2) Liberating them, and 3) Caring for the victims once liberated. Every step is critical to abolish modern-day slavery. There is a growing need for organizations that can offer psychological, social, financial, and spiritual assistance to the victims.

I find a lot of hope in Restore NYC. This organization, started by three young visionaries in NYC, is focused on providing holistic long-term aftercare services for international survivors of sex trafficking in NYC. Their goal is to help victimized women achieve complete and total reintegration back into society.

If you want to learn more check out the videos and links below:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tdEOeld2Oo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2XgmQZ-c8M

11 Practical Ideas to Combat Slavery
3 Short True Stories of Human Trafficking in the US
Amnesty International
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-International (CATW)
International Justice Mission
Polaris Project
Movies/documentaries: Trade, Call+Response, Cargo, Fields of Mudan, etc.

If you have further questions, resources to share, or will like to get involved, please comment below.

Beware of the Doghouse and Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

Jorge Fusaro — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:48:37 +0000

The last thing you want this Holiday Season is to give the wrong gift and send the wrong idea! Think carefully and save yourself from a trip to the doghouse.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wTg6YB2PRA

Beware of the Doghouse is a brilliant interactive campaign for JCPenney created by Saatchi & Saatchi, NYC. Their creative work never seizes to impress me.

Below is a list of great ideas and lists to complete your last minute holiday gifts. I compiled it as I was making up my mind of what to get. The economy has not improved and most of us are cautiously measuring our spending. Last year, I wrote a post entitled, 15 ideas for Creative and Low-Cost Holiday Gifts, that you may also find beneficial. Many of them cost nothing. So on to the list, shall we?

Cool blog posts with plenty of smart gift ideas:

Five Holiday Gifts for Nerds Under 100 Bucks by Social Media Rockstar Chris Brogan.
Gift Ideas for the New Media Business Professionals by Mitch Joel (author of the 2009 hit, Six Pixels of Separation).
Gift Guide 2009 by IttyBiz
NPR also has a Good List of Books to Give. If your friend does not like to read, here are 10 Awesome Books to Give Your Non-Reading Friends from FlavorWire.
And to wrap it up, don’t miss 9 Awesome Kitchen Gifts and, 36 Green Gift Wrapping Ideas by Wise Bread.

And lastly, here are two free PDF’s you can attach on an email along with personalized Holiday greetings.

J.C. Hutchins (best-selling author of 7th Son) asked 11 best-selling authors, entrepreneurs, and storytellers for excerpts of their books. He tied it all together in a special holiday eBook sampler. Go get your free PDF titled, In The Nick Of Time! Holiday Sampler.
Seth Godin’s, What Matters Now, which includes 70+ Ideas from big thinkers. I read and love it, even wrote a short post about it here

Happy Holidays to all!

Got some more?

Please share in the comment section below. Thanks!

American Celebrity Obsession: Can Tiger Atone for His Transgressions?

Jorge Fusaro — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:06:20 +0000

It doesn’t matter where I turn, online or on TV, someone is writing, commenting, or passing judgment on Tiger Woods. I’ve rarely seen/heard any traces of grace, forgiveness, hope, understanding, or respect. The “biggest story this Holiday Season” has received more attention than the 30,000 troops Obama deployed to Afghanistan, health-care, the credit crisis in Dubai, or the Ugandan death penalty law against homosexuals.

There is something really wrong with this picture. Is America obsessed with celebrity culture?

Have you ever done things that you deeply regretted, but cannot undo? How have you dealt with the situation? Did others support in love or point fingers in judgment? Did your supporters (sponsors/fans) abandon you in the trenches or did they lend a helping and compassionate hand?

Take a look around. Do people around you stand against adultery, lies, and/or infidelity? Do they have high standards of integrity and morality?

Take a look at yourself. Are you a saint? Have you not committed a multitude of faults. I know I have.

What is really paradoxical and sad, is that our society doesn’t give a crap about morality. Just, take an honest look around.

Yet, when a celebrity commits adultery, or any other wrongdoing, the media police enter the scene with no shame. The media dresses in white to become a moral authority and pass judgment? As far as I know, opinion and judgment are not the same thing. Is this journalism or people’s court?

Consider this: The same media engine responsible for manufacturing celebrities is also responsible for destroying them. The media is not known for providing unbiased reporting or fostering critical thinking. They usually tell you what to think.

Tiger Woods’ struggles are no different from those of most young adults these days. Add fame, money, and power and it can become a recipe for disaster, for anyone! Can any of us be certain to never fall into temptation?

Adultery is a Terrible Thing

As a disclaimer, I am not attempting to defend or ignore what Tiger did. Adultery is not to be endorsed or accepted. It is perhaps one of the most painful violations of trust that can be committed against someone else. The repercussions are destructive for oneself and others.

However, I do believe in repentance and forgiveness available to all. As well as in grace and the respect of other people’ s privacy. This is personal and private matter for Mr. Woods and his family. The public will always try to make judgments about whether someone’s repentance is authentic or not, but it is impossible to judge the condition of someone’s heart. Consider this famous quote from Jesus: “Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye (Mat 7:3)?” People have no right to judge.

Learning From Every Experience

I’ve learned that almost every experience (positive or negative) has learning potential. We cannot fail to see the positive clouded by all the negative. What if we turn this negative incident into a positive learning lesson for society, sports, and children who perhaps aspired to one day “be like Tiger?” We can learn that:

People are not perfect, and neither are brands and those who market them. Human failure is a consequence of being human and finite.
Tiger’s struggles are no different from those of most young adults these days. Add fame, money, and power to the mix and it can be a recipe for disaster for anyone!
Tiger is human. He is not a god. He is not an idol to worship. He is an excellent player, but he is not perfect. Just like any of us, he makes mistakes.
Selfish actions may end up hurting lots of people, as well as the one who is at fault.
Everyone handles crisis differently. You can’t learn how to handle these situations at the driving range. Let Tiger and his family deal with this on their own, not in the best or most convenient way for the sport, the fans, or the sponsors.
Sometimes taking a temporary or indefinite break from your routine, from work or career can be a great way to seek clarity and regain focus.
Before jumping to judge between what is right and what is wrong, stop to “notice the beam in your own eye?”
When people ask for privacy, the least others can do is respect and honor it. A public figure doesn’t owe any public explanations/confessions.

Adam Ostrow, Editor in Chief at Mashable, is one of the few writers to offer positive comments on Tiger’s story:

“…it’s not our God-given right to know what Tiger does in his personal life…” “…as a man, it’s his right to remain private and accept the consequences, whether they’re lost endorsements or unforgiving fans. That right was seemingly stripped away from him by the ‘we deserve to know everything about everything’ culture we now live in.” (go to post)

Seeking Reconciliation

Atonement basically means the state of being reconciled with God. In a more practical sense, atonement is the attempt to overcome guilt caused by misdemeanors. This process includes a sincere abandonment of sin, repentance, and confession. We are not exactly sure how everything will play out with Tiger’s marriage, sponsorship, fans, golf career, or social life. But we do know (per his personal statement) that he regrets the transgressions he committed with all of his heart:

“I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect.” He goes on to say, “I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.”

So, can Tiger atone for his transgressions?
Absolutely, as well as each and every one of us.

What do you think about all this?

Please share your comments on the section below. Thanks!

Photo by William Hacker

VIDEO: Did You Know?

Jorge Fusaro — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:38:34 +0000

Mind boggling facts and cultural trends on technology, education, and society that will challenge you to think about your present and future. These are the BIGGER things that are happening while we are busy, distracted, or simply living our lives. Great stuff!

Bruce Lee, the Philosopher?

Jorge Fusaro — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:50:21 +0000

I have always been an admirer of martial arts. As a kid, I wanted to grow up and become a ninja. I am thrilled by the techniques, syncopated movements, quick reflexes, and unreal forms and combinations found in the martial arts.

Surfing the web, I found an interesting video from Bruce Lee. But this time, Lee is not fighting or making his trademark face, he is speaking and sounding more like a philosopher. I found it amusing, interesting and a bit outthere. Yet, it did spark a curiosity to learn more about this cultural icon. If you want to read more about Bruce Lee, check out his page on Wikipedia.

This is the video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k1UgOxBytc

Truth is that water must flow in order to be clean. This concept of “flow” makes the metaphor work for me. Water that does not flow becomes stale and contaminated. Flow is critical for the purity of water. I wonder how much of our sicknesses, depressions, anxieties, etc., may result from lack of flow.

A significant fraction of the human body is water.

Water has hundreds of uses for the sustainability of life and humanity.
Water contains oxygen, etc.

MLK on Peace and Justice

Jorge Fusaro — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:26:54 +0000

I am a big fan of Martin Luther and recently found some fave quotes in my notes:

Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.
-Martin Luther King Jr.

“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.
- Martin Luther King Jr., “Strength to Love”

Forty-five years ago, MLK entered the public scene and transformed history. He was born in a poor home in Atlanta, Georgia. Grew up to become a preacher like his father and worked at Montgomery Baptist Church. King’s legacy goes beyond historical facts. Martin initiated a change of perspective and racial relations in the USA. He addressed the racial issues of the day with bravery and tenacity.

Following the footsteps of his leadership America is better today. The future of this country is again filled with hope and promise.

Through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can’t murder murder. Through violence you may murder a liar, but you can’t establish truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can’t murder hate. Darkness cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that….

Difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future. When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.
-Martin Luther King Jr., “Where do we go from here?”, August 1967