Tweet from Robert Wawee (@RobertWawee)
Robert Wawee (@RobertWawee) tweeted at 9:24 AM on Wed, Dec 12, 2012:
Visit http://t.co/GMz9zJ4G and read my news on higher education in Houston. Search for Houston Higher Education Examiner and subscribe.
(https://twitter.com/RobertWawee/status/278883064896159744)
Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download
A Slightly Different Christmas Message
christmas 2007 (Photo credit: paparutzi)
Dear Readers,
This was sent to me today by email from a friend. While the author is unknown, the message is cogent for our day. Please take a few moments to read it.
By the way, if you happen to know who the author is, drop me a line. I’d love to give proper attribution.
Thank you!
Robert Wawee
Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
Why the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas – no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday ‘.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!
Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Related articles
- Twas the month before Christmas* (gloucestercitynews.net)
The Importance of Community to Personal Success
During his reelection campaign, President Barack Obama told a group of likely voters that a person’s success is largely dependent on the hard work and efforts of everyone in a community. In his now infamous words, he asserted that “you didn’t build that”, referring to the bridges, roads and interconnecting highways that have made us a great, prosperous nation. He explained by saying that “[the] point is … that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together.”[i]
His comment was, of course, taken out of context by Republicans who saw an opportunity to make political hay from it. Nevertheless, the President made a good point, namely, that a community as great and successful as the United States is not the result of one or even a few persons’ successes but many people joining together to make success a possibility for all of us. If we understand the President’s point in this context, there is merit to it.
In his book, “The Outliers” (2009)[ii], Malcolm Gladwell examined the lives of famous athletes, rock groups and entrepreneurs. What he discovered is perhaps, hard for some people to hear but nonetheless true, namely, that the great social icons we admire as “self-made” individuals relied, not only on their native ability, talent, and personal drive to dream big and succeed, but also a good deal of support from others who captured their vision and helped make it a reality. In other words, success depends in part on how clever or smart we are, but also in good measure on a community who believe in our ideas and can promote them. The concept that success in any attempt involves both personal initiative and the support of others is hardly new. Indeed, it reaches deep into our history as a nation.
For example, it took the entire community of states gathering in 1787 at the State House in Philadelphia to reach an agreement that the community that was to become the United States of America was vastly more important than the interests of a few who opposed or feared the forming of the Constitution. Even though history dubbed George Washington the “father of our Country” in the American Revolution and later, lauded James Madison as “the father of the Constitution”, neither of these renowned, famous men could have aspired to or achieved greatness without the unity and support of a community who shared their vision and saw the wisdom in supporting their ideas. The United States could not have become a nation without the efforts of the entire community.
Although we have people in our society who aspire to greatness because of their talent, natural ability and perseverance to see their ideas come to fruition, we must remind ourselves that we do not live in a vacuum. We cannot succeed apart from a community. No matter how adamantly we insist that we are self-made people, the truth is that we are successful, not only because we are smart or clever, but because there were family, friends and acquaintances who believed in our dreams and supported our efforts.
If the recession has taught us anything about our common life as a people, it is that we need each other’s gifts and abilities in order for all of us to succeed. Perhaps it’s time that we revise the idea of “rugged individualism” to include community.
(Copyright 2012 by Robert Wawee)
[ii] Gladwell, Malcolm. (2009). Outliers : the story of success. Camberwell, Vic. : Penguin Book
Related articles
- Lincoln’s Words of Wisdom – may we all take heed. (thejoywriter.typepad.com)
The Death of a Valuable Social Asset — Common Sense
The London Times (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The following article has a powerful message, which is why I am eager to share it with my readers. However, the only thing I know about the article’s origination is that it is an obituary (of sorts) that was originally printed in the London Times. Let these words sink in:
“Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
– Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
– Why the early bird gets the worm;
– Life isn’t always fair;
– and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
-I Know My Rights
-I Want It Now
-Someone Else Is To Blame
-I’m A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on.
If not, join the majority and do nothing. ”
Related articles
- Repost: The death of common sense (emmabauer.wordpress.com)
There is always forgiveness and an abundance of mercy with God. Only human beings struggle to forgive and let go of the past. Read the story of a sinner who became a saint – Charles Colson in this morning’s New York Times. NYTimes: Charles W. Colson, Watergate Felon Who Became Evangelical Leader, Dies at 80.
NYTimes: Charles W. Colson, Watergate Felon Who Became Evangelical Leader, Dies at 80
http://nyti.ms/I139d2
Posted from WordPress for Android
From the Front Porch: “Choices”
Image via Wikipedia
From the Front Porch: I’m passing this along from a friend on Facebook hoping that it will speak to you.
It’s a poem by Ashley Black.
It’s called “Choice”.
Much of the time, our choices are reactions to our
fleeting momentary perspective.
But we can change what we choose.
Listen to these words:
I Choose….
to live by choice, not by chance;
to make changes, not excuses;
to be motivated, not manipulated;
to be useful, not used;
to excel, not compete.
I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.
I choose to listen to my inner voice,
not the random opinion of others.
(Ashley Black)
Related articles
- From the Front Porch: Is Anything Really Impossible? (rwawee.com)
- From the Front Porch: Who are You? (rwawee.com)
From the Front Porch: So You’re a Perfectionist?
People who can’t tolerate their own imperfections are often quick to point out the imperfections of others. The next time you demand that others accede to a limited, narrow perspective of perfection, think about it: perhaps the dis-ease lies in you rather than them.
Posted from WordPress for Android
Believers bemoan, cheer Prop 8 ruling – USATODAY.com
Believers bemoan, cheer Prop 8 ruling : http://usat.ly/wK2l5B
Some responses to the Federal Judge’s ruling overturning California’s Proposition 8 which bans same-sex marriage. Radical feminists and postmodernists are likely to respond to critics who oppose the Judge’s ruling in the days ahead. Moreover, this case is likely to land in the Supreme Court for judicial review.
Posted from WordPress for Android
Till death (or illness or dementia) us do part? – USATODAY.com
Till death (or illness or dementia) us do part? : http://usat.ly/y3f92V
The issue of how to care for a loved one who is
diagnosed with dementia, Altzheimers or terminal disease is much in the news these days. What is your philosophy on how to handle the stresses of caring for someone who cannot care for themselves?
Posted from WordPress for Android
From the Front Porch: “I Am a Teacher”
Phila. Teachers on Capitol Steps, Wash., D.C., 5/13/11 (LOC) (Photo credit: The Library of Congress)
I love this poem written by a teacher because it says so much about this wonderful profession that people often take for granted. Yes, I’m a teacher, and proud of it, not only because it’s what I do to make a living but also because it’s what God has called me to do with my life. I hope you are energized by the poem’s passion for teaching excellence. In order to give proper attribute, I got the poem from http://members.tripod.com/~Patricia_F/poems.html It’s called “A Teacher’s Creed”:
A Teacher’s Creed
I believe I have been called by God to teach.
I believe in children…young and old…black and white…rich and poor….each in need of learning.
I believe in blackboards, chalk dust, textbooks, and computers for each has a part in imparting knowledge.
I believe the love I give to my students will someday be reflected in their lives.
I believe the gift of teaching is not measured simply by marks, enrollment, or the end of the school year.
It is in the witness I give and the fullness of the life lived by those I teach.
I believe I have the power to lead those in need of learning to the threshold of their own minds.
I believe in my giftedness to use each of the tools available no matter how new or old..for the light of knowledge in the eyes of another is my goal.
I believe teaching is more than tests, diplomas, paperwork, and fundraising.
It is the values I breathe daily into another…slowly.
It is in the faith I share in Jesus…ever changing and growing…never ending.
I believe my success today goes unnoticed…until those i teach and touch can stand alone and say “in my life I have learned…”
I believe if I have taught and touched one person…in God’s name…I have used my gift to me justly..and can humbly say…
I believe in teaching….
I AM A TEACHER!!
Thanks to Julie McClellan
Related articles
- How can I use my knowledge to teach others? (career-advice.monster.co.uk)
- Teaching the Teacher Inside (yaelflusberg.wordpress.com)
- What makes a good teacher? (malbell.com)
From the Front Porch...... 