Real Talk!

I've been busy... and in between, in those precious quiet moments, I have been observing.

There is an awful lot going on in the world today and I've observed some patterns, themes- if you will. At times, I muse that life can be a lot like the movie "Groundhog Day". And I know that the human being is programmed, among other things- but pretty intensively, to identify patterns.

The television is full of science, parascience and history, military and mystery, with a smattering of things we can giggle about. As always, there are observable trends and themes.

Conspiracy Theories are somehow becoming mainstream... or at least there are all kinds of people speculating. Politics and religion seem to be being scrutinized. Just when you think that the U.S.A. is being called onto the carpet... you might think that the U.S.A. is making most of the calls...

Global warming, earth changes, economic collapse, brain washing, alien technology, healthcare, policing, goverment, legal wrangling of every description, war, the Mayan Calendar, prophesy, weather conditions.

And there's lotsa talk about the Bilderbergs, World Leaders and corrupt Corporate power... DNA, Knights Templar and Nazis...

I observe: fear is a very powerful energy... and I also observe: sometimes it is used.

I've also observed alliances of people in ardent pursuit of truth and taking personal responsibilty.

In my own life, I've always maintained that I can only do my best, think the best, have positive goals... you know, keep an open mind, be thoughful, make decisions based on my own observations and while the perspective may change as information is observed... my core truth does not change because I simply listen to my soul and it guides me toward being the best I can, doing the best I can and embracing the common "good". For me, this works- in every situation.

When people ask me what I would like (for my birthday, for Christmas, for lunch... whatever) I have always said (and I continue to say "I'll have World Peace, thank you")... because that IS what I will have, if you're asking what you can provide. The way I see it, most other stuff is encompassed in that paradigm or is inconsequential, comparitively.

I keep being told that "there is no such thing as a coincidence".

So how about this... a few weeks ago, while I was reading two very different books and observing their similarities...

(at least how I felt the resonation... while they came at it from wildly opposing sources)

... during that reading, in my mind, they both spoke very clearly to achieving the best possible world.)

and then, one afternoon, my daughter came home from school and she was doing a project on "Global Citizenship"... part of the required curriculum... and she had point form notes of charcateristics that defined a Global Citizen...

I don't think the specific Titles and Authors much matter here... but, I showed her the books and we talked a little about the more specific aspects of each book and then about how they each held messages about being a citizen of The World.

Together, we "surfed" and we talked. The way we always do. Seeking other sources of inspiration and other views and historical references on the topic of Citizenship and the Globe...

And as we chatted and researched, I "cut and pasted" notes into a software program, to keypoint and underline certain items of discussion... some things for us to have to refer to...

Then, I printed that stuff off and held on to it, until my daughter was satisfied that her project was complete- at which time, I disposed of the print out. I did not "save" the notes in my computer file...

Since then, every single time that I open that wordprocessing program, it opens up with those notes displayed... the ones that I didn't save! And regardless of my efforts, I have not been able to make it stop.

When I want to save or write something in that wordprocessing program, I have to delete all those notes about Global Citizenship, first... and if I want to "save" the file, I have to rename it, every time... otherwise the program tries to save it under the first line of those Global Citizenship notes... which is: "dedicated to the design of solutions"

I thought I'd share the notes here... I wish I could quote the sources... but I didn't save those. I hadn't meant to use them anywhere. I had kept them, to be used as inspiration, in those moments... and it's as though these words have decided to stay. The remainder of this blog are those words:

"

dedicated to the design of solutions to international problems based on the fundamental principles of equal human dignity, liberty, democracy, and constitutionally protected basic rights of all.

Citizenship is a series of duties and rights.

Citizenship is a series of duties and rights.

in one of its documents, World Citizenship: A Global Ethic for Sustainable Development (no date, p. 2), the BIC defines world citizenship as acceptance of and respect for principles, values, attitudes, and behaviors such as: Accepting all human beings as members of the human family. Considering the earth our home. Feeling both patriotic and international. Accepting unity and diversity. Supporting social justice and economic justice. Supporting cooperative and consultative decision-making.

acceptance of and respect for principles, values, attitudes, and behaviors such as: Accepting all human beings as members of the human family. Considering the earth "our home." Feeling both patriotic and international. Accepting "unity" and "diversity." Supporting social justice and economic justice. Supporting cooperative and consultative decision-making

In one of its documents, World Citizenship: A Global Ethic for Sustainable Development (no date, p. 2), the BIC defines "world citizenship" as acceptance of and respect for principles, values, attitudes, and behaviors such as:
1. Accepting all human beings as members of the human family.
2. Considering the earth "our home."
3. Feeling both patriotic and international.
4. Accepting "unity" and "diversity."
5. Supporting social justice and economic justice.
6. Supporting cooperative and consultative decision-making.
7. Achieving gender equality.
8. Striving for racial, ethnic, national, and religious harmony.
9. Working for the "common good."
10. Encouraging human honor and dignity, understanding, friendship, cooperation, trustworthiness, caring, respect, and volunteer service.

Having a good relationship with people all over the world, communicating and getting along with other people, and understanding cultures and societies across borders seems to reflect an "internationalization" and a knowledge/academic world view. The third type of answer, the view of most of the group, was that world citizenship meant cooperating, doing things for others, and volunteering, perhaps reflecting experiences connected with the Hanshin earthquake (Kobe, 1995) and the rise in social consciousness resulting from that disaster.
How a person might become a world citizen consisted of four general categories: volunteering, becoming multinational in outlook, world events, and studying. Being multinational in outlook was vague. It included developing a sense of multinationalism, thinking about the world, hoping for world peace, and having an awareness of the difficulties some people have with a world citizen concept because of religion, history, and tradition. About one-third of the group felt that volunteering and helping others was the way to become a world citizen, mentioning such things as: helping or doing something for another person; volunteering for community service; joining a peace movement or group; planning events for poor or handicapped people; taking part in exchange program activities with foreigners; and having kindness for everybody.

1. Humanity is one and indivisible; each member of the human race is a trust of the whole.
· Raising children to be world citizens.
· The basic concept: To know and respect others.
· Thoughtfulness resulting form fraternal love is useful to raise humanity.
2. A world community whose borders are those of the planet and whose members are all humankind.
· *UNICEF Activities
· Overcoming hypocrisy must be based on global ways of thinking.
· *TV Commercials and Refugees
· Putting ourselves in another person's place is very important; TV commercials have a great effect on various global problems.
· *Aren't Japanese Asians?
· The first step is to give up our prejudice that the Japanese are special.
· *Internationalization in Japan (Same as above)
3. A commitment to a global ethic of justice, equality, caring, altruistic service and responsibility for the well-being of all.
· *Mother Teresa
· A model of love and thoughtfulness for everyone.
4. The future, peace and prosperity of each person is inseparable from that of all humanity.
· *Recycling
· Paying attention to the future of the earth.
· *Jody Williams and ICBL
· All people in the world should spare no effort to solve landmine problems. It is our common problem.
· *Refugee Problems
· Thinking deeply to solve world problems must raise a strong sense of justice in our minds.
5. What unites us is greater and more powerful than what divides us.
· *NGO Activities
· Interest and courage have unbelievable possibilities. We can do anything if we believe we can work things out.
6. The diversity of humanity is a source of richness and beauty.
· *Women becoming world citizens
· Recognizing individual differences is related to respecting others. We can survive if we are considerate of each other.
· *Development and Education
· Helping poor countries and poor people creates a fundamental relationship.
7. The history of humanity as one people is now beginning.
· *Secondary School and Education
· Human beings live to think and speak. Education and knowledge must enrich our lives.
To be a citizen of the world means quite simply to be actively involved, ... "