The paradox of self destruction and success: a paternal gift? Discuss.

Z

What if Man had not handed over the dispensation of hope, faith, grace and charity to a god?

Z

On Children

Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your childrenas living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

I made up a little paradox: "what comes after you but goes ahead of you" - Children! I believe that it is my mission to work in this lifetime on the cycle of abuse - where families tend to perpetuate harm that passes into future generations so creating a world of occasional pain and suffering. Some children suffer more than others and therefore some adults hurt each other more than others and the more sophisticated it gets, more harm is done to more people viz., political leaders, captains of industry and celebrities - even teachers! I have extracted the poem by Khalil Gibran - it follows.

Z

Does Daddy love me mummy?

THE DUTIES OF ADULTS

· To accept challenge
· To forgive inexperience
· To be authentic
· Not to hide behind experience
· To understand the rights of young people
· Not to betray posterity
· Not to abuse their power or seniority
· To foster understanding alongside young people
· To seek the vivaciousness of young people in themselves
· To pursue the dream of eternal youth
· Work in partnership with young people
· Refuse to grow old and die
· Reject ‘conventional’ wisdom
· Respect their’s and others’ children
· Give in to the winds of change
· Read Khalil Gibran
· Learn to detect hypocrisy
· Be led by young people
· Do not claim to be an authority
· Distrust those who seek to organise

When "I" were a lad....buy gum.

THE RIGHTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE

To an equal place in society
Not to be dictated to
To take the risks they choose
To take their recreation as they find it
To establish their own personal boundaries
To challenge ageism and paternalism
Not to accept the status quo
To be free to sort out their own differences
To be free not to get on the work treadmill
To be free to challenge the boredom of education
To challenge the values of their elders and to be valued for it
To value their youth and accept ageing when they choose to
To make mistakes
To learn the hard way
To challenge the lessons and the rules they are faced with
To ignore the ‘wisdom’ of others
To be themselves
To enjoy each other without being judged

"virtue cares less whether it judges nor whether discrimination points to the truth"

Z

IF THE CHIMES RANG A THOUSAND TIMES

IF THE CHIMES RANG A THOUSAND TIMES
THE LISTENER WOULD HEAR ONLY ONE RING
IF THE WIND RUSHES BY AT FIFTY PACES
THE MAN FALTERS AT THE FIRST STEP

Z