The Thursday Thought for today comes from a man whose philosophy and achievements are celebrated today, Cesar Chavez:
“History will judge societies and governments — and their institutions — not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but by how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless.”
It’s been awhile since I’ve inflicted what I think is an interesting phrase-derivation on you. Today I offer “Red-letter day,” which, of course, is a day of special importance or significance.
The phrase really was begun in church, and not because some minister saw an overly packed church on a day other than Christmas or Easter. Actually, it comes from the days when dates of a church festival would be marked in red on its calendars. The first mention in America was in the early 1700s, when “red-letter day” was used in the diary of one Sarah Knight. Way before that, though, William Caxtyon used it in The boke of Eneydos (translated and printed in 1490).
In 1549 the first Book of Common Prayer had a section with a calendar of holy days. These holy days were emphasized by being printed in red ink. In other words, those were “red-letter days.”
Now you know–whether you wanted to or not….
Happy “hump day,” by the way. And keep your mind out of the gutter. Every Wednesday is a red-letter day because we’re over the “hump” of the work week.
This video fascinated me. A photographer throws strangers together, people who likely would not even say “hello” to each other as they passed on the streets, people who seem quite different from each other. What happens makes me think about what could occur if such pairings were made on a large-scale basis.
Let’s collect all the Muslims and ship them out of our country. They don’t add much to our culture, anyway. That’s what some people would have us think. Actually, what would our daily lives be like if Muslims didn’t exist? Before you bathe, have your wake-up cup of coffee, go on a trip, take a video of your grandchild, or a number of other things, watch this video to find out.
https://www.facebook.com/onlookeruk/videos/1734553773446522/
Instead of using a plastic or processed wicker Easter basket, use a wooden one or reuse an old one (may need new coat of paint). Or sew one out of fabric. Or use something reusable, like a sand pail.
[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]
Sometimes when I’m watching the morning news I just have to shake my head and say, “Huh?!” Here are samples from just two weeks of newscasts.
A politician in our area, Leland Yee, pled guilty to corruption. He was caught taking bribes and involved in gun-smuggling. During sentencing, the judge decided that he should take into consideration Yee’s “exemplary character.”
Tragically, a woman’s torso was found in a suitcase near a river. Her head was nowhere to be found. With a straight face, the newscaster told us, “Police are now calling it a suspicious death.”
Then there’s the questionable use of the word “alleged,” often uttered several times during a story. There was the video of the guy holding a gun on a cab driver–the guy was referred to as “the alleged gunman.” Then there was Jason Dalton, who “allegedly” said that his Uber app took over his mind and body, causing him to shoot five people–“allegedly,” despite the fact that there’s a recording of him saying it. And, oh yeah, the object discovered at the O.J. Simson crime scene was an “alleged knife.” (Isn’t a knife just a knife?)
Once a person writes the script for a news broadcast, doesn’t he or she proofread it for logic and common sense?
Oh well. It starts my day with a chuckle.
I’m sorry, but I’m not offering you an informative or humorous blog today. My heart is too heavy as I hear news of even more human beings being killed by terrorists who have no concept of brotherhood or basic human decency. ISIS has claimed responsibility for Brussels, which means the perpetrators are once again profaning the name of Allah, whom they claim as their God yet who must be crying tears of sadness and disappointment right now.
In a few minutes, I intend to ask my God–the universal God of mercy and love–to help the rest of us fight this evil of terrorism.
I know people struggling with depression or who are bipolar or have other conditions–friends with mental illnesses they try to hide, and friends with a mental illness that is very apparent. You probably do, too, since one in four people experience it within any given year. Sometimes, dealing with them isn’t easy. Because I care for them, I want to support them; I want to make their lives more livable. But I’m not a professional, and I don’t want to do or say something that would be harmful to them.
Recently I found a short yet helpful article I’d like to share with you. I’ll give you the five recommendations here. For an explanation of each, read “How to Help a Friend with Mental Illness.”
I’m trying to apply these steps to my friends. I hope others will apply them to me when I need them.
So, you think you’re being discriminated against at work because of your religion–or lack of religion. Guess what. You may be right. Doesn’t matter if you’re Muslim, Christian, atheist, or whatever. This is according to a 2013 national survey released by the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, which says that a third of American workers either feel religious discrimination or observe it at work.
In America, a nation built on religious freedom!
Read about this trend at “Study: Workplace Religious Discrimination on the Rise.”
Then, go to work and do something about it.
