Hi Dennis,
Thank you for your encouraging words.

I think the world would be better when we have more Diplomats having your way of thoughts.

What are you major in?

Regards,

I agree world peace could be easier without governments making people fearful of each other. War is for people who don't think hard enough for the alternatives that would work far better for everyone.

Thanks for the comments on my site. I wish I could swim in the waters without ill effects. But its become so toxic and governments here just blame "the runoff from rain" as if the pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, heavy metals, oils, & other toxins from unthoughtful human "landscaping" & there polluting transportation are not the real cause. We need to tax the toxins to pay for making better ways in cleaner transportation & organic landscaping without chemicals or machines to maintain them. Its so much more pleasant to sweep with a corn broom than use a gas powered blower with its stink & noise. - there are many more better ways listed on my site www.BryanTree.org

Hi Dennis

Hi Dennis

I am glad that the Christmas season is over. For the past two weeks I have talked with many shoppers and have found most of them trying to "endure" the season. There were so many rude people in all the stores that I went into. I tried to encourage them to be a little cheerful and be kind, I received many snide remarks. It got me wondering if modern people know how to be happy. Upon conversing with the cashiers I found that many of them found the rudeness of the customers routine. I usually shopped in the afternoon or evening hours for the necessities of my household so I was able to run into more shoppers. I enjoy the conversations I have with people as I shop because I get to see how commercialism has changed society. It seems that the more "stuff" people had in their carts, the more they were prone to be in a bad attitude. I wondered how they could be so blessed to buy all that stuff and not be grateful. Has our society evolved into an uncaring mass? And as I drove home I passed many garages that were packed with stuff. I know from experience that many of the people around my area do not even know their own neighbors. How can society change for the better when people are so wrapped-up in their possessions?
As knowledge rapidly expands in our times, can we not take the time to become knowledgable about each other. I believe people are our most powerful resource for a better life. To me, a better life is having friendships rather than stuff.
At our family Christmas meal I got to meet a fine couple-David and Kathy-who were friends of my sister-in-law when they were very young children. When effort is invested in people, time may fly bye, but the relationship stays strong. And it was in the sharing of their lives with one another that made for the most joy at our meal. Of course we have some great cooks in my family, but we seem to enjoy friends the most.
My prayer for the next year will be that people every where will take time and effort to expand their contacts. Joy given and joy received comes wrapped in two lips, not the paper and bows that are quickly disgarded. Kind words are the nourishments for the hopes of all we encounter. We live on one planet, so let us seek to be one in the spirit of humanity that our creator has intended. God bless to all.

You're welcome. Remember, summer is the fallow season. Plant in Sept. and March.

Hi Dennis,

I think the answer to the problem of individual isolation and lack of manners in society is to build community. When people are involved in community service or volunteer projects, they meet others who they can learn from and also befriend. Also, volunteering gives people a sense of having contributed to their community and an interest in its safety and success. Near where I live there is a street that has a wooded lot. People drive by and throw garbage out of their car window into that lot. The volunteers who collected many tons of garbage from the river and other areas in the county do not clean up that street. From time to time, I pick up trash along the street while I am walking, separating the recyclables which I later rinse and put in the recycle bin. I believe people are moving around so often and from so many different places that they do not have a vested interest in where they live or a sense of involvement. It is important for us to learn from each others' cultures and also to build community across lines of ethnicity, religion and country or region of origin. This will help us to understand and appreciate each other and our community.

Thanks for your caring. You are a model citizen in my eyes. We need all to follow your example. Thanks

Hi Dennis. Wishing you and your loved ones peace, health, happiness and prosperity in the coming New Year.

Today,the day after the Iowa primary elections, I had the opportunity to talk to many about those who ran. It amazes me that the majority of people have tuned-out the political jazz that is constantly on the tv. I keep hearing that no matter who gets into office, the old ways of corruption will continue, and the general interests of the people will continue to be ignored. In fact, a lot of people could not name half the candidates. It seems to me that those in power associate with and cater to those who line their pockets. When I was a youngster, in the 60`s, my generation had a belief that we could make a big difference in this world. What has become of our idealism? Some of us have volunteered in many ways to improve society, but there seems to be a general malaise for empowering the common citizen. Living in Florida-the home of many retired people from all the countries-I find that people just want to be left alone and enjoy the benefits of retirement. There has to be people with vision who can excite the citizens to greater heights of accomplishments. A lot of the children in school, including college, have a dislike for learning. A lot have no idea what they want to do with their lives. The big corporations seem to have manipulated the general populace into being just consumers. I watch the Science channel and find that there are so many ways that individuals are building a better way of life. New inventions, discoveries into the biological fields, possibilities of many cures for various illnesses- so many ways for everyone to get involved. Every country`s energy problems can be solved if we could use the newer technologies. America, and the world, needs to have a "Marshall Plan" to build the best next century possible.
I hope the politicians of the world could just use wisdom to integrate the best each country has for the benefit for the whole world. Those with billions of dollars can radically change the world for all if it was invested in research and development.
People of vision will always create for the better. The vision for this site can definitely explore new pathways into the societies of our planet. The more I learn about others in all countries, the more they remind me of myself, my hopes and desires. Life will continue forward and I pray that more people will be courageous to take the paths less traveled. With a common vision as "our brother`s keeper," we can revolutionize life here on earth.