We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms–to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
Viktor E. Frankl
Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.
Karen Ravn
The evolution of Man has been truly extraordinary. Our natural curiosity and ability to project has through the ages, driven us to create, discover and develop the technologically advanced world we live in today.
From the creation of the wheel, to the horse drawn carriage, to the Automobile, the Locomotive, the airplane and eventually the space shuttle - each century of Man’s survival has brought with it a series of new inventions sprung from our desire to push the boundaries of what is possible.
This week we celebrate the anniversary of man’s first steps on the Moon. 40 years ago Neil Armstrong uttered those famous words “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind..” Sixty-six years after the invention of early forms of airborne human transport, we were walking on the moon!
Now, less than half a century later, the space shuttle Endeavor has docked with the International Space Station marking the first time that 13 people have been floating around in space at the same time. It is an incredible age we live in, and a huge tribute to mankind that we have made the technological progress that we have.
The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.
- Albert Einstein
We forge gradually our greatest instrument for understanding the world - introspection. We discover that humanity may resemble us very considerably - that the best way of knowing the inwardness of our neighbors is to know ourselves.
“The natural world is the larger sacred community to which we belong. To be alienated from this community is to become destitute in all that makes us human. To damage this community is to diminish our own existence.”
I remember sitting in the girls locker room before gym class – I could hear the playful boisterous voices of my classmates down the hall – however I was alone. I was 12 years old, and the only girl in my class at school. I wanted so badly to be like the boys – to be accepted by them to be allowed to play with them - I tried to rid myself of all “girly” qualities and blend in.
Two days ago three of my friends, two men and a woman, were discussing different “games” we could share with a larger group of our friends to help alleviate fear and develop trust in our community. There were certain things we could not all agree upon – and I was perplexed as to why! I easily slip back to my childhood where I forget to notice just how different we are from each other, neither good nor bad, just different. For the past two years, I have been a part of a women’s organization – Jness - which imparts a curricula developed to help women distinguish the differences between men and women, understand the differences and embrace them. Through this education I am learning about the essence of a woman in me and the beauty of vulnerability, and the true strength we have within us.
In history women have stood together to bring about change peacefully, to stop violence through non-violence, yet here at home, we are often blind to it. Here it is a subtle violence, one we all participate in: We destroy our own essence, by trying to blend in, by judging our differences, by believing the modern day image of a woman is who we are or should be – through this we destroy the essence of both man and woman.
Women have a special capacity to lead us to a more peaceful world with compassion, affection and kindness. And there is no more important time for that than this moment.
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The Summer Olympics 2008 played host to an amazing display of human excellence - a new 100 metre world record. Usain Bolt’s seemingly effortless performance was like poetry in motion, giving us a glimpse of what the human body can achieve.
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.
~Ambrose Redmoon
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
~Mahatma Gandhi
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
~ Albert Einstein
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
There are few individuals who have the strength to uphold their principles in the face of violence and oppression. Aung San Suu Kyi is such a person. British Prime Minister,Gordon Brown said “Suu Kyi’s courage is the courage to sacrifice her own happiness and a comfortable life so that, through her struggle, she might win the right of an entire nation to seek happy and comfortable lives. It is the absolute expression of selflessness. Paradoxically, in sacrificing her own liberty, she strengthens its cry and bolsters its claim for the people she represents”
Today, Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13 years and 204 days in detention.
Her “crime”?
Believing in human rights and having the courage and strength to uphold her ideals.
Since winning the presidential election by an 82% margin in 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi has spent over 19 years in and out of detained arrest. Since her original detention the military regime has continued to make excuses to continue her detention. This year is no exception. May 27th, 2009, was to be the end of this long endured injustice, however on May 14th 2009, Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested for allegedly breaching the terms of her arrest after an uninvited American man broke into her home. She was taken to Insein Prison; notorious for its horrific conditions and abusive treatment of detainees, she is being denied medical treatment by her captors who are aware of her fragile health.
I think Aung San Suu Kyi herself describes this injustice profoundly in her “Freedom From Fear” Address: “It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”
The question remains: How can we transform this fear, disseminate the need for power over others and build our own inner strength?