TORRRCCCCCHHHHH LIGHT!!!!
A week ago steel barricades went up on Canberra streets in preparation for the Olympic Torch relay.
Very early this morning busload after busload disgorged thousands of people from Sydney.
Over the 10 mile or so route, there were interesting examples of democracy in action.
Protestors supporting human rights in Tibet and Burma were outnumbered by Chinese supporters.
Some Chinese supporters were thuggish in their behaviour surrounding protestors and kicking and screaming at them. Fortunately the police intervened several times to allow the surrounded protestors escape.
Unfortunately at the concert protestors were basically escorted away, and were not allowed to continue with their activism.
However, other Chinese, particularly students, were dignified, pleasant and amicable.
A sea of red flags diluted the presence of Free Tibet protest flags.
It was heart-warming to see some Chinese in yellow T-shirts calming Chinese who were aggresively attacking verbally protestors.
Isolated incidents of Chinese physically assaulting protestors, snatching Free Tibet flags and breaking the sticks attached to the flags occurred.
Australians ranged in behaviour from saying that sport should be separated from politics, to others saying that protestors were well within their civil rights to make their protest.
A Buddhist nun, walking slowly along a road, holding a banner for a free Tibet, and chanting quitened Chinese activists who had been abusing protestors, and other Buddhists joined in the chant, a memorable moment, that had a deep affect on all who watched it.
A huge police presence did much to maintain the peace, and it is worth noting that 8 arrests compared to 76 at the Skyfire firework celebration indicate the police were not over zealous.
At Commonwealth Park the Australian and Chinese national anthems were sung with much gusto, and the crowds enjoyed the following concert.
As dusk quickened over the national capital, the barricades were being put back on trucks and the streets returned to normal.
The Olympic Torch symbolises something that cannot really be attained in the world, but at least today in Canberra sport, politics and activism and national pride intersected.
People were exposed to differing viewpoints and memories result.
FREE TIBET!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
shamelessly stolen from becky of Arabia:
Quotes Part IV
From The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes it interesting
It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary
To realize one’s Personal Legend is a person’s only real obligation
People learn early in their lives what is their reason for being – maybe that’s why they give it up so early
The boy felt jealous of the freedom of the wind, and saw that he could have the same freedom. There was nothing to hold him back except himself
Dreaming gives me something to live for
Sometimes there’s just no way to hold back the river
Never stop dreaming. Follow the omens.
And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it
There is a force that wants you to realize your Personal Legend; it whets your appetite with a taste of success.
God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you.
Urim – white stone – no
Thummim – black stone – yes
The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon (never forget what is true and dear to you)
Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.
The desert is a capricious lady, and sometimes she drives men crazy
The closer one gets to realizing his Personal Legend, the more that Personal Legend becomes his true reason for being.
Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of Life
People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want
When you want something with all your heart, that’s when you are closest to the soul of the universe
All things of manifestations of one thing only
Because people become fascinated with pictures and words and wind up forgetting the Language of the World.
If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path.
Don’t be impatient. Eat when it’s time to eat. And move along when it is time to move along.
He felt the urge to go out into the desert to see if its silence held the answers to his questions.
Always heed the omens
The secret is here in the present
All of us know that whoever believes in dreams also knows how to interpret them
To die tomorrow was no worse than dying on any other day.
You already know all you need to know. I am only going to point you in the direction of your treasure
Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You’ve got to find your treasure so that everything you have learned along the way makes sense.
Life attracts life
Are you a man of the desert knowing that you have to go away in order to return?
The omens will abandon you because you’ve stopped listening to them.
One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.
I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.
Listen to your heart
In pursuing your dreams, you might lose everything you’ve won.
The fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself.
Strongest qualities – courage, enthusiasm
Be aware of the place where you are brought to tears. That’s where I am, and that’s where your treasure is.
The path was written in the omens and there was no way I could go wrong.
Quotes Part IV
From The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes it interesting
It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary
To realize one’s Personal Legend is a person’s only real obligation
People learn early in their lives what is their reason for being – maybe that’s why they give it up so early
The boy felt jealous of the freedom of the wind, and saw that he could have the same freedom. There was nothing to hold him back except himself
Dreaming gives me something to live for
Sometimes there’s just no way to hold back the river
Never stop dreaming. Follow the omens.
And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it
There is a force that wants you to realize your Personal Legend; it whets your appetite with a taste of success.
God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you.
Urim – white stone – no
Thummim – black stone – yes
The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon (never forget what is true and dear to you)
Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.
The desert is a capricious lady, and sometimes she drives men crazy
The closer one gets to realizing his Personal Legend, the more that Personal Legend becomes his true reason for being.
Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of Life
People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want
When you want something with all your heart, that’s when you are closest to the soul of the universe
All things of manifestations of one thing only
Because people become fascinated with pictures and words and wind up forgetting the Language of the World.
If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path.
Don’t be impatient. Eat when it’s time to eat. And move along when it is time to move along.
He felt the urge to go out into the desert to see if its silence held the answers to his questions.
Always heed the omens
The secret is here in the present
All of us know that whoever believes in dreams also knows how to interpret them
To die tomorrow was no worse than dying on any other day.
You already know all you need to know. I am only going to point you in the direction of your treasure
Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You’ve got to find your treasure so that everything you have learned along the way makes sense.
Life attracts life
Are you a man of the desert knowing that you have to go away in order to return?
The omens will abandon you because you’ve stopped listening to them.
One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.
I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.
Listen to your heart
In pursuing your dreams, you might lose everything you’ve won.
The fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself.
Strongest qualities – courage, enthusiasm
Be aware of the place where you are brought to tears. That’s where I am, and that’s where your treasure is.
The path was written in the omens and there was no way I could go wrong.
We are Australians!
Following on from the 2020 Summit, when the headlines are buzzing with an equal and reconciled republic, the nation's best-known performers have come together under the name of The GetUp Mob to release a new version of the Paul Kelly classic "From little things, big things grow". Already today it's splashed its way into the nation's papers. Let's make it a number one hit!
If together we top the charts, this message will rocket around the country's airwaves and TV screens on high rotation to an audience of millions and it costs you just $1.69 online to achieve that goal. Our power is in numbers, our message can inspire reconciliation. Click here now to view it (for free) and buy the world's newest history-making song:
Make this a hit
Following on from the 2020 Summit, when the headlines are buzzing with an equal and reconciled republic, the nation's best-known performers have come together under the name of The GetUp Mob to release a new version of the Paul Kelly classic "From little things, big things grow". Already today it's splashed its way into the nation's papers. Let's make it a number one hit!
If together we top the charts, this message will rocket around the country's airwaves and TV screens on high rotation to an audience of millions and it costs you just $1.69 online to achieve that goal. Our power is in numbers, our message can inspire reconciliation. Click here now to view it (for free) and buy the world's newest history-making song:
Make this a hit
Monday, April 21, 2008
An author whome I sell, has written this:
Humanity reflected in the diversity of books Brian Doyle April 21, 2008
They have faces, of course — covers for what is inside. Often the cover belies the interior, just as the bright alluring faces of people often hide the seething and confusing stories beneath them.
And they have spines of various strengths and tensile pliability like we do. Spines that sag and crack and creak, spines that are wonderfully strong and flexible for a few decades and then invisibly deteriorate and lose their glue. They have arms too, so to speak — a book opened wide very like arms flung open. And their back covers, so dense with explanation and blurb, look very like the hirsute backs of heads;.
continues here
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