-
Waves
-
Enlightenment
-
They Said It Couldn't Be Done
Bananafish308: Sign outside a United Methodist Church: "Those preventing history from being taught intend to repeat it." SO TRUE!! |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution." -Tyree Scott |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "In life lots of times there is no logic. Lots and lots of times. Lots of times." -Steven Wright |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose." - The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "In life lots of times there is no logic. Lots and lots of times. Lots of times." -Steven Wright |
||
![]() | ||
|
![]() |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "One must not think slightingly of the paradoxical...for the paradox is the source of the thinker's passion, and the thinker without a paradox is like a lover without feeling: a paltry mediocrity." -Soren Kierkegaard |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "A word to the unwise. Torch every book. Char every page. Burn every word to ash. Ideas are incombustible. And therein lies your real fear." -Ellen Hopkins |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "All tyrannies rule through fraud and force, but once the fraud is exposed they must rely exclusively on force." ― George Orwell |
||
![]() | ||
|
![]() |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: "There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." -Isaac Asimov |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "You can sway a thousand men by appealing to their prejudices quicker than you can convince one man by logic." -Robert A. Heinlein |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: "When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent." -Issac Asimov Isn't that the truth. The current war on knowledge is so profoundly disturbing that words can't put it into proper perspective. |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "I dream of a world where the truth is what shapes people's politics, rather than politics shaping what people think is true." -Neil deGrasse Tyson |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: Think you're bored? Sir Isaac Newton invented calculus during the plague. Do you have any idea of how bored you must be to invent calculus? |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: ?The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ?Tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.? -Mark Twain |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: ?The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ?Tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.? -Mark Twain |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." -Leo Buscaglia |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: Those of us in the U.S. must never forget the carnage inflicted by the terrorist, traitorous, white supremacist, mass-murdering, child torturing, lying, sexual predator, pervert, ex-president. |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: Those of us in the U.S. must never forget the carnage inflicted by the terrorist, traitorous, white supremacist, mass-murdering, child torturing, lying, sexual predator, pervert, ex-president. |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: Those of us in the U.S. must never forget the carnage inflicted by the terrorist, traitorous, white supremacist, mass-murdering, child torturing, lying, sexual predator, pervert, ex-president. |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: Those of us in the U.S. must never forget the carnage inflicted by the terrorist, traitorous, white supremacist, mass-murdering, child torturing, lying, sexual predator, pervert, ex-president. |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
- | ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: Those of us in the U.S. must never forget the carnage inflicted by the terrorist, traitorous, white supremacist, mass-murdering, child torturing, lying, sexual predator, pervert, ex-president. |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: Those of us in the U.S. must never forget the carnage inflicted by the terrorist, traitorous, white supremacist, mass-murdering, child torturing, lying, sexual predator, pervert, ex-president. |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "Fear of ideological defeat is no match for the fear of imminent death." -Charles M. Blow |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." -Søren Kierkegaard |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: "To see life through the prism of a White American male is the most infinitesimally narrow of viewpoints." -Me (A White American male) |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
-unknown Merry Christmas, Bill. - | ||
Your response says it all, my friend. While I know I shouldn't waste another moment on such a ridiculous comment, I will take it as an opportunity to thank this person for giving me this chance to reiterate a point I have made repeatedly in the past. The current divide in this country is not about politics. It is about something much more profound and disturbing, as demonstrated by this comment. So, to reluctantly address the comment, it is not necessary for anyone with reasonable intelligence and a shred of humanity to understand the plight of another without actually having the same experiences. It is called having BASIC HUMAN DECENCY - something totally alien to a significant segment of the population. This comment was a stark reminder of how this particular segment castigates those who advocate for compassion and tolerance and therein lies the TRUE divide. - | ||
|
Bananafish308: "Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." -Leo Buscaglia |
||
![]() | ||
The weak are filled with fear, the ideal of sharing isn't acceptable, and from that fear often comes cruelty and violence...Victoria - | ||
| ||
I not only believe, I do know, for sure, You are one of the Strong, and so am I...I know who and what I am, and though it's difficult at times to accept those that show their weakness, through criticism, and resentment of those around them, Actually we should feel sorry for people that cannot see pass their own frailties...Though perfect I will never be, often I can see just through their own words, those that are weak, and fearful...(Does that make sense to you).. - | ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: The Teacher The man was small in stature, but his words thunderous in their implications. He spoke with a calm, quite dignity. He taught me about the symbiotic and paradoxical relationship between teacher-pupil, pupil-teacher. He taught me about the duality of a true learning experience, in which one is both pupil and teacher simultaneously - teaching oneself and another. As I listened and learned from him, I also listened to the lessons I was teaching myself. In turn, the teacher learned from me. I explained to him the invaluable lessons he taught me and he gazed upon me with a gentle smile. The man was not real in a physical sense, but he was more real than any mortal person. I dreamed about him. He is the Teacher. I remember little of what he actually said in the dream, just the essence. I remember the inspiring feelings he stirred within me. The unique, indescribable feeling one gets when they feel they have been privy to profound insights. Above all, though, the teacher gave me hope. Hope in one's ability to transcend the primal human impulse to resist learning and seek refuge in the comfort of one's own predigested worldview. In reality, we are our own teacher. We create the lesson plans. We decide what is true and what is fact; what is important and what is irrelevant. We choose whether or not to listen - to others and to ourselves. The ability to listen is the true lesson in life, to really listen. The ability to listen to ourselves while listening to another, but to ourselves, first and foremost. If we listen close enough to ourselves, we will learn all there is to learn. We can listen to the greatest thinkers the world has known, but the words will be empty if we do not give them relevance. Each one of us is the Teacher. |
||
![]() | ||
There is an art and a discipline to truly listening. If we fail to master this art, our growth is stifled , therefore, how we listen proceeds how we relate to others. To be so absorbed in ones own world as if it?s the only one that matters creates a superficiality which distances others. Beautiful essay. - | ||
I actually ended up promoting it yesterday. Take care! - | ||
|
Bananafish308: "He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion... Nor is it enough that he should hear the opinions of adversaries from his own teachers, presented as they state them, and accompanied by what they offer as refutations. He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them...he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form." -John Stuart Mill |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
I think Bill, you, and I are quite philosophical in nature. Love this post, Bill Jimi - | ||
|
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
My mother-in-law is a college English professor. She also shows this speech to her English 101 and 102 classes. There IS hope for this country, yet, if we continue to produce such wonderful educators! It is beyond shameful that we can't rely on those currently in positions of power and influence to provide this type of positive inspiration!! - | ||
We can learn something of value, as long as our minds are open, and receptive...Yes, I would have had my students read, and discuss this post without question. Victoria - | ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Martin Luther King, Jr. |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
Stay safe my friend, and all the best for your wife, and children...Hugs - | ||
|
Bananafish308: "There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." -Isaac Asimov |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: When did Tom institute a ban on political comments on the profile thoughts page??? I never saw it. |
||
![]() | ||
I believe Dale Carnegie, who wrote in his book something to the effect of: Never discuss your politics or religion with others. Their position is set, and you aren't going to change it. - | ||
However, if this becomes another 'political forum' I think we can expect Tom to do something about it. The Political Forum and the Religious Forum no longer exit. - | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it." -George Orwell |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: Saw this on Facebook. So perfectly said: "'Agree to disagree' is reserved for things like 'I don't like coffee.' Not racism, homophobia, and sexism. Not human rights. Not basic common decency. If I unfriend you during this, it IS personal. We do not have a difference of opinion. We have a difference in morality." -corina@cdvaughn16 |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: Reprise: "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." -Proverbs 18:2 |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." -Proverbs 18:2 |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: Jon Cooper: "I just asked my neighbor why he removed the Trump sign from his lawn, where it had been since 2016. He replied, "I couldn't ignore his racism any longer. My son [10 years old] asked why I still support him, and I had no answer. If you lose your kid's respect, you've got nothing." |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: "I dream of a world where the truth is what shapes people's politics, rather than politics shaping what people think is true." -Neil deGrasse Tyson |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
If only the two Trump supporters on the forum would realize this. - | ||
|
Bananafish308: "A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be." -Albert Einstein |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "MORAL COURAGE IS A RARER COMMODITY THAN BRAVERY IN BATTLE." -Robert Kennedy No bleeping shit!! |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
|
![]() |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." -Confucius |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
|
![]() | ||
The Clash - | ||
|
Bananafish308: While we're invoking Roger Waters: "And you didn't like school And you know you're nobody's fool So welcome to the machine Welcome my son, welcome to the machine What did you dream? It's alright, we told you what to dream" -Pink Floyd / Welcome to the Machine |
||
![]() | ||
Saw the Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking concert in Oakland, CA. One of Water's solo efforts. Used to listen to PF in England in the 80s when the US when the U.S. military stationed Mr there. And in CA, as a teen. - | ||
| ||
I love PF, also. Saw Waters solo in NY a couple of years ago. Tried so hard to see the original "Wall" tour in 80-81, but, with only 12 shows in the entire U.S. (7 in LA, 5 in NY), it was impossible. - | ||
|
Bananafish308: A little change of pace today. Some Aldous Huxley quotes on objective reality and similar pertinent themes: "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." "You shall know the truth, and truth shall make you mad." "The deepest sin against the human mind is to believe things without evidence." "People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think." "The victim of mind-manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him, the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free." "Never have so many been manipulated so much by so few." "Dictators can always consolidate their tyranny by an appeal to patriotism." "One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them." |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
- | ||
"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true." -Soren Kierkegaard - | ||
| ||
Thank you for sharing. Jimi - | ||
|
Bananafish308: ...and piggy backing on an earlier theme regarding fools: "There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true." -Soren Kierkegaard |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: A little change of pace today. Some Aldous Huxley quotes on objective reality and similar pertinent themes: "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." "You shall know the truth, and truth shall make you mad." "The deepest sin against the human mind is to believe things without evidence." "People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think." "The victim of mind-manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him, the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free." "Never have so many been manipulated so much by so few." "Dictators can always consolidate their tyranny by an appeal to patriotism." "One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them." |
||
![]() | ||
|
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: "It doesn't matter what you say you believe - it only matters what you do." -Robert Fulghum |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
"It only matters what you SAY you believe, if your actions back up what you say." For instance, it is naturally very admirable if a person says they believe in equality for all. If, however, that person then turns around and discriminates against a certain group when hiring at his job, then it really didn't matter what he SAID he believed. - | ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: ?You may never have proof of your importance but you are more important than you think. There are always those who couldn?t do without you. The rub is that you don?t always know who.? -Robert Fulghum |
||
![]() | ||
|
Bananafish308: Sometimes the simplest words are the most profound. This is the hallmark of Robert Fulghum. Every now and then I think about this wonderful man. His gentle, wise wisdom had a significant impact on me when I was younger. I would like to try and post at least one quote of his every day. I will kick it off with the following: "Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some." "Play fair. Don't hit people. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody." "I've always thought anyone can make money. Making a life worth living, that's the real test." "Clean up your own mess." "The examined life is no picnic." "Share everything. Don't take things that aren't yours. Put things back where you found them." "'Maybe.' There's our word. The wisest answer to ultimate questions." "If you want an interesting party sometime, combine cocktails and a fresh box of crayons for everyone." "And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world it is best to hold hands and stick together." Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there! |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
My daughter just turned 18 and goes off to college in September. I plan on getting her this book. I think it is a wonderful perspective on life to pass on to any young person just going out into the world. - | ||
|
![]() FanStory wrote to Bananafish308: The World Turned Upside Down finished second in the contest "What If?" |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
|
![]() FanStory wrote to Bananafish308: A Perfect Microcosm of Society... finished third in the contest "Fanstory Review" |
||
![]() | ||
![]() ![]() | ||
- | ||
|
![]() |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
- | ||
|
Bananafish308: This month is my ten year anniversary on FanStory. I'm not sure what to make of that. LOL. |
||
![]() | ||
Congratulations! It means you have enjoyed most of your time here..and that's a good thing...I celebrated 11 years last year (10/04)...but I don't think I will subscribe again... - | ||
I know what you mean. I keep telling myself I won't subscribe again, then another year goes by. If you don't re-subscribe, you will be sorely missed. Bill - | ||
| ||
- | ||
|
![]() |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
| ||
|
Bananafish308: "Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it." -George Bernard Shaw |
||
![]() | ||
| ||
|