Thank-you! I appreciate it. Rachel Carson had so much morality, courage, honesty, integrity, and values. (Remember the good old days when values and the truth were a thing) :) I doing a series of bios and values of a few people who lived a life of courage and integrity. Carson, Maya Angelou, Einstein, Gandhi, Nelson Manella, Martin Luther King JR. But that will be the easy part of my project- finding out why people don't have those values and there are no longer facts. Finding out why and how- that is the difficult part.
I think you should continue to speak out directly for your family and other immigrants as well. My son’s wife is from the Philippines originally. My granddaughter is a beautiful mixture of both her blue eyed fair father and her brown eyed darker mother. She is a complete delight.
When we go out places I have seen people of both cultures recognize that they are a mixed race family in their eyes. It is truly sad to see adults look at my beautiful granddaughter with contempt. Because her Mom only partially completed her citizenship transfer to Canadian, she is not safe to enter the United States.
Because of the barbaric attitudes and political persecution of immigrants that is being promoted by Conservative factions I fear for the safety of my grandchildren in the future.
I hope this is OK Walter but I am doing a series of people in the past that had integrity, values, morality and the courage of their convictions. (Remember when that was a thing!)
MAHATMA GANDHI
Poverty is the worst form of violence. There is sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed. Prayer is not asking. It is a longing in the soul. It’s a daily admission of one’s weaknesses. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an unconquerable will. Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon devised by the ingenuity of man. In a gentle way you can shake the world
‘Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.
‘Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior.
‘Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes your habits.
‘Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.
‘Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.’ Mahatma Gandhi
Plant a thought; harvest an act.
Plant an act; harvest a habit.
Plant a habit; harvest a character.
Plant a character; harvest a destiny.
His idea of satyagraha (non-violent protests) was very well studied and used by martin Luther King Jr.
I have been living in terror for quite some time now. I don't want to die. I don't want to be put in a concentration camp. I went to Vietnam. I served proudly. Now along comes tRump, dear leader, etc. etc. He along with the Christian Nationalists with their Project 2025 manifesto. In less than 200 days, if he gets back in the White House I and a lot of citizens are a whole bunch of other people are in for real trouble. I am not going to go into all that I feel maybe coming but if you are interested look up Project 2025. Having said all that my additional concern is even if we are fortunate enough to keep our democracy we have to face the fact that the ultraconservative right will still be here. Still pushing their programs, like book banning (I wonder when they are going to start burning them) anti abortion, their view that this country should be a Christian country, officially. They want to change how our kids are educated in school. The list goes on and on. My point is this even if we are successful in November we are going to be fighting these people for a long time to come. I don't know how we got to such an impasse but this is not the United States of America that I grew up in. I love this country, for all it's potential but right now I have my doubts. But this is just me, my opinion, my insecurities, my worries. Oh, did I mention they want to go after our free press also! Enough, Shalom Dan, A Citizen of Earth.
I’m semi ashamed to admit I’ve hesitated every time I’ve seen your political notes because I have wholeheartedly wanted to shout AMEN, but I didn’t want my beautiful Substack to devolve into yet another horrific political-rant-filled social sphere. After reading this, I’m so glad to have entered your ‘lil corner of the universe.
Just found you here (new to Substack) but yes, it's great finding a community that shares values. We don't need to become mindless robots, each one of us is brimming with creativity, thoughts, and bad jokes, but our values can agree.
I’m also fast becoming a one-strike kinda guy online. The trolls are everywhere and the best way to deal with them is the block button. Nothing infuriates them more.
Thanks! Wondering if notes are a way to get your "writing legs," also? It seems an easy way to find your space for writing before the humiliation of a post, if that is an appropriate application?
Rachel Carson was a marine biologist who was one of the first to research the harm of the dumping of toxic chemicals into the water system and went after the petrochemical and pesticide industries. She even came to New Brunsick, Canada to witness the budworm spraying of the forests with DDT. She expanded her research to all ecosystems and she meticulously correlated her research. Her last book ‘Last Spring’ is one of the most important books of the twentieth century. She was in a race against time as she was dying of breast cancer. This she kept secret because she was afraid that the big petrochemical and pesticide companies would say that she had an ulterior motive for speaking out. Her book, Silent Spring was published just before her death in 1964. Personally, I cannot understate Rachel Carson’s influence on the environmental activist movement nor her personal courage.
‘Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature- the assurance that dawn comes after night and spring after winter. Have we fallen into a mesmerised state that makes us accept as inevitable that which is inferior or detrimental, as though having lost the will or vision to demand that which is good? The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called ‘civilised’. The human race is challenged more than ever to demonstrate our mastery, not over nature, but of ourselves.’ Marine Biologist and Environmental Activist Rachel Carson
In nature, nothing exists alone. Why should we tolerate a diet of weak poisons, a home in insipid surroundings, a circle of friends who are not quite our enemies, the noise of motors with just enough relief to prevent insanity? Who would want to live in a world which is just quite not fatal. We stand now where two roads diverge. But, unlike the roads in Robert Frost’s poems, they are not equally fair. The road we have been travelling is deceptively easy, a smooth, superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at the end lies disaster. The other fork in the road- the one less travelled by- offers our last, only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth.’ Environmental Activist and Marine Biologist Rachel Carson
‘A child’s world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us, that clear-eyed vision; that true instinct for what is awe- inspiring is diminished and even lost before we reach adulthood.’ Rachel Carson
‘If there is poetry in my book about the sea , it is not because I deliberately put it there, but because no one could write truthfully about the sea and leave out the poetry.’ Rachel Carson
She is speaking of her last book ‘Silent Spring’ released two months before she died of cancer. l
Our society has become one of virtual communication. We hardly are able to converse face-to-face and discus or debate, and when we do, often there is physical violence. Under that circumstance, then, that someone would chastise you for blocking their “other” account is not surprising, is it?
Thank-you! I appreciate it. Rachel Carson had so much morality, courage, honesty, integrity, and values. (Remember the good old days when values and the truth were a thing) :) I doing a series of bios and values of a few people who lived a life of courage and integrity. Carson, Maya Angelou, Einstein, Gandhi, Nelson Manella, Martin Luther King JR. But that will be the easy part of my project- finding out why people don't have those values and there are no longer facts. Finding out why and how- that is the difficult part.
Kind regards Colin
I think you should continue to speak out directly for your family and other immigrants as well. My son’s wife is from the Philippines originally. My granddaughter is a beautiful mixture of both her blue eyed fair father and her brown eyed darker mother. She is a complete delight.
When we go out places I have seen people of both cultures recognize that they are a mixed race family in their eyes. It is truly sad to see adults look at my beautiful granddaughter with contempt. Because her Mom only partially completed her citizenship transfer to Canadian, she is not safe to enter the United States.
Because of the barbaric attitudes and political persecution of immigrants that is being promoted by Conservative factions I fear for the safety of my grandchildren in the future.
I know you feel the same way for your family.
Please be safe.
I hope this is OK Walter but I am doing a series of people in the past that had integrity, values, morality and the courage of their convictions. (Remember when that was a thing!)
MAHATMA GANDHI
Poverty is the worst form of violence. There is sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed. Prayer is not asking. It is a longing in the soul. It’s a daily admission of one’s weaknesses. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an unconquerable will. Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon devised by the ingenuity of man. In a gentle way you can shake the world
‘Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.
‘Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior.
‘Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes your habits.
‘Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.
‘Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.’ Mahatma Gandhi
Plant a thought; harvest an act.
Plant an act; harvest a habit.
Plant a habit; harvest a character.
Plant a character; harvest a destiny.
His idea of satyagraha (non-violent protests) was very well studied and used by martin Luther King Jr.
I love this.
I actually had no clue notes had the potential to be viral. I thought you needed a massive community in order to get somethig going.
I was just posting my political views to draw out and block Republicans...lol
I have been living in terror for quite some time now. I don't want to die. I don't want to be put in a concentration camp. I went to Vietnam. I served proudly. Now along comes tRump, dear leader, etc. etc. He along with the Christian Nationalists with their Project 2025 manifesto. In less than 200 days, if he gets back in the White House I and a lot of citizens are a whole bunch of other people are in for real trouble. I am not going to go into all that I feel maybe coming but if you are interested look up Project 2025. Having said all that my additional concern is even if we are fortunate enough to keep our democracy we have to face the fact that the ultraconservative right will still be here. Still pushing their programs, like book banning (I wonder when they are going to start burning them) anti abortion, their view that this country should be a Christian country, officially. They want to change how our kids are educated in school. The list goes on and on. My point is this even if we are successful in November we are going to be fighting these people for a long time to come. I don't know how we got to such an impasse but this is not the United States of America that I grew up in. I love this country, for all it's potential but right now I have my doubts. But this is just me, my opinion, my insecurities, my worries. Oh, did I mention they want to go after our free press also! Enough, Shalom Dan, A Citizen of Earth.
I’m semi ashamed to admit I’ve hesitated every time I’ve seen your political notes because I have wholeheartedly wanted to shout AMEN, but I didn’t want my beautiful Substack to devolve into yet another horrific political-rant-filled social sphere. After reading this, I’m so glad to have entered your ‘lil corner of the universe.
Just found you here (new to Substack) but yes, it's great finding a community that shares values. We don't need to become mindless robots, each one of us is brimming with creativity, thoughts, and bad jokes, but our values can agree.
I’m also fast becoming a one-strike kinda guy online. The trolls are everywhere and the best way to deal with them is the block button. Nothing infuriates them more.
Thanks! Wondering if notes are a way to get your "writing legs," also? It seems an easy way to find your space for writing before the humiliation of a post, if that is an appropriate application?
You're joining the paid writers- good. The only thing wrong with that is that subscribers can be hard to find...
RACHEL CARSON
Rachel Carson was a marine biologist who was one of the first to research the harm of the dumping of toxic chemicals into the water system and went after the petrochemical and pesticide industries. She even came to New Brunsick, Canada to witness the budworm spraying of the forests with DDT. She expanded her research to all ecosystems and she meticulously correlated her research. Her last book ‘Last Spring’ is one of the most important books of the twentieth century. She was in a race against time as she was dying of breast cancer. This she kept secret because she was afraid that the big petrochemical and pesticide companies would say that she had an ulterior motive for speaking out. Her book, Silent Spring was published just before her death in 1964. Personally, I cannot understate Rachel Carson’s influence on the environmental activist movement nor her personal courage.
‘Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature- the assurance that dawn comes after night and spring after winter. Have we fallen into a mesmerised state that makes us accept as inevitable that which is inferior or detrimental, as though having lost the will or vision to demand that which is good? The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called ‘civilised’. The human race is challenged more than ever to demonstrate our mastery, not over nature, but of ourselves.’ Marine Biologist and Environmental Activist Rachel Carson
In nature, nothing exists alone. Why should we tolerate a diet of weak poisons, a home in insipid surroundings, a circle of friends who are not quite our enemies, the noise of motors with just enough relief to prevent insanity? Who would want to live in a world which is just quite not fatal. We stand now where two roads diverge. But, unlike the roads in Robert Frost’s poems, they are not equally fair. The road we have been travelling is deceptively easy, a smooth, superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at the end lies disaster. The other fork in the road- the one less travelled by- offers our last, only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth.’ Environmental Activist and Marine Biologist Rachel Carson
‘A child’s world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us, that clear-eyed vision; that true instinct for what is awe- inspiring is diminished and even lost before we reach adulthood.’ Rachel Carson
‘If there is poetry in my book about the sea , it is not because I deliberately put it there, but because no one could write truthfully about the sea and leave out the poetry.’ Rachel Carson
She is speaking of her last book ‘Silent Spring’ released two months before she died of cancer. l
Our society has become one of virtual communication. We hardly are able to converse face-to-face and discus or debate, and when we do, often there is physical violence. Under that circumstance, then, that someone would chastise you for blocking their “other” account is not surprising, is it?
Thanks Walter. Much appreciated