Incredible share by NASA on latest PIC of #earth. So breathtaking .... man oh man, isn't it so beautiful? Which means we're all neighbors. Absolutely. Certainly, because we share this vast globe of greenness: trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, fruit, jungles and water: oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, along with mountains made of greatness like Mt. Everest. How humble we should feel by the responsibility of this magnitude. We cannot dwell on our enemies, decease, poverty, climate until it is one gigantic undertaking by ALL people of this world. She is our home and we often neglect her, so focus on our agenda are we. We know we host evil and want to abolish it, yet nothing is as important as humanity. Humanity cannot survive without earth. Then why do we band together as ONE community under the executives of the universe -- the Sun and the Moon. Heed the vote to survive. Listen to the scientists observations. Watch the educators knowledge. Who are we to scoff at what they have been telling us? Don't we remember that song: "We ARE the WORLD"? It was a sign of an anthem to be sung. Not for one color, one culture, one religion, one leader, one information outlet, one idol, one animal, one organism, one food. For it is this world we live together. As one. For eternity. Are we abandoning that dream to live in love, health, safety, nutrition, education, religion? Without this earth. We are the same: nothing. Whether by evaporation, extinction, violence, abandon, or death. What we are hearing is we cannot go on any longer, never mind much longer, on this path we march jointly. With deference to our board: the sun and the moon and our people. Why will we miss that meeting? Yes perhaps because we have our own agenda, to the exclusion of survival. It is our world. It is our responsibility. Not one single person alone, but all of us together for one cause: life.
Following Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" project in the UK, an idea for the creation of an American benefit single for African famine relief came from activist Harry Belafonte, who, along with fundraiser Ken Kragen, was instrumental in bringing the vision to reality. Several musicians were contacted by the pair, before Jackson and Richie were assigned the task of writing the song. The duo completed the writing of "We Are the World" one night before the song's first recording session, on January 21, 1985. The historic event brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time.
The song was released on March 7, 1985, as the only single from the album. A worldwide commercial success, it topped music charts throughout the world and became the fastest-selling American pop single in history. The first ever single to be certified multi-platinum, "We Are the World" received a Quadruple Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. However, the song garnered mixed reviews from journalists, music critics, and the public. Fans enjoyed hearing racially and musically diverse recording artists singing together on one track, and felt satisfied in buying "We Are the World", knowing that the money was going to charity. Other individuals, including many commentators in the rock press, were disappointed that the song did not challenge listeners as to why famines occur in the first place, and felt that the lyrics were self-aggrandizing.
Awarded numerous honors—including three Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award—the song was promoted with a critically received music video, a home video, a special edition magazine, a simulcast, and several books, posters, and shirts. The promotion and merchandise aided the success of "We Are the World" and raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US.
Following the devastation caused by the magnitude 7.0 Mwearthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, a remake of the song by another all-star cast of singers was recorded on February 1, 2010. Entitled "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", it was released as a single on February 12, 2010, and proceeds from the record aided survivors in the impoverished country.
Hats off to dads everywhere! So much attention goes to moms because we are the ones who endure 9 months of pregnancy, give birth and often considered the primary caregivers.
The importance of fathers has been under appreciated by history and stereotypes. However, most of us know first hand how important our dads are in our lives.
As life unfolds, we get older and they pass on. Often it is only then there lingers many wise words and wisdom shared.
I loved my father's stories. As his elderliness was settling in, he often repeated them. Then there may have been concern for his forgetfulness and a hint of exasperation on having to hear it again. Now I look back to realize each time there was a golden nugget to cherish and learn from.
I really miss my father. Yes he was tough when I needed to be taught a lesson. He certainly displayed strength in difficult circumstances. I think of him as a hero, handsome man with such dark eyes that did seem to sparkle when he was laughing. He wasn't a teaser - he left that to my brothers. He wasn't always there, he was a provider. He was wise and could drill down to the heart of the matter.
I'm lucky. I had my father for many many years. As his body started to betray his vitality, he made up for it by wanting to talk. He liked when my mom was out so he would call any one of us kids to talk, share those stories but most of all shield us from hurt, mistakes we made, and be brave for us when our own resources were depleting. He was there when it counted and I needed him most.
As a kid I was disappointed if he didn't come to my skating competitions or tests, yet he always made it to the shows, bursting with pride. He was important in his job and in those days kids didn't telephone their parents. The very few times I did, he would come home and say how impressed everyone was with my articulation or manners. He was proud and a proud man.
Dads are not knights with armor to protect us against harm. They have faults, they have weaknesses and life doesn't always hand them everything so they can, in turn, provide for family and hand down to children. However, we should respect how important that role is to everyone in society. We should help those who need help being a father. Everyone benefits.
I think my dad, for all his accomplishments and a tough journey to get there, appreciated and lived life to be remembered with honor and love. I know he had regrets and may have had a few unfulfilled wishes. Yet, he wasn't afraid to stand up for what was right and expected great things to come from all of us kids, and then his grandkids.
I am happy to have had such a father. Without him, I wouldn't have learned as much or nourished by his encouragement.
He did a pretty good job. He matters now as he did back then. He did leave a legacy and one of them was me. Yes, I do feel sadness some days and would love to hear one more of those stories.
"A daughter needs a dad to be the standard against which she will judge all men."
You can't help but read about Jian Ghomeshi from Canada. There is a lot of news surrounding one of our media types named who has plead innocence to numerous allegations of sexual harassment.
Does speaking up harm your reputation? It got me to wondering about the women who spoke up. There is certainly safety in numbers ... being made easier when it wasn't just one whistle blower but several.
Is lodging an official complaint a detriment to your career?I would imagine that being the first one brave enough to come forward was the trickiest. Putting oneself up to the microscope is intimidating and scary.
Unfortunately, society puts that person under a great amount of pressure and scrutiny. We all see it play out so many times, its no wonder that there is deep reflection and struggle before stepping forward.
For every one person who blows the whistle, how many haven't?What about the stories that don't come out? The ones about people who have similar experience but not involve well known figures like Ghomeshi or celebrities like Cosby?
I created a new blog that is a bit more anonymous than one that has a greater audience. I want to be able to write about things that mattered to me but were not associated with who I worked for or related to my career. I am quiet about my identity.
Having said that. I am bothered right now about an announcement I just heard at work. Recognition in expertise. Among them, was this young male colleague that made sarcastic offensive comments to me on a regular basis when I first started. So bad, that those within hearing sucked in their breath, widened their eyes and looked at me to see my reaction.
He thought he was funny when he slighted my height (I'm short), made underhanded jokes about my age (I'm old enough to be his mother) ... you get the picture.
I was new to the organization so I didn't want to start off my career going under the trouble maker or whiner umbrella. Even so, the comments cloaked under humor were offensive and he should have been reprimanded.
I'm not going to judge those within earshot for not doing anything. They were not the object of this person's sorry humor. Perhaps maybe they had been and thought I'd be strong enough to do something. Even though their reaction clearly showed how unacceptable it was. I didn't cower from him, but nor did I lodge a complaint. Hind sight, I probably should have. Not because of the recognition but because he is being set as a positive example. Little do others know.
I was probably right by standing off and not doing anything, thinking that it will eventually catch up with him, as it often does. I was wrong to think that it wasn't my place to lodge an official complaint because I have a sense that people who get away with bad things are good at a number of other things.
I had done something before. Years back a female junior colleague came to me to confide about a senior male who had more than sexually harassed her, he had abused her. I was considering leaving anyway thus I only brought it up on my exit interview when asked: "what could have been prevented to make you decide to stay?". I honestly told. Nothing was done. I was left, the offender stayed for years after. It came off as sour grapes to smear someone perhaps. Timing is everything, but the opportunity did present itself to say something.
Further along in my career in a much more senior position, I reported directly to a President of a company. He was responsible for leading, ensuring signatures and carrying out its Code of Ethics.
During one conversation he voiced concerns about a person allowing personal problems to impact performance. I thought there was an opening and it was appropriate timing to voice that I thought that this gal was a manager who started a personal relationship with a new hire, was a violation of our Code of Ethics. I spoke up not using that terminology simply expressing concern because the "victim" was a subordinate, non manager who ended up with a broken family - a wife with a newborn, betrayed, asked the guy to leave his home. Looking for a place to live, etc. impacted his work performance poorly.
It was clearly a breach of Code of Ethics everyone signed. That executive didn't do anything. One could contemplate it was because the offender had been with him for 15 or so years and he had directly helped her climb in her career.
Sadly, the anguish expressed was from decreased performance, not whether it breached any code. Unfortunately, everyone else saw them leave on breaks and sitting in a parked car together. It sets a tone culturally. I remember his answer that several young people had met and married at this company. I didn't argue, I got that he couldn't distinguish the difference in the situations with two consenting adults.
How difficult is it to separate a personal performance with poor judgment. One can understand where it may come from. However, companies take a no nonsense stand when drugs or DUI situations arise. It just seems so much more difficult and sensitive with personal relationships aligning with company policy.
Do I regret bringing it up with my boss? For my own personal beliefs, absolutely not. Because I signed the same Code of Ethics the others did, absolutely. What is the point of having the clause that a boss cannot have an affair with someone he directly manages or is senior to? Regardless of gender.
Sadly, companies pick and choose who they may make examples of. They may have been considering getting rid of one party anyhow, so they find an excuse to get rid of the person who brought the matter up. Economy, decline in business, yada yada yada. Thanks for your contributions, best wishes for your future.
What saddens me most is that the person who is offended enough to try to right a wrong is caused so much anguish.
One can't contemplate how bad things are going to have to get before someone does something ... sooner than later.
Following Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" project in the UK, an idea for the creation of an American benefit single for African famine relief came from activist Harry Belafonte, who, along with fundraiser Ken Kragen, was instrumental in bringing the vision to reality. Several musicians were contacted by the pair, before Jackson and Richie were assigned the task of writing the song. The duo completed the writing of "We Are the World" one night before the song's first recording session, on January 21, 1985. The historic event brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time.
