Monet - Art Work

Related Reading:
Diplomatic Renaissance 21

Below are poets and examples of Renaissance Sonnets and poetry, which could easily lend themselves for the discussion of the Renaissance in an English class, or an interdisciplinary approach in a social sciences class for high school. Poems should be selected according to grade appropriate level. 

Renaissance Poets / Poetry
Thomas Wyatt -  "Whoso List To Hunt"
Edmund Spenser - "Sonnet 67" "Sonnet 75"
William Shakespeare - "Sonnet 12" "Sonnet 18" Sonnet 130"
Sir Walter Raleigh - "The Nymph's Reply"
Andrew Marwell - "To His Coy Mistress"
Dorothy Parker - "One Perfect Rose"
W.H. Auden - Lullaby (lay your sleeping head my love)
Carol Ann Duffy - "Warming Her Pearls"

English Romanticism
William Blake - "The Lamb"
William Wordsworth - "The Tyger"
Samuel Taylor Coleridge - "Kubla Khan"
Percy Bysshe Shelley - "Ode to the West Wind"
John Keats - "To Autumn" 

Image 1-Web Link 

Related Reading: 
What Unites
Suffering or Survival?
Freedom Over Texas
The Border Crisis.​
Politics or Purpose?
A Reality
Houston Pride 
Re-Imagine Leadership
​The Cruel Politics 
The Family Irony 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     Today there were Families Belong Together protests, out side of the White House, and around the country. Unfortunately, as the many gathered and demonstrated in opposition to the Trump administration, President Trump himself was not home. Again spending time at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. As I wrote my thoughts about this slogan, and hash tags earlier today, I realized that his debate is much more deeper than what is actually being revealed. While I am appreciative of the many who spoke in favour of a historically oppressed people, and populations, we have to understand there is much more to the story. Protests, uprisings, should also encompass and protest to defend the very core values of a the nation of America. Including, democracy, freedom, care, and compassion. As we are living in a time where the very core values of a nation are being tested. When countries deny those who are already oppressed from the nations they are fleeing, what good is it to have policies, or programs available for asylum seekers or refugees?

     Avenues are specifically available for refugees, and asylum seekers for a reason. But when we hear of V.P. Mike Pence going to Latin America, to create good relations, these relations become tainted when we hear: "come legally or don't come at all." Some people can't afford to come legally, there are those that are facing harsh circumstance, or are desperately crying out, for better opportunity for themselves or family. What can you do or say to them? Well of course, from the latest actions at the border, we can assume the answer, but actions, policies, are being used to tell American's that they are being protected, but really they are a way to instill fear, and constrain and control those who are genuinely desperate for opportunity. 

    While the protests, marches do reveal care, and concern, the patterns, outcomes, and inaction from those who you are demanding change from - never happens. We can think about past protests including, DACA, DREAMers, Immigration Reform, the students of Parkland, No Ban, No wall, and now the Families Belong Together. Protests continue over and over again, but leaders, politicians, can't seem to hear anyone, no matter how loud the collective voice rises. We demand common sense, but we are living in an age where even the very basic idea of common sense has to be fought for. 

Further Reading:
NY Times - Protests Across U.S. Call for End to Migrant Family Separations

My thoughts to share with love & kindness.
​
Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on June 30th, 2018.
​Image 1 - Web Link 

Related Reading: 
What Unites
Suffering or Survival?
Freedom Over Texas
The Border Crisis.​
Politics or Purpose?
A Reality
Houston Pride 
Re-Imagine Leadership
​The Cruel Politics 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     As current events continue to happen, this does not mean that previous events are of lesser importance. When we think of the border crisis, it is still on-going. The irony is that we mourn the loss of individuals when they are gone, but when we are able to, or are in a position to take care of others we decline. We mourn loss, congregate as a whole, but don't even look twice when individuals need care, love or support. In the same sense we can think of other ironies. When we read hast tags, or leaders crying out families belong together. Of course there is a context to this when we think of the children being separated from the border, with their parents. The ideal is true, families do belong together, but sometimes this is not the case, not even for the children crossing the border. Families exist in different forms, just because families become separated, it doesn't mean that the desire for love is ever diminished, or erased. 

     We can think about this from the level of an adult being separated, parent, caregiver, to that of children who are not living with their biological parents, or both parents. Situations change, relationships do breakdown, but this does not mean that the need for love was never there. We see this in children who need the love from both parents, or adults who crave that sense of wholeness through fulfilling relationships. Love is what we live for, it is what keeps us moving forward in life. Weather a family is a nuclear unit or not, love is what we yearn for, and it's love that keeps families together. 

As the cry to keep families together at the border continues, lets not forget those children who are now separated, and need the love, care, attention of professionals to assist them. My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)
 
Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on June 29th, 2018.
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Related Reading:
Sports Diplomacy 

​As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is the other day I wrote about what it takes to think about past hurts, but to also be able to imagine a future that acts as a healing for past hurts.  As I said earlier, it is difficult - think at the level of the individual, when you are involved in any type of relationship, that is damaged or broken down, what work and effort it takes to restore and heal the self. Or let's think about veterans of war, who once fought an enemy, sacrificed their lives, to serve for the protection of a nation, and are now being asked to love, and build relations with former enemies. How difficult is that?  It is difficult, because nothing can ever be the same. With relationship breakdowns, or fighting an enemy through war arrive scars, that could be physical and also invisible. Having said this, it is true that we can never express our gratitude enough to those who served for a nation previously, but with the making of a future also arrives a newness. Generations have different hopes, desires, and a way to envision the world. So regardless of how difficult it maybe, it is up to us as guardians, and protectors of present and future generations, to begin to build what they envision. It is their right. 

     So how can bridges be built from past, previous, and future generations? The answer is simple, but its complexity has always been questioned to this day. It is love. Love transforms. Love does transform, and for the transformations to occur we have to think about points of the past, present, and the imagined future. Elements must be linked, so that there is that element of inclusion from all generations. For example: Previously I wrote about Auguste Comte, known as the French father of philosophy, and founder of the doctrine of Positivism. Teachings included the embedding of racism and structural racism, particularly with Hispanics / Latinos. This is a history that we cannot be proud of from the perspective of the French, if we are thinking of diversity and inclusion at the present day. We can think about the European Renaissance (17-18th century), where pioneering individuals began to think more about being human, where there was an amalgamation of art, science, architecture, politics, and literature. Also the late 18th century where philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought about Romanticism. Intimacy was thought about before the principles derived for equity. Emotions and feelings were pondered upon. Individuals who maneuvered from the private to the public spaces, realized the inherent connection between public and private spaces. We can even link those ideas to the present day.

     When human beings seek work / life / study balance, or desire to be themselves even at the professional level. Even at the professional level, humans crave personal interaction, to get to know each other at the human to human level. So while there are brutal histories, if we are ever going to think about building futures, present day thought, and actions matter. Finding points of agreement, or positive points throughout history that will allow us to move forward on a united front, and this might even involve acknowledgment of the hurt. This is where love, forgiveness, compassion, and character traits arrive at the forefront. We have to be willing to heal, create, innovate, individually, and collectively. 

     Below are some points derived from my research that were gathered to explain more about the interaction of public / private spaces entitled: "The Rise of The Social". 

"As there was an emergence of society the borders of the private and the public became blurred. Activities that took place inside homes, were also ignited in the realm of the public. I think that this is only a natural occurrence because of the overlap of the public and private spheres. Private was thought to be deprived of something. However, at present day we do not think of the private as being a type of deprivation. Through the exploration of the private or the need of this. There was the rise of intimacy. This could be considered as a rebellion, against oppressions. It involved the discovery of an intimacy that was derived from the heart. This was also the period where the romanticists discovered intimacy, this took place before the principle of equality" (Hussain, 2017, p. 5). 

Renaissance Poets / Poetry
Thomas Wyatt
Edmund Spenser 
William Shakespeare 
Sir Walter Raleigh
Anne Bradstreet
Andrew Marwell
Dorothy Parker
W.H. Auden

English Romanticism
William Blake
William Wordsworth
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Percy Bysshe Shelley
John Keats 

Further Reading:
Hannah Arendt - The Human Condition, Chapter II - The Public and The Private Realm 

​My thoughts to share with love & Kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on June 29th, ​2018.
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Related Reading: 
What Unites
Suffering or Survival?
Freedom Over Texas
The Border Crisis.​
Politics or Purpose?
A Reality
Houston Pride 
Re-Imagine Leadership

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     I was wondering if I was able to vote in America, or support a political party, which one would it be? Would I be a Democrat, or would I be a Republican. Quite frankly with the way politics are unfolding right now, I would be neither. We are living in an era where politics is more about selfish desire, selfish gains. We see leaders in politics, instead of putting public service at the forefront, it's more of an attitude, what's in it for me, kind of mentality. Which is why I would assign myself to neither. How about creating my own party? The love and peace, or peace party, one world, one vision, who knows, but right now I am disgusted. I'm not a racist, actually I can say that I've been the victim of racism, prejudices and stereotypes all my life. But I'm still living, and I'm still breathing. I point this out because it is a truth, there is a large African-American, or categorization of Black minority population in America. But the fact is that there is also the largest growing ethnic minority, which is the Hispanic / Latino. The minority has the largest growth, but is continuously lagging behind every other minority population. 

    The revelations reveal that there are systemic barriers on all fronts for this minority population. But you may ask: you're not Hispanic / Latino, why do you care so much? This is where we can think about the word equity-mindedness, this is what is at the heart of achieving equity - to think beyond what you are. What you yourself represent, and to put the service of the public at the forefront.

     The Democrat and Republican divisions, and also the split divisions within each party, reveal that we need to put an end to the mentality of what's in it for me, or I'll look out for you because you are black / white. This line of thought is written to show that minority populations often look out for their own minorities first. But how about the minorities who are doing better than others, why not also start pulling other minorities along? In fact all minorities should probably be more empathetic towards each other, because we are linked through struggle.

    While one minority or majority  is more successful than the other, we forget that the very lands belonged to the indigenous, Natives, Mexicans, and Spanish descendants, whose lands have been used to accommodate all. We are living at a time where majorities, and minorities who have "made it", have forgotten about the true essence of public service, where selfish attitudes outweigh.  Another current example of this, is the unresolved immigration bill, which was not passed. While there is hope for the undocumented and Dreamers, the bill also requests funding for the border wall. The immigration bill also shows reveals the "I'll do something for you, if you'll do something for me" attitude. 

     These thoughts can also be linked to the travel ban that focuses on Muslim majority countries. It makes us think: why are Muslim leaders gathering with the President, who chooses to label all Muslims as terrorists, and uses these rhetorics as a protection for America? It's all lies. Lies to induce fear. A psychological maneuver to induce more hate from President Trump. There is no point in meeting with oil-rich nations if you are going to use them. Real relationships are reciprocal, not just about what you can get out of oil rich nations. Reciprocal with all nations you interact with, not just the ones you choose. To build reciprocity, maneuvers as the travel ban, or deciding not to assist vulnerable children, only reveal the "whats in it for me" attitude. We can also relate these thoughts to First Lady Melania Trump.  It was so nice, kind, and generous of you to visit Texas, but you spoiled this generosity with the message on your jacket. Give, love, show kindness, and compassion to others who don't look like you from the heart, but don't do this to simply make a point to someone else. It spoils the very act of service.       

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were hand-written on June 27th, 2018 - early afternoon. 
Image 1 - Web Link 

​​Related Reading: 
What Unites
Suffering or Survival?
Freedom Over Texas
The Border Crisis.​
Politics or Purpose?
A Reality
Houston Pride 

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     The truth is that I was taking the time to think about my previous thoughts, particularly with regards to the question that I ended with: What about these children who have no one to care for them? If God is Love, then how would God react to the recent border crisis? To gain some more understanding from a theological perspective, I decided to read the following verse: Matthew Chapter 6. While I cannot interpret the verse word for word, the word hypocrite did spark some thought. The Oxford dictionary defines the word hypocrite as: 

Click on the link for the webpage.

Matthew - Chapter 6 Click on the link for the webpage

     So why would I connect the verse, word, and the question surrounding the border crisis? I connect this because refraining from assisting children who are in need of care, is contrary to the values of the city of Houston. It seems hypocritical to say that we are a welcoming, diverse city, but then to say that you  don't want to help, or provide a safe space for the children who have entered USA through Texas ports / borders, its hypocritical. Now as I mentioned before the violent separations are something that I don't agree with, but I also don't agree with declining to care for vulnerable children who need space, where they can feel safe and secure.

     Declining to offer assistance and the protests that we are seeing have uncovered deep divides, that stem from political views, beliefs / opinions that have surfaced. But the political tensions are not something that is uncommon, it is common for anyone to have a preferred political view, we can hold this, it is our entitlement. The test of a view becomes apparent when there becomes a tension between what we do and what we believe. This is probably a much more larger test for someone who is a service provider, professional, or a service worker. But it is only a test, if we put our political views before our duties, or the individuals we are asked to serve. For example: In the case of the border children who need love, care, support, are we going to tell them "no, we can't care for you because we simply oppose the politics of the present president", this shouldn't be the case. As I wrote earlier, the politics must be dealt with separately, border children are an outcome of the policy, they are victims, blameless, and not the targets of the politics, or policy formation. Priority should be placed on their care. 

     Any leader, person in a leadership role who fails to maintain the core values of a city because of political views should in any case re-think and reflect about how the matters could have been approached differently. From a humanitarian perspective, we must put the vulnerable first. The hypocrisy, politics, has further revealed racial divides within a city, and also at the national level. 

     What are we resorting to when we hear rhetorics of prejudice steaming top-down, and also declining to care for the vulnerable who are on USA land? The fact of the matter is that the topic of race is at the forefront, deeply entrenched in the politics. We must think differently about how we view race. "white" or "black" race has to be viewed differently. While I can understand the hurts of the past, that stem from slavery, present day racism, and racial poverty, we have to think how can leaders be the example, lead the example, set the tone for inter-race relations. By insisting on party politics, and rhetorics of the past, we are simply re-inventing the wheels that stem from historical hurts. 

     Isn't it better for leaders to offer hope to the future generations, to spark something new, to show that "races" can, and should be able to work and live in harmony with each other. Leadership is the example. The back and forth divides are simply going to instill more hate and divisions. It's time to set the bar higher. Be the example, lead in such a way to show that all "races" can live together. We might not be able to influence all, but to impact and influence just one more person, is a beginning, it is a start.   

​Dedication: These thoughts are dedicated to those who did decide to put politics to the side and offer care, and services for those who needed support in the most vulnerable and delicate times, thank you. 

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on June 24th, 2018.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

    Yesterday, I watched my first pride parade, that was taking place in Houston. It was so great to see the people / community of Houston gather to celebrate inclusion and diversity, regardless of how one identifies through gender, or sexual expression. The vibrancy, colourful displays made me think that pride is for everyone, not only those who identify as an LGBTQ person. It is an opportunity for all people and organizations, who want to share the message of inclusion, and also a celebration of love. I was also pleased to see faith-based organizations send a message from God. God Is Love.

Photo Taken at - Lamar Street, Houston, Texas 2017.

     With the celebrations and showcase of inclusion, there is always more that a city, community, and nation can do. I began to connect with the recent proposal to create a detention centre in Houston. While I myself again do not like the idea of detaining children, I would rather see them cared for through service providers and professionals, in a facility that should probably be named differently. And with that said - while the larger debate is about the separation of children, from families, we have to remember that it is children alone who also arrive at the border. What about these children who have no one to care for them? If God is Love, then how would God react to the recent border crisis?

My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on June 24th, 2018.​
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Image 2 - Personal Photo 
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Related Reading: 
What Unites
Suffering or Survival?
Freedom Over Texas
The Border Crisis.​
Politics or Purpose?

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

   The other day I wrote about the Bollywood industry, this writing reminded me about a film, that I watched, unfortunately I cannot remember the name. The protagonist is pressured to engage in sexual intercourse. She declines, because her heart is already taken. Unfortunately she is sexually abused and raped. The scene from the film reminded me of the idea of physical presence. Anyone can want a person in a physical form, but the wanting of that body, even though it is present physically, it is never acquired, because the soul, spirit also has to be present. This is what it means to protect and to shield the heart. No one can ever take away what is within, even with rape or force. This is the power of the heart, the spirit and the soul. This is also strength. When you are knocked, pushed, shoved, ridiculed, and even pressured - will your heart be able to remain strong and stand? 

     As we take the time to think of separations, or leaders debate over party politics we must remember that abuse, violence from abusers, gangs, and reasons for escapism are very real. This is why individuals and families flee. It takes guts and courage to leave everything for that slight hope for change. And to be quite honest, it is time for everyone (all genders) to put their dicks down, and allow trained workers, and professionals to take care of the vulnerable. 

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 

These thoughts were origianlly hand-written on June 21st, 2018.
​Image 1 - Web Link 

​Related Reading
Suffering or Survival?
Freedom Over Texas
The Border Crisis.​

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that children and families have been separated, while once again we oppose violence against the vulnerable, we have to remember that these children, who are vulnerable minors need to be cared for. Policy, immigration, or zero tolerance is a matter that is now very separate, but inextricably linked to that of caring for the children. The separate matter does not diminish the importance of each, but right now at this moment, caring for the children a priority.

     Beside the point of immigration, or tolerance's we have to think: during the reign of President Obama, there were children custodies, and there was also the practice of seperating children, but we rarely heard about this, because there was no media attention, or issues that were swept under the rug. This inconsistency reveals how the news media, also sways the public for the purposes of developing attitudes towards party politics. Behind the desperate cries of the children, are also issues of action, in-action rooted in politics. Party politics are at play here, if we choose to admit to this or not. We can see this from the response of the Mayor who spoke out on behalf of the city of Houston, and also the words on the back of the First Lady Melania Trump's jacket, which can be assumed to be a response back to his stance. 

     While emotions, rage, and party politics continue, I urge Houston to embrace these children, while the politics of their immigration, reuniting with families  and matters are handled separately. Houston can choose to take care of the children, and also protest. But to show that you have also put politics to the side, and put the vulnerable children first will also prove the best of a welcoming, proud, diverse, city. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on June 21st, 2018.
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Related Reading:
Suffering or Survival?
Freedom Over Texas

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     I don't think anyone can think about what is happening at the southern border without getting emotional. The brutal treatment was one where I could not fathom to think of a developed, modern, first world country engaging in. When we see images of crying children, their reactions, we wonder what social progress has been made. Ironically, progress has been made to the zero tolerance immigration policy, where separation have occurred, and children who are now in the care of the USA. Whilst I myself am in deep opposition to such maltreatment at the border, and the President Trump's zero tolerance immigration policy, we have to think about the people who are now in the United States of America. These are vulnerable human beings, regardless of age that need to be cared for. As I wrote a little response after the press conference held in Houston, Texas, I could not comprehend that a group of elected officials, who also possess the power to enable the care of the vulnerable would decline.  

Click on the image for the original tweet.

     
​     The discussion surrounded the creation of a child detention centre - maybe it was the language or the labelling given for the centre that created the response that was delivered? What if it was named as a shelter / transitional home / or care centre for the children, who would have a safe space to stay whilst immigration and policy was being sorted out? This response was a heartless response. It did not look after the interests of a welcoming diverse city, but rather put policy at the forefront. While of course the policy is shameful, and disgraceful, it was used as an opportunity to slam the President. Maybe there was a need for a separate discussion about the border crisis, and a separate discussion about the children who are now in need of care. Houston cannot remain silent about these issues even if there are disagreements with the President historically, or at present day, because the policy affects Texas, and the separated children affect Texas, because of border proximity. 

     The fault of humankind is to place more emphasis on reason, rationality, with empty love, when reason, rationality itself calls for love. The response of the Mayor Sylvester Turner, who spoke on behalf of a city, has revealed an inherent bias towards specific diverse communities. In this case those who have been separated from their families, entering the US from central and South America, who were already fleeing harsh circumstance. The welcoming, diverse nature of this city has truly gained a flaw. However, as humans no one is perfect. Not in how we think, respond about issues. Maybe this is a moment of deep reflection about how labelling, and language informs an opinion. 

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 
​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on June 20 - 21st, 2018. 
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