AARP The Magazine - Lifestyle, Food, Travel, Entertainment, Money, Health, Family

AARP The Magazine - Lifestyle, Food, Travel, Entertainment, Money, Health, Family

In 1936 Friedrick Gustav Emil Martin Niemoller was a Protestant minister in Germany. After being imprisoned by the Nazi in 1946 he wrote his famous poem that begins:

In Germany, they first came from the Communists.
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t Communist;

Then they came for the Jews,
And I didn’t speak up because....

In recognition of his profound words I humbly submit a few of my own.

First I saw trash being thrown from cars
but I didn’t speak up.
Then I saw photos of raw sewage flowing into streams
but they were not close to us so I didn’t speak up.
Faces of children dying from toxic waste sites were shown on T.V.
but I did not know them so I didn’t speak up,
Floods swept people away and inundated cities
But they lived in a far off lands so I didn’t speak up.
Oil spills, chemical pollution and overfishing is killing in our oceans
but I said to myself what can I do?
Across the planet millions are begging for water,
And millions are drowning from too much,
But not where I live so I don’t speak up.
The earth is heating, glaciers are melting, and the seas will significantly rise,
But that may be years away so I don’t speak up.
I can see the Earth is in serious trouble,
But I am getting old so I don’t speak up.
What about my grand children?
I wonder if it will be to late for them to speak up?

Dick Wainwright,
Executive Director,
www.likeadropofwater.org

What does "Award Winning" really mean?

Recently I was notified that my last book, Royal Koi & Kindred Spirits was honored as an "exceptional story that encourages understanding of the world's diverse cultures, nature and the importance of ecological diversity." It went on to say my book "promotes cooperation, non-violence, respect for differing viewpoints and close relationships in human societies."

Naturally, I was pleased to have received the honor and the seals which I can now display on Royal Koi & Kindred Spirits jacket showing potential customers that now all my books have received literary awards.

Frquently, I wonder why awards are so important in our society. People who create things to sell want their products to be endorsed by (award winning) celebrities, be awarded (award winning) seals of approval or stamped by (award winning) governmental agencies as being safe, acceptable to be used or seen by children or adults or suitable for a particular group of possible users.

On the other side, we customers depend more and more on "experts" to determine for us whether to buy or act. We listen to a cacophony of voices pleading for us to buy an (award winning) brand , vote for or against an (award winning) policy or person, be asked to give money to support a plethora of (award winning) deserving causes which will use our monetary gift wisely for the benefit of those less fortunate.

We know some of these award claims are bogus and consequently we get taken, our ability to analyze every promotion whether from the car industry, medical and pharmaceutical world, or our government is very limited even with due diligence on our part to try an search out other sources to validate the product or policy. When possible I check with friends who may have used a product, read a particular book or watched a certain movie. They are the critics I trust the most.

Personally for me as a writer, although golden award seals are nice to receive, it is the literally the thousands of letters and emails I have received from my readers telling me how much my book (s) have meant to them. Their encouraging, positive and laudatory words are my trophies. I believe praise from a readership is the holy grail for any author and for these "awards" I will be eternally grateful .

Obama for President

"Although never having taken much interest in politics, during the past six years, in my humble opinion, our government has been disasterous for our country and the world. Last year when Judy and I traveled in Asia for over two months and every person we met whether European or Asian said the same thing.

" We continue to like Americans but hate your president and his foreign policy. How could you elect Bush twice?"

A peaceful and livable world is in jeapardy and I am deeply concerned that my children and my grandchildren will needlessly inherit problems that our generation could have at least lessened during our watch.

I have read both Obama's " Friends of my Father" and his "Audacity of Hope." He is a fine writer and his books well worth reading irrespective of one's politics. I have come to believe that he is a man who could do much for our country and his type leadership would help the U.S. return to the status of being an admired country by a large percentage of the world's populaton.
When Obama speaks to you as an individual, small group or one of thousands one can not but feel that he is speaking directly to you. When you speak to Obama you have 100% of his attention, interest and concern for the issues that are meaningful to you. I had the opportunity to speak with him for a couple of minutes and also give him two of my books for daughters Malia and Sasha.

Barack Obama has lived a fascinating life living in both the black and white world. I believe he understands both cultures and would provide a truly compassionate and common sense presidency."

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein

The above quote was included in my book, Closer Than We Imagine. Although with my miniscule amount of gray matter compared to Einstein, I couldn't have posed so a deep question so eloquently and simply.

I believe we arrive with the knowldege that everything in life and life itself is a miracle. As we grow older, daily miracles are taken for granted. Local and national news daily bombard us with reports of constant violence and heartbreaking inequities across the planet. It is so easy to become cynical.
In Closer Than We Imagine I shared why I believe that each one of us is here for a reason, that we have purpose and work to do on this spiritual journey. We are here to make a positive difference with merely a smile, a kind word or deed or an act of compassion - to change the lives in small ways of those we meet, know and love and not feel guitly or depressed that we can not change everyone's life on the planet.

Have a wonderful week - smile, laugh and enjoy the journey as best you can.
Peace and blessings,
Richard

Friends,

Welcome and I look forward to any comments you have regarding my books or my weekly blogs which I shall begin tommorrow. Hope you had a good day.

Richard