Defense Intelligence Agency | Committed to Excellence in Defense of the Nation
This is one place to increase your knowledge as a responsible citizen of our nation.
Showing posts with label responsible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label responsible. Show all posts
Monday, September 5, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Bed of Nails
The war is over and we are preparing to move. The pre-war gray-green panel truck is nearly loaded and we will be leaving soon.
I am seven and am helping as much as I am allowed. I glance occasionally with concern at the partially water-filled glass bowl which is home to my silver dollar sized turtle. I feel, more than think, that someone will, or should, make a decision about my turtle.
Now it is very nearly time to leave and I carry the bowl to the old panel truck where my father is standing. "What should I do with the turtle?" I ask.
"Put it in the truck." my father says.
I see no place in the loaded truck for a bowl with a turtle in it. "The bowl will spill." I say.
"Empty the bowl and put it in the truck." my father tells me.
I do as I am told, but hold my turtle, still safe, in my hands. Now,somewhat fearfully, I again ask my father what I should do with my turtle
"Put it there." he points.
I look 'there.' Rusty nails. An open can of rusty nails collected to finish our new home. The nails are unfriendly, uncaring, lifeless. As I put my turtle on those nails, I know he will never see his home again.
I am seven and am helping as much as I am allowed. I glance occasionally with concern at the partially water-filled glass bowl which is home to my silver dollar sized turtle. I feel, more than think, that someone will, or should, make a decision about my turtle.
Now it is very nearly time to leave and I carry the bowl to the old panel truck where my father is standing. "What should I do with the turtle?" I ask.
"Put it in the truck." my father says.
I see no place in the loaded truck for a bowl with a turtle in it. "The bowl will spill." I say.
"Empty the bowl and put it in the truck." my father tells me.
I do as I am told, but hold my turtle, still safe, in my hands. Now,somewhat fearfully, I again ask my father what I should do with my turtle
"Put it there." he points.
I look 'there.' Rusty nails. An open can of rusty nails collected to finish our new home. The nails are unfriendly, uncaring, lifeless. As I put my turtle on those nails, I know he will never see his home again.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Organization for Living: or is more than London Bridge falling down?
This might be considered a sort of meditation.
We are interested in helping our youth, our children, grandchildren and posterity, to live and thrive in the world.
Changes in the world sometimes seem fearsome.
Sometimes organizations seem too big. Sometimes we see ourselves as lost in a nation state, more than as being protected by it. At other times we see the power and structure of the state as failing. We may feel that great institutions such as large corporations, churches, NGOs, and the UN may be supplanting the nation state.
I have asked myself if we are not now seeing the beginning of the end of the the nation state. Sometimes I see the ending of the nation state as a powerful trend unlikely to be stopped by anything men will do.
Change is.
Man does not live alone. Men, women, and children need one another and tend to cleave to each other. What man do you know who can get a church, or a pencil, by himself?
We want our space and freedom. Still, we live best in circles of others. A country or nation is helpful as are other large organizations, but we most helped by more comfortable smaller groups, organizations, and systems around us. The family, nuclear and extended, has proved to be a strong and lasting support which we feel fairly capable of maintaining. Clans and tribes have been of great help. The small town and village has been helpful too. We have also know the support of certain congregations and clubs.
Large cities have been of sustaining support. However, even for those of us who found the cover of the city freeing, have still found the group in which our name and face is known a source of comfort. I am reminded of the TV program "where everyone knows your name."
We have seen great social structures of man fall in what seems the twinkling of an eye. The Berlin wall falls. The soviet union falls. A church is flooded and the congregation does not return. A woman turns to drugs, a man turns away, and a family is gone. There are a couple of long distance movers or a single war and an extended family is lost. We forget the structure of clan or tribe and clan and tribe are no more.
May not our children's children benefit from being taught how to cooperate to build or rebuild needed structure around themselves?
What do we know about reestablishing an appropriately structured and functioning peer group, congregation, tribe, clan, support group, extended family? What do we know about establishing a supportive group of individuals loyal enough to one another? How do we go about forming a group which can keep us informed, help us to gather information? What do we know gathering a group able to warn us of danger, who can be relied upon to tell us were the job is, where a good pair of shoes can be bought, the better candidate found, help us to locate a good mate?
You know a great deal and I know something too. We could gather and organize what we know to better inform those who follow us.
Who is responsible for teaching the children,
We are interested in helping our youth, our children, grandchildren and posterity, to live and thrive in the world.
Changes in the world sometimes seem fearsome.
Sometimes organizations seem too big. Sometimes we see ourselves as lost in a nation state, more than as being protected by it. At other times we see the power and structure of the state as failing. We may feel that great institutions such as large corporations, churches, NGOs, and the UN may be supplanting the nation state.
I have asked myself if we are not now seeing the beginning of the end of the the nation state. Sometimes I see the ending of the nation state as a powerful trend unlikely to be stopped by anything men will do.
Change is.
Man does not live alone. Men, women, and children need one another and tend to cleave to each other. What man do you know who can get a church, or a pencil, by himself?
We want our space and freedom. Still, we live best in circles of others. A country or nation is helpful as are other large organizations, but we most helped by more comfortable smaller groups, organizations, and systems around us. The family, nuclear and extended, has proved to be a strong and lasting support which we feel fairly capable of maintaining. Clans and tribes have been of great help. The small town and village has been helpful too. We have also know the support of certain congregations and clubs.
Large cities have been of sustaining support. However, even for those of us who found the cover of the city freeing, have still found the group in which our name and face is known a source of comfort. I am reminded of the TV program "where everyone knows your name."
We have seen great social structures of man fall in what seems the twinkling of an eye. The Berlin wall falls. The soviet union falls. A church is flooded and the congregation does not return. A woman turns to drugs, a man turns away, and a family is gone. There are a couple of long distance movers or a single war and an extended family is lost. We forget the structure of clan or tribe and clan and tribe are no more.
May not our children's children benefit from being taught how to cooperate to build or rebuild needed structure around themselves?
What do we know about reestablishing an appropriately structured and functioning peer group, congregation, tribe, clan, support group, extended family? What do we know about establishing a supportive group of individuals loyal enough to one another? How do we go about forming a group which can keep us informed, help us to gather information? What do we know gathering a group able to warn us of danger, who can be relied upon to tell us were the job is, where a good pair of shoes can be bought, the better candidate found, help us to locate a good mate?
You know a great deal and I know something too. We could gather and organize what we know to better inform those who follow us.
Who is responsible for teaching the children,
Monday, March 21, 2011
Zoroaster Continued
Zoroaster seems to consider spirit, holy spirit he might say, to be intelligent energy focused on truth. What a great man in good mind. The good mind may approach truth. The good mind, Z might say, may divine and discriminate the false, the less true, the more true, and approach reality. The Spirit, the Supreme Being, Mazda, is considered as the father of good thought, creator of truth and right.
It looks to me that Zoroaster believed that truth is helpful and beneficial to all who live. Good mind instructs one to love the truth. Truth leads to wisdom and to that which is best. I think that Zoroaster taught that the good mind moved on toward the blessings of reality.
The closest one can get to the exact words of Z may be through he Gathas, the Yasna of the Avesta in which the Supreme Being is called Ahura Mazda.
Sraosha was a name for hearkening, for hearing the truth, and acting in accord with the truth, and came to be considered a messenger of God. It seems that in teaching his disciples, Zoroaster said that the Sraosha came to him with the good mind. Thus he claims to be bringing them the best of the good mind with the help of God. What a good man!
I believe that Zoroaster asked his disciples to be responsible for their belief and for the truth in their lives. For himself and for them he asked for a good mind based in reality. He asked for action based in order and justice. He asked that they ponder well over things and to weigh his words with care and clear thought.
Please help me to correct my errors. Please help me to clarify this writing.
It looks to me that Zoroaster believed that truth is helpful and beneficial to all who live. Good mind instructs one to love the truth. Truth leads to wisdom and to that which is best. I think that Zoroaster taught that the good mind moved on toward the blessings of reality.
The closest one can get to the exact words of Z may be through he Gathas, the Yasna of the Avesta in which the Supreme Being is called Ahura Mazda.
Sraosha was a name for hearkening, for hearing the truth, and acting in accord with the truth, and came to be considered a messenger of God. It seems that in teaching his disciples, Zoroaster said that the Sraosha came to him with the good mind. Thus he claims to be bringing them the best of the good mind with the help of God. What a good man!
I believe that Zoroaster asked his disciples to be responsible for their belief and for the truth in their lives. For himself and for them he asked for a good mind based in reality. He asked for action based in order and justice. He asked that they ponder well over things and to weigh his words with care and clear thought.
Please help me to correct my errors. Please help me to clarify this writing.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Quests
Men from about ages 17 through about 23 may benefit by being assigned thoughtful quests.
Women from 15 - 19 may similarly benefit. Beginning at about 24 a man may best be responsible for the nature of his own quest. A woman may best be responsible for hers after about 20.
We can all benefit from teaching, learning, and experience.
Women from 15 - 19 may similarly benefit. Beginning at about 24 a man may best be responsible for the nature of his own quest. A woman may best be responsible for hers after about 20.
We can all benefit from teaching, learning, and experience.
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