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Hear Ye!, Hear Ye
Here
is your place to rant. If you are sick of crooked politicians and
dishonest, slimy subhumans, then this place is for you. If you would
like to report plain stupidity, then you have found the right place.
Email me at reporter@spearmanreporter.com and I will turn your true life stories into printable fiction. (Folks will still know who the slime-balls really are.)
If your submissions are not slanderous or libelous, I might just print them as they are.
Anyway, let the fun begin.
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Desiderata
(frequently spelled Disiderata)
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may
be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with
all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and
aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for
always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your
achievments as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however
humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for
high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially
do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of
all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly
the counsel of the years; gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do
not distress yourself with imaginings, many fears are born of fatigue and
loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are
a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a
right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe
is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And
whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep
peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it
is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Author unknown |
Can the Ten Commandments Protect Your Kids from the Culture War?By: Cindy Bond, President and COO of Promenade Pictures, Los Angeles, California
If
you are a parent or grandparent concerned about society’s moral and
civil decline and its affects on your children/grandchildren, here is a
novel idea: teach them the Ten Commandments.
The laws handed
down to Moses on Mt. Sinai have been the very foundation on which every
civilized society has flourished with and declined without. Learning
and understanding the Ten Commandments is one of the most basic and
effective ways to inoculate our youth from society’s destructive forces
that shape and mold the thoughts and attitudes of our children.
And each Commandment serves to protect our kids in a specific way.
Thou Shalt Have No gods before Me does
not only mean not worshipping pagan gods, but other false idols, such
as greed or fame. A recent USA Today survey of 18-25 year olds found
that 81 percent of those surveyed listed “get rich” as their top goal
in life, while 51 percent ranked “be famous” as their top goal. “Help
people” and “Become a leader in the community” only came in at 30 and
22 percent respectively.
No matter what religion we belong to,
acknowledging a power higher than ourselves which we do not acquire,
but serve, begets a sense of humility and scorns narcissism.
Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord in Vain
teaches reverence, but also respect and decorum. More than 70 percent
of Americans believe we are a ruder and less civil society than 20
years ago, and nearly 8 in 10 Americans report a rise in profanity.
Using profanity or “G--D---“ in front of every noun is not only
offensive, it projects ignorance and lack of education, regardless of
the background of the offender.
Remember the Sabbath
requires commitment, but also instills a sense of community and
belonging, imperative to our youth. An Ellison Research study found
that 66 percent of Americans believed attending church before the age
of 18 contributed to their moral foundation. Two-thirds of Americans
who attend church on a regular basis are “very happy” or “very
satisfied” with their life, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Honor Thy Father and Mother.
A recent study suggested that children born post 1982 are the “most
narcissitic generation in history.” Children who are not taught respect
for authority, limits, and boundaries are not enhancing their
“self-esteem”. According to the study, narcissists “are more likely to
have romantic relationships that are short-lived, at risk for
infidelity, lack emotional warmth, and to exhibit game-playing,
dishonesty, and over-controlling and violent behaviors.”
Thou Shalt Not Kill
cries out in our society today. Violence on television and in movies
and video games has desensitized our children to the far-reaching
ramifications that taking a life has on families and society. School
shootings are on the rise. The Northern Illinois University shooting
this month marked the fifth school shooting that week alone. Respect
for life is being replaced by a “take ‘em down with you” attitude.
Thou Shalt Not Steal.
The concept of stealing has become muddled among our youth. In the
digital age, only 11 percent of teens have a clear understanding of
copyright law regarding downloading media. While 90 percent believe
stealing a bike should be punished, only 48 percent believe the same
fate should rest on those for downloading intellectual property,
according to a recent Microsoft study. Other forms of stealing are
also on the rise. According to Junior Achievement, 40 percent of
students have admitted to cheating, and 58 percent of teachers surveyed
by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers believe plagiarism is a
“problem”.
Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor.
Cyber-bullying has reached epidemic status among teens, where numerous
internet sites allow anonymous users to post slanderous material
without any consequences. One in three teens has been a victim of
cyber-bullying according to the Opinion Research Corporation for Fight
Crime, and the consequences have been heart-wrenching. The case of
Megan Meier drew national attention when it was reported that a ruse on
myspace by her friend and her friend’s mother led Megan to commit
suicide.
Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery. Our children
see case after case of infidelity among our elected leaders and
celebrities in the media, but the effects of infidelity go
unreported. While it is often glamorized, as in the case of the
Jolie/Pitt/Aniston love triangle, adultery tears families apart,
leaving the children in the dust. Study after study shows that
children raised without both a mother and father are more likely to
live in poverty, become addicted to drugs, engage in premarital sex,
suffer from depression and commit suicide.
Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Wife.
Since the dawn of the internet, pornography has exploded. According to
a University of New Hampshire Study, 42 percent of children ages 10-17
were exposed to on-line pornography, with 66 percent of those not
seeking the pornographic sites. According to the National Coalition
for Protection of Children and Families, “Young people growing up in
our already overly sexualized culture are being exposed to sexually
explicit material on a daily basis through network television, movies,
music and the Internet. Children are being subjected to sexual material
and messages before they are mentally prepared to understand or
evaluate what they are viewing. In addition, the majority of sex
education is taking place in the media, not in the home, church or
school.”
Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Goods. It
is no longer about keeping up with the Joneses, it is about surpassing
them. Instant gratification today is as easy as plastic. JumpStart
Coalition for Personal Finance Literacy found that one-third of high
school seniors use a credit card. According to Nellie Mae, the average
freshman arrives at college with $1,585 in credit card debt. The
material world has forced even our youngest to already mortgage their
future.
The Ten Commandments are as vital today as they were
when Moses received them on the mount. They have been the cornerstone
for civility, order and justice. Choosing not to teach these to our
children will not only unleash the cultural demons against them, it
will contribute to our cultural demise as a society. Raising our
children without a spiritual foundation lends an attitude that there is
no consequence to one’s actions unless he/she gets caught. And by then
it will be too late.
CINDY BOND is an entertainment industry veteran acclaimed for her
pioneering work in developing and making films that appeal to families
and people of faith throughout the world. She is president, chief
operating officer and co-founder of Promenade Pictures where, aside
from her corporate responsibilities, she conceived the idea for and is
producer of a 12-film franchise entitled Epic Stories of the Bible,
which debuts with The Ten Commandments. Bond was involved in every
step of the development and production of The Ten Commandments.
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