JWG's Done and Not Begun July 2, 2011

Zwerglipatch July 2, 2011  10:27 a.m.

This morning, on my Facebook page, I posted a blurb from GLAAD {Gays and Lesbians Against Anti-Defamation] concerning bullying. MLB [Major League Baseball] (enough initials?) has begun to add to the “It Gets Better” campaign of television commercials geared towards teens who, like I was, are being bullied. This is a good, needed campaign. Not one to watch commercial television, I reposted this commercial to query my Friends how often they have seen this — and, where. The Boston Red Sox made the commercial I viewed. A great many of my Friends are members of “The Red Sox Nation”. Thus far, I have not gotten any answers to my question.

It is good that bullying is being confronted. I, myself, was bullied in junior high and high school. I wasn’t bullied physically, but, mentally. Verbal bullying can make one, believe me, wish that it was possible to wake up dead and in a much better place. Thankfully, this event never happened — even when I tried to urge it on by taking forty aspirin to relieve my pain. For a thirteen-year-old, in the Sixties, forty aspirins was a lot of drugs. And, thankfully, as these pages prove, Life does get better.

Patience. Self-bullying can be a problem that has to be conquered, too. I did. I was my own worst enemy for many a day. I am now a Friend of many — including me.

Zwerglipatch July 2, 2011  3:52 p.m.

As I have written, life hasn’t been a bed of roses. Maybe it has. Maybe it has been a bed of roses with thorns. Knowing how to remove the thorns makes a bed of petals. Or, does one remove the petals from the thorn-covered branches? As lone as one can lay one’s head down comfortably, it does not matter whether there are thorns or not. It is said of thorns that they protect. This could be a truism. When one goes to bed in comfort, with no worry, one lies on the fragrant “bed of roses”. These beds can come at a cost.

Payment is not my concern. Payment with money, that is. Paying with action of body and mind and soul and heart combined with understanding make sleeping peaceful.

Worriers believe much in Life is free. Worriers are greedy in believing they are capable of changing their World without paying. I have met worriers who, to me, have not shown the slightest hint that they, themselves, could be in the wrong. These people have dimmed solution until it is darkness. We are not animals who can see in the dark. We have to have light even if that light is entirely in our mind. If we cannot fathom light, we are lost in a dark void. We are sucked into an as-of-yet unknown black hole that has no escape. Even when shown an escape route, we are so into a worried state we are blind and deaf. Saramago has written novels of this giddy state-of-mind. Many of us do need guidance. We do need the guidance that one listens to and trusts. As you may have read, I have thought about this for many years. My observation of people listening to drivel has irritated me all of my life. It may sound haughty of me, yes; however, it boggles my mind that the simplicity of believing, and knowing, and seeing, and hearing what I have come to call “Human Truth” still escapes most of my peers on this Planet. The selfish worries that people have can cause wars as much as greed. There are people who are respected. These people are also hated. However, we live with them because we have no choice. Two such people immediately come to my mind. Both of these people I respect.

Two people I respect are our President and The Queen of England.

President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II have the power of publicity and notoriety to be listened to by billions of people in this World. My wish is that both would, indeed, speak from their hearts. I trust their judgement.

I have spent many hours performing in different schools. I have met many principals. I have seen how a group of students mimics the demeanor of their Principal. (I shall now capitalize this word as it is an important one representing an important Person.) For me, a leader is a Principal. We, the Citizens, are the Students. We are capable of learning from a Principal we respect. Respect. How does one gain respect? I dare say the answer to this question is Truth, Fairness, Compassion, Understanding, and Compromise. Yes, compromise. There are too many to please all at once. The Principal has to share why decisions are made. The Principal has to chastise those who do wrong with no remorse. The Principal leads by example. Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama must speak and show us the true spirit of another word I have written, and spoken, continually. That word is Aloha.

I find it ironic that our current President spent much of his upbringing in the Land of Aloha — Hawai’i. I would advise him to begin the process of education by declaring “Aloha” in each of his speeches. There is no reason that when he goes anywhere in these United states — in fact, this World — he should not hear “Aloha” from the Populace. This should be a cry heard to show our solidarity — our Unity. It is easy to speak of “One” — but, to speak and share and love as “One” is the challenge a Principal must meet with perseverance and determination and Pride. When a Principal falters, so does the school over which he supposedly rules — governs — reigns. A Principal should have the respect ao All. (I realize that there is always one “hooligan”. Thus, I, myself, shall compromise and say ninety-eight, or ninety-five, percent instaed of “All”. Unfortunately, I know history. My pipe dream of “All” does seem to be an absurd statement. Yet, aren’t I known for my absurdities?)

As for Queen Elizabeth II, I shall write to her and ask her to speak to us on her ninetieth birthday in five years. (Protocol can take half-a-decade.) Who would not listen to a ninety-year-old Queen making a major speech, the most important speech, of her Lifetime. She, herself, is a Principal Player in this World. When The Queen speaks, we All listen.

Good teachers are Friends. I was also taught that Principal ends in “Pal” simply for the reason that a Principal is Pal to us All. All. A hundred-percent. Not one of Us should be left out. We belong together. We have no choice.