How Will Current Graduates Respond To The World?

[From article]
The question before graduates is whether they’ll “party on” — accepting a world of imperiled liberties and moral retreat — or whether they’ll Think Again and try to improve it.
[. . .]
our democracy’s founding principle that “only a virtuous people are capable of freedom,” as Benjamin Franklin insisted?
[. . .]
Skyrocketing numbers of single households, a struggling middle class and a crisis in higher education have combined to deprive us of citizens with the requisite moral character for self-government.
[. . .]
actor Matthew McConaughey told University of Houston graduates, “Life’s not fair. It never was, isn’t now and won’t ever be. Do not fall into the entitled trap of feeling like you’re a victim. You’re not.” McConaughey echoed Franklin’s maxim: “The Constitution only guarantees you the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.”
http://www.aspentimes.com/opinion/16633851-113/sturm-graduation-advice-for-troubled-times

Sturm: Graduation advice for troubled times
Melanie Sturm
Think Again
June 4, 2015

Growing Old Is Not For Sissies

Diane Keaton

[From article]
Much of the negative image of old age stems from research that was badly designed — directly comparing people who are 70 or 80 with people who are 20.
This is an unfair comparison, because of the advances of diet and healthcare, for example, that make today’s environment so much better for older people.
It really is time to say ‘Goodbye to Growing Old’ (picture posed by models)
In fact, when researchers follow people through life, the rate of decline and loss of function is much less today, and among the older generation many abilities actually improve.
Evidence of this can be found in abundance in scientific journals at the National Library of Medicine near Washington DC — many of which can be accessed online.
Put ‘healthy ageing’ or ‘healthy aging’ into the search box of nlm.nih.gov, where more than 23,000 scientific articles are presented. Just a few hours grazing through them can cheer you up no end!
If some of it seems a bit technical, then I particularly recommend a recent book called Our Ageing Brain, by André Aleman, Professor of Neuropsychology at the University of Gronigen in the Netherlands, who clearly explains how wrong many of our assumptions have been about the workings of older brains.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2921000/How-beat-late-life-blues-gloomy-getting-older-simple-uplifting-tips-doctor-soon-spring-step.html

How to beat the late life blues: gloomy about getting older? These simple and uplifting tips from a top doctor will soon put the spring back in your step
The social and psychological effects of growing old are very important
Many older people with long-term health conditions are nevertheless in a state of social and mental wellbeing
Sir Muir Gray offers some insights into how to get on well with life in your later years
By SIR MUIR GRAY, FORMER CHIEF OF KNOWLEDGE FOR THE NHS
PUBLISHED: 20:19 EST, 21 January 2015 | UPDATED: 03:43 EST, 22 January 2015

Words Of Wisdom

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees all the others" - Winston Churchill

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference" - Winston Churchill

And from Islam's own words ...

"It is He who expelled the ones who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think they would leave, and they thought that their fortresses would protect them from Allah ; but [the decree of] Allah came upon them from where they had not expected, and He cast terror into their hearts [so] they destroyed their houses by their [own] hands and the hands of the believers. So take warning, O people of vision." - Qur'an 59:2

Understanding the role of  the Muslim Brother in North America: 

"The process of settlement is a “Civilization-Jihadist Process” with all the word means. The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and “sabotaging” its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions" - Mohamed Akram

"It is the nature of Islam to dominate, not to be dominated, to impose its law on all nations and to extend its power to the entire planet." - Hassan al-Banna, Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood

"Islam wishes to destroy all States and Governments anywhere on the face of the earth which are opposed to the ideology and programme of Islam, regardless of the country or the Nation which rules it." - Syed A'la Maududi

"Those who know nothing about Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those people are witless. Islam says: 'Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all!' Does this mean that Muslims should sit back until they are devoured by the infidel? Islam says: 'Kill them, put them to the sword and scatter them.' Islam says: 'Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword.' The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for the Holy Warriors! Does all this mean that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim." - Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

"It depends on me and you, either we do it now or we do it after a hundred years, but this country will become a Muslim country. And I [think] if we are outside this country we can say oh, Allah, destroy America, but once we are here, our mission in this country is to change it." - Abdurahman Alamoudi

"As long as you remember that if you get involved in politics, you have to be very careful that your leader is for Allah. You don’t get involved in politics because it’s the American thing to do.  You get involved in politics because politics are a weapon to use in the cause of Islam." - Siraj Wahhaj

"We have discovered how to hit the Jews where they are most vulnerable. The Jews love life, so that is what we will take from them. We are going to win, because they love life and we love death." - Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah

Eisenhower's Brilliance

Dwight David Eisenhower

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/09/the-brilliant-prudence-of-dwight-eisenhower/262556/

The Brilliant Prudence of Dwight Eisenhower
By Evan Thomas
11 Sep 19 2012, 8:01 AM ET 166

How did Jefferson know?

How did Jefferson know?

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the
brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement:

"This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to
gather at one time in the White House with the exception of
when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."






When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,
we shall become as corrupt as Europe.

Thomas Jefferson


The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those
who are willing to work and give to those who would not.

Thomas Jefferson


It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.

Thomas Jefferson


I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

Thomas Jefferson


My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much
government.

Thomas Jefferson


No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.

Thomas Jefferson


The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms
is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson


The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of
patriots and tyrants.

Thomas Jefferson


To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he
disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

Thomas Jefferson


Thomas Jefferson said in 1802 "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their
currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will
grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children
wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

Young Leaders Incompetent

[From article]
"This is a nation—a world—badly in need of adult supervision.
[. . .]
Youth is supposed to bring vigor and vision. In general, however, I think we find in our modern political figures that what it really brings is need—for greatness, to be transformative, to leave a legacy. Such clamorous needs! How very boring they are, how puny and small, but how huge in their consequences.
[. . .]
But here's the thing. You have to look hard for wise men. They're not all over the place anymore. There's kind of an emerging mentoring gap going on in America right now. You can see it in a generalized absence of the wise old politician/lawyer/leader/editor who helps the young along, who teaches them the ropes and ways and traditions of a craft."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704682604575369513252243680.html

• JULY 16, 2010

Youth Has Outlived Its Usefulness

American politics is desperately in need of adult supervision.

Peggy Noonan
Wall Street Journal

Words of Wisdom

This says it all.