Thought for today:
"Today is Independence Day throughout the U.S.A. It celebrates the Continental Congress's Declaration on July 4th, 1776 that the thirteen American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire.
It is important for every nation and every person to establish their independence if they are to have self-respect, meaning and purpose in their lives. I found out many years ago that 'true respect, independence and freedom' can only be achieved by doing what is right and that people will only possess as much liberty as they have the intelligence, need and courage to take.
My many years as a trade union shop steward occurred during a time when the only way the worker could fight against an injustice was to take independent action against their unfair employer in a collective form. Unfortunately, the union movement that I was so proud to be a part of in my youth and which did much good became discredited by unjustified protest action and belligerent wildcat strikes in the 70's and 80's.
I first got married at the age of 26 years. I'll never forget first hearing the message that marriage is the best of institutions but don't get married if you do not want to be 'institutionalised'!
During the 60's, I recall the many protests and marches made by students and I recall joining in one to free Nelson Mandela once in Bradford. We are all recently familiar with the socialistic surge that has begun to unite behind Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party Leader over the past two years by the young voter. Whatever my own political views, I feel it is only natural that when a person is young, they are more at home with Socialism and nuclear disarmament and that as they become older and more senior and cynical in their look upon life's expectations that they become more Conservative in their ways. The young essentially believe that the definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular. Society, however, should never discourage this passage. Students and young persons were never meant to play the part of successful cogs in the wheel or passive acceptors of official doctrine that is handed down to them by their parents, teachers, media and preachers.
I became independent very early on in life, largely because of a horrific accident I had at the age of 11 years which left me crippled and unable to walk for three years with the likelihood that I would remain so for the rest of my life. Initially, one doctor or another was constantly telling me what I would or wouldn't be able to do in future. It was when the medicine of the west could no longer offer me hope of improvement that I turned my heart, soul and mind to the teachings and learning of eastern tradition and methods. I decided there and then that I was through with accepting limits because someone else said it was so. I learned that if we want to be listened to and have our values heard in this world we should never allow the noise of other people's views and opinions drown out our inner voice or work away against our conscience. It is not only the most courageous of acts to think for oneself; it is the most sensible in forming sound judgement. As Socrates said, 'To find yourself, think for yourself.'
There exists between every thought and action of every individual a space; a space in which to choose our response to any given situation. In our response lies our growth of personality and freedom of expression that true independence demands. I learned then that it is only when you discover who you are will you be truly free and independent. Freedom stands for nothing of substance unless you can express your view respectfully and unless it offers one a chance to be better than they would have been as mere followers.
For those who seek happiness in the arms of another and who are prepared to seek their worth through another, I say that they waste their time. We don't find our worth in another. We find it in ourselves and then we seek to find a partner in life that is worthy of us. If you remain solely dependent on a partner throughout your married life and they become 'your everything,' do not be surprised when they are no longer there if you feel wholly bereft and lost.
Finally, I must tell you about a neighbour I once had. She loved flowers so much; they meant everything to her and though her husband would often take her out for a meal, he never once bought her a bunch of flowers. I used to see this neighbour working in her back garden from time to time. I once remarked about the tender way she handled her garden plants and she replied, 'I love my garden, Billy. When I was first married before the children came along, I always hoped that my husband Jack would bring me a nice bunch of flowers home occasionally but he never did. It was when I realised that he never would that I planted my own.'
We often need to take things into our own hands if we want to remain happy and independent. After all, as the Americans and the British found out in the 18th century, life is no tea party." William Forde: July 4th, 2017.
"Today is Independence Day throughout the U.S.A. It celebrates the Continental Congress's Declaration on July 4th, 1776 that the thirteen American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire.
It is important for every nation and every person to establish their independence if they are to have self-respect, meaning and purpose in their lives. I found out many years ago that 'true respect, independence and freedom' can only be achieved by doing what is right and that people will only possess as much liberty as they have the intelligence, need and courage to take.
My many years as a trade union shop steward occurred during a time when the only way the worker could fight against an injustice was to take independent action against their unfair employer in a collective form. Unfortunately, the union movement that I was so proud to be a part of in my youth and which did much good became discredited by unjustified protest action and belligerent wildcat strikes in the 70's and 80's.
I first got married at the age of 26 years. I'll never forget first hearing the message that marriage is the best of institutions but don't get married if you do not want to be 'institutionalised'!
During the 60's, I recall the many protests and marches made by students and I recall joining in one to free Nelson Mandela once in Bradford. We are all recently familiar with the socialistic surge that has begun to unite behind Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party Leader over the past two years by the young voter. Whatever my own political views, I feel it is only natural that when a person is young, they are more at home with Socialism and nuclear disarmament and that as they become older and more senior and cynical in their look upon life's expectations that they become more Conservative in their ways. The young essentially believe that the definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular. Society, however, should never discourage this passage. Students and young persons were never meant to play the part of successful cogs in the wheel or passive acceptors of official doctrine that is handed down to them by their parents, teachers, media and preachers.
I became independent very early on in life, largely because of a horrific accident I had at the age of 11 years which left me crippled and unable to walk for three years with the likelihood that I would remain so for the rest of my life. Initially, one doctor or another was constantly telling me what I would or wouldn't be able to do in future. It was when the medicine of the west could no longer offer me hope of improvement that I turned my heart, soul and mind to the teachings and learning of eastern tradition and methods. I decided there and then that I was through with accepting limits because someone else said it was so. I learned that if we want to be listened to and have our values heard in this world we should never allow the noise of other people's views and opinions drown out our inner voice or work away against our conscience. It is not only the most courageous of acts to think for oneself; it is the most sensible in forming sound judgement. As Socrates said, 'To find yourself, think for yourself.'
There exists between every thought and action of every individual a space; a space in which to choose our response to any given situation. In our response lies our growth of personality and freedom of expression that true independence demands. I learned then that it is only when you discover who you are will you be truly free and independent. Freedom stands for nothing of substance unless you can express your view respectfully and unless it offers one a chance to be better than they would have been as mere followers.
For those who seek happiness in the arms of another and who are prepared to seek their worth through another, I say that they waste their time. We don't find our worth in another. We find it in ourselves and then we seek to find a partner in life that is worthy of us. If you remain solely dependent on a partner throughout your married life and they become 'your everything,' do not be surprised when they are no longer there if you feel wholly bereft and lost.
Finally, I must tell you about a neighbour I once had. She loved flowers so much; they meant everything to her and though her husband would often take her out for a meal, he never once bought her a bunch of flowers. I used to see this neighbour working in her back garden from time to time. I once remarked about the tender way she handled her garden plants and she replied, 'I love my garden, Billy. When I was first married before the children came along, I always hoped that my husband Jack would bring me a nice bunch of flowers home occasionally but he never did. It was when I realised that he never would that I planted my own.'
We often need to take things into our own hands if we want to remain happy and independent. After all, as the Americans and the British found out in the 18th century, life is no tea party." William Forde: July 4th, 2017.
