Change: Not by Show of Force, but by Show of Maturity and Wisdom

"In this current social climate, which has caused many to ask how far does someone need to go to bring change, I am reminded of an old philosophical joke,  'to make their point a member of the KKK will kill and burn the bodies of a black person, to make their point Islam extremists will attack non Muslims, to make their point Christian will go on crusade, but to make his point a Buddhist will light himself on fire.'

The joke is long and in rather poor taste but it has an interesting point... the question may be how far, but retaliation will never bring about change, the change is often brought about when self-sacrifice is considered over vengeance. Oddly enough this is something that Jesus taught, but is often forgotten within the rhetoric of Christianese... Our mindset shouldn't be how can we force others to change, as this just continues the current path of bondage to the wrongs or assumptions of the past, but rather how can we through how we choose to interact with the world convince people that change is possible and something to strive for."

What Kind of Friend You Should Strive to be

"Be the kind of friend who can be talked to about anything. Be open, understanding, kind, loving, and without agenda. Always be ready to compliment your friends... And never forget to be honest in your compliments. Strive for this, because then you will find how many amazing friends you truly have."

The Power of a Good Story Told by Someone Who Loves You.

"Never underestimate the power of stories. Especially those told by someone who loves the listener. A brother's little child fantasy bedtime story can be enough to ease the heart and mind of his beloved sister. The simplest sentences can be woven together to reveal the truest of Love and magic that still exist, even if only for that moment. Let's please never lose the power of such stories."

Action And Consequences

"Every action has a consequence, good or bad. Any decision you make during your life, will and can effect you until the day you die. With that being said, acknowledge your mistakes, learn from them, grow from them, rise above them, and go further in life than you ever thought you could."

                 - Charmaine

Actual Learning is not Always Found in a Classroom

"I have found that often actual learning is rarely occurring in classrooms but instead occurs when we experience the trials and events in life with others."