AS IT WAS IT STILL IS

"The newest computer can merely compound, at speed, the oldest problem in the relations between human beings. In the end the communicator will be confronted with the old problem; what to say and how to say it."

Edward R. Murrow, 20th century American broadcast journalist.

All the technology you use has little or nothing to do with communication.

You can be as misunderstood using one as another.

To lessen the chance of that happening, whenever possible, talking to and (of greater importance) listening to the other person, gives you the best possibility for real communication.

WELL LET ME TELL YOU A THING OR TWO!

"Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish."

Albert Einstein, 20th century German-born theoretical physicist.

Always good to remember, particularly the next time you decide you must answer some other fool's social media comment with which you don't agree.

Emphasis on "other" intended.

WORK OR WAIT FOR CHANGE

"Nothing is irreparable in politics."

Jean Anouilh, 20th century French playwright.

True in all forms of politics; office, personal, as well as governance.

The message is, whatever you don't currently approve of won't be around forever.

You have recourse.

You can work for change or wait for it, the choice is yours.

LOOK AT YOU???

"I am amazed by Tina Fey. And I am Tina Fey."

Tina Fey, American comedian/actor.

This works because you know Tina Fey.

You know she's poking fun at herself.

It doesn't work for those who seriously tell you how great they are.

Don't be that person.

TURNABOUT IS NOT JUST FAIR, IT'S IMPORTANT TOO

"There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it."

Seneca, first century BC Roman philosopher/playwright.

You know how good you feel when someone acknowledges you.

You'll feel just as good having done so for others.

TRUST BUT VERIFY, JUST NOT TOO MUCH

"A man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody trusts."

Harold Macmillan, 20th century Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

I've never met anyone who trusted no one, but I have met those who trust too few.

You won't get very far in this world without the help of others, many of which you will simply have to trust to do what they say they will do.

IT'S NOT JUST HILL AND DONALD, FAR FROM IT

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."

Plato, 5th century BC Greek philosopher.

An appropriate thought as we move closer to hearing the final death rattle of this year's US election season.

No matter what you do for a living, what church you attend, what sports team your child is on, regardless of which groups of humans you associate with, you experience politics.

If you think you don't, if you believe you can stay out of the political drama that impacts your groups, you will, as Plato says you will, ultimately be lead by those you consider to be your inferiors.

Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. 

Either way, if you don't participate in the governance of your groups, it is them, not you, who will govern you.

BE, NOT BEING

"The easiest kind of relationship for me is with ten thousand people. The hardest is with one."

Joan Baez, 20th/21st century American folk singer.

Because a "relationship" is about much more than the number of people in it.

Look at it this way.

When you walk down the street, through an airport, or while sitting in a movie or a ball park, are you in a "relationship" with the hundreds, maybe thousands of others also there?

Unlike our social media encounters, at least in all those situations, you and all the people are actually, physically together.

Using the loosest definition of the word, I suppose any connection between two or more individuals could be defined as a "relationship", however not in the way Ms. Baez intended.

True relationships require both parties to actually be together rather than simply being together.

THE VALUE OF "LIKED"

"One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives."

Euripides, 4th century BC Greek tragedian.

And worth one hundred thousand social media "friends".

There's nothing virtual about real friends.

COMPASSION: SOMETHING TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT

"I haven't lost faith in human nature and I haven't decided to be less compassionate to strangers."

Armistead Jones Maupin, Jr., 20th/21st century American writer.

Something we should all strive to be as long as our level of compassion for others was significant in the first place.

If not, work to make it so.

YOURSELF TOO!

"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend."

Henry David Thoreau, 19th century American essayist/poet/philosopher.

We all must be true to something and this list, with my suggested addition in the title, works for me.

Your list could be much longer, maybe shorter.

It can contain other things; for example, your school were this a Beach Boys list.

What matters most is that you have a list.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE

"Society is the union of men and not the men themselves."

Charles de Secondat 20th century French political philosopher

No man or woman is above the law or the society in which they live.

Beginning to believe you are is the beginning of your end.

THIS BLOG INCLUDED

"The more we elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate."

J. B. Priestley, 20th century English author

Mr. Priestley died long before email, text, IM, blogging, social networks and all the rest, which, today, passes for "communication", came into existence.

Maybe you had to be around, when little or none of that existed, to know the great majority of it, this blog included, has little or nothing to do with communication.

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU

"A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good but for neglecting his neighbor's."

Richard Whately, 18th century English economist/academian

So, feel free to make all the money possible, but don't forget to share some of your resources, including your time and expertise, with others less fortunate than you.

SELF FORGIVENESS

"How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself."

Publilius Syrus, 1st century BC Syrian slave/Latin writer

William Blake said, "It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend."

Even more difficult to forgive ourselves.

More important too for if you can't forgive yourself how can you ever truly forgive anyone else.

Them, you, let it go.

WHAT YOU SAY, HOW YOU SAY IT, BOTH EQUALLY IMPORTANT

"The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum."

Adlai E. Stevenson II, 20th century American politician

In society, at work, in all relationships; you have a right to express your opinion, along with an obligation to do so in an honest, respectful way.

THE ESSENCE OF CIVILITY

"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."

James Allen, 19th century British philosopher/author

And we have the opportunity to do so throughout the day, everyday.

. . . To the person who holds a door open for you.

. . . To the one who waves you in front of them on the freeway.

. . . To the individual who helps you any way possible without asking for anything in return.

Let them know you appreciate their help.

IF FOR NO OTHER REASON

"From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own."

Carl Schurz, first German born US Senator

Not just good political advice, which it is in this time of divisiveness.

Good advice, period!

To think and act otherwise may result in you being one of the first to lose your rights.

(YOU WILL) RECEIVE WHAT YOU GIVE

"Kindness gives birth to kindness."

Sophocles (497/6 BC-406/5 BC) Greek tragic poet.

And insult to insult, injury to injury.

Consider how you'd like others to treat you.

Sooner or later, generally much sooner, what you send around will come around to you.

IN THE AVOIDANCE OF REGRETS

"Four things come not back. The spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, the neglected opportunity."

Arabian proverb

There's little you can do about a misspent past life, other than committing to not repeat past mistakes, including words you wished you'd never spoke, emotional and maybe physical harm you wished you'd never done.

The most difficult to do is taking advantage of opportunity, starting with recognizing what it is and what it is not.