Ibrahim Siddiq's Posts - Oppressed Peoples Online Word...The Voice Of The Voiceless2024-03-29T07:45:35ZIbrahim Siddiqhttps://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profile/IbrahimSiddiqhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5401283074?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=1j06hqu7i741m&xn_auth=noThe Day of Arafah - An Opportunity . . . Not an Excusetag:oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com,2021-07-18:6273430:BlogPost:1918112021-07-18T17:31:16.000ZIbrahim Siddiqhttps://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profile/IbrahimSiddiq
<p><strong>Fasting on the Day of Arafah – the 9<sup>th</sup> of Dhul-Hijjah: An Opportunity . . . Not an Excuse</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9265139698?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" height="210" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9265139698?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="198"></img></a> This time of year, some fortunate Muslims are on their way, or have already arrived to the holy places of Makkah or Madinah in preparation to begin the rites of the annual Hajj Pilgrimage. </p>
<p>The Hajj…</p>
<p><strong>Fasting on the Day of Arafah – the 9<sup>th</sup> of Dhul-Hijjah: An Opportunity . . . Not an Excuse</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9265139698?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9265139698?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-left" width="198" height="210"/></a>This time of year, some fortunate Muslims are on their way, or have already arrived to the holy places of Makkah or Madinah in preparation to begin the rites of the annual Hajj Pilgrimage. </p>
<p>The Hajj rites extend during a relatively short period – starting on the 8<sup>th</sup> of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah and continuing to the 12<sup>th</sup> or13th. During this period, the pilgrims complete a number of rites to commemorate theirsubmission Allah and the tradition of sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abrahim) in direct obedience to Allah’s command. </p>
<p>There are many articles and discussions regarding the Hajj and its importance in Islamic life. The most important day of the Hajj is the Day of Arafah, the 9<sup>th</sup> of Dhul Hijjah. There the pilgrims stand on the plane of Arafah suplicating to Allah, seeking forgiveness and mercy. The illustration at the left provides evidence on the value of the Day of Arafah. </p>
<p>For those who did not travel to Hajj, there are still blessings and favors in recognizing this blessed day. Most importantly,<a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9265144453?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9265144453?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-right"/></a> fasting on this day – according to an authentic Hadeeth of Allah’s Messenger, Muhammad, peace be upon him, is an expiation of sins from the past year as well as the year to come. </p>
<p>Here lies the opportunity . . .</p>
<p>For a few hours in one blessed day, we have the opportunity to be forgiven our mistakes by Allah’s mercy. Not only are our sins from the previous year forgiven, but Allah, in his mercy also forgives our sins yet to be commited during the following year. </p>
<p>One day . . . a few hours of fasting, praying, supplication, and seeking Allah’s pleasure, mercy and forgiveness . . . to grant us Allah’s favor from the past year and the year to come. </p>
<p>But this opportunity is not an excuse. </p>
<p>The relief and mercy that Allah may grant us through our fasting on Arafah day, is not an excuse or license to become trifling, or negligent during the coming months. While Allah’s mercy may extend for the months to come, our consciousness of Allah’s awareness and His justice also extends throughout our live. </p>
<p>If anything, we have the opportunity even more to start with a renewed slate with our relationship with Allah, fellow Muslims, and the wider community of humanity. The current times have caused strain due to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as numerous instances of oppression, brutality, fear, and suffering. </p>
<p>We, the Muslims have the opportunity to engage the world even more, not out of beligerence, but out of a sense of justice and truth, and not only against those who cause suffering against Muslims, but also in the face of our own communities, and communities who, though they might not share our faith, they share our humanity. </p>
<p> </p>Perspectives Outside Inward - Surrounded by So Many Issuestag:oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com,2021-05-18:6273430:BlogPost:1908392021-05-18T16:30:00.000ZIbrahim Siddiqhttps://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profile/IbrahimSiddiq
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>A Deluge of Concerns, Issues, and Challenges </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The world has witnessed an overwhelming manifestation of concerns. More focused, the US has witnessed -- over the past several months -- a deluge of concerns. Each concern has its own set of characteristics and would deserve its own attention in discourse. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">If we focus on the political landscape of the…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>A Deluge of Concerns, Issues, and Challenges </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The world has witnessed an overwhelming manifestation of concerns. More focused, the US has witnessed -- over the past several months -- a deluge of concerns. Each concern has its own set of characteristics and would deserve its own attention in discourse. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">If we focus on the political landscape of the US, we witness the transition from a megalomaniacal government administration that had catalyzed a nasty resurgence of emboldened white supremacist attitudes and actions that resulted in an upsurge of racist attacks on non-white peoples, visible and oft-times deadly abuse of policing with particular attention on communities of color, political ramblings that appeared to focus more on power grabs rather than delivery of public service to the citizens and residents of the US, not to mention a belligerence in in the international arena. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">The year culminated with a hotly contested presidential election and allegations of election fraud and manipulation that originated from the office of the defeated incumbent in spite of clear evidence of no tampering and repeated dismissal of frivolous law suits brought about in frail attempts to derail the inevitable defeat. The election results notwithstanding, the nation and the world witnessed public incitement of seditious activity to usurp the confirmation of the Congress that resulted in property damage and loss of life as mobs attacked the US Capitol Building urged on by public incitement by representatives from the nation's highest offices. And yet some people who had abused their trust and power have yet to be indicted for their crimes --- well, alleged crimes to be fair to due process. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Aside from the chaos that surrounded the 2020 national election cycle, several incidental and continuing events have impacted, and continue to impact life in the US and even around the world. Following are a few of the critical issues that we currently face in different manifestations in our society and around the world. Each issue deserves a dedicated posting by itself. Admittedly some issues have been affected by misinformation and social and civic resistance. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Covid-19 Has Become the New Norm </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Amazing that the US -- regarded as a nation of education, science, technology, and culture -- currently ranks among world nations with some the highest incidents of Covid-19 infections and deaths, primarily brought about due to the reticence and denial of the previous government. In the near one year since the first occurrence and evolution of COVID-19 into a global pandemic, we have witnessed government denials, pharma manipulation, variants and drastic changes to how we conduct our lives and daily interactions. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>To Vaccine or Not to Vaccine . . . That is the Question</strong></span></p>
<p>This writer is NOT an anti-vaxxer. This writer is NOT a pro-vaxxer. Until recently, actually I was vaccine-hesitant. I have taken my first dose, which was free. My hesitancy is due to the confusion . . . twisted science versus consensus versus side effects versus etc. I guess I will wait until I develop some subversive thoughts to see if some switch goes off in my brain that might cause a temporary brain numbness or have me zapped from some hidden super computer that destroys my memory of anything productive. If I were more literate on the matter, I could probably designate a more detailed thesis on the matter of vaccines, non-vaccines, anti-vaccines and all related topics. But I am sure we can draw a consensus that there are more than enough speakers on both sides of the debate who contribute well enough to the confusion. </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>On Race, Racism, Race Identity and Everything in Between </strong></span></p>
<p>This conversation has a few dimensions:</p>
<ul>
<li>The nature of the US as a racist nation . . . or not?</li>
<li>The dynamics of Black American identity</li>
<li>The impact of so-called black movements in the US</li>
<li>Critical Race Theory and its Impact </li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Palestine - Zionism - Judaism</strong></span></p>
<p>Recent events in Palestine and the Israeli occupied areas continue to keep this topic alive, even when so many policy makers wish it would just go away. </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Challenges Facing US Voting Rights</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p><b>Conclusion and Invitation </b></p>
<p>Each of the above topics deserves more focused attention, hopefully by someone with more qualifications and capability than this writer. So this is an acknowledgement of issues that need continuous dialog and an invitation for contribution and collaboration. . . . </p>
<p>The menu is open. </p>
<p> </p>Perspectives Outside Inward - Opportunities Gained . . . Opportunities Losttag:oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com,2020-06-01:6273430:BlogPost:918832020-06-01T14:08:00.000ZIbrahim Siddiqhttps://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profile/IbrahimSiddiq
<p><strong>News Points . . .</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5487830868?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" height="164" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5487830868?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="246"></img></a> The killing of Mr. George Floyd has catalyzed demonstrations and protests not only in the US, but around the world. Many cities in the US have had massive citizen demonstrations – mostly peaceful – to bring more attention to the frustrations suffered by targeted communities, the shock and horror felt by non-targeted…</p>
<p><strong>News Points . . .</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5487830868?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5487830868?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="246" class="align-left" height="164"/></a>The killing of Mr. George Floyd has catalyzed demonstrations and protests not only in the US, but around the world. Many cities in the US have had massive citizen demonstrations – mostly peaceful – to bring more attention to the frustrations suffered by targeted communities, the shock and horror felt by non-targeted communities, and the direct or indirect non-involvement of law enforcement agencies and justice institutions to hold offending officers accountable for incidents of abuse of power. </p>
<p>This is not a clean-wash for any individual who has been witnessed to committing a crime deserving arrest and/or detention regardless of his ethnic background. This is not an indictment of the entire workforce of law enforcement across the country, indeed around the world, many of whom have made conscious commitment to their oath to “protect and serve” all citizens and residents of their respective locales. Not to seem redundant, but the case involving the killing of Mr. George Floyd is not an isolated incident, indeed it is the latest in a generations-long practice of systemic and often endorsed hard-handedness of law enforcement against targeted communities. But this should be the subject of another post at a later time, maybe done by a much more competent writer. </p>
<p>The protests and demonstrations that have erupted in the aftermath of Mr. Floyd’s death have revealed a number of<a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5487815887?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5487815887?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-right" width="231" height="154"/></a> observations, many negative. However there have been quite a few positive occurrences that to this writer’s limited knowledge have set a previously unnoticed precedent in police-community relations. </p>
<p>The following incidents have recently been reported from FORBES Magazine:</p>
<ul>
<li>Genesee County Sheriff, Chris Swanson removing his riot gear and offering to join the protest march in Flint, Michigan.</li>
<li>Police officers in Camden, New Jersey helping to carry a protest banner with marchers.</li>
<li>Police in California, North Dakota, and Missouri taking a knee and demonstrating other signs of solidarity in the mass call for justice, not just for Mr. George Floyd, but police abuse of authority that has been allowed to run rampant for generations, and more consistently for years and witnessed through the spread of viral media through social network.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Courtesy: <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/05/31/in-some-cities-police-officers-joined-protesters-marching-against-brutality/#697cf3175edb">https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/05/31/in-some-cities-police-officers-joined-protesters-marching-against-brutality/#697cf3175edb</a></span></p>
<p>Also, various video posts have been distributed that show multiple law enforcement officers decrying Mr. Floyd’s killing and calling for more accountability among their ranks. This is unprecedented in the US society . . . where the police have begun to show some measure of support, or empathy for the frustration of so much injustice coming from their members. </p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5488022877?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5488022877?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-left" width="237" height="133"/></a>In other societies, when the law enforcement and security apparatus begin to show more support for the protests against injustices in the society, then the momentum for real change begins to take place. Will that happen in the US? </p>
<p>On the other side of the peaceful engagement, however, and most unfortunately, the accounts of vandalism, violence from both sides and injury and damage have also been reported. Images of policemen exercising brutality against peaceful protesters; reports of alleged anarchy advocates and other extremists infiltrating peaceful demonstrations to turn them into violent confrontations with law enforcement. In some cases, the rage that had arisen peacefully had suddenly ballooned into property destruction, and police response as should have been expected. The allegations range from white supremacist agitators to anarchists, to infiltrators paying demonstrators to vandalize property . . . even to police in disguise causing chaos. </p>
<p>Some police departments have taken the customary hard-line stance in response to demonstrations and protests -- peaceful or otherwise. The lost opportunity has been witnessed with police strong-arming demonstrators and pushing protesters to the ground, one account citing the use of pepper spray against a child. </p>
<p>Several concerns are evident in this matter: </p>
<ul>
<li>The protests and demonstrations . . . indeed the outrage toward the George Floyd killing has reached global proportions. Demonstrations have risen in major world cities </li>
<li>The image of the US as a location of freedom and liberty has been put in a more realistic light not overly colored by the images of tourist-centered beauty, natural vistas, and entertainment opportunities. </li>
<li>The blue curtain in law enforcement has been shredded. Hopefully this shredding will lead to a clear policing of the police from within their ranks. </li>
<li>Civic leaders and activists have to be on watch for outside agitators, racist extremists, anarchists, and agents provocateur who will continue to seek opportunities to cause chaos thereby eliciting a harsh response.</li>
<li>The nation's leadership has failed miserably in this matter, either calling for calm, calling for real justice, or supporting the right to protest.</li>
</ul>
<p>Opportunities gained . . . Opportunities lost . . . This could be the opportunity for the US to start . . . TO START . . . along the road toward real healing . . . A healing that has been needed pretty much since this nation's inception. </p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Perspectives Outside Inward - Can Anger Be Healthy?tag:oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com,2020-06-01:6273430:BlogPost:921242020-06-01T07:40:55.000ZIbrahim Siddiqhttps://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profile/IbrahimSiddiq
<p>For one of the few times -- at least in my lifetime, it appears that anger and disgust have spread over the world in the wake of the lynching of Mr. George Floyd (yes MR. GEORGE FLOYD -- a gentleman who was mercilessly killed at the hands of a law enforcement officer while his accomplices looked on without attempting to get him to take his knee from Mr. Floyd's neck. </p>
<p>It appears that not only is the US at another tipping point, on the verge of erupting into civil chaos, but cities…</p>
<p>For one of the few times -- at least in my lifetime, it appears that anger and disgust have spread over the world in the wake of the lynching of Mr. George Floyd (yes MR. GEORGE FLOYD -- a gentleman who was mercilessly killed at the hands of a law enforcement officer while his accomplices looked on without attempting to get him to take his knee from Mr. Floyd's neck. </p>
<p>It appears that not only is the US at another tipping point, on the verge of erupting into civil chaos, but cities around the world have heard the raised voices of people calling for justice for Mr. Floyd . . . a justice that should not be limited to this sole victim, but to the hundreds, indeed thousands of non-white victims across the US, as well as the hundreds of thousands of innocent and helpless innocents around the world who have no voice or any due process, nor access to social media to help make their suffering go viral. </p>
<p>I thought to look for the substance of anger. Because people are angry . . . Angry to the extent of gathering in the streets<a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5482089656?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5482089656?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-right" width="245" height="315"/></a> to face law enforcement agencies, and monitor the actions for possible infiltrators and agents provocateur who seek to manipulate this anger into chaos and foster an opportunity for even more punitive action from law enforcement. I love Google for the mere ability to find useful information quickly. And anger is virtually the "word of the day," presently. </p>
<p>So I found an infographic (courtesy of <a href="http://www.nicabm.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine - NICABM</a>). While the infographic is usually a long piece of content, I have cropped the main sections of this particular piece to help make it more usable in this post. I hope the content will be clear enough to read and clear enough to absorb as we continue to witness the expressions of anger that have appeared over the past few days. </p>
<p>To be clear and without reservation, I acknowledge that I am not a clinical professional, nor have I completed any formal study of any length in psychology, therapeutic work, or any related subject. So this content is definitely subject to review and consideration, and feedback and correction if necessary from more qualified individuals; indeed feedback is most definitely invited. </p>
<p>Also, I must also admit that, while I am a son of the US society, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, I currently live outside the US, and have done so for more than 30 years. Having said that, I have not . . . yet . . . renounced my US citizenship, nor sought . . . yet . . . citizenship in any other society on the planet. The US is my birth home, and the home of my family and relatives, though as Melanated peoples, we have historically been regarded as strangers in this home. And this fact has become more glaring in the past two years than even in the turbulent 60s and 70s in the US society. </p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5482108463?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5482108463?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-left" width="305" height="242"/></a>But today we are talking about anger. </p>
<p>I won't try to analyze the content in the illustration that I have shared. I do, however hope that some of the content will help shed some perspective on the nature of our collective anger, not just for the senseless and callous killing of Mr. George Floyd, but the other senseless and callous killings recently and before. We can find their names posted throughout our mediated spaces. However, Breonna and Ahmaud stand out more recently. </p>
<p>The question I posed in my post title, will, I hope generate even more discussion and conversations, especially among those who are much more capable and qualified than I to engage in this type of discourse. </p>
<p>Basically . . . Is the anger that is now being vented relieve the stress of 400 years of enslavement of our kidnapped ancestors, the lynching and murder of innocent non-white (and some white) persons whose only crimes were their seeking to better their lives or right other wrongs inflicted upon them or others, and the extremely disproportionate dispensing of enforcement measures against minority populations by a collection of racist-driven institutions? </p>
<p>We see this venting from people in the streets; we see this venting from members of the law enforcement community around the country who have become fed up with the blue curtain of complicity and silence in the face of obvious abuse of authority with impunity. <img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5482122499?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="345" class="align-right"/></p>
<p>Has the US society reached its boiling point? Is this the time that the lid of apathy, complacency, and injustice will finally boil over to release the overheated emotion of societal frustration and disgust. </p>
<p>Will the guilt of oppression finally be handed its just desserts -- not just for Blackamericans in the urban centers, but First Nations peoples, Mexicans and other Hispanic-speaking peoples who have been treated like criminals in their efforts to escape the disasters of their home societies. And if this is not . . . yet . . . the boiling point . . . . </p>
<p>Then how much more do we have to take? </p>
<p></p>Perspectives Outside Inwardtag:oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com,2020-05-27:6273430:BlogPost:921102020-05-27T22:30:00.000ZIbrahim Siddiqhttps://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profile/IbrahimSiddiq
<p>Greetings . . . Wishing safety, security, health, and well-being to all. </p>
<p><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5401283074?profile=RESIZE_64x64&width=64&height=64&crop=1%3A1"></img></p>
<p><a class="nolink">by<span> </span></a><a href="http://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profile/IbrahimSiddiq">Ibrahim Siddiq</a><a class="nolink"><span> </span></a></p>
<p>In these challenging times, this wish appears to be more poignant that ever. The conversations that currently circulate around the US society tend to center on a few common and sustained themes: </p>
<ul>
<li>the…</li>
</ul>
<p>Greetings . . . Wishing safety, security, health, and well-being to all. </p>
<p><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/5401283074?profile=RESIZE_64x64&width=64&height=64&crop=1%3A1"/></p>
<p><a class="nolink">by<span> </span></a><a href="http://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profile/IbrahimSiddiq">Ibrahim Siddiq</a><a class="nolink"><span> </span></a></p>
<p>In these challenging times, this wish appears to be more poignant that ever. The conversations that currently circulate around the US society tend to center on a few common and sustained themes: </p>
<ul>
<li>the resurgence of racism perpetuated by white US citizens </li>
<li>the continuing deadly use of force toward non-white citizens by members of various local law enforcement agencies </li>
<li>the insensitivity and disregard of the US government for the real concerns of the US society and its citizens </li>
<li>the lack of distinctive clarity between the dominant political parties or their prominent candidates. </li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p>The above are only a few of the rampant concerns of the US society. While I am not a qualified academic, certified social scientist, or published social researcher in history, economics, politics or other disciplines, as a lay person, I have the God-given capability to observe trends in the society and draw a number of conclusions and opinions, all of which are subject to clarification and correction on receipt of verifiable information. </p>
<p></p>
<p>As a melanated individual of US birth and upbringing, and a resident expat in an international location, I have had the opportunity to view various perspectives. Firstly, there is view of my home society, from the view of a child of the 60s and 70s, and the view of current trends in the US society. Secondly, there is the vantage point of how the US is viewed by others in different locations and from different cultural and life backgrounds, and how that view impacts certain perspectives in a global sense. Thirdly, there is the view of a Muslim convert of decades view observing the apparent impotence of the historical and contemporary Muslim world and its inability to neither effect productive spiritual and societal development within its historical and cultural borders, nor impact the trends of the world in a positive and productive context. </p>
<p>I am not an expert . . . I am not a scholar . . . I am a lay person with thoughts to share and exchange in the expectation of productive and meaningful review and feedback. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Let's have continuing conversations that lead to productive action. </p>
<p></p>
<p></p>Wanted . . . Sanity . . . Alive Preferred . . . If You Find . . . Please Share with Everyone Around You!!!tag:oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com,2012-12-18:6273430:BlogPost:386192012-12-18T14:30:00.000ZIbrahim Siddiqhttps://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profile/IbrahimSiddiq
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">It seems that <em>sanity</em> has been lost to the world. It was around, and we all enjoyed its presence and</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;"><img alt="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVl3g4WfT_M/S8sd674ljsI/AAAAAAAADco/nOFSHv1hObc/s1600/SOS-logo.jpg" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVl3g4WfT_M/S8sd674ljsI/AAAAAAAADco/nOFSHv1hObc/s1600/SOS-logo.jpg"></img></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">glow in our hearts.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">And then . . . all of a sudden . . . .…</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">It seems that <em>sanity</em> has been lost to the world. It was around, and we all enjoyed its presence and</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;"><img alt="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVl3g4WfT_M/S8sd674ljsI/AAAAAAAADco/nOFSHv1hObc/s1600/SOS-logo.jpg" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVl3g4WfT_M/S8sd674ljsI/AAAAAAAADco/nOFSHv1hObc/s1600/SOS-logo.jpg"/></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">glow in our hearts.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">And then . . . all of a sudden . . . . <em>sanity</em> disappeared!!!!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">It is no where to be found . . . as if it were never here at all . . . non-existent forever! One day we are all co-existing and moving along in our lives - together or separately - but with no major trauma . . . Well wars have always been around. And then . . . . Bam! <em>Sanity</em> just up and left the scene . . . .</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">Unfortunately, what's left in place of <em>sanity</em> is fear, suspicion, hatred, intolerance, violence, death, and a whole list of bad life.</span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">Maybe <em>sanity</em> just took a hiatus . . . a respite . . . a sabbatical from the world . . . to give humanity a chance to re-boot. I'm sure it's around here somewhere, just waiting to jump back into our collective human psyche and help us re-gain so much of our humanity that also seems to have vanished. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">If . . . no, when you see <em>sanity</em> any where wandering around your consciousness, please let it know that it is sorely missed, and we are sorely and eagerly awaiting its long, overdue return.</span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">Thanks</span></p>
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