"The greatest freedom is the freedom of the human spirit: Without it, we are never free from being prisoners of our own minds." ~ Patty Ann Smith
The Sea
"The pull is so strong we will not believe
the drawing tide is meant for us,
I mean the gift, the sea,
the place where all the rivers meet.
Easy to forget,
how the great receiving depth
untamed by what we need
needs only what will flow its way..."
~ some lines from a poem by David Whyte
A New Year
Speak your Truth
Be good to each other
Celebrate everything that is sacred
Take nothing personally
Struggle exists only in your attitude
~ Hopi
May the New Year Bring Beauty, Peace, and Truth
To All of Our Lives
A Prayer For The Victims of The Earthquake and Tsunami In Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India,Thailand and The Entire Region
Final Vision
Life is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of the buffalo in the winter.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass
and loses itself in the sunset.
~ Crowfoot (Native American)
Transformation
In a blade of grass,
a twig, a leaf,
so many changes are going on.
Some parts are spiraling
into birth and growth
and others, the process of decay.
But, the pulse of life
does not stop.
Each form dies only
to be born again.
~ a poem by Patty Ann Smith
Love, Peace and Simplicity
The latest shock and awe of the Iraq War are the killings in Mosul. Every time I can't endure another story like that...another one occurs. For those of us who are used to participating in "Christmas", maybe our trees should be covered with yellow ribbons instead of candy canes. My own little "environmentally friendly" tree will simply have lights...Lights mean "hope" to me, and one of my hopes is that the rest of our troops come home soon and safe! It is not safe for them anywhere else but home. For the sake of our humanity, we must pray and keep on hoping.
The deaths of so many soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere this year are changing the meaning of Christmas in the 21st century. The commercial "crap" just isn't going to cut it when it comes to any ONE soldier's life. And, the fact is that none of us will ever be the same again...because every violent death, every starving child, every mistreated and abused human being, every tortured soul is part of "us". Many of us feel it and know it, and others don't...but, nonetheless, it's true!
In order for our species to survive, we need to graduate from the "commercial" emphasis in our lives and become more loving and caring of "all creatures great and small" so that our children and grandchildren will not have their lives cut short.
We cause our own suffering by the choices we make. And, the transformational shift that we need so desperately to make right now is one from "excess" to a current day version of Christ-like "simplicity". I'd like to encourage you to cut-back on any "excessive" thinking (and the operative word here is "excessive") about material things and replace it with some thoughts about our troops and their families being reunited soon and safely. What better way is there to honor the birth of Jesus who symbolizes Love, Peace and Simplicity than by making our own lives more like that. And...if we can... sacrifice some of our time, energy or resources to do something for our soldiers or their families, or others who are suffering in another way perhaps without food, shelter, or enough clothing. Why not make this Christmas a more meaningful and spiritual one that will bring more peace to this world.
Introducing A BRAND NEW Website: Spiritual Earth Coalition.Com
...Set up to enhance and confirm the vision of a Spiritual Earth.
Spiritual Earth Coalition is affiliated with Hope 4 America.blogspot.com, Patty Ann Smith.com, Spiritual Earth.blogspot.com, and soon to be developed "Spiritual Earth.org". (It is NOT AFFILIATED with any other website with the words "spiritual earth" in their name or web address.)
Please click here to visit my new addition:
The Missing Link For Peace Is The Spiritual Earth
I have seen enough of the "World" to be able to make a conscientious choice to observe it and depict it from my own perspective. I choose to depict it as a Spiritual Earth and, therefore, seek messages that enhance and confirm this vision.
I have seen alcoholism, I have seen drug addiction, I have seen how diabetes can destroy a body until there is nothing left but death, I have seen a father and a brother come back from wars and how they handled the rest of their lives carrying with them what they had to do, I've been a child whose father was away for almost a year at a time...knowing he might never return, and with a faith that only a child could have...give him a little religious medal to carry in his pocket to keep him safe. Believing without seeing is so much easier for children...it is truly part of the grace of God. I have felt the confusion and pain of children of divorced parents, of children of alcoholic parents, I understand the feeling of abandonment whether a parent is present or not.
And, what are we most likely to hold onto in our worst moments..."something spiritual". Something spiritual to rid us of our addictions, something spiritual to rid us of the pain of our losses...something spiritual to simply make life better...
Please read more at my NEW! website:
www.spiritualearthcoalition.com
and my NEW! Blog:
www.spiritualearth.blogspot.com
My Hope 4 America Blog will continue as usual as well!
Memories of My Father
It's hard to let go of childhood
and embrace adulthood completely.
Memories become more and more important
with each passing year that a parent is still alive.
I know my father is elderly
but the essence of our familiar bond
is magically so much the same.
I'll miss him when he's no longer here.
I can't hold onto earlier years
of our beginnings together,
because they have long since been gone.
But, what remains in my heart's memory
has and will continue
to shape and form
my art, my music,
my self expression,
my life...for as long as I live.
~ Patty Ann Smith
The Red-Tailed Hawks of New York City
Pale Male and Lola, a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks, will be allowed to build their nest again high atop a NYC apartment building. You can see some great pictures and read the story of these magnificent creatures by clicking here: www.palemale.com
"BEFORE HE WENT TO WAR"
This is a song I wrote about my brother, Bob, a Vietnam Vet who died in 2003.
I dedicate this song to all of our troops both past and present.
Click here to download free at Scrub Records: http://scrubrecords.com//artists/918/
This Sacred Earth
Nothing can be more sacred than the Earth that gives us all the resources we need to survive, and, therefore, it's hard to believe that anyone, unless they were mentally disturbed, would want to destroy their physical and spiritual sustenance. Yet, when we abuse the Earth, that's exactly what we do, which is comparable to abusing our own mother. There would have to be some terrible misunderstanding in order for that to happen.
Often, abuse of anything is simply about not having enough information to assess a situation correctly. And, without the right information, we can become confused and afraid and then angry. Our minds begin to create one wrong impression after another, soon to become uncontrollable misunderstanding which lights the flames for abuse. And, the unfortunate end result is that abuse becomes the norm.
When we understand the truth, most of us automatically do the right thing. Our hearts open up, the confusion of our mind is abandoned and the loving caring part of us takes over. Some of us need to think about that when it comes to our own mothers, but a lot of us need to think about it when it comes to our own Earth.
The greatest success mankind can have is to have a healthy environment in which to live, fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink, and safe food to eat. We need to work much harder to make this happen.
"Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man." ~ Stewart Udall, former Secretary of the Interior
~ Patty Ann Smith
Planetary Consciousness
"Saying the planet is at risk from human activity, Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai urged democratic reforms and an end to corporate greed when she collected the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday." ~ Reuters News
"Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system."
"We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own."
Wangari Maathai
Kenyan environmentalist and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize
A Father's Love
The Foundation named in the memory of Daniel Pearl, the journalist who was slain in Pakistan almost three years ago, was created by his father. Judea Pearl tells others that"Through words and music, Danny communicated humor, joy and understanding in many corners of the world." And, he speaks of how the foundation promotes cross-cultural understanding through journalism and music.
Inspiring peace and understanding, the Daniel Pearl Foundation includes fellowships in American newsrooms to reporters from the Muslim world. J. Pearl believes that we cannot fight terrorism without the help of moderate Muslim's minimizing and marginalizing their own extreme elements. He says that when he sits down across the table from Muslims, they respect what he's trying to do and they see his son as a symbol of their fight against their own extremists.
Judea Pearl admired his son whose life was filled with passion, music and conversation..."Danny really loved people and strongly believed in loving your fellow human being."
On October 8, 2004, The Third Annual Daniel Pearl Music Day, a global celebration of Harmony for Humanity, took place with nearly 300 concerts in more than 30 countries! ~ Patty Ann Smith
Inspired by: Paula Zahn (CNN) interview and Stuart A. Hirsch article (INDYSTAR)
The Hope That Life Continues
Since Hope 4 America is about reconnecting through art, nature, and cultures...it is fitting for me to continue on the topic of the new CD, POWWOWIRAQSI, by anonyMoses. It's a powerful piece of musical art, and I can't seem to say enough about it. Because, although it depicts the harshest reality of war...after listening to the last track entitled "Final Strains", I was left with a peace-filled spiritual feeling.
I was left thinking that one way or another, our physical and spiritual bodies journey through life together to the very end, and that the unbroken circle of birth, life, death, and rebirth is the hope that life continues.
Listening to this CD is a rich emotional experience that noone should miss! ~ Patty Ann Smith
For further information about this CD, go to the artist's blog: www.anonyMoses.blogspot.com
Can You Taste The Tears?
This is not the heartbeat of the Earth.
Can you hear the fear, can you taste the tears?
Can you smell the blood, can you touch the wounds?
This is the adrenalin rush of mankind at war with itself...
The death throws of a failed experiment.
Hope and despair living in the same body at the same time...
an impossible task
that must be altered.
Otherwise, there will be merciful silence for the Earth in the end
and...no more children to build a future for.
~ Patty Ann Smith
Inspired by POWWOWIRAQSI, a new original musical composition by David K. Beckwith. Please go to David's site, www.anonyMoses.blogspot.com, or www.iddybud.blogspot.com to download the MP3.
Our Common Humanity
"We all do better when we work together.
Our differences "do" matter,
but...our common humanity matters more."
~ William Jefferson Clinton
at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library
November 18, 2004
Stand For What You Believe In
"Our deeds still travel
with us from afar,
and what we have been
makes us what we are."
~ George Eliot
"If you ever want to win again, then stand for something,
stand for what you believe in."
~ Howard Dean
Love Can Build A Bridge
Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?
song by Cher
War Is The Biggest Sin
...because it includes all the sins that exist. And, I think it pretty much cleans house when it comes to breaking ALL of the Ten Commandments, too.
Save The U.N....Save The World
The U.N. represents multicultural and ethnic diversity, and the neocons have clearly demonstrated that they have no respect for and, in fact, are hell-bent on destroying ethnic diversity. They either want to make every nation Judeo-Christian or every nation a "so-called" democracy...or both. Why would they NOT want to destroy the integrity of the U.N. when the United Nations actually means a vast diversity of people coming together to work things out...in mutual respect of each others cultures, customs, and needs. This makes the U.N. the exact opposite of the worst characteristics of mankind: intolerance, segregation, and prejudice...which certain groups and individuals are dedicated to proselityzing and using to promote war.
Intentions are everything. And despite human flaws, the intentions of the United Nations have always been World Peace.
A Month After The Elections
The Kerry-Edwards web site is still up and "active".
The Federal Election Commission has just granted their request to raise funds immediately to cover recount expenses.
"The attorneys representing the Kerry-Edwards campaign will be joining legal proceedings in defense of Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb, Libertarian Michael Badnarik and their legal counsel, The National Voting Rights Institute who are seeking a recount of all votes cast for president in the Ohio 2004 general election." ~ from: www.whyareweback.blogspot.com
Contributing to the Kerry-Edwards 2004 General Election Legal and Accounting Compliance Fund (GELAC) provides important support for a successful recount.
If you'd like to make a contribution, go to: www.johnkerry.com
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