[Fwd: Iraq Dispatches: Inside Abu Hanifa mosque during attack

[John H. Robinson, IV]

boblq wrote:
> 
> http://www.osocomm.com/Bob/images/garth&precy.jpg

Garth looks familiar. Was he in previous pictures you have shared?

> I am not religious. I am a devout agnostic. I don't get answers 
> to many fundamental questions. OK, call that a religion if you
> will, but it does not follow from a lack of belief in god or God
> that one should not care for one's fellow humans nor does it follow 
> that the only mechanism for that caring is an uncaring bureaucracy.

Hear, hear!

> I do believe that we need the secular equivalent of churches,
> sermons, and direct voluntary social  action. I hear lots of talk  
> about what politicians and governments should do by people who 
> walk right by the homeless every day and do nothing. 

I agree. But we do have them, they call them Community Centers. I have
been to the Senior Center here in La Mesa, but it was by invitation. I
have not been to the Community Center. I don't know about the secular
equivalent to sermons, though.

I'll be honest, I am one of those that has and would walk right past the
homeless and do nothing. I don't think that direct handouts to the
homeless is the right answer. It may work for *some* homeless, but
without research I would not know if the one on this corner is one of
those.

I tend to prefer to give my money to an institution with a proven track
record of real results and directed effort. Yes, direct money brings
temporary comfort, perhaps in the way of food or drink, or even a bus
pass for transportation. Is that helpful in the long term? Perhaps the
bus pass is, as it allows getting to and fro; perhaps to a job
interview. I don't know.

> I refuse to accept the notion that caring for others is a sign of
> weakness and naivete. I suggest the real problem is fear. People
> of all political and religious persuasions are afraid of the underclass,
> perhaps because their own middle class situations are so precarious. 

You are making me feel ashamed for not doing more. I want you to know
that.

> I just don't know though.  

How many of us do? My lack of desire to directly help the end user, is
that some cop-out, or some platitude so I can sleep better at night?
I'm not sure of that either.

> So ... I tire. My tirade winds down. 
> 
> Enough,

Enough of this rant, perhaps. Enough of an effort? For the moment, yes.
Maybe there is strenght in leveraging. Wasn't it Archamedes that said
``Give me a lever long enough, and a firm place to stand and I can move
the Earth''? Of course, he would have said that in Greek, but that is
really orthogonal to the issue. We cannot all use tht leverage, because
someone has to do the end work. So those of us that can leverage,
should.

Bob, are you doing both? Working, and inspiring others with yor example?
Are you even attempting to inspire?

-john