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Below are two paragraphs written to amplify some of my recent thoughts:

Today we live in appalling abundance, but we do not see it. Enslaved by the rich, our attitudes are blurred. In our minds they plant the seed that we ‘need’, not that we ‘have enough’. We’re told to aspire toward ‘ownership’, that ‘bricks and mortar maketh the man’. We are told to compete, to win at any cost. Although we have ideals such as ‘equality’ and ‘liberty’ etched in our constitutions, they are rarely practised. We use up and waste so much while billions in the Third World are denied even the simplest resource. We’re encouraged to lie, to cut corners, cheat – anything to get ahead. Honesty is dying. By saturating our lives through an obliging media, we go on being conned. Violent and crass movies and flagrant propaganda ensure we become desensitized to emotional or physical trauma and to Truth. But we keep on digesting, we keep buying. And smug moguls in Hollywood or Pyongyang win. Religion is no longer the opiate of the masses, shrewd advertising and electronic media is. And the bastards behind it all - the secret ones in board rooms and quiet seaside mansions, those in palaces or government houses - they laugh at us. Theirs is a primitive mindset of competition, of taking. They do not understand sharing. They cannot love - their hearts are full of insatiable greed. It is sad because, in essence, love transcends – it gives our lives meaning. So we are left, puppets on strings, consuming more and more complex technological gadgets and malignant ad breaks. Contemporary society and culture is distanced from love. Sure, we pay it lip service, but rarely are we called to serve it.

If there is one constant in life, it is that things change. The very fabric of civilization will soon undergo dramatic metamorphosis. It is said that tonight 1,000,000,000 people will go hungry. That is unacceptable. Every person on this planet deserves clean water, fresh food and adequate shelter. Soon we will divert our obscene wealth, our technology, our muscle and our know-how to those who really need it. And it will be done on a massive scale. We’ll tap into water reserves, introduce smart farming, construct housing and develop new and inspiring infrastructures. It will spread all over. Our efforts will focus on transforming the entire world and not on new Ford Falcons or shag pile carpets or fly sprays or entertainment satellites. We will be busy – very busy. In the end, we will do away with restrictive, immature and outdated monetary systems and concepts. There will be no shares, nor credit, nor tax; not even cash. Gold will be reduced to what it always was – an inanimate metal; diamond, but dead carbon. There won’t be ‘wealthy’ people… only people. Reinvigorated and with hope, we will discover new meaning, new horizons, a new joy in life. We will ‘have’ much less – instead, we will ‘be’. We will walk upon the Earth in freedom. No one will starve to death. Not ever again.

I am leaving this Forum for my own good. It will not be an easy thing to do in this lonely little life of mine, but what’s easy nowadays? I respect and enjoy all the characters here. And any sniff of Cohen is always good. I have to move on. In truth, I have nothing left to say.

Except that, in the final analysis, money won’t save us; love will.

In peace,
Boss

A little dance for you all (Enjoy Mat):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeNsr_nQEfE

Dear Boss,
I wish you would not leave. Your poetry, insight and incisiveness have pushed me to push myself, and I'm sure I speak for others here.

Yes, love is the only engine of survival, but forgiveness and effort – even on a small scale – are important steps toward it. Communication, also, is vital. We forgive and try again, and we continue to push forward.

My daughter leaves Vancouver at the end of the month for 2 years at school in Australia (her choice). I shall miss her dearly. This will no doubt sound ridiculous, but it has made me feel better to know that she's headed for a continent that, however vast, contains people like yourself and Mat, and that if, against many odds, your three paths were to cross, you'll know each other 'by the Cohen you can't hide'.

with respect, and love,

Sheila

I love that clip Boss; you are so right, my friend....and as I watch the dancing of Zorba and Boss, I hear these words, brother;

“Boss, I have so much to tell you.
I never loved a man more than you.” (Zorba.)
“…you can laugh too eh, ha, ha. ( Zorba.)

Lay aside the world's problems for the duration of "the dance" Boss and embrace Zorba's shoulder and lose yourself in the sounds of his santuri.

in excitement,
Mat. ooo

mat james wrote:Lay aside the world's problems for the duration of "the dance" Boss and embrace Zorba's shoulder and lose yourself in the sounds of his santuri.

in excitement,
Mat. ooo

Here Here Mat

Best Wishes to you Boss wherever lifetakes you.
a recent thought that I have had is there may always be those among us who will only hear the thunder of the sea.........
And maybe that is how things are meant to be

Boss,
I too will be sorry if you leave us. I always look out for your posts here.
The future of the world does indeed look bleak sometimes, but there is always hope. There are an increasing number of good, honest and decent people who are realising the madness of our materialistic world.

Best wishes . Please come back and visit us,
Margaret