Our Platform
Oprah Winfrey: (Closing comments after hosting her program for 25 years)
You let me into your homes to talk with you every day. But what I want you
to know is 'Each of you has your own platform. Do not let the trappings here
fool you Mine is a stage in a studio. Wherever you are...
that is Your Platform ~ Your Stage ~ Your Circle of Influence! That is Your Talk Show and that is where Your Power lies!
that is Your Platform ~ Your Stage ~ Your Circle of Influence! That is Your Talk Show and that is where Your Power lies!
Carry whatever you are supposed to be doing, forward.
Don't waste any more time.
Use Your Light to Serve the World'.
Character and Strategy
Pamela Wallin: (Canadian Senator from Saskatchewan, best known as a
former journalist and then diplomat), spoke to the Canadian Club of Hamilton, autumn 2011. The following are excerpts from her presentation.
You can be the smartest person in the room, but if you're not kind,
not generous...you are not a leader. Leadership is all about character and strategy.
As a leadership does the right thing...as opposed to a manager who just does
it right, Canada is a leader in Doing the Right Thing!
As a leadership does the right thing...as opposed to a manager who just does
it right, Canada is a leader in Doing the Right Thing!
Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan are respected warriors, but they also did
the right thing by building schools and dams to irrigate farm fields. When we
first went to Afghanistan, there were 700,000 kids in school, mostly boys...
the right thing by building schools and dams to irrigate farm fields. When we
first went to Afghanistan, there were 700,000 kids in school, mostly boys...
today there are more than 7,000,000...and one-third of them, girls.
The future of Afghanistan is very uncertain, but Canada has given its people
a chance because Canada's military leadership includes humanitarianism.
a chance because Canada's military leadership includes humanitarianism.
Canada doesn't need to play small.
Our aspirations are becoming our achievements
and the World is Watching!
Practise! Practise! Practise!
Larry Carlton: (An American guitar legend; one of the most respected and sought- after-musicians in the world. He has played his signature ES-335 guitar on thousands of sessions with the top jazz, pop and rock acts in the business including Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Jerry Garcia, the L.A.Express, the Crusaders and Steely Dan. Carlton has been conducting
master classes at music faculties in Europe and North America for several years.)
I always tell my students to practise what they must...practise everything your teacher and your college demands...go practise it! BUT then, Go Out and Play What You Love! Learn whatever techniques that you can put together that help express yourself deeply. Great musicians play from the heart...not the head!
Larry Carlton was scheduled to play in concert with the
Mohawk College Faculty Ensemble on March 9, 2012.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An article in the Hamilton Spectator today
inspired me to convey the above messages which I had set aside
Rhoda Berquest, whose life spanned from 1932 to October 2011,
“lived by ideals”: If a task is worth doing...do it right!
When life gives you lemons...make lemonade!
When life gives you lemons...make lemonade!
Reflecting about her life: She had the Gift of Speaking Less...Listening More ...
and Seeing Good in Everything!
Bill Cosby “I'm 76 and I'm Tired”
I'm 76: Except for brief period in the 50's, when I was doing my National Service, I've worked hard since I was 17. Except for some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks and didn't call in sick in nearly 40 years.
I made a reasonable salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income...
and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though
retirement was a bad idea, and I'm Tired. Very Tired.
I'm Tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth” to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money
I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
I'm Tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day
I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters
for their “family honour”; of Muslims rioting over some slight offence; of Muslims murdering Christians and Jews because they aren't “believers”; Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls ~ all in the name of Allah,
because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.
for their “family honour”; of Muslims rioting over some slight offence; of Muslims murdering Christians and Jews because they aren't “believers”; Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls ~ all in the name of Allah,
because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.
I'm Tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures”, we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use all our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia, New Zealand, UK, America, Canada...while no one from these countries are allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any Arab country
to teach love and tolerance.
I'm Tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global
warming, which no one is allowed to debate.
warming, which no one is allowed to debate.
I'm Tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease and I must help support and treat them...and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?
I'm Tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes...when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people
with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
I'm Really Tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government or discrimination
or big-whatever for their problems.
or big-whatever for their problems.
I'm Also Tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens
and early 20's be-deck themselves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves unemployable and claiming money from the Government.
Yes, I'm Tired ...physically, emotionally and mentally! But I'm glad to be 76. Why? Because mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter and her children.
Thank God I'm on the way out and not on the way.
The Queen Vows to Carry On!
Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II took centre stage on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
in the celebrations marking her 60th anniversary as monarch when she remarked on the wisdom of old age and vowed to carry on in the nation's service “in the years to come.” The 85-year-old queen, dressed in a yellow suit and matching
hat, addressed both Houses of Parliament in a ceremony, surveying her six decades as monarch.
Over such a period, one can observe that the experience of venerable old age,
can be a mighty guide, but not a prerequisite for success in public office. So,
in an era when the regular worthy rhythm of life is less eye-catching than doing something extra-ordinary, I am reassured that I am merely the second sovereign to celebrate a “Diamond Jubilee.” (in reference to Queen Victoria, her great, great grandmother)
Appearing relaxed and smiling, the queen noted that she had the “pleasurable
duty of dealing with 12 prime ministers and had signed 3,500 bills into law.”
(excerpts from the Hamilton Spectator)
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Writer's Comment: We can quote adages by the dozens...sages, historians politicians, etc. “from yesteryear". In Today's World, it is significant to
understand from Today's People... the challenges they've experienced and currently face. Hopefully we benefit from the exhortations of the foregoing:
a TV personality, a Canadian diplomat, a musician, a comedian's serious outlook on life...and an authority from Royalty.
Each delivers an inspiring message to motivate us into worthwhile action.
"Pearl of Wisdom"
"Pearl of Wisdom"
Before you Achieve, you must Believe!
Be Committed.
Do what it takes to have what you want!
Merle Baird-Kerr . . . written March 22, 2012
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