The tsunami has taught me an important lesson.This is the age old

[KlatooBNikto]

biblical saying: Blessed are the meek.I have reached a point where power, wealth and authority are all suspect in my mind. The only people worth following are people like the victims of the tsunami,the "least among us" as the Bible has called them.

I do not believe that I will look at the powerful the same way again.

[NYC]

1. When you look at the powerful,

you always have to wonder how they got that way. Same for the rich.

[itzamirakul]

10. NYC, I don't think we have to wonder...

much. Just take a look at really transparent cases like Giuliani and Kerik. Not at all wealthy before 911, immensely wealthy AFTER 911.

Most of the REALLY wealthy got that way by taking advantage of other people, lying, cheating, stealing, making deals that are less than savory, etc.

Now, they don't go to jail for their "crimes," instead they are lauded and cherished by mainstream America, as financial wizards.

Drug dealers, on the other hand, who also take advantage of people's weaknesses and desires, DO go to jail for long periods of time for crimes that in many instances are not as bad as those committed by the Ken Lays of the world.

[Quakerfriend]

2. Yes, so true

I believe this event will bring about an awakening of all of humanity around the globe.

[Retired AF Dem]

3. Like the pandemic of 1919 did?

http://www.stanford.edu/group/virus/uda/

Humanity surely awoke after that.

[Ladyhawk]

4. I wish I could share your optimism.

I am so TIRED of Homo sapiens behaving badly.

As Robert G. Ingersoll said,

"Without we are less than beasts. But with love, earth is heaven and we are gods."

I don't see us ascending up on high any time soon. There's a really mean streak going through the USA right now. Shame on us.

[ScaRBama]

6. It will for a short time....

just like 911 did,then a few months later people will be the same as always.

[flordehinojos]

5. when i was praying this morning, this is the psalm i opened the bible to,

Joyful Confidence in God



When I call, answer me, O my just God,

you who relieve me when I am in distress;

Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!



Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart?

Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood?



Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful one;

The Lord will hear me when I call upon him.



When I call, answer me, O my just God,

you who relieve me when I am in distress;

Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!

FROM PSALM 4

(it somehow in my mind links with what your heart and intuition are telling you).

[junker]

7. Don't follow anybody. What is the point? Poor, rich, it don't matter they

be merely human, so, presumably, are you. So what makes you think they (anybody else) knows squat? Or more squat than you know or can learn on your own.

As my pappy from Missoura used to say,
'boy, any man come tellin' you he be speakin for god,
well, then two things for sure be true,
either he be lying to you, or himself,
and the one of the two of you who believe him,
why that man be a fool'.

don't be a fool.

As the rishi do, so should you.
Direct experience, dude, direct experience.
Such as 'rasta farai' = direct experience.

[riverwalker]

8. Sri Lankans should send missionaries to the US

to teach us how to live, how to be human. I am amazed at the stories of courage and compassion at how they are caring for each other in the middle of this horror. Without an infrastructure, and with bare hands and open hearts, they are doing their best to take care of immediate needs. One of the poorest nations on earth is far richer than we are in so many ways.

[Retired AF Dem]

9. We don't need them

Anytime you have hurricanes, tornados, floods whatever in the states you will see stories of people helping people. People are always better than governments.