The World is on fire

Hello ! Renxkyoko Iglesias here.

I ‘ve been trying to make sense of the upheaval that’s going on in the world.  Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Iraq, ISIL, Israel-Palestinian conflict,  Ebola, and here in the US, the shooting death of an 18 year old  African- American  guy by a cop that resulted in almost 2 weeks of street protests, and now, the beheading of an American journalist by ISIL…….. not to mention the catastrophic  drought here in California. What else can  the world pile up on top of that ?  About the drought……. is that significant? You bet it is.  California’s agricultural products can feed the world.

I read that European  intelligence  services  had contacted the Assad regime regarding the extremist rebels fighting the Syrian government. Assad’s trade-off was not palatable to the intelligence community then, but today, who knows ? Iran is also paying attention.  The White Hoouse just revealed to us that  US’s Special Forces were secretly sent to Syria to rescue James Foley and other hostages. It went on smoothly, Sec. of Defense  Hagel said.  No, it didn’t. The fact is, there was shooting engagement , and several ISIS militants were killed, …only one US soldier was injured, no one died. I’m wondering if Assad secretly allowed this rescue mission, or at the very least, it was a tacit agreement, and he looked the other way. So strange.

British Intelligence  is now  investigating who that ISIS guy is that beheaded the American journalist.  They have pinpointed the source of the man’s  accent to be  South of London.  It’s amazing that different parts of a city have distinct accents, isn’t it ? Well, California accent is different from New York’s. But then, they are separated by 3 time zones.   * ponders*   This reminds me of  9/11  catastrophe. It  happened  at around  8:30 AM  New York time. In California,  it was 5:30 AM . ( I’m assuming you know about 9/11. Otherwise, you’re an alien. ) You’d think who would be watching TV  at that hour ?.  Well, my mother  was already up, turned on the TV on CNN ( as was  her habit ), but didn’t pay attention to the news as she was busy preparing breakfast, or whatever it was she was doing that time (  The TV was on Mute ). At 7 AM, she got an overseas call from my aunt ( 10 PM , Philippine time ) ). The conversation was like this… .. ( sans any preamble ) ” Turn on the TV, CNN “…. Huh ? what’s going on ? ” Are you watching it ?”  No, but……”  ” Are you crazy ?  The US had just been attacked, and you don’t know ?

So, okay, I know….. this post is totally jumbled…. but that’s how my mind works, or how my thoughts roll.

Anyway, what’s up with the world ?

Heh. And I was supposed to post about my fun vacation in the Philippines.  But with all that’s going on in the world,  I  thought  it frivolous  to  write about  insignificant me cavorting on the  beach in my teeny weeny polka dot bikini with nary a care , while the world  is in a state of raging conflagration.

Well, later, okay ?

PEACE ! !

 

 

 

 

85 responses to this post.

  1. Keep the positive happy posts coming still, Show everyone the beauty of the world that still exists specially in this dark twisted world going nuts :-\

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  2. Nothing a good size asteroid wouldn’t cure . . . unfortunately.

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  3. Posted by Jueseppi B. on August 23, 2014 at 4:21 pm

    Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.

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  4. I don’t think anyone can possibly make sense of all that violence.
    Your 9/11 story sounds familiar: I also have relatives abroad, who call to find out if we’re ok if there was an earthquake or hurricane somewhere within 1000 miles . 🙂

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  5. The world sure does certainly seem to be in an extra state of upheaval. It could be that some of the conflicts were instigated knowing they would “blend” in among the crowd and so not be in the glare of the world’s attention.

    Accents are an interesting thing- they can vary significantly even in relatively close distances – think NY and MA. Then the accent changes as you move to the southern States.

    You can be glad you’re not the President who always gets criticized by the opposite Party for daring to take any vacations when there is a world crisis, which seems to be increasing in frequency in the modern world. =)

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    • Right.

      It’s happening all at the same time I don’t even know which news outlet to watch. CNN, AlJazeera, MSNBC, Bloomberg. click, click, click.

      Oh, wait, who’s trying to blend in? That’s intrigiung.

      About the accents… even in the Philippines, it’s not only accent that is different. The dialect itself is different ! Folks living about 75 miles from each other speak a different dialect. I can speak Tagalog, the official language, but Pampanga dialect is like Greek to me.

      About the Pres.’s vacation…. I guess it’s the optics. Even the Democrats are fidgeting.

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  6. Posted by Sreejit Poole on August 23, 2014 at 5:35 pm

    Such crazy times. 911 is our trauma so it’s so easy for our minds to fade back to there. that moment can be so easily re-lived at anytime with only a slight motivation.

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    • Has this ever happened before ? One mistake could turn this into WW3. Well, it feels like it. I didn’t even write about that Chinese jetfighter- US reconnaissance plane’s confrontation 3 days ago that happened on international waters.

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  7. “..the world is in a state of raging conflagration.” Hang on to the memories of that fun vacation in the Philippines, Ren.

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  8. I think pics of the beach cavorting would cheer everyone up. You could save the world! 🙂

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  9. Praying for peace in the whole world, I l know it is hard but let us give it a try. You’re right, even the weather here (supposedly we’re in the height of rainy season) is so erratic. It seems we are having a long summer because there was no weather disturbance the whole month of August and in a few days, we’ll move on to the BER months, I don’t what September will bring. By the way, i owe you that recipe for the sweet and sour bangus, it is really simple really. Just a mixture of vinegar, salt, a little sugar and tomato sauce (I used catsup from the bottle), diced ginger, onions and bell pepper. You can add carrots if you want.

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    • Thanks for the recipe, arlene ! It’s similar to the sweet-sour sauce we make for fish, without the catsup. I’ll make this today . My mother bought milkfish this morning.

      Yes, we can only pray for peace. I pray, too, there won’t be so many people getting killed to achieve peace.

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  10. Indeed, we need PEACE!

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    • Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll achieve that, not even in my lifetime, I’m afraid. I’m being pessimistic. The world is just messed up. No one wants to compromise. Compromise has become a dirty word.

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  11. GL = giant like for your article… ❤ yep, most of the planet is on fire, hélas! 😦 because of stupid politics!!!
    * * *
    thanx for visiting my crossroads, my very best and have a positive week, pretty young lady! cheers, Mélanie

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    • Oh, thank you for the heart ! ! Not only politics… religion too, ideology, etc. These people should stop and smell the roses.

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      • you’re right, but religion is also a “an excuse”(stalking horse!)… maybe you are too young to remember the ILLEGAL invasion and occupation of Iraq by the US-troops & ‘the shame coalition’ in 2003 – inspite of the opposition of 99% of the planet, after w-bush stated that “God had whispered to him to go to war and to bring freedom and democracy to the Iraqi people…” – dahhh!!! yeah, they did bring and did cause general chaos in Iraq and in all that area: more than 150 000 Iraqi civilians killed, RIP.

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        • I was still in elementary when all this happened. But I was already aware of all these events because , you know, my family eats politics for breakfast. j/k

          Indeed. This is a very sad part of American history, thanks to Bush 2. To think there was no Iraqi who took part in 9/11. Such irony. And even so, America shouldn’t have invaded a country just because one or two of its citizens perpetrated the attack. I still think Saddam Hussein was a bad man. He used chemical weapons on the Kurds. The irony here is, it was the US that supplied the chemicals, courtesy of Bush 1. And it’s almost unbelievable to know that Bush 2 and company had already planned to attack Iraq even before 9/11. It was in their agenda. 9/11 was almost ” heavent” sent, pun intended.

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  12. Don’t know what to say, but you’re so right and it’s just horrible what’s happening at so many places around the world right now.

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    • Weird, isn’t it ? They’re happening all at the same time. And the US is right smack in the middle, as expected. Americans are reeling from these events. Oh, and just yesterday, there was a 6,5 earthquake here in california, northern Ca where I live.

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  13. hellowie, Ren… am waiting for your post about the Philippines, Phils pag tag-ulanan. 🙂
    ‘lam mo, medyo ganyan din pakiramdam ko minsan, pag nanonood sa CNN, BBC or Fox ng news. parang ang gulo ng mundo or bibo lang journalists? hihi, ewan…^^

    kaway-kaway. thanks for the visit, dear… 🙂

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    • Oy ! Huwag Fox News ! ! BBC na lang or CNN. Next post ko about my vacay. Promise. Nakagulat lang talaga yung news ngayon. I couldn’t help but write about it. Parang mali yata na I talk about fun things, pero and gulo ng world. Di ba ? I don’t know… maybe I overthink and talk too much, ha ha. Bisita ka ulit, Ate San, ha ?

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  14. You succeeded in putting it all in the nutshell Ren well done and yes, it’s scary at the moment. If Assad ends up an ally of the US he’ll be home free and that’s infuriating! Don’t worry about ISIS, they’re just a mob of bullies with big ideas using shock tactics (but I admit their PR is good). A Caliphate is created by the will of the people and since 1919 the people have preferred Nationalism. A new Caliphate must also include the Islamic holy cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem and I don’t see the Saudis, Israelis or the Palestinians accommodating that very quickly. Putin is getting bitch-slapped and will bow under pressure as soon as he can save face. I advise hope, and lots of it.

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    • ISIS has tons of money. No matter, they won’t survive this, I’m sure of it. The British have identified the guy who beheaded James Foley.,. He now has a name. Putin should be bitchslapped and backhand slapped. What to do with Assad ? Don’t know. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. That’s what it boils down to. It’s a strange world, isn’t it?

      Cheers.

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  15. Great title for this post. My world has been in an upheaval for the past few weeks because where that teenager was killed in Missouri is where I have friends and family who live in and near that city. Add to that the rest of the insanity in the world and I am not a happy camper! A lot of people need to be backhanded – repeatedly!!!

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    • Paddled too !

      It’;s horrible and unthinkable what these militant Islamists have been doing to human beings. Lining up hundreds of captured soldiers and executing them.

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  16. The world can gone insane my friend, we need some news that focuses on the positive as well to offset the horrors and injustice out there. It is interesting that such a small island has so many different accents, not to mention a city

    9/11 was on all the news channels over here, even though it happened in our afternoon it just stopped everything…I don’t think anybody had experienced anything like it…even 7/7 didn’t get the news converage although that was less dramatic in terms of impact. Still harrowing.

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    • Oh, my… what is 7/7 ? What were you doing when 9/11 happened ? I was totally unaware then…. I think I was putting on socks that morning to go to school, and watching the TV and I thought it was a movie or something. I was an elemenary student.

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      • I was in work but when I came out I had a confused text about it and had to walk home which took twenty minutes before I could sit down and just watch it uncomprehendingly.

        7/7 saw four islamists detone bombs in London 2005, three on he Underground and one was on a double decker bus, 52 died and 700 were injured. I think it really brought home to Europe the threat.

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  17. Don’t let the devil steal your joy…

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  18. an epidemic and beheading? it’s like the world is going reverse not forward. it’s scary but that’s reality now. let our sighs be prayers.

    i know someone who’s going to africa. been planning it for a year, paid the trip expenses already. but because of the safety, my friend is bothered but is still going.

    speaking of syria, we have a brothers’ community there in aleppo who decided to stay and help. thankfully, they’re still alive and updating us online every month on what’s happening there with the common folks.

    there’s a lot of men and women brave enough to be with these suffering people. solidarity is the word.

    peace. 🙂

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    • Oh, man. I hope they’re safe.

      You’re a man of God, Allen, but how can anyone forgive these people who line up hundreds of human beings, then execute them ? And behead people with impunity ? Is it still possible to forgive these people , wthout justice and restitution? Shall we just turn the other cheek?

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      • Shall we turn the other cheek? In scripture studies, I learned that a back slap for Jewish is a slap for a slave; so turning the other cheek means treating them as equals. So in the sense of treating them humanely in pursuit for justice, yes; in turning the other cheek so that they can slap more is stupidity.

        You might (or not) know the story of Pope John Paul II (a saint now). He was shot while he was in a mobile. After recovering, what he did is to visit the gunman in prison saying he had forgiven him. But still the gunman needs to suffer the consequences of his actions; he has lifetime imprisonment.

        These people are “sick” people who spreads evil that they even “infect” little children to do these “sick” things.

        Yes, we can forgive while letting the justice system do its work. And forgiving does not mean to forget; we must remember. Their evil deeds must be stopped.

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        • About the backslapping…… when the Japanese were in the Philippines in World war 2, they made a mistake of backslapping Filipino men when the japanese were displeased. To Filipino men, it was better to be hit with a closed fist, than an open one, like a slap. So, I guess it’s similar to Jewish backslap.

          Render unto Caesar what is caesar’s…. I ‘m sure that’s what it is. The person himself can forgive, but the state can’t.

          If a guilty murderer or a serial killer confesses his deed to a priest in the Confessional, the priest can’t reveal that to the authorities, right ? Is it alright for the priest to give some sort of a hint? Like, hey, follow the money?

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          • About the confession, I might have to ask my lecturer. Or… when the guest priest arrives in our Liturgy/Sacrament class, I’ll ask him.

            In my opinion, it’s like counseling (since this is my forte). Since the priest should maintain the confidentiality, the only thing he can do is to persuade the one confessing to surrender to the authorities. But I’m not really sure if that’s the case. If I’m the priest, I’ll do that. But I’ll never enter priesthood. I’m happy with my vocation as a brother. 🙂

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  19. Ren–i admire your fortitude. Watching the news is so distressing, I admit I can only do it every so often–and am invariably saddened, sickened and frightened. I am glad the strong peeps of the world–yourself among them–are keeping abreast of such things.

    You are right, though, about the perspective of polka dot bikins (in my case star crossed love) being insignificant in comparison.

    As always, I enjoyed your sharp, intelligent, and informed post.

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    • Awww, thank you. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t this concerned.. Like, what can I do? Well, I can pay taxes, and let our leaders spend them as they see fit, I just want to be a happy camper everyday. I think I should just avoid watching the news.

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  20. I think it has been like this for a very long time. Only that it gets amplified when you see it on TV and everyone talks about it. But I like it how you’ve blended in your own feelings in an informative post about world matters.

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    • War is horrifying, and I wish I could turn my head and avoid watching the images, and just think of happy thoughts…. but it’s really hard to ignore the image of hundreds of human beings lying on the ground and executing them. First time I saw that, I became sick to my stomach, and almost threw up. Ugh. I think I’ll just watch the Kardashians.

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  21. Posted by ~REBECCA DAWN~ on August 31, 2014 at 5:22 pm

    It is scary.All this violence and hatred, it never solves anything. You would think thousands of wars, and battles, people would learn. they dont. Conflict never resolves issues. war certainly doesnt. Neither does poisoning future generations’ views about other cultures, religions, and countries.
    At the same time, Russia should have learned their mistake when Putin tried to take Crimea from the Ukraine. (hello Crimean war 1853-56) but unlike his predecessors, Putin was successful. Crimea was their trophy.
    They would have access to the Balkans, to the Mediterrean Seas, and the Middle East not to mention gas reserves. A major coupe if you ask me.
    What really terrifies me, in the end what purpose would ISIS, Syria, Russia, palestine etc serve with all their fighting, when there is nobody to fight their wars? Their children would be dead, their elderly frail, who would they fight with?
    Like we teach our children, we should just walk away.
    sorry for rambling ♥

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    • Rebecca, What do you think those children in war-torn countries are thinking ?

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      • Posted by ~REBECCA DAWN~ on September 6, 2014 at 4:40 pm

        I really think they are tired. Tired of their parents bullshit. Tired of the fighting. Tired of always losing family members, and friends.
        I watched a documentary about the West Bank, how Palestinians and Israelis are always fighting. One kid not even 6 commented how much he hated the palestinans! He hated them because his dad did.
        isnt that sad?
        When a parents hatred for one culture is passed to their kids?

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  22. Heck ! To the beach Ren ! This way >>>>>>>>>
    .

    .

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  23. The world are crazy and we humans so weird, no doubt tons of examples or evidence are queuing as you also mention – we need some positive stories too – so let us have your story about little “insignificant” (you are just as important than the rest of us worldwide) you cavorting on the beach in your teeny weeny polka dot bikini on a hot philippine beach… 😀 😀 😀

    The worldwide madness won’t stop over night if ever, as long as we do allow our politicians rules over our heads and it’s worldwide too – palestinians don’t protest against the ultra-radical that even using their supporters ruthlessly as shields in holy war – the Israelis don’t protest against their government which is controlled by the orthodox are even exempt from military service for religious reasons but throws all other Israelis out of the holy war – the russian people overthrew their tyranny (Soviet Union) just to select another tyranny (Putin) – my native Denmark with a former prime minister who cheat and deceive for enormous sums, now he probably chosen as prime minister again – a world community that removes rulers as Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein but let Mugabe sit and laugh while he kills thousands of people but he is an ally who Pinochez in Chile was too, he was allowed to die in peace even he was in head for many tons of death and tons of people who disappears – the world are weird … :-/

    So bring us your sunshine stories asap, sweet R… 😀

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  24. Unfortunately there will always be factions in the world that will serve no purpose other than to commit violence or terror for no reasonable intention except for control and notoriety. It’s been going on since time’s birth. It will be here a thousand years from now– should mankind survive that long. All we can do is provide better examples of friendship to all we meet, especially our youth (It all begins in home.) Nice post. Peace.

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    • That’s true. In fact, it’s like the pot calling the kettle black. We can’t even get along here in the US. I saw a clip of a 6 year old black boy whose mother got pulled over mistakenly. She was handcuffed, and then the boy got out of the car with his hands up in the air,crying Mom, mom.. It broke my heart.

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  25. Ren, there is a lot of negative things going on in the world…thank God there are positive things also….and you are always one of them my sister! Hugs and blessings!

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  26. I don’t blame you for thinking multiple thoughts .. The world sure is in a state of mess and shuffle

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  27. Posted by ~REBECCA DAWN~ on September 6, 2014 at 4:36 am

    Hello my dear friend Ren, how are you! ha ha guess what I have for you! A bloggers award! I know how much you love doing them! 😉
    I am miss reading your wonderful thoughts and I will think of you! have fun this weekend!
    http://seriouslyrebecca.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/thank-you-for-the-nomination%E2%99%A5/

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    • OMG…. there was a nice blogger who sent an award my way, and I promised to acknowledge it soon, but then he passed on. @Ajaytao2010, my regular reader. I am grief stricken.Don’t let anything happen to you, okay ?

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  28. Can’t make sense of all of this either! ✌️❤️

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  29. You know, I must be going a little bonkers because I read this and thought I’d commented, but I must have got distracted because I clearly haven’t. Anyway, like you I have been disturbed by the way the a shadow seems to coming over the world, and how hatred is making itself felt more obviously in several theatres. I’ve written about it too, and that you think seriously on such things is no surprise to me, and you voice your thoughts very well, and with your normal delightful and engaging energy 🙂

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    • The image of a human being’s head getting chopped off is not exactly what we want to see when we turn on the TV. Numerous images are as disturbing, not to mention the fact that these are all happening at the same time. I’m on bliss mode now , watching Travel Channel. lol

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  30. it’s hard to go about your day and not feel so guilty (and fortunate ) to be dealt the hand we have

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    • “Ignorance is bliss” seems quite relevant these days. ” Out of sight, out of mind” is another. We have to learn to compartmentalize and do the best we can with whatever we are doing . Cheers !

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  32. What’s up with the world is more or less what has always been up with the world . . . wars and rumors of wars and turmoil and confusion of all kinds. Just keep the faith and do the best you can with what you have and everything will work out for sure. What else can we do except the best we can? Keeo on blogging because you are doing a great job and I especially enjoy reading the things you write.

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  33. In the context of your post, quite agree with what John has written. We need to ensure that we, in our own little spaces, keep doing the right things. That is the only way it will add up. It is like a balloon. You press in on what you see as a deformity, and out it comes in some other place.

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  34. After World War two. “Never again” was posted of the walls of the death camps. War and hate did not rest. World id going mad. Easy fix. Jobs and education. Strong leaders willing to discuss and solve problems. Not fight and kill. It will take a billion people to stop the murder. We need a day of peace to expand to the lifetime of our children. Your blog told the truth.

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  35. Hi Ren, have you heard this new Alicia Keys song yet? This is perfect for what you wrote here.

    – Paul from Return to the ’80s

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  36. The more things change… Stay strong – Peace where you are. —CC

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