Bold Contemplations

Eye for an Eye

2009-03-05T08:10:00.004-06:00

[Photo: RedEye by lokiv7]

Everyday when I wake up in the morning, I flip through whatever little nuggets of news someone(?) in the world chooses to make available to my cellphone to read. Nothing earthshattering, but on occasion, there's articles like this one that get me thinking; thought I'd share this one today:

MADRID (AP) — An Iranian woman [Bahrami] living in Spain said Wednesday she welcomed a Tehran court ruling that awards her eye-for-an-eye justice against a suitor who blinded her with acid.
[...]
Late last year an Iranian court ruled that the man — identified only as Majid — who blinded Bahrami in 2004 after she spurned him, should also be blinded with acid based on the Islamic law system of "qisas," or eye-for-an-eye retribution, according to Iranian newspaper reports from November.

Just this idea alone raises questions for me over what justice truly is, and whether punishments like this are for simple revenge, or if they are truly preventing future repeats of the same crime. If someone steals my car, are things really square if I'm allowed to go steal theirs? Does 'eye for an eye' really work any better than our current system of fines/jailtime does now? One person is already blind, does it really square things if we purposely blind someone else?

Anyway, all that aside, there's more to this story, because..

Bahrami [...] said Wednesday that under Iranian law, she is entitled to blind him in only one eye, [...] because in Iran women are not considered equal to men.

"They have told us that my two eyes are equal to one of his because in my country each man is worth two women. [Men and women] are not the same,"

Now, I was already struggling to find actual justice in the punishment, and now I can't even find justice in the justice! If I steal a woman's car, is she only entitled to steal half of my car in return? Only entitled to steal it on every even day of the month?

The whole reason her blindness is so bad, is that she can't see .. anything! Where is the justice in him only losing a portion of his sight? (though, where is the justice in him being blind as well ... neither brings her sight back, so what's the point?)

So, .. go. What's the point? :)

So cute!

2008-11-29T21:19:00.001-06:00

Life according to a dog...

2008-11-23T14:17:00.002-06:00

If a dog was the teacher, you'd learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

-- Author unknown

Visualize

2008-11-17T19:42:00.003-06:00

[Photo by monicaA]

What is something that you'd really, really like to see happen in your life,
but have not visualized in a really, really long time?

-- The Univers e

Happiness

2008-11-09T13:01:00.010-06:00

[Photo: Happiness by Sawmibu]

It takes a BIG person to accept full responsibility for their own happiness.

It takes an even BIGGER person to accept full responsibility for their own unhappiness.

But, it takes a spiritual GIANT, who upon realizing any degree of unhappiness, decides to be the change they seek - in spite of having to endure the "same old, same old" that may still linger on for awhile.

-- The Universe

And the winner is...

2008-11-04T19:48:00.006-06:00

[Photo]

GO OBAMA!!

It looks like we are on the right track for change.
We are at an urgent crossroads in America and
I believe Obama is the person to lead us down the right path.
I even teared up a bit this morning when I went to vote.
What a momentous point in American history.

I am ready for a change!

Appreciation

2008-11-02T18:21:00.002-06:00

[Picture by Tim Cummins]

Appreciating what you have little of is easy.

Appreciating what you have lots and lots of takes a spiritual master.

-- www.tut.com

Where the hell is Matt?

2008-10-31T23:15:00.000-05:00

Be happy

2008-10-27T20:11:00.003-05:00

[Photo: A "few" balloons by mortimer?]

The only person you really have to make happy, is you.
-- tut.com

What does it mean?

2008-10-26T12:35:00.003-05:00

What are the implications of the explosive development of technology on our global future? Check out this video for a thought provoking demonstration. (Allow the video a few seconds to load, after you click)

Live Simply

2008-10-26T12:15:00.000-05:00

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less.

--Author unknown

McCain == Bush

2008-09-07T14:22:00.001-05:00

DO NOT be blindsided!

THINK before you vote

2008-09-07T14:20:00.000-05:00

Is McCain really the MAVERICK he claims to be??

Self Standards

2008-08-20T11:06:00.003-05:00

[Photo by velomar72]

The only person who should ever have to live by your standards is you.

Let everyone else off the hook.

-- The Universe

Distorted Mind

2008-08-17T22:20:00.002-05:00

[Photo by Harpagornis - resting]

According to Buddhist philosophy,
happiness is the result of an enlightened mind,
whereas suffering is caused by a distorted mind.

This is very important.
A distorted mind,
in contrast to an enlightened mind,
is one that is not in tune with reality.

-- Dalai Lama

Proof there isn't a god

2008-08-13T22:12:00.003-05:00

[Photo by giopuo]

I trust God speaks through me.
Without that, I couldn't do my job.

-- George W. Bush

Success

2008-08-03T18:00:00.002-05:00

[Photo by drp]

Judge your success by what you had
to give up in order to get it.

-- Dalai Lama

Open

2008-07-30T21:10:00.002-05:00

[Photo by ricardo.martins]

Contrary to what would seem like logical thinking,
putting up your defenses actually inspires others
to put up their offenses.

-- The Universe

MUST watch

2008-07-28T22:17:00.002-05:00

This is a MUST watch for everyone -- Randy Pausch's commencement address in May 2008 at CMU. One can never be reminded too many times of the message...

2008-07-28T20:53:00.003-05:00

[Photo by lnsight]

Share your knowledge.

It's a way to achieve immortality.

-- Dalai Lama

Common identity

2008-07-28T20:43:00.004-05:00

[Photo by euthman]

If you and I find common ground as human beings,
we will communicate on a basic level.

If I say, "I am a monk,"or "I am a Buddhist," these are,
in comparison to my nature as a human being, temporary.

To be human is basic, the foundation from which we all arise.

You are born as a human being,
and cannot change that until death.

All else --
whether you are educated or uneducated,
young or old, rich or poor --
is secondary.

-- Dalai Lama

Live the Dream

2008-07-25T23:00:00.001-05:00

Randy Pausch died today of complications from pancreatic cancer. I am reposting his "Last Lecture" in celebration of his life and the unintended legacy he left behind: Live and love each day, as if it is your last. Enjoy.

****
Randy Pausch is a 46 year old professor at Carnegie Mellon, who is dying of pancreatic cancer. He delivered his Last Lecture to an audience of over 40 students, and it has been widely downloaded on the internet. Randy appeared on Oprah and delivered a shortened version of this lecture. His message is exetremely powerful and uplifting, emphasizing the way we should all live!

You don't say....

2008-07-25T22:50:00.002-05:00

[Photo by Michael R. Swigart]

I'm also not very analytical.
You know I don't spend a lot of time
thinking about myself,
about why I do things.

-- George W. Bush,
aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003

In memory ...

2008-07-21T21:10:00.002-05:00

[Photo by tanakawho]

At a personal level, as a Buddhist practitioner,
I deliberately visualize and think about death in my daily practice.
Death is not separated from our lives.
Due to my research and thoughts about death,
I have some guarantee and some conviction
that it will be a positive experience.

--Dalai Lama

Time to Vote!

2008-07-17T21:10:00.001-05:00

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