Drop your Guard and Give a Hug
09/11/2007
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
-Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
Spines may prevent enemy assault,
But make friendly hugs equally challenging.
(I took the photo of the above Eryngium two weeks ago in Croatia.)
He who would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.
-Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
Abraham Lincoln said,
September 11, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Nice photos. I liked the top one. I also liked the movie. Thanks for your visit to my blog and for the information you left there about the honey bees.
pengovsky said,
September 11, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Fraklin (source)
I like this quote a lot… It seems fitting for this day and age…
I like the way you used the photo as a cue 🙂
alcessa said,
September 11, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
The above M.K. Gandhi quote tends to frighten me every time I encounter it: some time ago, someone somewhere online (must be one of the English dailies I read) wrote how deceiving it really is: while it may be true about the first part of the 20th century that the mankind had large, untouched oceans at hand, to use as symbols of… unperturbed existence of things, of vast spaces unchanged by men, they are not that waste, clean or innocent anymore, what with all the pollution and seafaring and cables and stuff. What with all the damaging intrusion we are capable of, anywhere.
I like to hug, though 🙂
david mcmahon said,
September 11, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
Gandhi was a man whose words still bear relevance. That saying, particularly, is so apt.
The photograph illustrates the messages perfectly.
Keep smiling
David
Fabrizio - ikol22 said,
September 12, 2007 @ 12:47 am
Interesting captions and really great photos on your blog !
CaBaCuRl said,
September 12, 2007 @ 1:11 am
Yes, your part of the world is fascinating for those of us in the Pacific area. I have been led to you through Jules’ Rabaul blog, and am so pleased to have found you.
pengovsky said,
September 12, 2007 @ 10:03 am
@alcessa: Re Ghandi quotes… Apparently someone asked him what he thinks of the Western civilisation and Ghandi replied “I think it would be a good idea” 😀
Jules said,
September 12, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Wow – that looks very painful!!
I am unable to download the movie but your photos are great as usual!!!
dr. filomena said,
September 12, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
@alcessa: I hear you, but think two different issues are involved here. It still hold true that a few drops of dirt don’t pollute an ocean just as the few truly bad people don’t spoil the entire mankind, while it’s also true that man has dropped much more than a few drops of dirt into the oceans and is starting to pay the toll for the pollution committed in the name of progress and the mighty Mammon.
dr. filomena said,
September 12, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
@cabacurl: Thanks for visiting and the kind words! So exciting to have you here… I’ll go visit with you as well. And definitely need to organize a trip to the amazing part of the world Jules and you live in…
Melita said,
September 12, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
Dr. filomena: right you are, of course. But then, are there “oceans” still, into which mankind hasn’t poured more than a few drops… OK, actually, I don’t want to be doing that. I really don’t.
Pengovsky: 😀
dr. filomena said,
September 13, 2007 @ 11:13 am
@Melita: Thanks for dropping by! The Earth is a single living organism and we do need to make sure that policy-makers consider long-term consequences of their actions.