I know I had that short one, in another thread, but....late one night, I was writing, with all things connected, in my brain, and here is the redux of that thread......
let's start out things this way:
youtube.com/watch
Lyrics:
"If Everyone Cared"

From underneath the trees, we watch the sky
Confusing stars for satellites
I never dreamed that you'd be mine
But here we are, we're here tonight

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive
Singing Amen, I, I'm alive

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died

And I'm singing

Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive
Amen I, Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive

And in the air the fireflies
Our only light in paradise
We'll show the world they were wrong
And teach them all to sing along

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive
Singing Amen, I, I'm alive
(I'm alive)

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died

And as we lie beneath the stars
We realize how small we are
If they could love like you and me
Imagine what the world could be

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died
When nobody died...

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died

We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day when nobody died
____________________________________
Now, I know there are amen's in there, but..I don't take that as a religious thing, for me. I take it as it's origins of "All Men", of which this song and it's theme should apply(Though, the song wouldn't sound as good, without the abbreviated version).

I, typically, sit thinking, the week before going into a new year about "resolutions".
This year I didn't, though.....did.
I think it is really cool when people help kids of other lands, people who have been through disasters, etc.
However, I think that people need to do that on an ongoing basis with those closer to home.
A great example, of our nation as a whole, not doing this, is the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. If 10%. Let me say that again..10% of the money that has been sent to that war, were to have been spent on world hunger, than there wouldn't be world hunger. Phenomenal isn't it? The fact that peoples need and greed for oil has more importance than the lives of those suffering.
Does this mean that I "donate" to religious charities that, supposedly, help the needy?
No.
Ex number 2 had a brief stint with one of those fundraising places, and a mere 10% goes to aiding others. The rest of the money is dedicated to their own cause, of which 50% goes to the telemarketer, 10-20% to their boss, and so on, down the line.
Want to give?
Get food and clothing and give it to the people who ship those products to the ones in need!

" And as we lie beneath the stars
We realize how small we are"

I had the fortune, YES, I DO call it a fortune, of living on the streets for 4 months, back in the early part of the new millennium.
Many of my friends didn't understand why I did this and thought that I had "quit" on life.
Not even close.
I had met a man in one of the rooms of "anonymous" who, though everyone tried to "help" him, preferred to live out there, rather than live a "normal" life. I CHOSE to let go of my worldly goods, save for a backpack that I carried around.
I kept faith in myself. I donated plasma, I worked a 1-2 days a week at a temp place.
I never had a lack of "necessities", such as food, water, clothes, books, or cigs(Lol, on the last one). At first, I still had my car(Beautiful black MX-6), but I like certain unnamed kid, lol, was driving it without a license. I got into a minor fender-bender and realized that:
1)It wasn't right for me to be driving without a license and insurance, as the person who I crashed with would have to rely on their insurance for something that I did.
2) I was STILL holding on to the "normal" life.
3) I had to let the car go(It was at the impound yard, with a minimal bill of $130, that my friends offered to help me pay, but I refused and thanked them.).
So..I let that last major possession go(Most of the time, I was just using it to sleep in, but no need for temptation, to violate the law, or for a "home" that countered why I chose to be homeless in the first place).
I went downtown, but..that wasn't appealing to me, as sleeping on the sidewalk, didn't sit well with me. I slept in a field by Elitches(One night on top of the building housing the giant aquarium, along with down by the stream, but...that didn't bode well with me either, as you still have to watch your back, thus, not much sleep(Denver).
I got to thinking of that man, previously stated, wasn't going to give up(I don't believe in quiting, though I do believe, now, in picking the worthy battles) and looked up, whilst at one of those rooms. A roof of a little strip mall is what I was looking at.
That night, I climbed the dumpster and pipes to get on top and explore. After going to the end of it, I found "my apartment"(Three walls and an entrance that I could lay "trip wires" to alert me). The pebbled roof was a bit rough, but I had packed a blanket that cushioned it. I had a booklight, and a bit of lighting from the street, so was able to read my favorite book, at the time, Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations".
I had a jug for water. I didn't have a ceiling, other than the sky, so I laid, on my back, looking at the stars and realized how small we are(As the song goes.).
During the early a.m., before daylight, I would climb down and bath in the faucet outside of one of the malls stores(I bathed every day, as I don't think that there is an excuse for keeping oneself gross of look, or gross of smell), then start walking toward one of the temp places(I, also, needed to be up before the shop owners got to work, as foot sounds on the roof tend to cause one to call the police, though I had chased off some people trying to cause trouble by entering a shops ceiling to break in, so I was helping their security. The bed place there may have been aware of this, or not, and left a, very mildly, torn one out for a few days, of which I used, from then on, to sleep on, up there.). If there wasn't any job, for the day, then it either became a "meeting" day, or a walk to explore the world around. That was really good for me, as I studied how nature does things, by the stream, at lakes, down the trails,etc. At times, I would stay out, most of the night, drinking coffee, reading at "Breakfast King" and observing people, with the occasional chat.
It wasn't terrible. Not even close. When I did have cash...I shared it with others, who needed it, or did random kind acts for those who were afraid to ask for help, but seemed to need it, like the homeless kids who were hungry, but too shy to ask others, and/or afraid of what others would want from them in return, and then I would move on, expecting nothing in return. Tell you what. THAT is a REALLY good feeling. Knowing that you are giving, just because... and never wanting, or expecting any reciprocation.
I did eat, a few times, at the charity food places, but...I find it wrong to have to listen to a sermon on "god" to have food that was donated(Blackmail, via propaganda for food), so skipped that, for the most part,(Not all places that give food assistance do this, so I kept away from the ones that did, after a couple of those experiences). For the record, a person who is, truly, hungry will say that they believe in your god, to get food, but it doesn't make it so. I never said I did, as I don't, and am anti-dishonesty, EVEN for nourishment. I, also, didn't waste my time in shelters(Instead, I put a ceiling, of sorts, on my place, via some hard, ridged, plastic, that I found).
I could go on and on about this time of my life, but...I'm trying to make some points here, so I'll start cutting to those points, that refer to the peole of the U.S.A.
A person never need be dirty, hungry, or without clothes, even when homeless.
When you think that you are the center of the world..take a REAL look at the world around you.
When you are snubbing those "scary" homeless people, by not even speaking to them, or looking at them, it speaks volumes of who you are in real life and...it doesn't say much about good moral character, for you.
Those who want to, CAN help themselves. Some just prefer the freedom of not living by societal norms. This does not make them bad or good. It just makes them a human who has chosen to use their freewill.
It is NOT necessary to beg for money, or food, when living on the streets. I NEVER did and functioned well, with no wants or needs unfulfilled. I, also, had no religion, as is true for me today.
Even the meekest of people can help another, if they put forth, by, SIMPLY, being an ear for them to voice their thoughts.
" If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride"

Everyone cries(I do every time I watch this video, at the greatness that humanity is capable of, when united in a cause, but the line here refers to whining about their problems, rather than helping the world.
Next song:
www.youtube.com/watch
Artist(Band):Creed


One

Affirmative may be justified take from one give to another
The goal is to be unified take my hand be my brother
The payment silenced the masses sanctified by oppression
Unity took a back seat sliding further into regression

One oh One the only way is One
One oh One the only way is One
I feel angry I feel helpless, wanna change the world yeah..
I feel violent I feel alone, don't try and change my mind no..

Society blind by color why hold down one to raise another
Discrimination now on both sides seeds of hate blossom further
The world is headed for mutiny, when all we want is unity
We may rise and fall, but in the end we meet our fate together

One oh One the only way is One
One oh One the only way is One
I feel angry I feel helpless, wanna change the world yeah..
I feel violent I feel alone, don't try and change my mind no..
I feel angry I feel helpless, wanna change the world yeah..
I feel violent I feel alone, don't try and change my mind no..

I feel angry I feel helpless, wanna change the world yeah..
I feel violent I feel alone, don't try and change my mind no..
I feel angry I feel helpless, wanna change the world yeah..
I feel violent I feel alone, don't try and change my mind"

Now some points here:

" The payment silenced the masses sanctified by oppression
Unity took a back seat sliding further into regression"

People were given money, via the government "rebates", back a few years ago, to try to quiet their outrage at what the government was doing. THIS is becoming a recurring theme, with the new "rebate", as most U.S. citizens are starting to become infuriated, again, with the economy.
Keep that in mind when you vote, if it gets counted accurately, rather than "hacked", as the same theme of spending is staying with the party that has run things for 7 years, and on the other side...the person of such "great change" spent, and spent, and spent while in the Illinois State Senate(Not to be confused with the U.S. Senate, where he has positioned himself for committing to nothing, that could cause him to lose the presidency).
" I feel angry I feel helpless, wanna change the world yeah..
I feel violent I feel alone, don't try and change my mind no.."
I did feel this way, but.....
Humans are humans, and all are imperfect, so why get angry about it, or express oneself with violence(I know how odd that sounds coming from a person who used to fight so much, when I was younger, but time changes those who keep an open mind)?
ANYONE, big or small, can change the world, in some way.
If you don't like what is going on in the world, what are you doing to change that?
Don't feel "helpless"...be the change that you desire.
My mother didn't do such a wonderful job in raising me. Should I be the same, or should I try to be the difference that I needed and wanted. I have since "forgiven her", as she is entitled to be as imperfect as the rest of the world. This, also, applies to those who have done me wrong, purposefully, in the past. I forgive, and let it go, as it is old news, anyway, and nothing can be done to change that.
As far as trust goes...that is an earned thing, not, simply, given.

A last video:
youtube.com/watch
"Right Now"
The lyrics are good, but there is writing, further in the song, that expresses a theme.
Do things in the here and now.
Tomorrow may be too late(Think of that one globally).

"Don't wanna wait til tomorrow,
Why put it off another day?
One more walk through problems,
Built up, and stand in our way ,ah
One step ahead, one step behind me
Now you gotta run to get even
Make future plans, don't dream about yesterday, hey
C'mon turn, turn this thing around
Right now, hey
Its your tomorrow
Right now,
C'mon,its everything
Right now,
Catch a magic moment, do it
Right here and now
It means everything
Miss the beat, you lose the rhythm,
And nothing falls into place, no
Only missed by a fraction,
Slipped a little off your pace, oh,
The more things you get, the more you want,
Just trade in one for the other,
Workin' so hard, to make it easier, whoa,
Got to turn, c'mon turn this thing around
Right now, hey
Its your tomorrow
Right now,
C'mon, its everything
Right now,
Catch that magic moment, do it
Right here and now
It means everything
Its enlightened me, right now
What are you waitin' for
Oh, yeah, right now
(solo)
Right now, hey
Its your tomorrow
Right now,
C'mon, its everything
Right now,
Catch that magic moment, and do it right,
Right now
Right now, oh, right now
Its whats happening?
Right here and now
Right now
Its right now
Oh,
Tell me, what are you waiting for
Turn this thing around

Here's the other thread, in case you missed it:
tribes.tribe.net/rath/thre...9497e345ee

Have great one, make a good difference to someone, or by doing something today and try to continue that tomorrow.
This isn't some "rah-rah" speech to get elected. This is the REAL difference that needs to happen in the world.
+SW->
P.S. Would someone tell Oprah that if she is so concerned about people, to simply donate 10% of her total worth and she can solve "world hunger", rather than pretending like she is "helping", by her show "writing off" or having items donated? Man..how long are people going to keep watching that hoax?