Lesson . . .

https://wbckfm.com/78348/

. . . NOT learned . . .



(from https://www.axios.com/qassem-soleimani-death-reactions-iran-85bd4b62-85f4-4e29-a0ec-1e6376534f03.html)

". . . Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.): "Qassem Soleimani masterminded Iran’s reign of terror for decades, including the deaths of hundreds of Americans. Tonight, he got what he richly deserved, and all those American soldiers who died by his hand also got what they deserved: justice.". . . Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) "Wow - the price of killing and injuring Americans has just gone up drastically. Major blow to Iranian regime that has American blood on its hands. Soleimani was one of the most ruthless and vicious members of the Ayatollah's regime. He had American blood on his hands. I appreciate President Trump's bold action against Iranian aggression. To the Iranian government: if you want more, you will get more.". . . Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.): "This is very simple: General Soleimani is dead because he was an evil bastard who murdered Americans. The President made the brave and right call, and Americans should be proud of our servicemembers who got the job done. Tehran is on edge - the mullahs have already slaughtered at least a thousand innocent Iranians - and before they lash out further they should know that the U.S. military can bring any and all of these IRGC butchers to their knees.". . . Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.): "The end of Qasem Soleimani is welcome and long-overdue justice for the thousands of Americans killed or wounded by his Iranian-controlled forces across the Middle East, and for the hundreds of thousands of Syrians and Iraqi Sunnis ethnically cleansed by his militias.". . . Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.): "Qassem Soleimani was an evil and deadly terrorist with the blood of thousands, including hundreds of Americans, on his hands. President Trump was right to order decisive action to kill Soleimani to prevent further attacks and defend American lives and interests.". . ."

(from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iran-vows-revenge-after-us-drone-strike-kills-elite-force-commander/2020/01/03/345127d6-2df4-11ea-bffe-020c88b3f120_story.html)

". . . "With his departure and with God's power, his work and path will not cease, and severe revenge awaits those criminals who have tainted their filthy hands with his blood and the blood of the other martyrs of last night's incident," Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a statement. . .The country's defense minister, Amir Hatami, said the nighttime strike ordered by President Trump would be met with a "crushing" response. . ."

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Bruises . . .

Bruises received
Are never acceptable
Inflicted by life though
Can be bad or good
Tacky to flaunt them
But sometimes they seem
A well-needed lesson
Be it small or extreme


Bruises
©2018 Raymond M. Jozwiak

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Lesson . . .

. . . number 274 . . .



. . . in being Presidential . . .


Do NOT being your address in the vicinity, and allegedly as support to victims, of a horrendous natural disaster by saying,

“What a crowd, what a turnout”

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Lesson . . .

. . . for the teacher . . .


(from https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-says-social-media-created-false-narrative-about-lakewood-n797341)
". . . Celebrity televangelist Joel Osteen said Wednesday that social media created a "false narrative" over the apparent decision to not open the doors of his megachurch to Hurricane Harvey victims. . . Osteen said that as floodwaters hit the Houston area, Lakewood Church was not initially asked by the city to open as a shelter. . . but the main thing is the city didn't ask us to become a shelter then," Osteen said. . ."



Well "Pastor",  it appears that you have FAILED. . .

(from Proverbs 27:23)
"Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds"

(Leviticus 25:35)
"If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you."

(James 1:23-25)
"But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts,he will be blessed in his doing."

(James 2:18)
"But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

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More . . .

. . . nothing is ever a simple, plain or easy as it appears at first glance.  The earlier in life this lesson is learned, the better. My naive and immature generalization about who was good and who was smart and who really gave a damn about me (or other people in general) required much enlightenment in my early elementary school years. This I worked on when I wasn't preoccupied with trying to fit in with my contemporaries and wondering why I couldn't quite accomplish that.



There's More?
©2017 Raymond M. Jozwiak

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History . . .

(from http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-music-donald-trump-cant-hear?intcid=mod-latest)
". . . There’s no point in studying history if we do not take some lesson from it. The best way to be sure that 2017 is not 1934 is to act as though it were. We must learn and relearn that age’s necessary lessons: that meek submission is the most short-sighted of policies; that waiting for the other, more vulnerable group to protest first will only increase the isolation of us all. We must refuse to think that if we play nice and don’t make trouble, our group won’t be harmed. Calm but consistent opposition shared by a broad front of committed and constitutionally-minded protesters—it’s easy to say, fiendishly hard to do, and necessary to accomplish if we are to save the beautiful music of American democracy. . ."

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A Matter . . .

. . . of trust



“The chief lesson I have learned in a long life is that the only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him; and the surest way to make him untrustworthy is to distrust him and show your distrust.”
-Henry L. Stimson (American statesman, lawyer,  politician and civil servant)

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Lesson. . .

 . . . learned

When I was a kid, I had great respect for my elders.  I also had great respect for my contemporaries simply because that's what I was taught to do.  In fact, I may possibly have accorded more respect to many (old and young) than was actually necessary.  Not that I should have treated them badly.  It's just that I held some in much higher esteem than was warranted.

The older I got the more perspective I gained about sense, non-sense, bluster, honesty, empathy and integrity. I was, most certainly and understandably youth generally is, naive.  But I was also idealistic. I thought that a person could be taken at his word, and in that, I was wrong.  At least in some cases.

This lesson was driven home for me soon after college.  I had a temporary position at a local television station which I had hoped would become permanent.  My 'boss' in this position was one of the nicest, most honest, empathetic, sympathetic and virtuous individuals that I had (and have) ever met.  I believed that this is what a boss should be.  I also believed that this is what other bosses would be.  When the position failed to become permanent and I sought employment in another field, I quickly learned that my boss at the TV stations was a rare find, indeed.

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I know a man. . .

. . . whose name is Bill

With a very big plan
That required much skill

He planned well ahead
Made sure word got around
To all who're involved
But did all without sound
To the one that he loved
Cause he had to ensure
He would not
OUT be found

So for more than one year
Complex planning continued
All the details required
Every muscle and sinew

The loved ones invited
Vaccinations and sitting
Some expected some not
To another outwitting

But this man we call Bill
Had extraordinary ability
And he pulled the thing off
With uncanny agility

And a lesson is here
That we'd all well to learn
From investment required
And expected return

When you love someone dearly
The most difficult of feat
Can be easily accomplished
If you can just be discrete.

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Big mouths. . .

. . . never get you anywhere.

It's true what they say about the empty barrels and the noise they make. First-hand experience speaks volumes. My problem is that I can go for years remembering and practicing that invaluable lesson but then out of the blue, either a little too much familiarity, ill-perceived humorousness or possibly liquid conversation stimulator- whatever the reason, I act as though I've never learned any lesson AT ALL.

Well, let me tell you, one relapse is worth a thousand words. (does that make ANY sense?) What I mean to say is, I consider the lesson well, re-learned. Now I have to make sure that I can persevere, even through a little too much familiarity, ill- perceived humorousness or possibly liquid conversation stimulator and continue to keep my BIG MOUTH shut!






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Two hands wrapped tightly. . .

. . . round a perspiring glass. I see a little tear that I hope won't last. I'm wishing that what appears will disappear fast. I should have stopped myself from speaking my mind. But just like a children's toy, I had to unwind. Now look at the consequence. It wasn't the time. Hindsight's gold. So I'm told but could not admit. Hindsight's gold; truth as old as the pyramids.

Always the last to know; always behind. Shoot from the hip. React; behavior all mine. I was raised to know better. But still I declined. The last thing I want to see is the tear on your face. The last thing I want to be is the villain whose case I received by default it seems. And lives in disgrace. Hindsight's gold. So I'm told but could not admit. Hindsight's gold; truth as old as the pyramids.

Can an old dog learn how to do something new? Many times been burned. Understand it but just can't follow through.

Some kind of malady or some kind of curse; whichever's afflicting me, it can't get much worse. I can't be concerned much more and I'm not the first. I"m sorry for what I've done and what might still come. I'd like to just disappear but where would I run. There's nothing to show for this. My lesson is done. Hindsight's gold. So I'm told but could not admit. Hindsight's gold; truth as old as the pyramids.

HINDSIGHT
©2007 Raymond M. Jozwiak



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I found a friend. . .

. . . a passtime, a hobby, a treasure, a joy, a therapy, a passion in music. Not consciously, mind you. But music and I became one. We were joined at the hip and never found each other to be a burden.

And as I uncomfortably approached, then entered adolescence, I found that music could be a comfort; a refuge. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

As a young guitarist, who never took a lesson or ever really played a guitar with any semblance of skill, at the tender age of seven, my Mother received a phone call. A young entrepreneur was opening a 'music studio' in our very own east Baltimore neighborhood. (I always thought the term 'music studio' sounded impressive. Sophisticated, cultured and exclusive.) This studio was to be called the Maryland Accordion Institute. (Talk about impressive, sophisticated, cultured and exclusive.) The phone call was telemarketing for prospective clientele, namely wee sprites who were interested in learning to play that prince of all reed instruments, king of the Bohemian beer hall, and butt of many, many jokes - the accordion. But, this was not the perception held by myself at the time. Nor was it the perception held by many in a similar position at the time. It was, quite honestly (and truly , unashamedly) an interesting and desirable proposition. I was, indeed, VERY interested in learning to play the accordion. DAMNED interested. Those Sunday afternoons listening to Dad play his accordion, combined with my natural love of music, possibly even my lack of ambition and talent on the guitar, all united in my seven year old brain forming a profound hunger to learn to play the accordion.

As odd as it sounds, I did not regret at the time, nor do I now regret not pursuing the 'cool' -er musical path of playing the guitar. It just never occurred to me that that's what I should have done. And I never looked back.



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