Friends, I came across this nice image (which, strangely, doesn’t seem to shows any Asian people) the other day and the thought struck me that every day should be International Friendship Day.
Just imagine how the world would be if each person, via the internet, had friends in many or most countries of the world. If that happened, our politicians wouldn’t be able to divide our world into ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’ so easily.
This would impede their rush to war at the drop of a hat. They couldn’t easily sell us the necessity of war against countries that contained some of our friends.
They couldn’t play on our ignorance about other countries because, through our friends, we would be informed and be able to spot the lies and exaggerations.
And through our connections overseas we would realize that humans are much the same the world over, something that many years of traveling plus time spent living in other countries, has taught me.
And, of course, I have also learned a lot about other countries from those who visit my blog and those who contribute to other blogs I visit across the world.
Friends, everyday should be International Friendship Day! We are all part of a human family and, in it, we are no more important than anyone else. We are all born the same way, basically live much the same way, and we die the same way.
Let’s all be friends while we have time and, together, using the internet to broaden our list of friends, we’ll change the world into a place of peace and happiness rather than a battlefield for the violent and a casino for the greedy.
Make some new overseas friends today! You’ll be glad you did.
Yet – one more time.
Thank you David , for every single of your articles, time and again excellent posts , highlighting subjects which, to some, relatively few, of us seems obviously unjust . Of which the worst case example to be mentioned (again and again) is the so called ‘the International Community’ (from a Danish prospective consisting of Britain / US / Denmark) enabled (1948) a bunch of a global coinsidence of fugitives to steal a hole land from another people.
“It’s a mess – about to get messier”, to quote a neoconservative, on PRESSTV – , who pulls in the wrong direction – busy by safeguarding his own people.
In short:: (sad to say)
As I see it,, (more) wealth equals (more) evilness .
In the minorities truth-talking, sagacious and sensible, among other, I’m happy that I found this site on the internet.
Keep on/up the good work
Thank you David
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“Just imagine how the world would be if each person, via the internet, had friends in many or most countries of the world”
That is a very nice thought but not a reality. Unfortunately here in America where ignorance reigns supreme, those of a different hue or facial trait or even a foreign accent will most often be subject to a “you are not welcome here hateful response”. I know this from 57 years of experience. But to be perfectly truthful… I am not enamored with that social class either.
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LT and John, the readership of this blog extends to more than twenty-four countries.
I’m proud that it is international because many blogs in Australia are parochial and lack input from other world citizens! We need to break down barriers between nations not hide behind walls of ignorance.
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David your brief comment about no people of Asian ethnicity being in the photo is interesting. Only one coloured person as well (and he is western) in this pic when anglo saxons only make up 9.7% of the globes population. Iam amazed that there are no Indigenous people apart from Ernie Dingo and a very few others on TV or in the any forms of media. Except when my race are being called child molesters, drunks and not having any future or overtaken by ruthless government racist policies. Some of my race make it to the front pages of papers and these pictures are usualy showing third world poverty (as if all us Aboriginal people live like this) or right wing fundamerntalist like Noel Pearson which the Murdoch papers love. Just an observation.
Anyway IFD, would be great, If you had a riff, you would truly understand how you have hurt your friend and thinking of a creative way that you intend to win their friendship back, which should be giving more than you get, being Humble is beautiful.
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Grace Reply:
August 18th, 2009 at 7:11 am
My Pakistani boyfriend and I used to joke that I supported him “for the price of one cup of coffee a day.”
As that was throughout the 1980′s, the cost of feeding and educating a third world person, according to Christian Relief Fund.
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Being Humble is beautiful, Kemosobi. Unfortunately in our dog-eat-dog, materialistic, violent world, not many people realize its importance or embrace it.
Cheers.
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