How an Elephant Chose My Daughter’s College: Emotions are Stronger Than Logic.
How to Achieve Real Change – Part 1
It took me a long time to realize the limitations of logic. For much of my life, including a 20-year stint as a law professor, I relied on discourse
Opportunities in the New Year
Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New Year will bring new opportunities. The year is ours to make of it what we will. – Michael Josephson
Collection of Beautiful Vintage New Years’ Cards
Capture the mood and modes of years gone by with this special collection of Vintage new Year’s cards
KEEP GETTING BETTER
– even if you think you’re good enough. BE HONEST – even when others aren’t and it may cost
COMMENTARY: The Christmas Spirit: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
One of the under-emphasized messages of the Christmas season is captured in Longfellow’s classic poem “Peace on Earth, Good-Will Toward Men.”
The Menorah is to Hanukkah as the Christmas tree is to Christmas
There is a traditional form and it has become the object of art. To learn more about Hanukkah or anything Jewish check out http://www.aish.com/. It’s filled with clear,
Beautiful Vintage Christmas Cards
Enjoy and share with friends. You might also enjoy this comprehensive collection of Best Xmas quotes Best Ever Quotes on Christmas & the Christmas Spirit Best Ever Quotes on Christmas & the Christmas Spirit
COMMENTARY: Keeping Christmas: A Prescription for A Better World
KEEPING CHRISTMAS: A PRESCRIPTION FOR A BETTER WORLD. Whether you are a Christian or not, Henry Van Dyke‘s concept of “Keeping Christmas,” written in 1905, is worth reading and following: It is a good thing to observe Christmas day. The mere making of times and seasons when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and …
WORTH SEEING: Veteran’s Day Cartoon
Cartoon by Randy Bish, of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
COMMENTARY: Ask What Can You Do for Your Country
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy, invoked my generation to “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” We are fortunate to live in a free and democratic society where millions of civilians and soldiers serve their fellow citizens.Today is Veteran’s Day and the weekend provided the nation a special …
COMMENTARY: Converting Pessimists Into Optimists
Every full life has its bright days and its dark days, its triumphs and defeats, its calm and stormy seas. All these high and low experiences could justify viewing the past through the lens of gratitude or disappointment. And the way we characterize our history will determine whether we look toward our future with hopeful expectations or anxious trepidation.
9-11 – THE DUTY TO REMEMBER AND TEACH
Nine-Eleven. Two Numbers which took on new meaning on September 11, 2001. Since then, these numbers together have become a phrase that will forever be a prominent turning point event in American history.There is a natural tendency to repress painful lessons and the grief we experienced, yet we must not forget or fail to educate our children about what we …
NINE-ELEVEN VIDEOS
[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW8puRqE4Sc[/embedyt] [embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZwqMS4wnu8[/embedyt]
COMMENTARY: Competition in the Arts
Competition often brings out the best performance but it doesn’t always bring out the best in people. Even in the arts, actors, singers, dancers, and musicians must survive and thrive in a competitive community as rude and rough as any. Ambitious parents often introduce toxic gamesmanship and back-biting attitudes very early as their children are judged and ranked by the …
COMMENTARY: The Ultimate Solution to Bullying in Schools: A Student-Led Culture of Kindness
Olivia Gardner was a sixth grader in Northern California when her life began to unravel. It started when she suffered an epileptic seizure in front of her classmates. Immediately, the name-calling began. The hallway insults and ridicule — “freak,” “retard,” “weirdo” — escalated into cyber-bullying when a few particularly nasty students set up an “Olivia Haters” website. One student dragged …
Greatest Quotes on Patriotism
He loves his country best who strives to make it best. – Robert G. Ingersoll This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I …
WHAT DOES THE FLAG MEAN TO YOU?
See my previous comment on Flag Day https://whatwillmatter.com/2013/06/what-does-the-flag-mean-to-you-are-highest-noble-democratic-ideals-and-aspirations-embodied-in-our-founding-documents-infused-into-the-dna-of-the-american-flag/
Amazing Vintage Patriotic Photos & Postcards
Take a close look at these amazing photos of patriotic images consisting of nine to thirty thousands of soldiers taken in 1917 during WWI by Arthur Mole. Setting the photos up, dressing the men in the right colors and organizing them to stay put was incredible. But how did he get high enough to take the picture? There’s no Photoshop …
The Essence of America
“What is the essence of America? Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom ‘to’ and freedom ‘from.’” – Marilyn von Savant
America is a Song
“America is a song that sounds the best when we all sing together.”
COMMENTARY 988.1: Saying the Right Thing
When someone you care about is suffering greatly, what’s the right thing to say to make him or her feel better? There are all sorts of traumas that can send us to the darkest dungeons of despair – the death of a loved one, being raped, getting a divorce, losing a limb, seeing a child sent to jail or on …
COMMENTARY 987.5: The One-Minute Graduation Speech
I’ve given lots of commencement addresses and, despite the silly hat, it’s a head-swelling experience to tell a captive crowd how they should live their lives. The problem is, speakers are to graduations what turkeys are to Thanksgiving, except people are much more interested in a turkey on a platter than a turkey behind a podium. What we need is …
MEMORIAL DAY: Best Ever Quotations for Memorial Day
Best Ever Quotations for Memorial Day The dead soldier’s silence sings our national anthem. ~ Aaron Kilbourn And I’m proud to be an American,/ where at least I know I’m free. /And I won’t forget the men who died,/ who gave that right to me. ~ Lee Greenwood They are dead; but they live in each Patriot’s breast, And their …
Commencement Speeches: The Best Of
Steve Jobs at Stanford University: John F. Kennedy at American University: J.K. Rowling at Harvard University: Ellen DeGeneres at Tulane University: Conan O’Brien at Dartmouth College: Oprah at Spellman College: Denzel Washington University of Pennsylvania:
GRADUATION: Greatest Quotes – Invocation & Advice and The Nature & Value of Education
INVOCATIONS AND ADVICE Now that you’re getting your degrees it’s a good time to set goals and devise a plan. You need a roadmap, but be prepared for unintended detours, confusing signs and closed roads. Don’t be afraid of change or unwilling to change. Enjoy the journey, wherever it takes you, because that’s your life. — Michael Josephson Put your future …
Something for Teenagers to Think About: A Graduation Speech for Middle and High-School Graduates
This is graduation season. Many high-school and middle-school students will be moving on to the next stage of their lives. Some will be sad to say goodbye to their school, classmates and, maybe, even a teacher or two. Others can’t wait to leave it all behind.
COMMENTARY 985.1: Making Lives
A few years ago I came across a video by a very dynamic speaker, a former middle school teacher named Taylor Mali. He is now what’s called a performance poet — someone who delivers poetry as singers deliver songs. The poem that caught my attention was “What Do I Make?” an articulate and aggressive response to a critic who was putting down teachers. …
COMMENTARY 975.4: A Parent’s Love for the Family Treasure
There are all kinds of love. The passionate romantic love immortalized and often fantasized by poets and novelists; Platonic love among friends, the love of humanity preached by missionaries and ministers, the love of country, and even the love of our work. I’ve been fortunate to have experienced all of these forms but none has impressed me more than the deep, enduring …