Loving-kindness (Bodhicitta) Guided Meditation with Khenpo Sherab Sangpo

Dalai Lama Wisdom Quote

Change in the world comes from individuals, from the inner peace in individual hearts. Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects. - Dalai Lama

U2 - Peace On Earth / Walk On [Tribute To The Only Heroes : Bridge-Builders & Peacemakers]

Gandhi - Official® Trailer [HD]

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Acoording to this post, a possible cleansing of Europe is ahead ... fingers crossed that all can make it through the storm(s) ... fingers crossed, liberation for all heart-emoticon

 

Jeff Andrews

 

"A new Wave is coming from out of the Cosmic Space: the Wave of Divine Love. It is also called 'the Wave of Fire'. This Wave has powerful vibrations which not every human being can endure. It has been said, for this reason, that God is an all-consuming Fire. Those who are ready to withstand the vibrations of this Wave and assimilate them will become luminous. Yet for those who cannot bear them, it will be a Fire which will either consume them or will cause them to pass through great suffering. This will prepare them to awaken and receive Love.

This Wave of Love which is coming is also called the Divine Fire. Everything old and impure will burn in it. After man passes through this Divine Fire, the Kingdom of God will come to Earth. I say: when the Fire of Love comes, some people will become luminous; but others will burn, will pass through repentance.
"Today you find yourselves in a great phase of Life. Not too much time will pass before you will find yourselves passing through the Fire. This will be in your lifetime. This Wave of Fire will soon pass over the world and purify it. All human thoughts and desires will pass through this Fire and become purified in the most perfect way. The Great Life will enter you, and you will become transformed. As the smith places the iron in the fire in order to refine it, so too, the Intelligent World will pass us through the Fire so that we can be purified and tempered.
"Those Beings which descend from above say, 'We will turn the earth on its head and will chase the evil away from it.' The evil will not attempt to come near it again.
"The great destruction which occurs today is due to this great Life which comes now. If people do not accept Christ voluntarily, the whole culture will pass through Fire seven times, but in the end, it will be purified and renewed.
"The Wave of Fire will pass through the minds of all people. You all will pass through this Divine Fire; you will free your souls and be liberated from bondage.
"If man does not awaken and arise, all the 'blankets' in which he has wrapped himself will burn. Everything which man has created will burn and turn into ashes and dust. What I am speaking of is the Coming of the Day of the Lord. I say now, 'We are in the Day of the Lord!'
"Only one-half hour remains before the last train leaves. Woe to those who have not yet managed to settle their accounts. If Europe does not correct her past mistakes, great tribulations will come her way.
"The Lord is coming, and He has already set His Foot upon the earth. I can easily prove that He has set foot upon the earth. How? The great suffering which is constantly increasing is the proof that the Lord is coming to this world. Do you know what His decision is? Everything impure is to burn. One has never before seen the dust that will be raised on earth. You have never suspected what great cleansing is coming before the Great Day. Nothing will remain of the European states and of the planning of the European diplomats. Love will destroy everything old. After that we will start to build. This turbulence among societies, this unrest among those who are in distress, indicates that God permeates everything. All this is linked to the eradication of the karma of humankind which has accumulated for thousands of years. Until all old concepts, thoughts and feelings bum in the Fire of suffering, man cannot enter into the new Life which is due to come now.
"Because for thousands of years man was under the influence of the negative forces, these forces now turn against him. Man has strayed from his right path, and all misfortunes are due to that. People have deviated from many things and for this reason, have remained behind in their development. The Invisible World wants to help them so that they may develop properly. The Invisible World is sending workers with their hammers to work on people's homes. These misfortunes are called 'the unfavorable conditions of life.' With their imprudent way of life, people let loose the evil, and as a result, tribulations come. That which man experiences, and feels hanging heavily over him, is his karma. This is a debt which is due to be paid. In Matthew Chapter 24, the woman who was 'taken' has paid her karma, she is free of any debt. On the other hand, the woman who was 'left' has not yet eliminated her karma. And so, the present events indicate the paying off of an old debt: the eradication of karma. An acceleration in the eradication of the past error of humankind is taking place at present - everything that has accumulated is being eradicated.
"In the fall, all old leaves fall whether they want to or not. Only new buds which will produce new branches in the coming spring - only new leaves and flowers - remain on the trees. The beauty of life is in the changes. After a storm, the weather clears. The present events are like a storm: they will pass. Everything that occurs is for the better. We think that the present order is good, but God is weary of the transgressions which people commit.
"The karma of the European nations is already ripe and creates tribulations for the whole of humankind. The tribulations indicate that man must change his way of life and apply the Divine Teaching. The Jews did not accept the Teachings of Christ, and tribulations came upon them. The Christian nations did not apply Christ's Teaching, and the present tribulations came. The present troubles come because man did not accept voluntarily and with an awakened consciousness to fulfill the Will of God. Even greater disturbances - external as well as internal -will come in order for man to awaken and fulfill the Will of God. to serve God. This will be forced upon humankind.
"Modern culture is in its departure. The new culture is coming, and its application in life will begin. The Invisible World has decided to teach modem civilized people a lesson which they will remember for a thousand years. The Scripture says, 'The Wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience.' In other words, the Potter will break up the imperfect pots."
On another occasion, the Master said:
"The whole earth at present is undergoing a great change, a reconstruction. This will continue until its forces become balanced. The earth will undergo disturbances. There exist ways to predict in which region of the planet the greatest turbulence will occur.
"All of Europe, the entire earth is in turmoil. The entire world is in disarray. Be not afraid. In such times of trouble, people will come to know God: will come to understand that He is that Great Intelligent Power which turns all things to good. You must remain calm and peaceful and know that the times in which you live are most favorable.
"All of Europe will pass through unimaginable trials. Modern Europeans have built a dam on the river which one day will collapse. Therefore, whoever is above the town should search for refuge in the mountain, and whoever is at the low level must run for higher ground. I speak symbolically.
"People ask what will become of them in the future. Imagine that you live on the North Pole where everything is ice. Your homes are made of ice: nowhere can you see water. I say to you that you need to take some precautionary measures because the earth will undergo great changes. The sun will start to shine very hot. It will melt the ice: the homes will fall apart, and you will start to sink. You say, 'What bad fortune has come to us.' This is not bad fortune - simply the ice melts. The same I say to you now: if you do not correct your life, the same will happen to you. I do not say this to frighten you. It is the natural course of life. The Great Wave which comes now breaks up the ice and turns it into water. This is the Great Intelligent Wave that already draws near to the world.
"After these events, human egotism will vanish and people will begin to live freely and as brothers. The time has come for all people to abandon the old way of life.
"The God of whom I speak to you will shake the earth. Only then will you come to understand whether or not I have been speaking the truth. The Scripture says that God will shake the earth and that every living creature will realize that Justice, Truth, Virtue, Love and Wisdom exist. All people throughout the world must know that God is present in the world - and people will come to know this.
"You say, 'We are not prepared yet.' When will you be ready? You say, 'The time has not come yet.' Who told you that the time has not come yet? If you do not follow the Divine, the earth will begin to shake.
"After the earth shakes, after all your guns and cannons are destroyed, you will be asked, 'Will you obey?' You will say, 'Yes, we will obey.' When you observe all these things, you will become wiser. The entire earth will shake with such power that no trace will remain of the present culture. This will take place as based upon the great natural laws. Not one nation in Europe will remain unpunished: the present order and all human lies will vanish.
"Christ has said, 'The sun will darken, the moon will wane, and the stars will fall.' Interpreted, this means that all false human religious beliefs will lose their meaning, all worldly power will be overshadowed, will lose its hold. Therefore the disciples should work to improve themselves: clothe themselves in armor and don helmets in order to withstand this Wave of suffering and trials which man must endure. This armor is Love.
"Many people can learn from their own mistakes. If one tries to speak to them, they will not comprehend. Such people will learn on the path of suffering. The turbulent flow which represents the tribulations and conflicts of humankind wilt abate by the end of the century. Naturally, the human souls who are more developed will be freed from this flood sooner. The nations are healed through suffering. It is impossible to heal a nation without suffering. It is the only medicine.
"What needs to be corrected will be corrected. What needs to be destroyed will be destroyed. Take advantage of the short time which remains. Now is the time to begin living in harmony with the new Life. The evil has exhausted all the conditions for its existence. It can no longer succeed, and it is retreating - only its dregs have remained. The Light will drive away all the darkness. Owing to the present tribulations, man will awaken. Unless the pure is sifted from the impure, the life of man will be meaningless.
"After these events, the new will immediately gain control of the world. The good times will come. Now it is difficult. We all know that life is hard during the winter. It is easier when the spring comes. It is also easy to live in the summer and the fall. At present, we are coming to the end of the winter.
"When the New comes, violence will no longer exist. Nothing will remain of modern weapons or of modem courts and prisons, as well. The present order will be cast out. God is creating a new World. The old world is giving way to the new.
"When people enter the new Life, they will converse with Angels and with God. How will they speak with God? In silence. In silence you will look at the stars, the moon, the sun; and you will be filled with gladness. God is in all of them. You will be joyful for every little stone, plant and animal. God lives in them. You will rejoice in the soft wind, the pure spring: in them is God."

Beinsa Douno

Remembering this beautiful day in 2012 ...

In 2012 the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the causes of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.

The EU decided to dedicate the Nobel Peace Prize money to children who are denied the chance of growing up in peace and to double the Nobel award (€930,000), to €2 million. As a result, more than 28,000 children have so far benefited from the four emergency-education projects selected last year.
As a lasting political legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize, and as a targeted tool for education in conflict zones, the EU will continue this initiative in the years to come. For 2013, the EU has again doubled the resources and attributed a further €4 million to cover both the existing and new projects.

Source : http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/eu-nobel/index_en.htm

The Israeli Government is not the Jewish People

The Israeli war on Gaza is undeniably an atrocity. So, condemn the government, not the Jewish people!

By the time I was born, the Second World War was over and Israel was already a fact. I have been an Anti-Zionist since the seventies when Jews like me were all termed “self-hating.” I do not confuse supporting the struggles of the Palestinian people with prejudice against Jews which is erroneously termed Anti-Semitism, since all people of Middle-Eastern descent are Semites.

I thoroughly and totally condemn the brutality of the Israeli regime. I despise the whole premise of a religious versus a secular state and I do not think that a person expressing Anti-Israel sentiment necessarily implies will towards Jewish people. Yes, I fervently wish my relatives in Europe had taken Germany instead of Palestine, that the railroad tracks to Auschwitz had been bombed, that the ships taking Jewish refugees to the USA had not been turned away. But those things happened and, just as we are now dealing with the ramifications of slavery, the legacy of the brutal oppression of Jews has left the world with an out-of control “Jewish homeland.”

That having been said, I would like to address something else. The blog entry I wanted to publish this week was about the ancient synagogue and adjoining Jewish Museum in Rhodes, Greece. I am delaying that entry and writing this one because I don’t believe anything about Jewish history would be well-received right now and I find that fact, in and of itself, to be a misguided, biased reaction.

As a Jew, I would like to be proud of my ancestors the way that Italian, Irish, Black, Native American and all other minorities are of theirs. I should be able to post historical articles about my relatives without fearing misinterpretation or worse. Jews are not responsible for each other’s behavior anymore than other members of minority groups are. And the actions of the Israeli government don’t represent the will of the Israeli people just as the actions of the US government, don’t represent our will. But getting carried away with thoughtless generalizations of an entire group of people is destructive and counter-productive.

Here is an example of the problem. A longtime, leftist comrade recently, and I believe inadvertently, posted an article about the violence against the people of Gaza that came directly from a right-wing, Neo-Nazi, propaganda website. This is not okay! Read what you post before you hit that button! Here are some things to watch out for so you don’t repeat this mistake: references to the Talmud or publications like “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” The use of Yiddish words like “goyim,” concepts like, “Jewish blood,” the substitution of the word, Jews for the word, Israelis and frankly, just plain, nasty, stereotyping.

It is absolutely imperative that we be as critical of Israel as we are of other imperialist, warmongering countries. But, just as drones and smart-bombs turn out to be not all that targeted or smart, we must be mindful of the way we categorize people and precisely how we utilize our words. The keyboard is mightier than the sword! The end result, peace, is vitally important, but so is what we do on that journey to get there. If we are sloppy and compromise our ethics to reach this goal, we will have effectively thrown out the baby with the bathwater!

 

Source :  https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/08/02/18759460.php

The cause of illness according to Edgar Cayce ...

Read online : http://in5d.com/the-causes-of-illness-according-to-edgar-cayce/

Mededeling van Felix Sperans [Dutch]

LEZING OVER DE BOEKEN VAN FELIX SPERANS

Op Vrijdag 6 maart 2015 om 15h, zal Techie (Myriam) Malit, de Filipijnse vrouw van Felix Sperans (Leon Roelants), een lezing houden over het werk van haar man, de schrijver Felix Sperans, en dat in de zaal Carpe Diem van de Serviceresidentie Parkhof, Persilstraat N° 50 te 3020 Herent. Iedereen is van harte uitgenodigd en welkom. De inkom is gratis. Breng al je vrienden en kennissen maar mee want Techie spreekt niet graag voor lege zalen.
Tot dan?

P.S. Wie ons wil helpen mag dit bericht delen, waarvoor dank.

Walter Van Steenbrugge : "Extreem en hardnekkig" [Opinie / Dutch]

Men heeft dezer dagen de mond vol van opleiding, begeleiding, onderwijs, opvoeding. U weet wel, als antigif voor de extremisten in spe, die jonge gozers van wie we denken dat ze in een verre of minder verre toekomst, ja misschien zelfs morgen al, hun stoute schoenen zullen aantrekken om onschuldigen te raken, ketters te treffen of om onze maatschappij te doen daveren op haar grondvesten.

In vraag stellen, aanstoot geven, radicale standpunten innemen, breken met gevestigde waarden, zich niet-conventioneel gedragen … is dit niet van alle tijden? Is dit niet het wezenskenmerk van elke zichzelf serieus nemende jongere die, te midden een hormonenoorlog, meteen ook wil afrekenen met het ouderlijk gezag, maatschappelijke wetmatigheden en ideologische of filosofische betweterijen?

Waar deze aanstellerij zich voor sommigen zal uiten in vestimentaire provocaties, in lichamelijke sierkunst (van tattoos over piercings tot excentrieke haartooien), muzikale voorkeuren (van heavy metal, over punk, rap en alle andere contesterende muziekgenres) of gewoon deviant gedrag, blijken sommigen niet langer vrede te kunnen nemen met deze onschuldige opstoten van rebellie. Ze blijken vatbaar voor méér. Als zoekende jongere. Of als op drift geslagen volwassene.

Ook het willen opdringen van visies, ideologieën, denk- en levenswijzen is van alle tijden. De geschiedenis is één ononderbroken verhaal van het streven naar grond, macht, gelijk en overheersing. Gisteren en vandaag. Maar ook morgen zal het zo zijn. Slechts een enkeling die, niet gevrijwaard van enige naïviteit, de toekomst vreedzaam, gelukzalig en onbevlekt rooskleurig voorstelt.

In onze gedigitaliseerde maatschappij, waar ideeën en beelden razendsnel de wereld rondgaan, in onze gemediatiseerde maatschappij waar aandachttrekkerij de bovenhand lijkt te halen, in onze geïndividualiseerde maatschappij waar elkeen, nu en altijd het beste voor zichzelf moet betrachten, lijkt het niet moeilijk jongeren of twijfelaars te scharen achter veelbelovende ideologieën of een rechtlijnige levensbeschouwing. Zelfs bespiegelingen over wat er na dit leven al dan niet te gebeuren staat, blijken incentives te kunnen zijn om mensen tot "extreem gedrag” aan te zetten.

Als maatschappij moeten we er op toezien dat eenieder, nu, hier, op onze kleine planeet die we jammer genoeg vaak onheus behandelen, een menswaardig toekomstperspectief heeft.

Dat de werkelijkheid er jammer genoeg vaak anders uitziet, maakt elke nieuwsuitzending pijnlijk duidelijk. Als mensen van goede wil mogen we echter nooit de armen laten zakken.

De taak van ouders, opvoeders, onderwijzers, kunstleraars, sporttrainers, (bege)leiders van jeugdbewegingen …. kan dus niet worden overschat. Het bijbrengen van levenslessen, het verduidelijken van realistische levensdoelstellingen, het aanleren van aanvaardbare omgangsvormen en het duidelijk stellen van waarden en normen, zijn maar enkele van de uitdagende taken van elkeen die het voorrecht heeft anderen te mogen opvoeden, grootbrengen of begeleiden.

Over deze waarden en normen valt een aardig potje te discussiëren, maar aan de waarden die vertolkt worden in het Europees verdrag tot bescherming van de rechten van de mens en in de Universele verklaring van de rechten van de mens van de Verenigde Naties, kan alvast niet worden getornd.

Wij hebben het geluk de meeste van deze waarden toegepast te zien in ons dagelijks leven. Het is onze plicht die waarden hardnekkig uit te dragen ten aanzien van elkeen die meent met extremistisch gedrag die waarden in diskrediet te kunnen brengen.

(De auteur is strafpleiter.)

Bron : http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/opinieblog/blog/waltervansteenbrugge/1.2251909

Compassion and the Individual

Tenzin Gyatso; The Fourteenth Dalai Lama

The purpose of life
 ONE GREAT QUESTION underlies our experience, whether we think about it consciously or not: What is the purpose of life?  I have considered this question and would like to share my thoughts in the hope that they may be of direct, practical benefit to those who read them.

I believe that the purpose of life is to be happy.  From the moment of birth, every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering.  Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affect this.  From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment.  I don't know whether the universe, with its countless galaxies, stars and planets, has a deeper meaning or not, but at the very least, it is clear that we humans who live on this earth face the task of making a happy life for ourselves.  Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.

How to achieve happiness
For a start, it is possible to divide every kind of happiness and suffering into two main categories: mental and physical.  Of the two, it is the mind that exerts the greatest influence on most of us.  Unless we are either gravely ill or deprived of basic necessities, our physical condition plays a secondary role in life.  If the body is content, we virtually ignore it. The mind, however, registers every event, no matter how small. Hence we should devote our most serious efforts to bringing about mental peace.

From my own limited experience I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion.

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life.

As long as we live in this world we are bound to encounter problems. If, at such times, we lose hope and become discouraged, we diminish our ability to face difficulties. If, on the other hand, we remember that it is not just ourselves but every one who has to undergo suffering, this more realistic perspective will increase our determination and capacity to overcome troubles. Indeed, with this attitude, each new obstacle can be seen as yet another valuable opportunity to improve our mind!

Thus we can strive gradually to become more compassionate, that is we can develop both genuine sympathy for others' suffering and the will to help remove their pain. As a result, our own serenity and inner strength will increase.

Our need for love
Ultimately, the reason why love and compassion bring the greatest happiness is simply that our nature cherishes them above all else. The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence. It results from the profound interdependence we all share with one another. However capable and skillful an individual may be, left alone, he or she will not survive. However vigorous and independent one may feel during the most prosperous periods of life, when one is sick or very young or very old, one must depend on the support of others.

Inter-dependence, of course, is a fundamental law of nature. Not only higher forms of life but also many of the smallest insects are social beings who, without any religion, law or education, survive by mutual cooperation based on an innate recognition of their interconnectedness. The most subtle level of material phenomena is also governed by interdependence. All phenomena from the planet we inhabit to the oceans, clouds, forests and flowers that surround us, arise in dependence upon subtle patterns of energy. Without their proper interaction, they dissolve and decay.

It is because our own human existence is so dependent on the help of others that our need for love lies at the very foundation of our existence. Therefore we need a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others.

We have to consider what we human beings really are. We are not like machine-made objects. If we are merely mechanical entities, then machines themselves could alleviate all of our sufferings and fulfill our needs.

However, since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. Instead, we should consider our origins and nature to discover what we require.

Leaving aside the complex question of the creation and evolution of our universe, we can at least agree that each of us is the product of our own parents. In general, our conception took place not just in the context of sexual desire but from our parents' decision to have a child. Such decisions are founded on responsibility and altruism - the parents compassionate commitment to care of their child until it is able to take care of itself. Thus, from the very moment of our conception, our parents' love is directly in our creation.

Moreover, we are completely dependent upon our mothers' care from the earliest stages of our growth. According to some scientists, a pregnant woman's mental state, be it calm or agitated, has a direct physical effect on her unborn child.

The expression of love is also very important at the time of birth. Since the very first thing we do is suck milk from our mothers' breast, we naturally feel close to her, and she must feel love for us in order to feed us properly; if she feels anger or resentment her milk may not flow freely.

Then there is the critical period of brain development from the time of birth up to at least the age of three or four, during which time loving physical contact is the single most important factor for the normal growth of the child. If the child is not held, hugged, cuddled, or loved, its development will be impaired and its brain will not mature properly.

Since a child cannot survive without the care of others, love is its most important nourishment. The happiness of childhood, the allaying of the child's many fears and the healthy development of its self-confidence all depend directly upon love.

Nowadays, many children grow up in unhappy homes. If they do not receive proper affection, in later life they will rarely love their parents and, not infrequently, will find it hard to love others. This is very sad.

As children grow older and enter school, their need for support must be met by their teachers. If a teacher not only imparts academic education but also assumes responsibility for preparing students for life, his or her pupils will feel trust and respect and what has been taught will leave an indelible impression on their minds. On the other hand, subjects taught by a teacher who does not show true concern for his or her students' overall well-being will be regarded as temporary and not retained for long.

Similarly, if one is sick and being treated in hospital by a doctor who evinces a warm human feeling, one feels at ease and the doctors' desire to give the best possible care is itself curative, irrespective of the degree of his or her technical skill. On the other hand, if one's doctor lacks human feeling and displays an unfriendly expression, impatience or casual disregard, one will feel anxious, even if he or she is the most highly qualified doctor and the disease has been correctly diagnosed and the right medication prescribed. Inevitably, patients' feelings make a difference to the quality and completeness of their recovery.

Even when we engage in ordinary conversation in everyday life, if someone speaks with human feeling we enjoy listening, and respond accordingly; the whole conversation becomes interesting, however unimportant the topic may be. On the other hand, if a person speaks coldly or harshly, we feel uneasy and wish for a quick end to the interaction. From the least to the most important event, the affection and respect of others are vital for our happiness.

Recently I met a group of scientists in America who said that the rate of mental illness in their country was quite high-around twelve percent of the population. It became clear during our discussion that the main cause of depression was not a lack of material necessities but a deprivation of the affection of the others.

So, as you can see from everything I have written so far, one thing seems clear to me: whether or not we are consciously aware of it, from the day we are born, the need for human affection is in our very blood. Even if the affection comes from an animal or someone we would normally consider an enemy, both children and adults will naturally gravitate towards it.

I believe that no one is born free from the need for love. And this demonstrates that, although some modern schools of thought seek to do so, human beings cannot be defined as solely physical. No material object, however beautiful or valuable, can make us feel loved, because our deeper identity and true character lie in the subjective nature of the mind.

Developing compassion
Some of my friends have told me that, while love and compassion are marvelous and good, they are not really very relevant. Our world, they say, is not a place where such beliefs have much influence or power. They claim that anger and hatred are so much a part of human nature that humanity will always be dominated by them. I do not agree.

We humans have existed in our present form for about a hundred-thousand years. I believe that if during this time the human mind had been primarily controlled by anger and hatred, our overall population would have decreased. But today, despite all our wars, we find that the human population is greater than ever. This clearly indicates to me that love and compassion predominate in the world. And this is why unpleasant events are news, compassionate activities are so much part of daily life that they are taken for granted and, therefore, largely ignored.

So far I have been discussing mainly the mental benefits of compassion, but it contributes to good physical health as well, According to my personal experience, mental stability and physical well-being are directly related. Without question, anger and agitation make us more susceptible to illness. On the other hand, if the mind is tranquil and occupied with positive thoughts, the body will not easily fall prey to disease.

But of course it is also true that we all have an innate self-centeredness that inhibits our love for others. So, since we desire the true happiness that is brought about by only a calm mind, and since such peace of mind is brought about by only a compassionate attitude, how can we develop this? Obviously, it is not enough for us simply to think about how nice compassion is! We need to make a concerted effort to develop it; we must use all the events of our daily life to transform our thoughts and behavior.

First of all, we must be clear about what we mean by compassion. Many forms of compassionate feeling are mixed with desire and attachment. For instance, the love parents feel of their child is often strongly associated with their own emotional needs, so it is not fully compassionate. Again, in marriage, the love between husband and wife -  particularly at the beginning, when each partner still may not know the other's deeper character very well - depends more on attachment than genuine love. Our desire can be so strong that the person to whom we are attached appears to be good, when in fact he or she is very negative. In addition, we have a tendency to exaggerate small positive qualities. Thus when one partner's attitude changes, the other partner is often disappointed and his or her attitude changes too. This is an indication that love has been motivated more by personal need than by genuine care for the other individual.

True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude towards others does not change even if they behave negatively.

Of course, developing this kind of compassion is not at all easy! As a start, let us consider the following facts:
Whether people are beautiful and friendly or unattractive and disruptive, ultimately they are human beings, just like oneself. Like oneself, they want happiness and do not want suffering. Furthermore, their right to overcome suffering and be happy is equal to one's own. Now, when you recognize that all beings are equal in both their desire for happiness and their right to obtain it, you automatically feel empathy and closeness for them. Through accustoming your mind to this sense of universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others: the wish to help them actively overcome their problems. Nor is this wish selective; it applies equally to all. As long as they are human beings experiencing pleasure and pain just as you do, there is no logical basis to discriminate between them or to alter your concern for them if they behave negatively.

Let me emphasize that it is within your power, given patience and time, to develop this kind of compassion. Of course, our self-centeredness, our distinctive attachment to the feeling of an independent, self-existent �I�, works fundamentally to inhibit our compassion. Indeed, true compassion can be experienced only when this type of self- grasping is eliminated. But this does not mean that we cannot start and make progress now.

How can we start
We should begin by removing the greatest hindrances to compassion: anger and hatred. As we all know, these are extremely powerful emotions and they can overwhelm our entire mind. Nevertheless, they can be controlled. If, however, they are not, these negative emotions will plague us - with no extra effort on their part! - and impede our quest for the happiness of a loving mind.

So as a start, it is useful to investigate whether or not anger is of value. Sometimes, when we are discouraged by a difficult situation, anger does seem helpful, appearing to bring with it more energy, confidence and determination.

Here, though, we must examine our mental state carefully. While itis true that anger brings extra energy, if we explore the nature of this energy, we discover that it is blind: we cannot be sure whether its result will be positive or negative. This is because anger eclipses the best part of our brain: its rationality. So the energy of anger is almost always unreliable. It can cause an immense amount of destructive, unfortunate behavior. Moreover, if anger increases to the extreme, one becomes like a mad person, acting in ways that are as damaging to oneself as they are to others.

It is possible, however, to develop an equally forceful but far more controlled energy with which to handle difficult situations.

This controlled energy comes not only from a compassionate attitude, but also from reason and patience. These are the most powerful antidotes to anger. Unfortunately, many people misjudge these qualities as signs of weakness. I believe the opposite to be true: that they are the true signs of inner strength. Compassion is by nature gentle, peaceful and soft, but it is very powerful. It is those who easily lose their patience who are insecure and unstable. Thus, to me, the arousal of anger is a direct sign of weakness.

So, when a problem first arises, try to remain humble and maintain a sincere attitude and be concerned that the outcome is fair. Of course, others may try to take advantage of you, and if your remaining detached only encourages unjust aggression, adopt a strong stand, This, however, should be done with compassion, and if it is necessary to express your views and take strong countermeasures, do so without anger or ill-intent.
You should realize that even though your opponents appear to be harming you, in the end, their destructive activity will damage only themselves. In order to check your own selfish impulse to retaliate, you should recall your desire to practice compassion and assume responsibility for helping prevent the other person from suffering the consequences of his or her acts.

Thus, because the measures you employ have been calmly chosen, they will be more effective, more accurate and more forceful. Retaliation based on the blind energy of anger seldom hits the target.

Friends and enemies
I must emphasize again that merely thinking that compassion and reason and patience are good will not be enough to develop them. We must wait for difficulties to arise and then attempt to practice them.

And who creates such opportunities? Not our friends, of course, but our enemies. They are the ones who give us the most trouble, So if we truly wish to learn, we should consider enemies to be our best teacher!

For a person who cherishes compassion and love, the practice of tolerance is essential, and for that, an enemy is indispensable. So we should feel grateful to our enemies, for it is they who can best help us develop a tranquil mind! Also, itis often the case in both personal and public life, that with a change in circumstances, enemies become friends.

So anger and hatred are always harmful, and unless we train our minds and work to reduce their negative force, they will continue to disturb us and disrupt our attempts to develop a calm mind. Anger and hatred are our real enemies. These are the forces we most need to confront and defeat, not the temporary enemies who appear intermittently throughout life.

Of course, it is natural and right that we all want friends. I often joke that if you really want to be selfish, you should be very altruistic! You should take good care of others, be concerned for their welfare, help them, serve them, make more friends, make more smiles, The result? When you yourself need help, you find plenty of helpers! If, on the other hand, you neglect the happiness of others, in the long term you will be the loser. And is friendship produced through quarrels and anger, jealousy and intense competitiveness? I do not think so. Only affection brings us genuine close friends.

In today's materialistic society, if you have money and power, you seem to have many friends. But they are not friends of yours; they are the friends of your money and power. When you lose your wealth and influence, you will find it very difficult to track these people down.

The trouble is that when things in the world go well for us, we become confident that we can manage by ourselves and feel we do not need friends, but as our status and health decline, we quickly realize how wrong we were. That is the moment when we learn who is really helpful and who is completely useless. So to prepare for that moment, to make genuine friends who will help us when the need arises, we ourselves must cultivate altruism!
Though sometimes people laugh when I say it, I myself always want more friends. I love smiles. Because of this I have the problem of knowing how to make more friends and how to get more smiles, in particular, genuine smiles. For there are many kinds of smile, such as sarcastic, artificial or diplomatic smiles. Many smiles produce no feeling of satisfaction, and sometimes they can even create suspicion or fear, can't they? But a genuine smile really gives us a feeling of freshness and is, I believe, unique to human beings. If these are the smiles we want, then we ourselves must create the reasons for them to appear.

Compassion and the world
In conclusion, I would like briefly to expand my thoughts beyond the topic of this short piece and make a wider point: individual happiness can contribute in a profound and effective way to the overall improvement of our entire human community.

Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister. No matter how new the face or how different the dress and behavior, there is no significant division between us and other people. It is foolish to dwell on external differences, because our basic natures are the same.

Ultimately, humanity is one and this small planet is our only home, If we are to protect this home of ours, each of us needs to experience a vivid sense of universal altruism. It is only this feeling that can remove the self-centered motives that cause people to deceive and misuse one another.

If you have a sincere and open heart, you naturally feel self- worth and confidence, and there is no need to be fearful of others.

I believe that at every level of society - familial, tribal, national and international - the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities.

I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend. This gives me a genuine feeling of happiness.  It is the practice of compassion.

Source : http://www.dalailama.com/messages/compassion

Recht van antwoord : Belkacem op Facebook: ‘Zolang die radicale jongeren maar weg zijn, dat is de spirit van justitie’ [Dutch]

Fouad Belkacem. Foto: Belga

Sharia4Belgium-leider Fouad Belkacem heeft in een lange boodschap op Facebook gereageerd op zijn veroordeling in het terrorismeproces. Belkacem kreeg 12 jaar gevangenisstraf, maar vindt dat onterecht. ‘Ik zou de jongeren hebben geradicaliseerd, maar in werkelijkheid werden ze met goedkeuring van de Belgische justitie en veiligheidsdiensten doorgelaten naar Syrië. Zolang ze maar weg zijn, dat is de spirit.’

Volgens Belkacem had hij enkel het goede voor met alle jongeren en bewijst het vonnis de dubbele standaard in België. ‘Spijtig genoeg zijn sommigen zo normloos dat ze hun wandaden en misdaden verdoezelen door een onschuldige op te offeren. Aan de ene kant zou ik jongeren hebben geradicaliseerd of gebrainwasht, maar aan de andere kant werden zelfs doden veroordeeld. Zijn ze nu daders die vrijwillige keuzes maakten of zijn ze slachtoffers die geen enkele vrije wil hadden?’, vraagt Belkacem zich af.

De leider van Sharia4Belgium beweert ook dat de Belgische autoriteiten zijn aanhangers naar Syrië hebben laten vertrekken. ‘Alle jongeren in deze zaak waren gekend bij het gerecht en werden gevolgd door justitie. De meerderheid werd aangehouden op de route naar Syrië, maar werd doorgelaten met goedkeuring van het Belgische gerecht. Zolang ze maar weg zijn was de spirit.’

Belkacem besluit zijn betoog met de vrees om vermoord te worden en verwijt de rechter hem op bijzonder harde wijze de mond te snoeren. ‘Is het normaal dat ik voor mijn provocatieve houding en controversiële uitspraken 12 jaar cel krijg? Gevangenisstraf zoals iedereen is niet genoeg, nationaliteitsafname en deportatie willen ze er ook nog bij. Wetende dat na deportatie foltering en/of moord volgt. Niets is genoeg om een kritische ongehoorzame moslim de mond te snoeren.’

Bron : http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20150226_01550218

Wisdom of today

Shared from B. CvdK

Bibi versus de VS: voor sommigen is er nooit genoeg oorlog. [Truth Media / Media]

De Verenigde Staten, Rusland, China, Frankrijk, Duitsland en Groot-Bretagne trachten een overeenkomst te bereiken met Iran over zijn nucleair programma. Ze willen dat Iran dat programma inperkt in ruil voor een versoepeling van de economische sancties. Washington vermoedt dat het programma bedoeld is om nucleaire wapens te ontwikkelen. Iran heeft dat altijd met klem ontkend en zegt dat het bedoeld is voor louter vreedzame doeleinden. Jarenlange, moeizame onderhandelingen hebben nu een cruciale fase bereikt. Een basisconcept, dat moet leiden tot een definitieve overeenkomst op 30 juni 2015, wordt verwacht einde maart. Iedereen is hoopvol gestemd. Daar hebben ze voldoende redenen voor. Vooral de VS, die na hun talrijke desastreuze militaire campagnes geen nieuwe oorlog zien zitten. Maar ook Iran dat gebukt gaat onder de grootste economische en financiële boycot ooit. Beide partijen hopen op een definitieve uitkomst voor dit conflict. Dat is veel meer dan Israëls Eerste Minister Benjamin Netanyahu kan verdragen.

‘Bibi’ Netanyahu heeft zich laten uitnodigen voor een speech over Iran voor het Amerikaanse Congres op 3 maart e.k.. De uitnodiging kwam van President Obama’s intieme vijand, de Republikeinse voorzitter van het Congres John Boehner, en heeft in zowel de VS als Israël een golf van verontwaardiging veroorzaakt. De critici zeggen dat Netanyahu met de Republikeinen samenwerkt om oppositie te voeren tegen Obama's Iranpolitiek. Boehner deed de uitnodiging in januari zonder eerst het Witte Huis te consulteren, wat door de Democraten wordt gezien als een belediging aan het adres van de President. Obama heeft een ontmoeting met de Israëlische premier afgewezen. Hij verwijst naar het protocol dat verbiedt om wereldleiders te ontmoeten voor verkiezingen (de Israëlische verkiezingen zijn gepland voor 17 maart). De Democraten verwijten de Republikeinen Netanyahu uit te nodigen zonder hen eerst te consulteren. De VS betichten Israël er bovendien van haar positie over de Iraanse nucleaire onderhandelingen te verstoren via selectieve lekken. [i]

Arrogantie

Netanyahu, die het Amerikaanse Congres meermaals heeft gemanipuleerd in het verleden, heeft dus een beladen agenda. Hij moet weer een resem leugens en Zionistische mythes aan de man brengen. Men kan inderdaad in alle veiligheid stellen dat hij een uitvinder van boosaardige dingen is. [ii] Als Zionistisch potentaat stelt hij zich tot doel de nucleaire overeenkomst tussen de VS en Iran te saboteren, en te zeggen dat Tel Aviv, niet Washington, het politieke landschap beheerst. [iii] Hij zal het Congres vertellen dat “het Iraanse regime de vernietiging van Israël nastreeft”. Het lijkt er zelfs op dat hij hoopt op 26 staande ovaties zoals gewoonlijk. Dat zou moeten lukken: niemand rebelleert wanneer de meester praat in het land van de vrijheid. Yossi Sarid, een Israëlisch commentator en oud-politicus, verwoordde het onlangs als volgt in Haaretz:

“Benjamin Netanyahu is vastbesloten de President voor eens en altijd duidelijk te maken wie er echt regeert in Washington, wie de huisbaas is, zowel hier als ginder. ‘Wij, de ouderen van Zion, hebben de touwtjes van het Congres in handen, en de Congresleden zijn slechts marionetten die onze wil uitvoeren. Als ze onze woorden niet begrijpen, zullen ze onze bedreigingen begrijpen. En waar we in het verleden de show van achter de scène runden, doen we het nu openlijk, van midden op het podium.’” [iv]

Natuurlijk zal Netanyahu zijn woorden zorgvuldig moeten kruiden als hij het Congres volledig in het gareel wil krijgen. Hij zal het zeker hebben over de zogenaamde gemeenschappelijke waarden van de VS en Israël, over “democratie” en “vrijheid,” over een “vreedzame” oplossing met de Palestijnen en over Irans nucleair programma. Wat hij hoogstwaarschijnlijk niet bij zich zal hebben is de Tom-and-Jerry-cartoon waarmee hij in een speech voor de VN in 2012 op een gênante manier aandacht vroeg. Hij beweerde toen met grote stelligheid dat Iran nog maar een jaar nodig had om kernwapens te produceren. De afgang was totaal toen, één maand later al, uit een rapport van zijn eigen Israëlische veiligheidsdienst Mossad bleek dat "Iran op dit ogenblik onvoldoende uranium produceert om nucleaire wapens te produceren". Op 23 februari 2015 – meer dan twee jaar later – ontdekten ook de hoofdstroommedia uiteindelijk dit ‘nieuws’. [vi]

Verontwaardiging

Het Witte Huis lijkt niet onder de indruk van Netanyahu’s kinderlijk gedrag. “Sommige dingen doe je gewoonweg niet,” zei een ambtenaar van het Witte Huis, die wijselijk verkoos anoniem te blijven; “Hij spuugde publiekelijk in ons gezicht en zo gedraag je je niet.” [vii]

De Washington Post rapporteerde dat zelfs Fox News “kwaad was” over Netanyahu’s gedrag [viii], “zowel als prominente Israël-vriendelijke commentatoren.” [ix] “Ook velen in Israël zijn niet onder de indruk. Israëlisch oud-president Shimon Peres schold zelfs: ‘Bibi mag speeches maken waar en wanneer hij wil, maar wanneer de president van de VS hem vraagt niet te komen voor verkiezingen, dan moet hij dat respecteren.’” [x]

Israëlisch journalist Tal Schneider verweet Boehner (die Netanyahu uitnodigde) dat “hij zich achter de Likud campagne had geschaard.” In een open brief aan Boehner argumenteerde ze dat Netanyahu een ramp was voor Israël: “Netanyahu wil 90 percent van de tijd over Iran en terreur praten, maar de peilingen in ons klein Zionistisch landje tonen aan dat mensen meer begaan zijn met hoe ze de eindjes aan elkaar zullen knopen op het einde van de maand. Hij beloofde de gewone mensen te helpen, maar hij hield zijn belofte niet, en plaatst dan die speech over Iran op onze publieke agenda, niettegenstaande het feit dat Iraanse deadlines al jarenlang komen en gaan. Wie weet dat beter dan ikzelf? Ik heb me er jaren mee bezig gehouden.” [xi] Ook vicepresident Joe Biden heeft verklaard dat hij belangrijker dingen te doen heeft dan het bijwonen van Netanyahu’s speech. Mogelijk dacht hij:

“Hoe kan die man serieus komen beweren dat hij in vrede met de Palestijnen wil leven, wanneer Israël doorgaat met het vernietigen van Palestijnse huizen en op zijn minst 450 nieuwe illegale woningen wil bouwen?[xii] Denkt hij nu echt dat hij de hele wereld voor de gek kan houden? Heeft hij die honderden rabbijnen niet gehoord die vroegen dat Israël stopte met het vernietigen van Palestijnse woningen?[xiii] Waarom zouden we die kerel niet langer ‘chickenshit’ noemen? Is dat woord geen gepaste beschrijving van wat hij doet?”

Biden, was niet alleen. Veel eminente Democraten zullen verstek geven als Netanyahu op 3 maart komt opdagen.[xiv] Zelfs pro-Israël leiders roepen Netanyahu op zijn speech voor het Congres af te gelasten.[xv] Oud Israëlisch defensieminister en huidig lid van de Knesset, Amir Peretz, zei in een recent gepubliceerd interview door de Israëlische nieuwswebsite al-Monitor dat Netanyahu’s speech de VS-Iran nucleaire overeenkomst niet zou verhinderen, en enkel de relaties met de VS zou schaden. “Obama is zonder twijfel de Amerikaanse president die meer voor de veiligheid van Israël heeft gedaan dan al zijn voorgangers. Het Israëlisch publiek weet dat niet, want er bestaat hier een compleet netwerk dat hem tracht te portretteren als een vijand van Israël.”

Journalist en auteur Gareth Porter schreef op 30 januari: “Er zijn grenzen aan wat een anders kruiperig Congres zal doen voor Netanyahu en Israël. Vele leden zullen niet stemmen voor een maatregel die zonder risico op ongeloofwaardigheid kan gepresenteerd worden als een aansporing tot oorlog. We zullen niettemin een onthullend contrast zien wanneer Netanyahu opnieuw verheerlijkt wordt door het Amerikaanse Congres, terwijl hij thuis onder vuur ligt in zijn verkiezingscampagne voor zijn onhandige en mogelijk dure belediging van de Obama-administratie.”

Ene Dr. Ludwig Watzal zei: “Israëls Eerste Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doet al het mogelijke om de onderhandelingen tussen de VS en Iran te doen falen. Dit was het grootste affront van een Amerikaans president in een serie van ontelbare vernederingen van Amerikaanse topambtenaren. Het toont duidelijk wie er het bevel in handen heeft op Capitol Hill wat het Amerikaanse Midden-Oostenbeleid betreft.” 

Zelfs Abraham Foxman – of all people – Amerika’s hoogst betaalde Israëlische lobbyist, hoofd van de intrusieve Anti-Defamation League, die geen kans onbenut laat om Iran te belasteren met Zionistische fabricaties, heeft Netanyahu gevraagd thuis te blijven, en dit “circus te beëindigen".[xvii] En het Amerikaanse volk zelf lijkt heel sceptisch. In een recente CNN-peiling waren 63 percent van de Amerikanen en 81 percent van de Democraten gekant tegen de beslissing om Netanyahu in het geheim uit te nodigen. [xviii]

Baas is eigen huis?

Toen Mort Klein, de president van de Zionist Organization of America, zich realiseerde dat vele Democraten niet van plan zijn naar Netanyahu te komen luisteren, werd hij kwaad, “Wij zullen de Democraten die niet aanwezig zijn publiekelijk veroordelen als anti-patriottisch en anti-Amerikaans, tenzij ze een doktersattest hebben."[xix]

Matt Brooks, de directeur van de Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), zei in Politico. “Dit is een cruciaal bezoek van de Eerste Minister. Als die Democraten hun partizane politiek laten primeren op principes, en de Eerste Minister van Israël de rug toekeren, dan hebben wij de verplichting dat publiek te maken.” De RJC wordt mede gefinancierd door de casinomagnaat Sheldon Adelson, die tevens een sponsor van Netanyahu is. “We zullen alles spenderen wat nodig is om te verzekeren dat de mensen zich bewust zijn van de feiten. Ofwel scharen ze zich aan de kant van Israël en Eerste Minister Netanyahu in oppositie met een nucleair Iran, ofwel kiezen ze voor partizane belangen en scharen ze zich bij de President.” [xx]  

Niet welkom

Een uitdagende Netanyahu verwierp de kritiek door zijn geplande bezoek te vergelijken met zijn onuitgenodigde bezoek aan Parijs op 11 januari jl. voor een betoging ter ondersteuning van het Charlie Hebdo-magazine. Toen had de Franse President Hollande hem vriendelijk maar uitdrukkelijk gevraagd niet te komen, waarschijnlijk in de zin van “verknal het feest nu niet, dit gaat over vrije meningsuiting (en mijn kelderende populariteitscijfers)”. Maar Bibi kwam toch. Wat Hollande, onmiddellijk na de laatste flitsen van de fotosessie, ontstemd deed weglopen. [xxi]

Het verdict

Philip Giraldi werkte gedurende achttien jaren als CIA top-contraterrorisme officier. Hij weet als geen ander waarover het gaat en vat de toestand in niet mis te verstane termen samen:

“Het volledige verhaal van Iran als een nucleaire bedreiging is fraude, grotendeels uitgevonden in Israël en de VS en gedeeltelijk gebaseerd op gefabriceerde bewijzen. Ik zeg hier helemaal niet dat Iran een vriend is van het Amerikaanse volk, maar dat de kwaadaardigheid schromelijk overdreven wordt door de Israëlische Lobby en haar vrienden.”

“Iran bedreigt de VS op geen enkele manier, en heeft nauwelijks impact op de veiligheid van landen zoals Israël en Saoedi-Arabië, die zich beiden zorgen zouden moeten maken over hun levensvatbaarheid gebaseerd op hun eigen gedrag i.p.v. op een opgeblazen Iraanse dreiging. De realiteit is dat de Amerikaanse regering tweemaal (in 2007 en 2011) heeft bevestigd dat Iran geen nucleaire wapens programma bezit. Zelfs Israëls Mossad beaamt dit.”

“En beide regeringen geven toe dat Tehran niet de essentiële politieke beslissingen heeft genomen om met een dergelijk programma van start te gaan. Iran heeft niet alleen nooit een nucleair wapen ontwikkeld of getest, het heeft nooit zijn uraniumstocks verrijkt tot iets wat ook maar in de buurt van weapons-grade komt. In haar “geheime” site in Fordow en in andere nucleaire sites zijn nu IAEA inspecteurs ter plaatse. De zwaar water reactor in Arak is niet operationeel en vele centrifuges werken niet. De meeste Iraniërs en vele Amerikanen begrijpen dat een onderhandeld akkoord over het programma als alternatief voor een grote regionale oorlog zeer wenselijk is.” [xxii]

Oproep tot gezond verstand

De National Iranian American Council plaatste een paginagrote advertentie in de New York Times om de aandacht te vestigen op de gevaarlijke stunt van Boehner en Netanyahu die de diplomatie met Iran zou kunnen kelderen en een oorlog kan starten.[xxiii] NIAC President Trita Parsi zei hierover:

“De VS en haar nauwste bondgenoten staan op het punt een historische overeenkomst te sluiten die zowel een Iraanse bom als een oorlog met Iran zullen voorkomen, en haviken in het Congres orkestreren politieke stunts met buitenlandse leiders met de bedoeling ze te kelderen. Het Amerikaanse volk wil niet opnieuw een zinloos militair avontuur, en het beschouwt Benjamin Netanyahu zeker niet als hun opperbevelhebber. Het Congres kan zich beter vergewissen dat als het zich laten begoochelen door Netanyahu, het opnieuw de Amerikaanse soldaten zijn die de prijs zullen betalen.”

“In een van de meest kritische veiligheidsdebatten van onze tijd – de beslissing om Irak binnen te vallen – pleitte Netanyahu tijdens een getuigenis voor het Congres in 2002 heel sterk voor de oorlog. Hij zei tegen de wetgevers ‘als je Saddams regime verwijdert, dan garandeer ik je dat dat enorm positieve gevolgen zal hebben in de regio.’ Plaats die uitspraak in contrast met de waarschuwing van Obama die zei dat ‘de invasie enkel de vlammen in het Midden-Oosten zal aanwakkeren.’"

“Na een decade die gemarkeerd wordt door duizenden Amerikaanse slachtoffer, zelfmoordaanslagen, massieve regionale destabilisatie en nu de opkomst van IS, is het duidelijk dat Netanyahu en degenen die lobbyden voor de Irakoorlog zeer slecht geplaatst zijn om het Congres nog verder te adviseren. Er is een gelegenheid om de volgende catastrofale oorlog te stoppen alvorens hij start, en dat gebeurt enkel wanneer diplomatie de kans krijgt te slagen.” [xxv]

Parsi besluit: “Terwijl de VS en haar partners tijdens de komende weken een deal met Iran kunnen bewerkstelligen, zullen dezelfde mensen die beloofden dat een oorlog met Irak een fluitje van een cent zou zijn, aan de Amerikanen komen zeggen dat we een akkoord met Iran moeten verwerpen, en dan maar moeten gokken op een nieuwe oorlog. Het feit dat het Congres Netanyahu een platform biedt om deze boodschap te verkondigen is een zeer zorgwekkend teken. Maar ik denk dat de meerderheid van de Amerikanen actie zullen ondernemen om te verzekeren dat we deze historische kans grijpen en de grote fouten van het verleden vermijden.” [xxiv]

Laat ons hopen dat de rede zal zegevieren.

[i] http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/18/us-usa-iran-whitehouse-idUSKBN0LM1ZH20150218

 http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.643133

[ii] https://consortiumnews.com/2014/03/05/netanyahu-shape-shifts-iran-reality/

Lees bijvoorbeeld ook Akiva Eldar, “Netanyahu’s Speech of Lies,” Haaretz, 26 september 2011; John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy (New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2007); John J. Mearsheimer, Why Leaders Lie: The Truth About Lying in International Politics (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011)

[iii] Stuart Winer, “Netanyahu Vows to Scuttle World Powers’ Iran Deal,” Times of Israel, 8 februari 2015.

[iv] Yossi Sarid, “Beware: Republican Jews on the Warpath,” Haaretz, 8 februari 2015.http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.641334

[vi] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31596640http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/buitenland/1.1441672

[vii] Quote in Ishaan Tharor, “Netanyahu’s Congress speech stirs growing backlash in Israel and the U.S.,” Washington Post, 30 januari 2015.

[viii] http://www.vox.com/2015/1/24/7884311/netanyahu-boehner-fox-news

[ix] http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/01/Netanyahu-vs-Obama-on-Iran/384849/

[x] http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Peres-on-Netanyahu-speech-When-the-US-president-tells-you-not-to-come-to-US-you-dont-go-389415

[xi] http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/1108/Imminent-Iran-nuclear-threat-A-timeline-of-warnings-since-1979/Israel-s-one-year-timeframe-disproved-2010-11

 Scott Peterson, Imminent Iran Nuclear Threat? A Time of Warning Since 1979,” Christian Science Monitor, 8 november 2011.

http://opiniojuris.org/2013/01/28/yet-another-estimate-of-when-iran-will-have-the-bomb/

[xii]Jon Stone, “US Government Says Israel Plans for 450 New Illegal Settlement Homes Will ‘Inflame Tensions,’” The Independent, 7 februari 2015.

[xiii] Lizzie Dearden, “Hundreds of Rabbis from Around the World Call on Israel to Halt Demolition of Palestinian Homes,” The Independent, 7 februari 2015

[xiv] Doug Mataconis, “Why Democrats may boycott Netanyahu’s speech to Congress,” Christian Science Monitor, 6 februari 2015.

[xv] “Israeli Opposition Calls On Netanyahu To Cancel Congress Speech,” Huffington Post, 7 februari 2015.

[xvii] Nathan Guttman, “Abe Foxman Calls on Benjamin Netanyahu to Scrap Speech to GOP Congress,” Jewish Daily Forward, 6 februari 2015

[xviii] http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/17/politics/poll-netanyahu-speech-opposition/index.html

[xix] Yossi Sarid, “Beware: Republican Jews on the Warpath,” Haaretz, 8 februari 2015

[xx] JPost.com 7 februari 2015

[xxi] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11339483/Benjamin-Netanyahu-ridiculed-over-appearance-at-Paris-solidarity-march.html

[xxii]http://www.veteransnewsnow.com/author/giraldi/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkxuC0phFck

 http://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/waving-the-false-flag/

[xxiii] http://www.niacouncil.org/niac-runs-full-page-ny-times-ad-netanyahu-visit/

[xxiv] http://www.niacouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NIAC-NYT-Ad-full.png

[xxv] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-costello/netanyahus-dangerous-iran_b_6723926.html

Bron : http://www.dewereldmorgen.be/blog/didier/2015/02/26/bibi-versus-de-vs-voor-sommigen-is-er-nooit-genoeg-oorlog