Love In An Elevator

[omega minimo]

“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake . . . by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of humans to elevate their lives by a conscious endeavor.” --Henry David Thoreau


Elevate Yourself

The level of public discourse has become so fractious, so toxic, so WWF bordering on WWIII, that we forget there was ever any other way. We’ve grown so accustomed to the animated onslaught of 24/7 screamfests passing for news, that the adversarial stance becomes a way of life.

“Banality is a symptom of non-communication. Men hide behind their cliches.” --Eugene Ionesco


Yet most of our leaders and heroes know how to string a sentence together and do more than play dueling soundbites. Their words inspire us, from the past and into the future.

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident...”

“Ask not what your country can do for you...”

“Heh. Heheh. Heh. Mexed missages. War on Terra... Heh. Heheh...”

“Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together.” --Eugene Ionesco


The dumbing-down and road-raging up of American life has people running scared and acting tough, fighting just to fight. Even so, words of wisdom of the ages still inspire us and elevate our spirits.

So how did “elevate yourself” become an insult? “You’re trying to elevate yourself...” When did we become so disempowered that “elevating ourselves” became a foreign concept?

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” --James Madison


All of the messages that inspire us call on us to elevate ourselves, elevate each other, elevate our common life. Their words are alive, their vision is a legacy that calls on us to participate, not collapse under the weight of our fears.

“Man cannot degrade woman without himself falling into degradation; he cannot elevate her without at the same time elevating himself.” --Alexander Walker


There is no shame in elevating the level of discourse or refusing to get suckered into the trashtalk level of reverse-logic political bullies. The shame is in letting them get us to think we are fighting them with their own propagandized dirty tricks, when all we are doing is playing right into their plan to keep us down.

They defecate. We elevate.


“I have a Dream...”

[Forkboy]

1. Thoreau? Like I care about anything that tree hugging hippie has to say.

Here's a real quote from a real man.

"Bring 'em on!"

Save your tripe,you democRAT!

[karlrschneider]

2. You make me want to

:smoke: :silly: :spank: :wow: :loveya:

[Forkboy]

4. Imagine my poor parents.

:D

[omega minimo]

5. What was today's?

"And they know that I will veto that which I (King George) have deemed unacceptable" (even though the American people and their representatives have voted for this............)


Hey -- Bradblog says "the wheels are comin' off." So much for "mexed missages."


:yourock:

[IChing]

9. When I was little, my grandfather used to make

me stand in a closet for five minutes without moving.
He said it was elevator practice.

[omega minimo]

10. oh my

that's intense.

have you written a book?

[IChing]

12. Only when I'm in my right mind

other than that
my left mind is pretty crowded.


I wrote a few children's books..but not on purpose.

My grandfather gave me a watch. It doesn't have any hands or numbers. He says
it's very accurate. I asked him what time it was.

You can guess what he told
me

[omega minimo]

14. "Now"!?!!!!

"My grandfather gave me a watch. It doesn't have any hands or numbers. He says it's very accurate. I asked him what time it was."


He sounds like a surreally interesting person.

[Swamp Rat]

17. "I wrote a few children's books..but not on purpose."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[omega minimo]

20. Mebbe

you've illustrated a few children's books... but not on purpose? :evilgrin:








:rofl: :bounce:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. Oh This Is Soooooo January 26th LOL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=43883

:)

[omega minimo]

6. Dude, like I already tole you

GET A NEW OBSESSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. Get A Grip There Huh? This Is Like, My First Reply To An OP Of Yours In What, Months Now? ROFL

:rofl:

I think you need to refresh yourself on the definition of obsession. Try not to take yourself so seriously. Jesus LOL

[omega minimo]

8. No More Vocabulary Words For YOU!!!!!!1111

:puke:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

11. Oh Ya Don't Have To Get All Angry Just Because I Lightheartedly Pointed Out That You

rehashed an OP from 4 months ago that no one really responded to then either. I mean for real, don't take yourself so seriously. It was just a joke that doesn't require such animosity. Humor is good!

:)

See Ya!

[omega minimo]

13. So you're obsession is "lighthearted"

:scared:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. ......

:boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring:

[omega minimo]

16. Elevate yourself

[hfojvt]

18. the bullies always think they are funning around when they harrass others

Well, at least THEY are having fun, why can't everyone else?

It was a good and uplifting OP. Here's another quote from ET (Emerson or Thoreau, I can't remember which). "People will lie on their backs and talk about the fall of man, and never make an effort to get up."

[omega minimo]

19. LOL

Thanks hfojvt :spray:

Definitely sigline-worthy:

"People will lie on their backs and talk about the fall of man, and never make an effort to get up."

Sounds like a sign of that "quiet desperation" Thoreau referred to..............


The bully is correct-- the OP is recycled. I opened it last night at random, thought it pretty good, resonating differently these months later (although OCD had to tell me the Exact Date!!!!11).......

After Air America, I've gotten used to listening to radio at work and then the progressive stations got all reshuffled. Now in the morning, instead of Thom Hartmann, we've got Ed Shouts. Which has driven me to listen to Rush Limbaugh some (where I NEVER did before). How's that for irony?

Limbaugh's particular brand of insane Doublethink is crafted incredibly well. That's what's interesting to listen to -- how he spins the Big Lie as smoothly as he does.

FWIW, opening a file and finding those quotes offered an antidote to the toxic messages we are submerged in. That is, if anyone wants to "make an effort to get up."

:hi: :hug:

[Swamp Rat]

21. I am glad you reposted this.

Elevate Yourself! :D

[omega minimo]

22. High!

:hi:


That is SO cool! :hug: :toast:

[Swamp Rat]

23. as a kite!

and some UFOS. :D



:kick: