Conservative Leaders Demand Compensation For IRS Discrimination Against Tea Party

Conservative Leaders Demand Compensation For IRS Discrimination Against Tea Party (via PR Newswire)

"Through their illegal and unconstitutional acts for all intents and purposes these IRS employees stole from the targeted organizations, and what the government stole it must return and make the parties whole." - Excerpt from conservative leaders' letter to the House and Senate Republican Conferences…

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Happy Memorial Day Weekend

President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush Welcomed Guests for a Special Screening of SnagFilms' HONOR FLIGHT (via PR Newswire)

WWII Veterans, Filmmakers and Secret Service Members Among Those Who Came Out For a Private Viewing in Celebration of Memorial Day Download image President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush hosted a screening of SnagFilms Honor Flight on Thursday, May 23rd. Photographed with President Bush are…

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Agree to disagree: Respect Diversity

"Just because others think differently about an issue than we do ourselves, does that mean they're right and we're wrong or vice versa?

I believe that we all are different and in many ways we each operate in our own reality. No one sees the world the same way as I do and the reason for that is that no one shares my own unique perspective on life and the world around me. Due to each persons own perspective I cannot expect other people to ever completely see things in the same way as I do. I have to accept this as fact and once I do that then I am better able to understand others and learn from them.

I shouldn't ever waste my time trying to make others see things the way I do. It isn't productive to argue with someone because they see something different then I do. I need to agree to disagree and respect their right to have a different opinion. I try to learn from the person and take note of what they feel about an issue and see if there is something I can learn from it. I've accepted that no one will be exactly like me, no one will think exactly like I think and no one will always agree completely with me. I wouldn't want to live in a world like that anyway. It would be so boring to live where no one had their own individual personality and thoughts. This is a diverse world and if we respect each other and look for the good in everyone then no matter how different we all are and how different we all think, we can always come together and be of support to one another.

This is who I am

We all go through trials in our life. Different people go through different sort of trials but they challenge us as a person all the same. A person may be going through financial difficulties, a divorce, legal problems, family fights, even life challenging illnesses. When we are faced with something of this type we often begin to allow that situation to define us as a person. It is at our lowest point when someone or something is standing outside of ourselves and telling us, we owe them, they want a divorce, you have a disease, etc, it is at that moment that we need to get very still and focus inside of ourselves and decide right then...No this is who I am! Define ourselves with a focus on the real person we are. Don't allow anyone or anything make you into something you aren't. When you are facing challenges, attacks from others, illnesses or any tough situation choose to look within yourself. You know who you are better than anyone else. You know how to get through whatever the challenge is. Just search your heart, your soul and reach out to others for support. True friends will be there because they love you just as you are.

- Posted by Sherry Lucas using BlogPress for iPad.

How does your spirit grow?.

The nursery rhyme goes "how does your garden grow" Some people have a "green thumb" a natural ability to grow beautiful plants with such ease. Other people can't get anything to grow and resort to decorating with artificial plants to avoid killing anymore of their investments.

This thought can also be applied to some degree when you pose the question "how does your spirit grow." There are people who easily recognize what is needed to grow their spirit so that it becomes a productive and useful part of their soul.

The first step in growing your spirit is acknowledging it and learning to respect it. Then the person must nurture it, and watch it grow and rely on it to get through what ever life throws at them. Through such reliance they better cope emotionally with daily struggles and any serious or tragic events in their life. They may for a short term lose this vision but they are easily able to get back on course.

Then there are people who become accustomed to ignoring their spirit for a variety of reasons and thrust themselves into the darkness of a life with no direction. Some of these people have been hit so hard by the realities of their life that they've lost their vision into their spirit. It can be a real struggle for some to regain their vision and get their life back on a positive path. Sadly some of these people due to their inability to acknowledge their spirit never are able to really know their inner self, their inner strengths and what they can do and deal with if they only look within their soul and feed their inner spirit. They then often resort to using artificial emotions to cope with their life, their struggles and adversities. They form these emotions as a coping mechanism because they are out of touch with their spirit which in turn puts them out of touch with their true emotions.

When we reference the term "spirit" different perceptions come to mind. Some of a religious nature but for the sake of this writing I'm speaking about the spirit we all have inside us. This spirit is what ushers us through the years on earth that we call Life. To only name a few? a person can have a mild and meek spirit, an adventuress, risk taking spirit, a courageous 'go gettin' spirit, a fighting spirit and once and a while you'll come across someone that has a spirit that will change the world or at least the world of those around them.

Does a person's spirit come naturally? Sometimes this is true, but there are also people whose spirit is shaped in large part by experiences they are forced by life to endure. How they react to situations in their life can and will shape them into the person they become. I've known people who were meek and mild mannered but once their life hit a hurdle or a bump in the road they became bitter and abandoned their spirit and looked only at the pain. I've known people who were angry and hateful but when faced with adversity their spirit softened and the person became nurturing, compassionate and a caring individual. In both of these cases they were sadly hit by unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances but one example looked at the pain while the other looked into their spirit and saw the true meaning of life.


So how do we grow our spirit? By looking at the wonders of our life and of the world we are so fortunate to be in. Looking at the good more than the bad, addressing the happy more than the sad. Realizing the blessings that life has given us and when all is said and done we see that there is more to this life on earth. Once we realize this then the spirit inside of us takes over and will comfort us, inspire us and most of all give us the strength and wisdom to face whatever life presents us.

Porch Philosophy Daily News for May 15, 2013

Read Porch Philosophy Daily News for May 15, 2013 on http://paper.li/PorchPhilosophy/1364356205


- Posted by Sherry Lucas using BlogPress for iPad.

What Is A True Friend?

Webster's dictionary defines friendship as a relationship where one knows, likes, admires and trusts another or where one is allied with another in a cause, or where one is a supporter of a group or a movement. I define friendship as a relationship between two people based on mutual respect, affection and admiration.

"The only way to have a true friend is to be one." How can we find true friendship in this often phony, temporary world? Friendship involves recognition or familiarity with another personality. Friends often share likes and dislikes, interests, pursuits, and passion.

How can we recognize potential friendship? Signs include a mutual desire for companionship and perhaps a common bond of some kind. Beyond that, genuine friendship involves a shared sense of caring and concern, a desire to see one another grow and develop, and a hope for each other to succeed in all aspects of life.

True friendship involves action: doing something for someone else while expecting nothing in return; sharing thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or negative criticism.

True friendship involves relationship. Those mutual attributes we mentioned above become the foundation in which recognition transpires into relationship. Many people say, "Oh, he's a good friend of mine," yet they never take time to spend time with that "good friend."

Friendship takes time: time to get to know each other, time to build shared memories, time to invest in each others growth.Trust is essential to true friendship. We all need someone with whom we can share our lives, thoughts, feelings, and frustrations.We need to be able to share our deepest secrets with someone, without worrying that those secrets will end up known by others the next day! Failing to be trustworthy with those intimate secrets can destroy a friendship in a hurry.

Faithfulness and loyalty are key to true friendship. Without them, we often feel betrayed, left out, and lonely. In true friendship, there is no backbiting, no negative thoughts, no turning away. Loyalty is also essential to true friendship.

The famous maxim that "a friend in need is a friend indeed" is not the entire story of loyalty, however. A friend in triumph may be even harder to find. Isn't it easier to be a savior than a cheerleader for our friends?

It takes twenty-four-karat loyalty for a friend to soar alongside us when we are flying high rather than to bring us down to earth. Loyal friends not only lend a hand when you're in need; they applaud your successes and cheer you on without envy or jealousy when you prosper.

Real friends encourage one another and forgive one another where there has been an offense. Genuine friendship supports during times of struggle. Friends are dependable. In true friendship, unconditional love develops. We love our friends no matter what and we always want the best for our friends.

Real and true friendship involves freedom of choice, accountability, honesty, and dedication. Real friendship looks at the heart, not just the "packaging." Genuine friendship loves for love's sake, not for what it can get in return. True friendship is both challenging and exciting. It risks, it overlooks faults, and it loves unconditionally, but it also involves being truthful, even though it may hurt.

Honesty is a prerequisite to the true friends' relationship. It requires honesty that is carefully dealt in the context of respect. Dedication refers to the ability of two people to influence each others plans, thoughts, actions, and emotions, to spend time and effort on friendship, to give up something important or valuable for sake of friendship. Personal sacrifice. Selfless devotion. Commitment. These are the noble qualities true friendship requires.]

A true friend makes no excuses of having work or appointments or anything but will be with you whenever you need him/her. In your hour of desperation, a true friend will support you even if the whole world opposes you.

A true friend is not an opportunist. Instead of having hundreds of good friends, if you have one true friend, treat yourself lucky. If you can also become a true friend of someone, you will be blessed, because it is much easier for all of us to expect but very difficult to give.

Be a true friend yourself first.