Do Unto Others
Changing Our World
My post today originally had at it’s heart a speech given by Michael Hoffman, Chairman and CEO of Changing Our World, Inc.. This is a fantastic organization dedicated to providing philanthropic services, worldwide, to a variety of organizations. Mr. Hoffman gave the commencement speech at Molloy College’s 2009 Graduation.
Treat Others The Way We Want to be Treated
There were three principals that he spoke of as goals for his audience. I choose to concentrate on the first one, and hope I can do some justice to it, because at the date of this post, it coincides with President Obama’s paramount speech in Cairo to the Muslim world. Both speeches hold as their foundational truth that we must always, respect and treat others the way we want to be treated. This central principal is highlighted and mentioned by both speakers.
Our Collective Faith
Both speeches are religious in nature, calling on the common areas of our collective faith to understand each other, respect each other, and treat each other well. Hoffman turns to the world religions and finds the centrality of how each of us should treat the other in Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. President Obama speaks of the freedom of religion and how faith can bring us all together.
Our Responsibility
Both men acknowledge that it is our responsibility, in the face of those who would divide or those who are skeptical to make a difference in the world and make it a better place for our children. Michael Hoffman closes with this line, “…make a significant impact in making a difference in the world and make our world a more beautiful and peaceful place.” President Obama closes, “The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God’s vision. Now, that must be our work on Earth…”
Begin Today
Let us all begin today, this moment.
June 28th, 2009 at 3:35 am
Of course one of the things that keeps folks going during tough times is HUMOR!!! Some of us can never get enough of it. Jeff, this is for all those literary folks out there….ready?
Charles Dickens walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a martini. Bartender looks at his new customer and says, “Sure…olive or twist?”
And now for those who enjoy classical music:
When he was young, why couldn’t Mozart find his music teacher?
Answer: Because he was Hayden!!
Good luck to all job seekers. Never give up! And find new things to laugh about–they are everywhere!