Gene's Blog

So who are we looking for again?

I was under the impression that given the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and the situation in Pakistan, and, then too, the nasty video tape Osama gave the world as his Christmas gift last week, that it was still him our illustrious president was trying to find. But I saw in the paper a couple days ago that the FBI has its sites set on an entirely different target as they published updated photo’s of what D.B. Cooper, who jumped out of an airplane in 1971 (and whom I am quite sure has been dead ever since) would possibly look like today. I mean I am glad they have the time and manpower to stick with it like that. Osama? Nah, D.B. Cooper, THAT’s the guy we want. I wonder sometimes if there is enough brainpower in this entire administration to light a 40 watt bulb. Actually, I don’t wonder, I am pretty sure there isn’t.

So, here’s a free tip. Let’s forget about D.B. Cooper. He got away, or he didn’t, but that $200,000 has never been found and it isn’t going to be. We’ve spent a trillion and a half dollars in Iraq. Could we get a little perspective going here? Let’s find Osama, commit resources to THAT little task, put him on trial and get this whole Al-Qaeda thing behind us. Just a thought.

And, because, there is this lingering sadness which I know is going to last through the 11th of February, experience has taught me, I’m just going to reproduce a gem from Steve Goodier today. The advice is quite good. If we tried it, we might even find Osama. It isn’t rocket science that is needed, it is love, loving enough to learn another’s language, even if that language isn’t words. much love, :^) gene

LEARN TO SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE

A woman was explaining her theory of putting her children to bed: “I
never tell bedtime stories that begin with ‘Once upon a time,'” she
said. “If I really want to put them to sleep, I start off with, ‘Now,
when I was your age…'” It’s nice to understand people so well that
we know just what to say! Here is a mother who could speak her
children’s language.

The story is told of the most famous elephant in the world — a huge,
beautiful and gentle beast named Bozo. Children extended open palms
filled with peanuts for the Indian elephant, who gently plucked them
from little hands and seemed to smile as he ate his treats.

But one day, for some inexplicable reason, Bozo changed. He almost
stampeded the man who cleaned his cage. He charged children at the
circus and became incorrigible. His owner knew he would have to
destroy the once-gentle giant.

In order to raise money for a new elephant, the circus owner held a
cruel exhibition. He sold tickets to witness Bozo’s execution and, on
the appointed day, his arena was packed. Three men with high-powered
rifles rose to take aim at the great beast’s head.

Just before the signal was given to shoot, a little, stubby man in a
brown hat stepped out of the crowd and said to the elephant’s owner,
“Sir, this is not necessary. Bozo is not a bad elephant.”

“But he is,” the man argued. “We must kill him before he kills
someone.”

“Sir, give me two minutes alone in his cage,” the visitor pleaded,
“and I’ll prove to you that you are wrong. He is not a bad elephant.”

After a few more moments of discussion (and a written statement
absolving the circus of liability if the man should be injured), the
keeper finally agreed to allow the man inside Bozo’s cage. The
man removed his brown derby and entered the cage of the bellowing and
trumpeting beast.

Before the elephant could charge, the man began to speak to him. Bozo
seemed to immediately quiet down upon hearing the man’s words. Nearby
spectators could also hear the man, but they could not understand him,
for he spoke a foreign language. Soon the great animal began to
tremble, whine and throw his head about. Then the stranger walked up
to Bozo and stroked his trunk. The great elephant tenderly wrapped his
trunk around the man, lifted him up and carried him around his cage
before carefully depositing him back at the door. Everyone applauded.

As the cage door closed behind him, the man said to Bozo’s keeper,
“You see, he is a good elephant. His problem is that he is an Indian
elephant and understands one language.” He explained that Bozo was
frustrated and confused. He needed someone who could speak his
language. “I suggest, sir, that you find someone in London to come in
occasionally and talk to the elephant. If you do, you’ll have no
problems.”

The man picked up his brown derby and walked away. It was at that time
that the circus owner looked carefully at the signature on the paper
he held in his hand — the note absolving the circus of responsibility
in the case he was injured inside the elephant’s cage. The statement
was signed by Rudyard Kipling.

People also become frustrated and angry when they are not understood.
But great relationships are formed by parents who learn to speak their
children’s language; lovers who speak each other’s language;
professionals who speak the language of their staff and clients. When
people understand that YOU understand, that you empathize with their
heartaches and understand their problems, then you are speaking their
language! It is the beginning of true communication.

— Steve Goodier