OPEN FORUMS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM and HONORING OUR HEROES

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I visit a forum sometimes. I go there, because I want to feel connected. There are times, I stay away. There are times, I feel hurt. There are times I shouldn't be there, because I certainly should be doing some other important thing. Really, every minute there, is a minute away from what I really want to do and that is doing something creative. So why do I go there? Well, I have this strong feeling toward Heath Ledger and I want to find ways to feel closer to him, albeit he is living on another plane right now.

At youtube, there are times, I simply don't comment, though I feel a pull to do so. But I feel the best way to handle the meaner comments is by simply not engaging the person at all. Why would I want to fight with a complete stranger? I have no idea how mentally stable the person might be. And some people just want to pick a fight, be mean, or complain. I don't like to quarrel in "real life", so I am not going to quarrel online where winning means so very little.

As for forums, I only go to three forums at the current time. Two for Rafael Nadal and one for Heath Ledger.

Recently there has been a subject of Heath's funeral that has caused some discussion about "freedom of speech" and "being protective of those who feel vulnerable regarding Heath's death".

I will offer my opinion that I have for the moderator's decision that was to simply move the comment in question to a "members only" section at the forum. The comment was not deleted, but moved to protect any family or friends of Heath that may find it too raw of a subject should they drop in to read.

Here is my opinion about the discussion of how to deal with the sensitive question of a possible open casket on the open forum versus sensitivity toward those who may need some "emotional shelter".

I choose not to join discussions that I am not comfortable with online. There are times that I simply choose to stay away until I can handle my emotions. Especially online. Real life is different. But online, I come here to garnish the good and as an escape from what real life is throwing at me. So online, I stay away from any conflicting situations. It is just how I choose to deal. I am an activist to prevent and end genocide and have been since 2004 and I stand up a lot with my voice and actions regarding that. And I have strong feelings about a lot of issues. Human rights, especially female rights, neglected and abused children, foster children....you get the picture.

The moderator's job is a difficult position. And they get paid nothing. You can't please everyone. There is no 100% win-win here. But what was chosen was what the moderator thought was best. And that is all we can ask of the moderator.


Personally, I side with "emotional shelter" on this one. Of course free speech is king, except when it isn't and in this case for me, it isn't. And besides, the comment wasn't forbidden....only moved to a "better" place for all considered, in my humble opinion. While not judging who raised the question, for me being human means we honor those we love by honoring those they loved. And all at the forum I gather "love" Heath ~ if only in our own limited capacities. And we know family was important to him. I wonder a lot of things, for example about Heath and Michelle, but I have to let it go. I will never know the answers to questions that I have and Heath was clear. Privacy was crucially important to him. So to remember that ~ is a way to love him and honor him as well as those who love him in ways we can only tiptoe close to.

So, I say truck on to the moderator. You're doing a wonderful job. And you deserve to know that. I offer my vote of confidence.

Sandra Hammel
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
USA
Heath's One Time Home - Planet Earth

I heard this singer/songwriter, last month here in my hometown, sing this song and for me this one song was worth the price of the ticket:

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Susan Werner sings her song ~ May I Suggest
Uploaded by rockstarwrangler

May I suggest
May I suggest to you
May I suggest this is the best part of your life
May I suggest
This time is blessed for you
This time is blessed and shining almost blinding bright
Just turn your head
And you'll begin to see
The thousand reasons that were just beyond your sight
The reasons why
Why I suggest to you
Why I suggest this is the best part of your life

There is a world
That's been addressed to you
Addressed to you, intended only for your eyes
It's a secret world
Like a treasure chest to you
Of private scenes and brilliant dreams that mesmerize
A tender lover's smile
A tiny baby's hands
The million stars that fill the turning sky at night
And I suggest
Yes, I suggest to you
Yes, I suggest this is the best part of your life

There is a hope
That's been expressed in you
The hope of seven generations, maybe more
And this is the faith
That they invest in you
It's that you'll do one better than was done before
Inside you know
Inside you understand
Inside you know what's yours to finally set right
And I suggest
And I suggest to you
And I suggest this is the best part of your life

This is a song
Comes from the west to you
Comes from the west, comes from the slowly setting sun
This is a song
With a request of you
To see how very short the endless days will run
And when they're gone
And when the dark descends
Oh we'd give anything for one more hour of light

And I suggest this is the best part of your life

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Home

By Jonathan Hammel

There once was a place,

between the crack of dawn and the twilight of sunsets.

The place that flowed peacefully among the lilac bushes
The place where the morning dews

slipped from their high perches on the grass
The place where we begin the talk of all

The place scented with the sweet smell of the morning air
The place scented with the sweet need of sleep at night
The place where all becomes one and one becomes all

Silence is the only respectable reaction to there
Absorb the sunset, the dawn and the life that makes this place breathe
Breathe in the scent of the morning and the green of the evening.

Though I found my son's poem on his Facebook this past week, he told me today he wrote this a few years ago, when he was in high school. He gave me his "okay" that I could post it here.

URGE PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA TO MAKE DARFUR A PRIORITY ON DAY ONE

THEY'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE 2003

Urge the next U.S. President to make Darfur a day one priority

When they were Presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama pledged "unstinting resolve" in pursuing an end to the Darfur genocide.

Be a voice for Darfur. Join one million people declaring with one voice: President-elect Obama must make Darfur a Day One priority.

To help reach the goal of one million postcards, sign the online postcard or order yours today for FREE by simply filling out and submitting the order form below. They will ship them to your door!

Collect signed postcards and simply mail them back to the return address on the postcards and they will be added to the number that will be presented to the new president.

CLICK TO ORDER OR SIGN THE ONLINE POSTCARD

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On December 3rd, people around the world will ask their friends and families to join them for STANDFast - an event that asks you to fast from one luxury item, like coffee or your morning newspaper, and donate the money that you would have spent on that item to protecting civilians in Darfur and Burma.

The money you donate supports GI-NET's Civilian Protection projects in Darfur and Burma, which provide much-needed protection to people living in fear of violence and attack.

On December 3^rd, we're asking you to STANDFast with us against genocide.

Over the past three years, GI-NET members have raised more than $500,000 for civilian protection in Darfur. This year, we plan to raise even more and expand our protection efforts to those in Eastern Burma as well. Please join us this December to STANDFast against genocide and mass atrocities taking place in these areas and around the globe. You can make a difference!

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Contact your U.S. Senator - Contact information

Contact your U.S. Representative - Contact information

Learn Your Congresspersons' grades on Darfur: www.darfurscores.org

Senator John McCain's Grade: C
President-elect Barack Obama's Grade: A+

Contact President-elect Obama - Contact information

1-800-GENOCIDE

Call President Bush at 201-456-1111

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I believe that when we are told we have to sell our souls to save our souls that something is drastically wrong. That is what we were expected to do under the outgoing administration. We need to get a grip. We need to get our noses into our government and change some things. In the movie Amazing Grace, William Wilberforce says to Thomas Clarkson, "you must never speak of revolution in my presence ever again." But Clarkson calls Wilberforce on this very issue of revolution.


Thomas Jefferson said: "Every generation needs a new revolution." And I think we have allowed our government to flail without our oversight for far too long and need a revolution within our nation. But first we must be informed. "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." Again, Thomas Jefferson.

Do Something to Use Your Freedom of Speech
To Stand Up and Stand Out Against Genocide
Don’t Be Complicit
Don’t Choose Silence
Don’t Choose Apathy
Don’t Choose Ignorance
Be Proactive
Be Alive
Be Aware
Be Present
Do Something To Tell Your Leaders To Lead
In This Human Disaster of Genocide
If Not You, Then Who?

The Genocide is Five Years, 8 months old
The Holocaust Went On For Twelve Years
…Before We the People’s Government Did Something Right
…Does That Mean We Are Going to Wait 6 More Years
Until We Decide Darfuri Families
Have Suffered Enough On Our Watch?!

Freedom of Speech means
nothing
if you don’t use it.

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“…unless we all have plenty
one of us will become a thief and the thief will make you angry
you will hurt him

this will hurt his children
they will punish you
this will hurt your children
they will punish his children
and that’s how it begins

to believe in man is to know
peace will not work if just one man alive
is unjust
if one man alive
is ignorant
or hungry
or crazy
or ashamed
FOR we have seen if only one of us
decides to pull the plug, the millions of us can kiss
the world good-bye
whether we like it or not.”

From Joseph Pintauro’s little book To Believe in Man
Illustrated by Sister Corita Kent

"The strong can not expect the weak to placate
them and call it healing." Sandra Hammel

Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams. From H. Jackson Brown, Jr.’s
Life’s Little Instructon Book. Volume 2

“We are All the Keepers of Justice.

Or not.”

Sandra Hammel

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Amazing Grace - the movie - The Voice of the People scene
Not the scene I was looking for, but still...
Uploaded by Flowbee79


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