International Day of Compassion

Margie: Edna, I want to share this definition of compassion with you and our friends.

Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

I thought about what compassion means to me and it means that I not only feel the pain of people I love but I would gladly suffer that pain for them.

It means getting a dog or cat from a shelter and giving them a good home.

It also means treating an elder like I was treated at Wal-Mart last night. A sweet young man ran around the store getting items for me because I got plumb tuckered out.

Plus, Edna, compassion is what I gave that young man by hugging him & kissing his cheek. I knew he wanted me to do that.

What does compassion mean to you, sister?

Edna:  Margie, with the world the way it is today, I think that little acts of compassion can go a very long way.  Compassion doesn't have to be a large-scale gesture to be effective.  It can be a smile from a stranger, a simple kindness, a helping hand where one wasn't expected, or someone who sees you're in pain and they offer to help.  Compassion is something that takes you outside of yourself and into the heart of someone else.  There's too little of it in the world today, but you can surely find it if you look hard enough.

Margie: I didn't know she had that in her.


On May 15, 2011 Bloggers and other social media participants will blog about the importance of Compassion.

Bloggers Unite: World Gratitude Day

Margie: Edna, today is World Gratitude Day. Instead of your usual complaining why not tell about your gratitude?

For instance, I'm grateful that we have our friend, Crystal. I would like to thank her for listening to me rant about you.

Edna: I'm grateful for the self-control that prevents me from slipping alum in your oatmeal every morning.

I'm also grateful for my health. I can see, hear, and walk, and that's a daily blessing.

Margie: Well, you sure don't do any of those things well. I'm also grateful that we had no other siblings. Thank you, Mama and Daddy, for only inflicting this one moron upon me.

Of course, I'm very grateful for Cousin T. I don't know what we'd do without that boy.

Edna: I'm grateful for Cousin T, too. He's got a patient nature and a generous soul.

I'm also grateful that I'm not as mean as you are, Margie. The good Lord saw fit to give me a kind and sweet personality, everyone says so.

Margie: Edna, the good Lord gave you a lying liar nature. The only sweet about you is your sweet tooth.

I'm also grateful for Mr. Hershey. My word, what if he hadn't discovered chocolate?

Edna: Oh Lord. First of all, Mr. Hershey didn't discover chocolate, you ninny. Second of all, if YOU hadn't discovered Hershey's Kisses, maybe you'd still have all of your original teeth instead of those clickety-clack dentures.

I'm grateful for having my own room with a door that shuts and locks.

Margie: I'm glad my hearing aid has an off switch!

It's World Gratitude Day:  Simply show someone what you are grateful for. Thank your family, friends, teacher, church, mentor, coach, boss, or heroes. 

Veterans Day 2009

Margie: This Veterans Day has given me a new thought about our veterans. I watched the Fort Hood Memorial yesterday and realized how the life of one veteran affects so many others. I guess I just hadn't looked at it in quite that way before.

I saw the spouses who have to go it alone now, the parents who have suffered the loss of a child, the children who will miss growing up with one parent, and all the brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins, and friends who mourn.

I mourn with all of you and I am grateful for all those who serve our country now, then, and in the years to come.

Edna: Margie, you're so right. I'd also like to add my words of thanks and support to all our veterans and their families.

We found a lovely poem that we'd like to share with all of our readers today. The words of this poet so closely mirror our own feelings. Please read it and think of the veterans you know, and those you don't know, who put themselves in harm's way for all of us.

Remember
by Brittany Vigoreaux

American soldiers sacrifice so much,
All for the freedom of our country.
Leaving their families and heading off to war,
Not knowing what the future holds.

Working day and night
Determined to stay strong.
Watching friends be killed every day
Letters from home inspiring them to keep fighting

So little is given to them
Although there is little to do,
For those who have died in war
We can still remember

Remember all the men who have died.
Remember all the battles fought
Remember all the tears families cried
Remember it was freedom the soldiers brought

To this very day soldiers are under-appreciated
Veterans Day is the day
For the dead, living, and fighting soldiers
To be remembered

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you'd like to find out more about contributing to nonprofit organizations that support United States Veterans, please go to the Bloggers Unite Veterans Day: Who Will Stand website for a list of links to various organizations.

As a special thanks to our American Veterans, there are free food offers for soldiers at both Applebee's and Outback Steakhouse restaurants today. Applebee's is offering a free meal to all Veterans and Active Duty Military, just show proof of military service. Outback Steakhouse is offering a free Bloomin' Onion and beverage to all Veterans and Active Duty Military, also with proof of military service.

Freedom Of Speech

If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. --John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)


Edna: Margie, I think it’s safe to say that anyone who knows us (and reads our blog) understands how much we cherish our right to complain about anything and everything under the sun. But what if we didn’t have that freedom?

Margie: If we didn't have that freedom, Edna, I'd point out that I have the right to own and bear arms and shoot anybody who wants me to shut up.

Edna: Trust you to take this in a violent direction, you ninny. You know, I'm trying to make a point about how lucky we are. Turn up your hearing aid and listen. Think about all those poor people who don't have the right to say whatever they want, whenever they want. They get threatened by their own governments for speaking their minds, and that's unfair.

Do you remember that speech that FDR gave back in 1941, the "Four Freedoms" speech?

Margie: Of course it's unfair, Edna, but what can we do? It's like when you threaten me to hush up. That's not fair either.

I do remember that speech. FDR talked about freedom of speech and expression. I have some things I'd like to express to you.

Edna: Well, FDR had the right idea: he said that one of the fundamental human freedoms, for ALL humans, was the right to freedom of expression. I think he'd be sad to see that while it's true today for some people, it's not true for everyone.

As for what we can do about it? I think that we can use our freedom of speech to tell others about this and make them aware of what's going on. I know that if I lived somewhere where I couldn't express myself, I wouldn't be at all happy.

And I don't "threaten" you to "hush up." I urge you to try and make sense for once in your life. Two completely different things, sister.

Margie: FDR also said all humans should be free from fear. Nobody is free of fear if they live with you. You need to hush up and tend to your own business.

Edna: Oh honey, I surely do hope that you're not telling me what to say, because I will go ballistic on your wrinkled tushie. Try me and see.

Bloggers Unite: May 15

We have been privileged to participate in previous Blogger's Unite campaigns through BlogCatalog and we are thrilled to be participating in the upcoming one.


"This time, on May 15, bloggers are being asked to tackle a topic selected by members — Bloggers Unite For Human Rights", says Rich at Copywrite Ink. "Although no one knew it a few months ago, the timing for a human rights social awareness campaign couldn’t be better. This year is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For most of us, human rights — life, liberty, justice, and freedom of expression — seem so commonplace that they are taken for granted. Yet, all over the world and sometimes just out of sight in our own backyards, human rights are treated with utter disregard. This is a great opportunity to speak out for those who cannot."

Copywrite Ink will be recognizing several top bloggers who join the campaign and list their posts on the Bloggers Unite Discussion Group on May 15. Please join us. Go here for more information.