I have decided to share with anyone interested my part in tomorrow's district meeting. The Soka Gakkai divides areas into smaller groups for meetings that gather monthly. Tomorrow at 7pm the Central Park District, which is my district, will meet. Anyone is welcome, you don't have to participate and you don't have to become a Buddhist. I just want to put it out there in case somebody did want to go. Hope you all don't think I'm on some mission to convert everyone. Really, this is what my life is about and that is what a journal is, our lives, our thoughts and our beliefs. My part of the meeting is below.
Why is it important to have a fighting spirit?
A life without obstacles or hardships may seem inviting. We all from time to time ask ourselves "Why does my life have to be so difficult?" Doesn't society teach us that a life without difficulties is a life of happiness? We all have seen the ads for Sandals Beach Resorts, or the various cruise lines selling package deals. Their message is simple. Happiness comes with a price. For X amount of dollars we will provide you X amount of days free of all worries. You will sit on a perfect beach and enjoy the crystal clear waters, pure white sand and unlimited Margaritas. It won't rain, there won't be a Tsunami and you will never see anyone without enough to eat. In fact, the people that are serving you are happy natives, they enjoy serving you and they don't mind that the best part of their island is reserved just for you. That's it a life free from worries, a life of happiness.
True and unshakeable happiness does not come from a life that is stagnant. Being happy isn't about waiting until our difficulties magically disappear, it comes about from the victory that we create for ourselves and others by overcoming the obstacles which are bound to appear in our lives. Not facing our difficulties leaves them only to fester and grow larger causing more and more unhappiness. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the tool we use to give us the courage, strength and wisdom to overcome anything we wish. Faith only comes about after we see results. We must have a fighting spirit! President Ikeda says "If we give in to fear, obstacles and hindrances will only increase. If we are cowardly, the workings of negative and destructive forces will eat away at our lives. It is vital that our fighting spirit is fueled by strong faith-or confidence-in our practice of the Mystic Law so that we can break through ignorance and illusion and defeat obstacles and devilish functions.
If you are not a practicing Buddhist, you can still see the law of cause and effect that govern the planet, just as if you are not a scientist you can still understand the law of gravity. The stronger our efforts to change that which makes us unhappy, the more good fortune we are going to receive in our lives and the lives of those around us. A fighting spirit does not take the attitude that what we do now isn't important, that we can just sit back and leave our problems for future generations to solve. A fighting spirit does not stop fighting ever! It is easy to think that our lives are insignificant, that the world's problems are not within our control, but the fighting spirit realizes that the responsibility is ours. A fighting spirit works to encourage others, who will in turn encourage others and so forth. This is the goal of the SGI, we call it Kosen-rufu. This is the goal. A time of peace brought about by enough people understanding the mystic law of cause and effect. When enough people have the understanding that the affect of violence is more violence, only then will we have peace. Many people consider peace naïve romanticism, but when we strive to have a fighting spirit, we strive to change that which seems impossible.
For those of you who may have noticed my lack of a fighting spirit these days all I can say is....I know. I'm working on it!
Send me a post it with your number if you want to attend.
Libertad's Journal
My Podcast Link
07/21/2006 00:05 #25790
An open invite07/19/2006 20:04 #25789
Hummer Monsters and Girly MenHummer Ad
Anti Hummer Ad
I wanted to find the commercial I saw on TV today for Hummers, but I couldn't find it. Here is a bloggers recollection of the ad.
So looks like I'm a little short on manhood. I have no Hummer and I don't eat animals any more. OK, fine! I accidently ate some bacon the other day, but i didn't know it was in the broccoli salad.
I don't know what you "chicks" think, but this Burger King Ad is really offensive to me.
Anti Hummer Ad
I wanted to find the commercial I saw on TV today for Hummers, but I couldn't find it. Here is a bloggers recollection of the ad.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Hummer: Restore Your Manhood
Marketing gurus tell us that people buy for emotional reasons, then find facts to support their decision.
I saw a great commercial on TV last night which can clearly show you how to market to people's emotions. The scene opens with two men at a checkout counter in a supermarket. The first man is buying "good for you" food, like tofu. He looks uncomfortable and embarassed as the clerk continually tries to price-scan the tofu and it won't pick up the price. He glances to the second man, then down at what the second man is buying: He-Man food, like pork ribs for his barbeque.
Obviously, the first man has had enough of being a wimp! He leaves the supermarket, goes directly to a Hummer dealership, and buys one of the huge trucks.
As the ad closes, the tagline reads, "Restore Your Manhood."
Can a truck really, really make you feel more like a man??? I guess so, according to Hummer.
Hummer is in a difficult position right now, with gasoline prices rising. It will be fascinating to watch how they play on people's emotions to "spin" the story of Hummer, desperately trying to sell more of the gas-guzzling vehicles.
For all you small business owners out there, take some time to watch TV commercials, and for each one, ask yourself, "What emotion, what promise, are they really selling?" It gives you something to do while you watching all those annoying ads. After all, advertisers spend millions of dollars to produce those ads; you might as well learn marketing theory from them, eh?
posted by Karyn Greenstreet @ 8:25 AM
So looks like I'm a little short on manhood. I have no Hummer and I don't eat animals any more. OK, fine! I accidently ate some bacon the other day, but i didn't know it was in the broccoli salad.
I don't know what you "chicks" think, but this Burger King Ad is really offensive to me.
07/19/2006 18:52 #25788
Today's HeadlinesMuch of nation sizzling in heat wave
Britain endures hottest-ever July day
U.S. swelters under deadly heat wave
Just Short Of All-Time Record Heat
Beryl Heading Toward Unsuspecting New England
Severe Drought in Northern Plains to Have Nationwide Economic Impact
Flood Threat Looms!
On the Subcontinent; Tropical Storm Kaemi
Cities devise ways to beat the heat
Heat Wave Misery Continues
Heat wave fries Central Canada
Californians Suffer Under Statewide Heat Wave
Phoenix Heat Wave Claims 13 Lives
Most Victims Homeless; City Officials Ask For Ice, Water Donations
Heat wave scorches East for one more day
Some relief for Midwest, West, but Southeast still broiling
Europe's Heat Wave Breaks Records
A Hot Year So Far for the USA and for the Globe
Temperature Set to Hit 100 Degrees - and Global Warming is to Blame
Britain endures hottest-ever July day
U.S. swelters under deadly heat wave
Just Short Of All-Time Record Heat
Beryl Heading Toward Unsuspecting New England
Severe Drought in Northern Plains to Have Nationwide Economic Impact
Flood Threat Looms!
On the Subcontinent; Tropical Storm Kaemi
Cities devise ways to beat the heat
Heat Wave Misery Continues
Heat wave fries Central Canada
Californians Suffer Under Statewide Heat Wave
Phoenix Heat Wave Claims 13 Lives
Most Victims Homeless; City Officials Ask For Ice, Water Donations
Heat wave scorches East for one more day
Some relief for Midwest, West, but Southeast still broiling
Europe's Heat Wave Breaks Records
A Hot Year So Far for the USA and for the Globe
Temperature Set to Hit 100 Degrees - and Global Warming is to Blame
07/18/2006 10:35 #25787
SGI Youth Festival PhotosIt begins with a DJ battle.
Young Hip Hop Dancers
Sporting the SGI Colors
Old Skool battles New Skool
They Unite.
African Dance
Brazilian Capoeira
Asian Dance
A tired Buffalo audience
Sax Player
He's not shooting a hoop, he's getting the audience to clap to the beat.
What were we singing again?
See previous post for story.
Young Hip Hop Dancers
Sporting the SGI Colors
Old Skool battles New Skool
They Unite.
African Dance
Brazilian Capoeira
Asian Dance
A tired Buffalo audience
Sax Player
He's not shooting a hoop, he's getting the audience to clap to the beat.
What were we singing again?
See previous post for story.
ladycroft - 07/18/06 11:25
wow! what great cultural diversity!!!
wow! what great cultural diversity!!!
07/17/2006 19:49 #25786
It all begins with me!On Sunday I attended the Soka Gakkai International Youth Festival "It All Begins With Me!" Really, I did not want to get on a bus for 8 hours. Somehow I made myself get on to the bus and it turned out to be a great experience. On the bus, I connected with other youth members (Youth division is 35 and under). I'm not going to say that the trip wasn't agonizing at some points along the way, but I'm so glad that I got on that bus.
When we pulled up to Lincoln Center in NYC, there were other youth members there to greet us. They were so genuine in their care for us and clapped and congratulated us for our efforts to be there. Most of us from the Upstate Region began to rehearse to sing a song to the 3,000 plus youth in attendance. I chose not to along with my friends Mike, his mother, Samantha and Adam. We were free to walk around New York until the festival began.
It was as hot as all hell as we walked to Central Park and then to Times Square. For Mike and his mother, it was their first trip to see the city. Being a little naive, they followed a man selling something out of a burlap sack down a side street! He opens up the sack to reveal a bunch of overpriced knockoff bags. After five minutes of sales pitch we break away only to see the men stopped by the police only minutes later. Not sure if they were arrested or not, but I assume what they were doing wasn't exactly legal. There were several near traffic accidents as my friends stepped into busy streets without looking. It was crazy and I was definitely dehydrated by the time we walked back to Lincoln Center.
We get back, only to be told that we need to come back in another hour! GRRR. Since I was hungry, we decided to eat. After passing many expensive restaurants we happened along a Subway, the only thing within walking distance I could afford. My body soaked up a bottle of water, but still I was dehydrated.
It increasingly became hotter with every step we took. We got back to the center, this time to face crazy lines that wouldn't move. Finally, we get into auditorium and sat in the very front of the center! They had reserved us seats at the event knowing how far we had traveled to be there!
It turned out to be amazing, starting out with a DJ battle. Everyone that performed was a member of the SGI Youth Division. They had really young kids dancing to Busta Rhymes with Missy and Mary J! They were sooo good. The Young Woman's Division performed African and Asian dance and the Young Men's Division entertained us with drumming and gymnastics!
Afterwards, we walked some more, got some more food and got increasingly more hot and dirty! At 5pm we waited for our bus that was late. The Woman's Division provided us with watermelon, water, and complete chicken meals for our ride home. Finally, we get onto the scorching hot bus and head home. Sleeping was nearly impossible on the full bus. I taught my friend Shannon who is 14 some Spanish, which I suspect she is going to use on boys (She lives on the west side)! Her life is far from easy, but she is doing great. She avoids drugs, has loving parents and has some talent in poetry. My friend Mike who is 15 came out of the closet in the 8th grade! I so wish I were courageous enough at his age to do the same. We got back today at 2am.
I'll post some pics of the show later.
When we pulled up to Lincoln Center in NYC, there were other youth members there to greet us. They were so genuine in their care for us and clapped and congratulated us for our efforts to be there. Most of us from the Upstate Region began to rehearse to sing a song to the 3,000 plus youth in attendance. I chose not to along with my friends Mike, his mother, Samantha and Adam. We were free to walk around New York until the festival began.
It was as hot as all hell as we walked to Central Park and then to Times Square. For Mike and his mother, it was their first trip to see the city. Being a little naive, they followed a man selling something out of a burlap sack down a side street! He opens up the sack to reveal a bunch of overpriced knockoff bags. After five minutes of sales pitch we break away only to see the men stopped by the police only minutes later. Not sure if they were arrested or not, but I assume what they were doing wasn't exactly legal. There were several near traffic accidents as my friends stepped into busy streets without looking. It was crazy and I was definitely dehydrated by the time we walked back to Lincoln Center.
We get back, only to be told that we need to come back in another hour! GRRR. Since I was hungry, we decided to eat. After passing many expensive restaurants we happened along a Subway, the only thing within walking distance I could afford. My body soaked up a bottle of water, but still I was dehydrated.
It increasingly became hotter with every step we took. We got back to the center, this time to face crazy lines that wouldn't move. Finally, we get into auditorium and sat in the very front of the center! They had reserved us seats at the event knowing how far we had traveled to be there!
It turned out to be amazing, starting out with a DJ battle. Everyone that performed was a member of the SGI Youth Division. They had really young kids dancing to Busta Rhymes with Missy and Mary J! They were sooo good. The Young Woman's Division performed African and Asian dance and the Young Men's Division entertained us with drumming and gymnastics!
Afterwards, we walked some more, got some more food and got increasingly more hot and dirty! At 5pm we waited for our bus that was late. The Woman's Division provided us with watermelon, water, and complete chicken meals for our ride home. Finally, we get onto the scorching hot bus and head home. Sleeping was nearly impossible on the full bus. I taught my friend Shannon who is 14 some Spanish, which I suspect she is going to use on boys (She lives on the west side)! Her life is far from easy, but she is doing great. She avoids drugs, has loving parents and has some talent in poetry. My friend Mike who is 15 came out of the closet in the 8th grade! I so wish I were courageous enough at his age to do the same. We got back today at 2am.
I'll post some pics of the show later.
I admit that I didn't watch either Ad on line. With my computer the ad wouldn't be any fun really, that is one problem with dial up. But if the burger king add is the one I think it is, I never took it seriously it is so over the top that it came off as a parody to me. I prefer the one where some hot chick is dancing in front of an expensive car with burgers. From how the Hummer ad was described it sounds funny. People remember funny. Volkwagon does just the opposite with that one where everyone is looking at there cars in the glass building and the tag line is something like "low ego emisions" they really have some great ads. I admit I would love to get paid to come up with ad ideas that are clever and funny. In terms of the dodge ad I thought that was funny.
Advertisments of that degree rely on maipulating emotions and making you feel that whatever they are selling will fix your "problem".. which we never knew we had until these commercials/ads told us.
It gets me frustrated at times, but as the article you included suggests.. we can just think about it from the perspective of what they might be trying to sell/manipulate etc. With that we can feel better about ourselves knowing that we figured it it and we know better. haha.. when I was around 20, frustrated by the immense amount of lame ads in a girls magazine, I took it (and others) and ripped out all of the ads that had a manipulative element. I was left with just a few sparse articles.
As for the BK ad.. 'manly mans men' persona does nothing for me. Hopefully no one will truly buy into that "be a man, eat a burger" mentality. But the power of ads can have a strong influence..
So, Hummers attempt to conteract the gasoline price issue, is using the tag line, "restore your manhood"..?!?! ick, thats a low blow. gasholes!
Good stuff to think about.
um. yeah. i hate hummers, and people that drive/like them so much I can't even think of words to write about it.
Great... just what the world needs the "cute baby" of a robot and a monster that go around smashing up a town. Perfect!
And the "manhood" one sounds terrible.
And that burger king ad is horrible. Dodge had to edit the 'fairy' one, but that is OK?!
This is the kind of shit that makes me embarrassed to be an american.