The story is getting out despite massive Israeli propaganda strategy

he Israeli lies combined with media blackout on anything but their own version were apparently prepared long in advance of their planned massacre. Claiming they found weapons but all they could show is kitchen knives and construction tools (wrenches, water pipes etc). All cargo was listed on the ships’ manifesto that the Israeli ‘intelligence’ agencies could easily acquire and were freely available and meticulously documented by the organizers. The Israeli spin machine also claimed they were first trying to use non-lethal weapons including, and this is no joke, paint ball guns (funny that we did not see evidence of passengers with pained shirts but only blood soaked shirts). The respected media watch group FAIR detailed how some Western media (mis)reported of the attack on the humanitarian aid ships ‘Reporting Israeli Assault Through Israel's Eyes: Attack on humanitarian flotilla prompts little media skepticism’ http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=4081



Reporters Without Borders urges the Israeli authorities to release a list of the journalists who were arrested during yesterday’s raid on the humanitarian flotilla and to say where they are being held. There were at least 15 foreign journalists travelling with the flotilla who still cannot be reached directly. These are the names of the journalists known to have been aboard the flotilla:http://en.rsf.org/israel-israeli-military-prevents-media-31-05-2010,37630.html



Some Western Media did a balanced job. Here is Democracy Now with excellent coveragehttp://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/1/global_condemnation_of_israeli_armed_attack



And while some western media dutifully reported Israeli government words of being sorry for the deaths and their verbal attack on the ships’ passengers (calling them terrorists or terrorist sympathizers), no media reported on Israeli fascists celebrating the massacre

in front of the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6a3_1275348204

And also a video at Ben Gurion University and other universities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB9GYd3jq_E

(According to the person who sent this ‘It is important to mention that in principle all political activity on this campus is forbidden, and that leftist activists demonstrating outside of the campus during the war on Gaza last year were arrested. This demonstration was held with collaboration of the University authorities and contrary to these same authorities regulations.”)



Most abducted passengers will be released and deported but four have been brought before ‘judges’ and will be tried by the apartheid state: Lubna Masarwa (Free Gaza Movement board director), Sheikh Raed Salah (leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel/1948 Palestine), Mohammed Zeidan (Director of International Advocacy Program for the Arab Association for Human Rights), and Hamed abu Dabis (human rights advocate from Lebanon). It is to try to scare others in the future. But the Rachel Corrie ship is already on its way to Gaza from Ireland in defiance of the Israeli terror tactics and plans for new fleets are already being implemented. Unfortunately, the US administration took the decision yet again to shield Israel from International law and make a mockery of the UN by refusing to demand a lifting of the siege (contrary to position of all other countries). So much for the change that those who voted for Obama had expected.



Caoimhe Butterly recorded a message before she was kidnapped. She is still unaccounted for

http://www.qumsiyeh.org/ofcowardicedignityandsolidarity/



Survivors of the massacre who are released tell their stories

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/02/gaza-flotilla-raid-gunfire-ship-blood



Sample Videos from demonstrations little reported in supine western media:

Bethlehem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOnsBKZknrc

New York http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BMxw1LnT50

San Francisco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-ijKBugff8



Gaza aid flotilla: Israeli sabotage suspected

Israel's military may have sabotaged two boats carrying Free Gaza activists after both malfunctioned at the same time in the same way prior to the raid

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/israel-gaza-flotilla-sabotage-suspected



The Elders group of past and present world leaders, including former South African president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, on Monday condemned as “completely inexcusable” the deadly Israeli attack on a flotilla carrying aid for Gaza.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article442925.ece



Meanwhile the colonization activities in the occupied West Bank continue fast and furious. Bulldozers are tearing up the land all around us. Our friends at the Tent of Nations had demolition orders served for the few structures and renovated caves they maintain on the farm that also acts as a peace center (see http://www.tentofnations.org/ ). Our friends in Wad Rahhal are threatened with total eviction (if you are in Palestine, join us for a demonstration this Friday at 12:30 PM). The stories are endless in the land of apartheid. But resistance from brave souls continue (and our hearts and minds are with our friend Emily, a US visual art student who was targeted by the Israeli fascist forces and lost her left eye).



ACTIONS

Petition: call for independent investigation, accountability, and lifting the siege on Gaza

http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_flotilla/98.php?CLICKTF

Translate you anger into action. Other ways to help:

http://endtheoccupation.org/article.php?list=type&type=345



Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home
http://www.qumsiyeh.org/
Professor, Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities
Chairman of the Board, Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People, http://www.pcr.ps/

Fear and The Palestine Papers

Ignoring the hype about the Palestine papers is hard.  I spent a lot of time reading through page after page of the documents showing minutes of meetings and other exchanges regarding the Palestinian-Israeli "negotiations" (the quotes are warranted).  The Guardian newspaper summed up the back and forth arguments about these papers as follows:

" PA and PLO leaders such as Saeb Erekat can be expected to point out that one of the core principles of the negotiations is that 'nothing is agreed until everything is agreed'. As such they are not necessarily committed to provisional positions that in the event failed to secure a settlement – though Erekat made clear to US officials in January 2010 that the same offers remained on the table. Critics are likely to argue that concessions – such as accepting the annexation of Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem – are simply pocketed by the Israeli side, and risk being treated as a starting point in any future talks."

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/23/story-behind-leaked-palestine-papers)

For me two things come out clearly from these painful documents (some of them have parallel data in the US embassy cables on Wikileaks).  First it is not that the Palestinian officials are traitors but merely (and this is bad enough) mistakenly and passionately going through motions hoping against all odds that by talking and compromising more they could achieve a tiny fraction of what we are entitled to. The second observation is that Israel will not sign a peace deal regardless of how low and ridiculous the concessions on the Palestinian side: hunt down resisters (abandoning the internationally recognized rights of resistance to occupation even unarmed one), give up on most settlements built illegally on Palestinian lands, allow Israel sovereignty over nearly 1/3rd of the occupied old city of Jerusalem, give up on the refugee rights, allow Israel to keep looting natural resources in the West Bank, give Israel the right to control our airspace, and even assure a statelet devoid of sovereignty. Not even tourism income would be allowed in this emasculated state.  Some critics asked:  if, as the documents show, the Palestinian negotiators were willing to accept all of this then WHY did Israeli politicians hold out? 

The answer is obvious to anyone who ever faced Zionism. They believe (rightly or wrongly) they can get 100% so why should they settle for 91% or even 99% especially when the ceiling of the Palestinian requests kept dropping in the past 22 years (since they accepted in 1988 to let Israel keep most of the looted parts of Palestine 1948).  Today, Israel's three main sources of income are dependent on a continued conflict and occupation: the 6.5 billion military and security exports, the 6 billion US and other western direct aid, and 3 billion from the captive markets in the West Bank and Gaza. All three would be threatened with end of conflict even if Israel gets to keep most of its stolen loot.   Israeli officials are keen to keep negotiations going to avoid an anti-Apartheid scenario and for PR and normalization to keep pumping more money and more settlers into the remaining small shriveling Palestine because it is economically profitable. 

The recorded meetings show no real interest or even emotion or any sense of urgency on the part of the Israelis or their American benefactors.  Saeb Erekat comes out basically pleading and begging sometimes and other times using the presence of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran to try and convince these officials.  Jim Jones, David, Hale, and (Israeli lobbyist Dennis Ross),Tzipi Livni, Mofaz etc. all just repeat utter few selective words and simply drag their feet to keep the "process going".  What would be the nature of the conversations if there was no Hamas to wave as the boogeyman to US officials and claim success in containing Hamas and other "extremist movements" (In Egypt Hosni Mubarak uses the same notion of containing Islamic Jihad but for the sinister goal of justifying his dictatorship)?  US officials are very confident of their strength and the Israeli strengths and the fact that they only need the Palestinians to prevent any attempts at international isolation of Israel.  This they get just by innuendo or hints of threats on the Palestinians authority.  They studied the situation carefully and think that Abbas and company have no other options but to simply keep negotiating and compromising even if it takes another 20 years.  In some very rare instances the negotiators seem to connect with their humanity and actually feel sorry for the fate of these Palestinian negotiators.  But then you could sense how they curb their own feelings (as irrelevant) and go back to the scripted positions of their governments which are simply antagonistic to anything that is not 100% in support of Zionism. Erekat's occasional threats of a one state seem vacuous and not serious.  My book on Sharing the Land of Canaan showed with lots of data that "two state for two people" approach can never lead to genuine peace (if apartheid was the problem in South Africa, why is it considered a solution here?).

I have a suggestion for the Palestinian authority: try to deal with the issues and do release your own documents instead of trying to shoot the messenger.  Take lemons to make lemonade.  Help introduce an even stronger resolution at the UN security council (e.g. in support of the Goldstone report or to recognize a Palestinian state along the borders of 1967) or a resolution at the UN General Assembly that calls for expelling Israel from the UN since it has never honored its commitments when it was admitted in 1949.  Maybe announce publicly that the Oslo Process was a mistake or at least is now dead (now every idiot knows it was and most of those who are getting salaries from the authority know in their hearts that it was contrary to basic human rights and to basic international law). This suggestion essentially is to show courage and backbone.  It could also mean the difference: making mistakes is human, continuing the path as in the past only validates those who accuse the authority figures of treason.  Abbas says he will surprise us in September but I believe he and those around him do not have that kind of time.  

I, like Edward Said and millions of Palestinians, disagreed strongly with the choices made by this Oslo group to built the Palestinian autonomous administration (of the Palestinian people warehouses or concentration camps) that relieved Israel from the burdens of managing us and from International isolation based on not even promises of freedom or return of rights.  But I also can't help but feel sorry for those who took that path. It must be very painful for a human being to go down a tunnel where there is no possibility of a light at the end and during this trip into the depths of darkness feel the leaches crawling up his back sucking his blood and voices from behind calling him back (some of them his political enemies, others ex-comrades in Fatah). Palestinian negotiators are fearful of going back because they think it might give political opponents a PR tool. They are just fearful of losing face; I am always grateful to a wise advisor who 30 years ago convinced me to drop this fear of admitting mistakes (a fear common especially among men). They may also be fearful of losing a job. The Palestinian people are very angry though many feel afraid to speak out for fear to lose their sources of income, fear that the alternative to Fatah maybe just as bad, fear of Israel, fear of the US or just simply fear of their own power.  But ultimately fear is a lack of self-confidence to take another course. And their fear should be balanced by the fact that people are literally dying for justice and wanting leaders to care about them and not about themselves. [Here we must remember the thousands of martyrs who gave their lives and hundreds of thousands who were injured or lost homes and livelihood and still yearn for freedom].

The status quo is to many humans a comfort in the known/predictable.  Taking another path is feared because humans fear the unknown.  I believe that fear is the most destructive and paralyzing human emotion.  Common people around the world are just beginning to break the barrier of fear and speak up more for themselves. From Tunisia to Egypt to Lebanon, the walls of fear are cracking.  We common people and even some leaders must  realize that many of these walls are far weaker than we may think.  I can actually hear them cracking…

The Arab world is in revolt.  The fire is spreading.  Responsible people need to step forward with courage and conviction.  There could be surprises along those lines even from Central Committee members of Fatah.  Already Nabil Shaath took a position different than Mahmoud Abbas.  This is just the beginning.  Palestine will survive.  The Palestinian people are not sheep.  They are mature enough to take the truth and to rebuild our national liberation movement.  History marches on and I am 100% sure that Zionism will fail and Palestine will be free.

--------------------

Palestinian Students take over Palestine London offices demanding representation of all Palestinians.  I think their call for representation based on the Prisoner's documents and the Cairo Declaration) should be taken-up by all Palestinians of conscience. See http://ploembassysitin.tumblr.com/

A Call to the People and Governments of the Free World from the Egyptian National Coalition: We call upon all of you to support the Egyptian people's demands for a good life, liberty and an end of despotism. We call upon you to urge this dictatorial regime to stop its bloodshed of the Egyptian people, exercised throughout Egyptian cities.. We believe that the material and moral support offered to the Egyptian regime, by the American government and European governments, has helped to suppress the Egyptian people.  We hereby call upon the people of the free world to support the Egyptian people's non-violent revolution against corruption and tyranny. We also call upon civil society organizations in America, Europe and the whole world to express their solidarity with Egypt, through holding public demonstrations, particularly on People's Anger Day (28/01/2011), and by denouncing the use of violence against the people. We hope that you will all support our demands for freedom, justice and peaceful change. 

 

The Guardian Newspaper: Palestinian distrust of Iran revealed in leaked papers. MahmoudAbbas asked businessman to donate $50m to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's opponents, according to the documents

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/26/palestinian-distrust-iran-leaked-papers

Media Matters M.J. Rosenberg stated about the Papers: "The bottom line is that, despite the assurances the Palestinian Authority gave to the Palestinian people that it was driving a hard bargain with the Israelis, the Palestinian Authority accepted Israel’s position on every key point: borders, Jerusalem, settlements, refugees.  On no major issue did the PA hold the line. None. The Palestinians offered Israel everything Israel wants and Israel still said “no” with the backing of the United States."

http://politicalcorrection.org/fpmatters/201101240004

It is interesting to see such analysis as from former top CIA official Robert Grenier:  

http://english.aljazeera.net/palestinepapers/2011/01/2011123135633144648.html

But even though career diplomats are voicing interesting opinions and diversions from official policy, the Obama administration still shows the notion of just drawing on AIPAC associated fossilized brains. (see

Why Obama’s “new thinking” initiative on Middle East peace is doomed to fail By Lawrence Davidson http://www.redress.cc/americas/ldavidson20110122)

Palestinian intellectuals and activists articulated why this is the end of the charade of the peace process industry Karma Nabulsi gives a pointed analysis

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/23/middle-east-peace-process-over-palestinians

Prof. Saree Makdisi shows more emotion as he writes "The Palestinian people betrayed"

http://latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-makdisi-israelis-palestinians-20110127,0,3343339.column

Yet another BDS victory: John Lewis stops stocking Ahava products in Britain http://www.bigcampaign.org/john-lewis-stops-stocking-ahava-products-in-britain/ 

لا لإزالة خيمة الاعتصام عن المنارة

لا لإزالة خيمة الاعتصام عن المنارة

تحاول مجموعة من الشباب اقناع الشباب المعتصم بإزالة الخيمة عن دوار المنارة لإسباب لا أعرفها , وإن عرفتها مهما كانت فإنه لا مبرر من إزالة الخيمة التي ناضل الكثير من الشباب الحر لنصبها , اعتقل من اعتقل وضرب من ضرب من أجل الحلول دون نصب خيمة الاعتصام ... الخيمة التي أردناها بالاجماع , الخيمة التي أبينا الا ان تكون موجودة كجزء من الاعتصام الذي انطلق يوم 15 اذار واليوم تعلو اصوات اجهلها لاقناع الشباب بإزالة الخيمة . أية كانت الاسباب او التوجهات او المبررات او حتى التهديدات فإنه لا يحق لأحد ان يقرر باسم الشباب المعتصم الذي للكثير منهم أصبحت الخيمة عنصر مهم ورئيس للاعتصام والبقاء على المنارة. الخيمة التي احتضنت الشباب المعتصم لاكثر من 36 يوم . الخيمة التي شهدت معاناة الشباب المضرب عن الطعام , الخيمة التي جمعت الشباب من كافة الاطياف والعقليات في مكان واحد. الخيمة التي تشاركو فيها احزانهم وافراحهم... الخيمة التي ناموا وأكلو فيها... الخيمة التي انطلقت منها الشعارات المنادية بإنهاء الانقسام والمطالبة بانتخاب مجلس وطني جديد ... الخيمة التي احتضنت فعاليات كثيرة ... الخيمة التي سمعت عنها كل المؤسسات والجمعيات وأصبحت مكان ينطلق منها فعاليات مختلفة... الخيمة التي اصبحت منارة للجميع للتعبير عن الغضب والاسى والالم والذكرى والفرح والغناء ... من الخيمة عبرنا عن مطالبنا الشرعية بانهاء الانقسام وانتخاب مجلس وطني جديد , من الخيمة حزننا واسنكرنا اغتيال جوليانو مير خميس وفيتوريو ارغوني ... من الخيمة عبّر أهالي الأسرى عن شوقهم لأبنائهم وبناتهم...  أصبحت الخيمة مقصدا للفعاليات المختلفة... نعم, الخيمة شيء رمزي زوالها قد لايعني زوال الاعتصام ...  ولكن بقاؤها يعبر رمزيا عن بقائنا ... بقاؤها يقول للجميع أننا لازلنا موجودون ... أصبحت الخيمة جزء من وجودنا واصرارنا على البقاء حتى تحقيق مطالبنا الشرعية ... أصبحت الخيمة جزء من حيات الشباب المعتصم بقولهم.

أقول كلامي معبرة عن نفسي لا ممثلة لاي حركة او مجموعة او جهة  أو مؤسسة ... لم اكن يوما جزءا من مجموعة الخيمة ولكنني رأيت بعيني ما تعرض له الشباب المعتصم من ضرب واعتداء من أجل نصب الخيمة ... رأيت معارضة الاجهزة الامنية و رأيت فرح الشباب بنصب الخيمة واصبحب الخيمة جزء رئيسي للإعتصام ... زوال خيمة الاعتصام عن المنارة قد يؤثر على خيم الاعتصام في المناطق الاخرى الذين اخذوا من المنارة مثالا وقدوة ...

أرجو منكم ان تضموا صوتكم لصوتي لإبقاء خيمة الاعتصام وعدم السماح لأي أحد أن يوثر او يقنع الشباب المعتصم بعدم جدوى الخيمة

 وضرورة إزالتها .

ولكم كل الشكر والتقدير

RIP JULIANO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybEarcNgTTM&playnext=1&list=PL1E87F68351218B16

FREE BASHAR AROURI AND HAMZA OBEID الحرية لبشار عاروري وحمزة عبيد

التضامن مع الاسرى المضربين عن الطعام منذ 14 يوم و المعتصمين في رام الله من اجل انهاء الانقسام و تحقيق الوحدة الوطنية
الذين تم اعتقالهم يوم الجمعة 8-4-2011 في قرية النبي صالح اثناء مشاركتهم في مظاهرة سلمية ضد الاحتلال الاسرائيلي

STATEMENT : Regarding Attempts to Co-opt March 15th Protests

                                                              STATEMENT
                                  Regarding Attempts to Co-opt March 15th Protests

The mass protests planned by Palestinian youth groups for March 15th are gaining momentum and extended media coverage. We, the youth groups organizing and mobilizing for this movement, find it necessary to clarify the following points:
-          These protests are being organized under the banner of national unity and reconciliation. However, we emphasize that resolving the predicament of Palestinian disunity must be based on principles and values agreed upon by the Palestinian people regardless of their political affiliation. The first of these principles is the illegitimacy of imprisoning people based on their political beliefs. Consequently, we demand the release of all political prisoners held by the government in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
Our demands for change go beyond ending Palestinian disunity and partial tweaks to the status quo. We insist on full democratic representation for Palestinians all over the world. Consequently our movement stipulates:
-          Democratic Palestinian National Council (PNC)  elections based on a one-person one-vote electoral system that guarantees equal representation for all Palestinians around the world (Gaza Strip, West Bank, 48 territories, refugee camps, and in the Diaspora). This necessitates a complete overhaul of the PNC’s structures and the establishment of new electoral procedures.
Attempts to Co-opt March 15th Mass protests
Palestinian political parties, Hamas’ government in Gaza, Fayyad’s government in the West Bank, and a plethora of nongovernmental organizations are seeking to co-opt this movement to serve their narrow interests. Moreover, they are attempting to legitimize themselves by falsely stating that they are the main organizers behind this event. We open-heartedly welcome the participation of party members and NGO employees, who are an essential and inseparable part of our societal fabric. We do not welcome attempts by their leaders to redirect our efforts.
-          We affirm that the March 15th movement is by the people for the people, and is independent of any political party or institutional backing. It is being organized by non-partisan youth groups who dream of a better future for their people.
We invite all Palestinians, and particularly Palestinian youth, to come down to the street on March 15th. We will only carry Palestinian flags, and chant and sing for freedom, unity, and justice. March 15th shall be the day we stand in unity to demand democratic representation for all Palestinians as an affirmative step in our struggle for Freedom from Israeli Apartheid.
May Palestine one day be Free, like the Spirit of her Children

http://falasteenlana.blogspot.com/

Negative Thinking

Does it seem strange that some people COMPLAIN they don’t have enough TIME to be happy, yet they find enough time to be sad? Not really. You see, their deplorable plight has nothing to do with having sufficient or insufficient time. It has everything to do with complaining. After all, complaining is the negation of happiness. It’s impossible to complain and be happy at the same time.


So, beware of that insidious disease known as ‘negativitis’ (negative thinking). It is as pervasive as the common cold, but far more damaging. It mutilates, cripples, and corrodes the human spirit. Those infected by it are broken men and women aimlessly plodding along. The dark clouds brooding over them obscure their vision and cause them to become confrontational, apathetic, and cynical. Their lives are like flat champagne, without any sizzle. So, how do we inoculate ourselves against such a harmful disease? It was only after learning about the horrible effects of smoking that people began to give it up. It may be wise to do the same here. So, let’s review the effects of negativitis.


1. Complaining is worse than doing nothing, for it is digging the rut one is in deeper and deeper. Each time one complains, it becomes increasingly difficult to climb out of the ditch they’ve created. To loosen the grip of this vicious habit, we need to become aware of our complaining, stop it in its tracks, and immediately look for something positive to say. It’s just a matter of replacing a bad habit with a good one.


2. A negative attitude is self-defeating. We won’t find solutions to life’s problems by looking for someone or something to blame. Those who say, "Positive thinking doesn't work for me," have got it backwards. It’s not positive thinking that has to work; YOU have to work. For example, you have to work at appreciating what you have instead of moaning about what you lack.


3. Failure to do what you want to do (be happy) causes physical and mental stress. A rotten attitude, not only delays success, but also shortens life by damaging the immune system (to learn more on how your thoughts affect your immune system, investigate psychoneuroimmunology). So, besides the diseases directly caused by stress, such as heart disease and ulcers, we become susceptible to all manner of other diseases because of a weakened immune system.


4. Do you know anyone with a negative attitude? How many years have they been that way? Two years? Five years? Ten years? That’s how many years of happiness and success they have robbed themselves of. Blinded by their own negativity, they are prevented from seeing the good around them.


5. One characteristic of negative thinkers is their need to have the world behave according to their wishes. They have never grown up and still live with childish demands. Whenever people and the world fail to act according to their selfish wishes, they are unhappy. Such a poisonous attitude prevents them from growing and learning how to cope with life's challenges.


6. Everything negative we say about ourselves to ourselves (self-talk) and to others is a suggestion. We are unwittingly practicing self-hypnosis, programing ourselves for failure, and creating self-fulfilling prophecies.


7. The negative world of our imagination creates a negative world that is real and one that we are forced to live in. Take Ralph, for example. He’s always complaining about life. “Nowadays people are rude and surly. No matter where you go or what you do, you have to deal with ill-bred people.” As he said this, we made our way to a coffee shop. Once inside, we were greeted by a cheerful chap who asked us what we would like. Sighing (as if it took a great effect to speak), Ralph, almost inaudibly, ordered a medium sized regular coffee. When it arrived, he started complaining. Pointing to the cup, he said, “This is medium?” Without waiting for a response, he added, “You should have told me your cups are so small; I would have ordered a large one if I knew.” Despite the long line that Ralph was holding up, the man behind the counter tried to be patient. Without complaint, he took away the small coffee and replaced it with a large one. As soon as it arrived, Ralph looked at it aghast and bellowed, “You call this regular? There’s not enough cream!” The man behind the counter, who only moments ago was cheerful was now upset and sarcastically replied, “Yes, for MOST people, this is regular, but if you INSIST, I’ll put in more cream. Perhaps next time you may want to ask for DOUBLE cream!” I was next, so I got my coffee and joined Ralph at the table. “See,” he told me, “what did I say to you? People are rude.” Yes, in Ralph’s world, people ARE rude, but what he does not realize is he makes them so.


8. A particularly pernicious effect of ‘negativitis’ is that it sets one up for the mentality of a victim. Those with a woe-is-me attitude sit around in misery, waiting to be rescued. But they wait in vain because no one can rescue them from their own attitude. They are the only ones who can change it. And until they do so, they are condemned to continue suffering.


9. Another adverse effect of negativity is that it sets one up for the magic-bullet-syndrome. That is, the victim of ‘negativitis’ spends their time looking for a quick, easy fix, when none exists. By denying a fundamental law of life that states anything worthwhile requires effort to achieve, they achieve nothing. They won’t make progress until they realize that nothing in life is free. They’ve got to be willing to do what it takes to get what they want.


10. Also, beware of the fact that negative people attract other complainers. Because those who live in a world of doom and gloom alienate others, they have no choice but to look for other negative people to associate with. They then feed off one another and get locked in a clique of losers.


11. The constant stress that flows from a negative attitude also saps one’s energy, focus, and motivation. It is hardly a formula for success.


12. Also of great concern is the fact that those who refuse to work on improving their negative attitude may slide into depression, self-pity, and hopelessness.


13. Additionally, negative people not only harm themselves; they harm the world. They cease to make a contribution to it. Instead of helping, they spread gloom and misery everywhere. If they insist on infecting others, why not infect them with laughter? If they must carry something contagious, why not carry a smile?


Imagine being in a small boat drifting in a river. And imagine being unaware that your boat has a motor. As long as you fail to use that motor you will be a captive of the river. You will be a prisoner without any control over your destination. Yet, the boat that we’re in does have a motor. We can use it to change course. That motor is our power of choice. All we have to do is choose to look for the good, for when we do so, that is all we will find!

Start your new year with Possitive Thinking ...

Clashes in Silwan

New 9/11 photos 'prove WTC exploded from inside'

Evidence that George W. Bush had advanced knowledge of 9-11