SALVATORE QUASIMODO – POET, PEACE LAUREATE
The poet wants men to live courageously.
—Italian poet Salvatore Quasimodo, Nobel lecture, 1959.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 20.11.12~
BE BOLD…
bold means showing a willingness to take risks; confident and courageous.
–In New Zealand in our humble earthy way… that’s always been us. :) (more…)
ALWAYS CLIMB
A reminder, that no matter what your dreams are,
it’s often a tough hike, yet always climb.
–Here’s some Good Guy.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 2.11.12~
LOVE OUR GOOD ENERGY
We are born perfect in to Love. Staying complete in Love is the light of Wisdom. As perfect Love casts out all fear, may true Love stay our good energy.
~Music: Love Will Always Win, Opshop. Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 28.10.12~
A ROSE GARDEN OF HAPPEN CHANCES – AT THE ARK OF FORTITUDE
Energy and wisdom meet as President’s in a rose garden. Fragrant scents of fate at a happen chance winery set in the open temple of a star-crossed people journeying over skies, land, oceans to stay a moment too precious to miss out on. The new star rising sheds light of a new dawn. An ark as astounding as providence aligned with preserved reservoirs is this fort of humanity. (more…)
THE BREATH OF CHAMPIONS IS COURAGE IN HUMILITY’S OXYGEN – A FELIX BAUMGARTER TRIBUTE
Felix Baumgartner prepares to leap from his capsule at a height of 24 miles. It’s way more difficult, than anything I’ve done so far. No one ever sets out to be a new hero. Often they happen, quite by chance. "I always had the desire to be in the air, I climbed trees, I wanted to see the world from above." If nothing is risked, nothing is ever gained. If you ever find yourself out there, standing on top of the world, you become so humble, knowing you need the sound of reassurance to face exactly what was on the line. Time swelling, riding the wave, broke the speed of sound, while heavily involved. All go, go, go. "Well records are made to be broken," you're told when just trucking along, yet sometimes you have to go up real high to understand how small you are. (more…)
ON THE ELEVATED PAGE
Aroha is always an elevated page. Sunsets etched, memorable hues. Love is a book, at times too precious. Inside each page, the heart a drum machine, a symphony of song, running wild and free. Painted as rhythms (more…)
WORDS: COURAGE
A definition of the word courage is:
referred as being bravery, boldness, fearlessness, mettle, fortitude, or intrepidity) is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. (more…)
SALMAN RUSHDIE ON COURAGE
‘The only way you can defeat [terrorism] is by deciding not to be afraid.’
–writer Salman Rushdie on taking heart in courage. NZ Herald.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 19.9.12~
BILL CLINTON ENDORSES BARACK OBAMA’S PRESIDENTIAL ENDURANCE AS 44th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
We are because our founding fathers and founding mothers read the times realistically, shared their wisdom and courage in times of hardship, ackowledged the snares and traps we had to navigate through the difficult years.
We are because such people acted as coaches who encouraged and cheered us on to be stronger people and to look up more again and just keep on going. We are strong because a cast of believers did not give up on offering optimism, that would move our dreams forward.
Bill Clinton is an American we have always liked in New Zealand for his pizazz (panache) as a President, who wasn’t always perfect, yet we liked him anyway. We associate fun years and magical humanitarian moments of greatness in the world when Bill was President of the USA. Generosity of spirit with vision, was the America he spoke of that people invested in across the board and believed in. Clinton is an incredible dream builder as an artist of the world’s architecture from the USA.
Hillary Clinton, one of 2 more stars in Mr Clinton’s talented family also exemplifies the best of what Bill’s life taught her initially over the years on the campaign trail and in office. She’s now flying solo in her role as U.S Secretary of State, an icon, all people of the world can be proud of as a strong leader.
So when Bill Clinton steps up after Michelle Obama‘s romantic endorsement of POTUS yesterday, this is what you call the endorsement of endorsements for Barack Obama‘s Presidential campaign for a renewed term in office as the 44th President of the United States.
US endorsements for a President don’t get better than the President’s wife backing the no.1 man and Bill Clinton following that up, in the video footage above.
The Best of American political endorsements in action.
Always watch.
Bill’s Headlines in the news for DNC Charlotte, North Carolina Convention are:
Live blog: Bill Clinton nominates Barack Obama
Hollywood: Couldn’t see past Bill’s celebrity presence. A big star, California respects.
Reuters: More measured, Clinton gives rousing defense.
The best summation of Obama’s 1st term in Office: Bill Clinton’s math lesson for the DNC: Why Obama adds up – Having been a witness in the USA during these years, Obama’s leadership was strong enough to endure the hard lessons of the ‘palsy’ frenemies setting him up to squeeze more out of the USA’s majorities, a hang over of the Bush years bad habits of greed. Obama endured this, before allowing his social conscience to be heard again within. So, I like the math lesson Clinton gives of the US recalling the harsh context Obama was handed where he had to prove his strength staying in reality.
BBC: Clinton backs Barack Obama.
The Guardian: Bill Clinton gives thumping endorsement to Barack Obama.
ABC News: President Obama Embraces Bill Clinton After Rousing Nomination
CNN News: Clinton says Obama offers a better path forward for America.
NBC: Bill Clinton steps up to lay out the case for Obama
Photo caption: President Bill Clinton hugs Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama following Clinton’s speech, on day two of the Democratic National Convention, September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, N.C. Photog: Joe Raedle, Getty Images.
So what did Mr Clinton say in full. Read on while watching video:
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: (more…)
ZOOMING THROUGH LIFE’S SET BACKS – CODY EVERSON’S REMARKABLE STORY
Best TV: Close Up: “Cody Everson was just 15 when he suffered a spinal cord injury last year during a rubgy football match.
The Shirley Boys High School student of Otautahi, didn’t know at the time that the accident would change his life in ways he never imagined.
Jehan Casinader reported his family’s story of Cody’s rehabilitation process this evening.
I was inspired with Cody’s new goal-setting plan, his hopes of achievement in life and his winning ’tude. Go kid!
A long time ago, while living overseas, I posted a haka from Cody’s school.
The school is known to raise fine leaders, just like Cody.
School Motto: Interest Omnium Recte Facere. In everyone's interest to act rightly.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 27.7.12~
Q+A FEEDBACK – SUPERANNUATION. FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS. ACCELERATING KEY GROWTH STREAMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – NEW ZEALAND 2040 & AUCKLAND CITY PLANNING
Superannuation was a hot topic today as well as youth home ownership for first time home owners. PM John Key spoke well on TV live from the National Party convention centre.
In a $50 million earning bracket himself, I was more listening for whether he is in touch with the real needs of majorities of Kiwis. He was more sobre-minded when speaking to cam. Superannuation, needs to and will be addressed.
As yet the urgency has not entirely hit the PM yet, due to his own personal fortunate circumstances acting as a buffer perhaps, though it sounds like he’s working on it with his cabinet too. New Zealand is ageing prematurely, meaning grey power have a lot of say and our population is ageing and also older immigrants love the safe haven nature of NZ too. Is there enough oxygen in the air for youth and young adult culture to have a platform enhancing the future good life of our esteemed grey power set of cool Kiwis? Youth can’t afford to listen all the time to grey power. Yet grey power if they turn and face youth, have the keys to draw out the dream NZ needs for youth and grey power to be secure and have more fun. So, a little investment from grey power into the young, could quite possibly cause young people’s innovative gifts to rise now to the fore. It’s time.
Where are those forums, that can feed back into strategic angel investor pools as well as the MPI hub of business in the near future? Let’s get it fast tracking. It’s exciting.
Immigration: Immigrants have accelerated rapidly in NZ. Critics say Maori are resistant to immigrants. I found the statement kind of insulting as a Maori-Kiwi, simply because Maori have welcomed more cultures into New Zealand than many other people, so Maori have the longest standing immigration manaaki record in NZ history. If Maori show signs of immigrant fatigue, it’s only due to our no.1 partner (The Crown) deliberating playing Maori off against a plethora of immigrants, perhaps creating a feeding frenzy upon Maori by all in unjust ways. Get back into the pitt and negotiate properly, is what politics should be doing concerning Maori and The Crown right now. Courts should be doing the same. The foundations and getting them right will save a lot of money and heartache, if we take the time now to be considerate and get this right.
What causes resistance could perhaps be economic structuring. An idea, or suggestion: What is needed is something like an Iwi-Kiwi bank for Maori NZ citizens and friends. What is also needed is % quota shares of oil, water, NZ resources sales (similar to the fish case in the Supreme Court) that goes into the Iwi-Kiwi banking structure and is administered to tribes. The money is not for ‘living.’ It is more for development purposes. This would sure up a fast track stream of development for Maori to grow the wider NZ economy quicker. All Kiwis would benefit. Also, people like Mark Solomon, Tainui and Sir Ralph Norris have the business skills to spin out this money for maximum return – if they wanted to get involved.
If Indian immigrants did the same (own their own NZ owned bank etc). If Asian-Kiwis did the same too, then the government’s job would be a key joy. In the US, people develop without government so much. In NZ, government is extremely strong. At times heavy. So a balance between both of these styles of biz governance could perhaps benefit NZ by freeing up the economy more. Then government could more concentrate on the success stories, (throwing more parties in a culture of success celebration achievement), within the four sectors of biz growth and cross-polinate these models (eg: MPI etc) with strategic meetings that would then work more like an economic science of growth, based on what’s actually working being highlighted and replicated and perfected in new ways, thus streamlining the growth process. (Gosh, what a bad structured sentence!).
It’s exciting no matter what way you look at it though.
Young People: Democracy is always built on young energy. If we deplete it, we are stripping the country’s best interests. When we age we can tend to get selfish (although some of the most youthful Kiwis in heart are elderly people – it’s about attitude of being youthfully accepting). We we can lose our peripheral vision as we move into our ‘contentment’ phase of life.
Prof. Paul Spoonley noted with Jessica Mutch the alarming (or just global times realities) statistic of 150,000 young New Zealanders leaving the country since 2008 (the global financial crises years). (more…)
SAMOANA HIP HOP – KING KAPISI IN DA HOUSE
Old school, King Kapisi Samoana hip hop music from New Zealand.
Go cool rappers of South Pacific/ Asia Pac on da airwaves all around Te Ao! :) Tu much.
Rap Lessons line up Tutorials: Rawdon Christie, Toni Street, King Kapisi and weatherman/ youth entertainer, Sam Wallace. TVNZ journalists.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 21.7.12~
JEANETTE THOMAS INTERVIEWS SIR JOHN KIRWAN – AUCKLAND BLUES RUGBY FOOTBALL COACH
Sir John Kirwan was on TV this morning with Jeanette Thomas. When I think of Sir John, I think of my mom sitting with Michael Jones‘ mom, Aunty Maina, at the rugby football park in Northland, in the test match where MJ & JK were both whipper snappers, going for a rugby dream.
You’ve never heard Maori and Samoan mums scream and shout louder in the stands. Nerve-wracking days, both MJ & JK would be successful in being selected for the All Blacks team. It was to be no ordinary team. When Michael got in the All Blacks it was a huge shift in New Zealand consciousness.
The Iceman went on to lift achievement for young people all over New Zealand and the world. Along with Zinzan Brooke, Sir John didn’t do too badly either. A shift abroad proved his worth as a coach and sports brand of entertainment.
Jeanette Thomas has the interview of the Italy, Japan (and now Auckland City) rugby coach talking family, teenagers and having his sights set on a ten-year-career as a coach in New Zealand.
Messages: (Humble) - ”Ten years coaching, then I plan to exit.” “Don’t want to die with music in me.” “Taking a Sir title is not about the title, it is about the reasons.” “Incredibly honored, incredibly humbled, I feel now I have to live up to it.” “If I can help one person through fear, I was a Sir,” he says (paraphrased).
Thomas describes Sir John Kirwan as being a living legend. Watch interview.
The legendary 1987 All Blacks Team included: John Gallagher (Wellington), Craig Green (Canterbury), Joe Stanley (Auckland), John Kirwan (Auckland); Warwick Taylor (Canterbury), Grant Fox (Auckland), David Kirk (Auckland); Wayne Shelford (North Harbour); Michael Jones (Auckland), Gary Whetton (Auckland), Murray Pierce (Wellington), Alan Whetton (Auckland); Steve McDowell (Auckland), Sean Fitzpatrick (Auckland) and John Drake (Auckland), Andy Dalton (Counties), Richard Loe (Waikato), Zinzan Brooke (Auckland), Bernie McCahill (Auckland), Frano Botica (North Harbour) and Bruce Deans (Canterbury).
Rugby was so much fun during these years. Crazy times of sport. It wasn’t so rigid and there was more passion in the game, just for the love of the sport on display. These lads inspired a nation during crucial years where our culture evolved. They were my childhood heroes. The dream team of dreambuilders. With only two channels on TV to choose from, radio commentators in action, no cell phones of any kind and no internet in those days to distract an audience, their celebrity was huge and unparalleled in New Zealand in their spokespersonship roles. They were the voice that shaped a culture. Their words mattered. As a result, they were everyone’s heroes.
What they said and did would shape a nation with depth and meaning. Like all Kiwis of my age-group, in part I too am the product of their character, humour, zest for life and the many gifts of culture that they created on the go, and gave us all as their people.
I could write a book about each one to explain all the pictures of culture they created and shared with their avid audience. They weren’t paid for what they gave, yet they willingly showed generosity of spirit and gave it anyway. Why they are still our bright heroes today. Their ‘books’ they all authored without credit, are a nation of Kiwis. They are some of the finest entertainers New Zealand has ever witnessed, the calibre of whom has rarely been seen since. It’s difficult to know what to say to this generation of stars that the local neighborhoods of New Zealand produced, except Thank you for making us Kiwi too – and a cohesive distinctive society of fun loving people with heart and soul.
~Poster Art: Patricio Guzmán files. 1987 Former All Blacks, photographed with Sir Peter Leitch and Sir Brian Lochore. Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 20.7.12~
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING – MANDIBA NELSON MANDELA – 94th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS, SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa’s first democractically elected black President turned 94 yesterday. He is the man who insighted the world to see beyond color and unfair laws that once supported apartheid’s economic flows certain ways.
As a child, his name is significant to me as my Aunty Awa and her sister marched on rugby stadiums with young activists making a point in those days with other New Zealanders of the calibre of fiery activists like Ripeka Evans and filmmakers like Merata Mita (her filmmaking friends) and their many Pakeha New Zealand friends too. They united as one people, to show solidarity towards a cause of a long walk to freedom.
His name as we know, is Mr Nelson Mandela, a man who inspired Maori and Pasifika children in particular in New Zealand and the South Pacific to hold on to an enduring dream just as he had. Although we had advanced and conscientious school teachers at the school I went to (Barbara Stuthridge-Rudolph being one and Eileen Parore and Jewish-Kiwi, sports obsessed Steven Cohen beingothers), our Pakeha friends, saw us in a different light because of this man’s unusual story.
How would I describe him? He is a vessel of brokenness whose life is filled with the fragrance of humane wisdom, deep gratitude in life; more precious than saphire, he is a gem smith’s diamond cut for freedom’s wider purposes in the world, that makes us look at things beyond the price of oil, in a brighter light of justness towards the gift and maximum miracle of healthy change by being more fair.”
In my childhood in Whangarei City, the most economically oppressed city in those years of NZ - the cry for freedom and change from little ‘ole New Zealand was like a resounding declaration that change was upon us. New Zealand sensed this early and mobilized in response. The cry from Aotearoa New Zealand was:
“the whole world is watching.”
My own mom, to be fair – not only supported her whanau (family) protesting for change, she also invited the South African rugby football team home for lunch from The Grand Hotel. They were so thankful to be invited home. Mom wanted to ensure they experienced Maori manaakitanga amidst the Springboks rugby Tour that would change New Zealand in hard-fought ground for the good. These lessons were stepping stones and milestones of New Zealand culture, that our peace must be founded upon strongly. Some of New Zealand’s most important stories have happened against the backdrop of a sporting context’s profile as was the case when we protested apartheid for people like Mandiba Mandela. It is what we do well. In him and peple just like him, we saw our own redemption.
That day, although we were poor and my missionary parents who once had struggled like the people of the South Pacific do in Island paradise Isles like Samoa, Tonga and Fiji – had lived in a State-bought house they paid off, that was originally built for a Maori radio jockey. He abandoned the home last minute when his marriage unexpectedly dissolved and we were lucky to be moved into it. On the day the Springboks team came home, mom cooked curry with rice in the kitchen - just how she’d learned to in Fiji, that day. Her cooking was a big hit.
Mandela’s name and presence was ever-present in the room on this day too with some of South Africa’s best rugby football stars in our humble Northland home. The moment was surreal yet normal too.
Perhaps as a credit to their own statespersonship and humility caught up in the cross-fire, they were relieved to be welcomed into a Maori-Kiwi cross-cultural home to experience a form of real New Zealand life as it really was. No pretense, a real home with a real young family.
Back to the birthday boy. He is also one of the world’s most favorite anti-apartheid activists towards Peace. In one of the two video clips from South Africa, his angel (a messanger) of hope is one of my favorite American Presidents, Mr Bill Clinton. Not perfect, yet the President with the most personality, love of fun and imbued pizazz – the world has always looked to the USA to provide as an entertaining nation working in tandem with our founding ties and high regard of British culture too. Our indigenous people signed an agreement with Queen Victoria many years ago. We are stil working on getting this right 171 years on since the ink dried. A signed deal for equality means that between our indigenous people and The Crown that represents this agreement. Mandiba Mandela’s story, helped bring this agreement more to the forefront of New Zealand cultural life. He, a bright angel of hope all of those years ago.
Although today, I think South Africa could do with gun reform laws (a notion formerly put forward by New Zealand for South Africa years ago by a leading judge and ignored at home by short-sighted arrogant oversights of governance at the time); an idea that would have made South Africa as a nation safer for its citizens today; this man’s birthday is a very special occasion.
The remarkable footage of 12 million students celebrating the birthday of South Africa’s “Mandiba” Nelson Mandela reminds us that inside prisons sits like deep reservoirs – a living resource, more precious than oil, where some of our most remarkable citizens on earth are found. Prisoners: Real people with bright futures needing rehabilitation, restoration and grace. Nelson Mandela’s life story is a living symbol of this fact. So today, I bow to his legacy and early years as a leader and thank him and his family and friends for what they endured as our teachers.
Euronews reported: “”If was not for him, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t even be smiling again and saying we are one as a rainbow nation,” said Sello Sebogwane.
“When I talk about you (Mandela) I feel like crying. I’m talking about the hero. The man who has spent years in jail for us. You worked for the nation, you helped black people spending 27 years in jail at Robben Island. You did not enjoy your life. God bless you, we still love you and wish you a happy birthday,” added Salome Makgamatho, who was overcome with emotion.”
Grandson Mandla Mandela, said he inspires the idea of “being of greater service (in daily life) and to the nation at large.”
In South Africa: “Mr Clinton, accompanied by his daughter Chelsea, opened a new library for the No-Moscow Primary School in Qunu, ahead of his meeting with Mr Mandela. “When I think about Mandela I always think about someone committed to the future,” Mr Clinton said.
Former President Bill Clinton also said: “He was very pleased the way the people celebrated his birthday with sixty-seven minutes of service.” How sweet… the sound… of South Africa today.
Photos: BBC. Nelson Mandela‘s granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela in a cute Halle Berry reference and nod to Hollywood-Brit, Oscar’s star system said, “he can charm bees out of their beehive.” I think she was referring to Bill Clinton on that one – who does the exact same cheeky thing.
[Photo caption: Graca Machel (left) walks with Chelsea Clinton (second left) and her father, former US president Bill Clinton, as they arrive at a party to celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday in Qunu. Part 2: Bill Clinton & supporter Mr Robert Ellis and friends].
[Birthday - postcard from New Zealand for Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday... coming up soon. God bless you, your family and your dreams still being fulfilled. Thank you.]
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 20.7.12~
HOW KIRK DOUGLAS HELPED TO BREAK BLACKLIST
ABC’S David Muir zooms viewers in to celebrate the life of Kirk Douglas, as a Hollywood light who stood against censorship in a culture where politics was too heavy-handed and blacklist occurred from government. A friend and mentor named Robert, who is 91 and lives in Beverly Hills, once got black-listed because he worked as a journalist who would socialize with black people in Los Angeles when reporting.
He was Jewish, yet he could pass for Parsee. Robert was associated to Lena Horne‘s circle of friends, when Lena was black-listed as a communist. He was blacklisted too. They were crazy times. Robert is still a registered member of Pen America to this day, an organisation that is a global literary community dedicated to protecting free expression and celebrating literature in humane ways.
David Muir’s story goes: “In the 1950s Hollywood was consumed by the blacklist. Writers, producers and actors were called before Congress amid fear they might be Communists. The mere mention of a name was enough to end a career.
“It was the worst time in Hollywood,” Hollywood veteran Kirk Douglas told ABC News. “Everybody told me I was crazy.”
Crazy because as a producer of Spartacus Douglas put his own career on the line, his own fortune, to hire Dalton Trumbo, one of those writers on the blacklist.
“If you do it … you’ll never work in this town again. You will be declared a Communist,” Cleo Trumbo, Dalton’s wife said people told Douglas.
But Douglas, hired Dalton Trumbo anyway, and Spartacus became the top movie of the USA that year. The movie wasn’t only a box-office winner, it was also instrumental in breaking the blacklist.”
Douglas realized that within the face of Dalton Trumbo’s faceless story was his own story, that “there by the grace of God, go I.” He acted on that basis with integrity in liberty, in one pivotal action of inclusion that went beyond surface appearances of the milieu-of-the-day, thus changing history. With confidence in peace Douglas disciplined a system that had become drunk on power, elitist exclusion for personal gain and was blind to the image of itself, while being clearly unjust towards humanity. Kirk Douglas hacked the system of inequality and greed backed unjustly by a state system’s might.
The tyranny of the blacklist was broken. He was an agent of redemption, the only true firm foundation of real grace. Freedom returned, the marginalized advanced and Kirk Douglas included others more honestly with his spirit of wise compassion and fearless courage to love others as he wanted to be treated himself. He demonstrated: “there by the Grace of God, go us.”
[Photo caption: Source: Wikipedia, courtesy of Mesa County Libraries. Spartacus movie still ATTV].
[Photo selection: Author's own & Graden Carter for Vanity Fair]
To the grey-set, wise Jewish doms of Beverly Hills, California… for their humanitarian philosophical thoughtfulness… their sense of humor in displaying a wider humanitarian cause through the oft shallow glitz of show biz’s circus… we say “thank you.”
News selection: as broadcasted on air in New Zealand by Mr. Peter Williams, TVNZ.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 30.6.12~
JOSEPH FORESTER RUNS WITH TORCH ALONG ST ANDREWS BEACH, FIFE SCOTLAND – JUNE 12th 2012
Joseph Forester leads a team of teenagers, children and teachers along St Andrews Beach, Fife Scotland with a torch.
The beach is most famous for Oscar winning film The Chariots of Fire movie about athletes with great faith and a dream. Laura Bicker has the story.
“After travelling through St Andrews, the home of golf and Scotland’s oldest university, the flame will take in Kinross, Alloa, Dunblane, Stirling, Falkirk, Dunfermline before reaching Edinburgh at about 17:45 BST. In 1996 the Stone of Destiny, Scotland’s coronation stone, was placed in the Crown Room of Edinburgh Castle alongside the nation’s Crown Jewels.
Along the way, there will be a visit to Stirling Castle, a symbol of Scottish independence with a long and turbulent history associated with great figures from Scotland’s past such as Mary Queen of Scots and Sir William Wallace, who was the Guardian of Scotland.
Wallace’s statue stands outside the city of Stirling, overlooking the scene of Scotland’s victory at The Battle of Stirling Bridge.
The torch will also visit the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first and only rotating boat lift, before travelling across the Forth Road Bridge at about 16:00 and then taking in the picturesque Hopetoun House.”
Movie quotes of hope: “You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It’s hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape – especially if you’ve got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe you’re dinner’s burnt. Maybe you haven’t got a job. So who am I to say, “Believe, have faith,” in the face of life’s realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, “Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me.”–the character Eric Liddell.
One more: I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.
Finally, in the words of Paul: Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
I think fear today is one of the biggest sins we need to shake off our shoulders. :)
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 13.6.12~
COURAGE – A POEM
COURAGE is
to be yourself
in a world of conformity
to never give up hope
when things seem impossible
to get back up
and rise above adversity
to strive forth confidently
when dreams are deemed unattainable
to be responsible
for your actions
your voice
and your silence
It’s about finding strength
in the midst of disbelief
to have faith
in the face of fear
to conquer obstacles
with a positive mindset
believing
at the very core of your heart
remembering
well and truly what
COURAGE
is
An M. Pale poem, penned 2009.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacifici. 4.3.12~
THE QUEEN’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2011
Courage and spirit that arose from communities during adversity was the theme of Regina‘s Christmas speech this year.
Hit play, to listen.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 27.12.11~
HEARING OF CHINA’S CHRISTIANS IN A LOS ANGELES SYNAGOGUE
Surreal Post of the Day: Once, when sitting in a Jewish synagogue in LA, while wearing a compulsory-complimentary yarmulke black beanie while attending with a Lebanese-Canadian friend – I heard an Israel-friendly American Christian invited to speak.
It was the first time any Christian speaker had been allowed in the synagogue to speak to an audience. It was also most probably the first time a Maori-Kiwi had even set foot in the synagogue too. It did have that feel about it. At the table there were South Africans, Germans and local Jews who all live within walking distance of the synagogue too and a fair handful of Israelis with thick Mid-Eastern accents they have no intention of Americanizing much.
What did the speaker speak of? Something totally unexpected. He spoke of the 300 million Christians in China.
WE BRAVE: THE ELEMENTS – FIRST CROSSINGS REALITY TV SHOW CELEBRATES NEW ZEALAND’S FOUNDING FATHER’S ADVENTUROUS TEAMWORK SPIRIT
John Mulgan‘s famous novel, Man Alone gets an update; finding a twin to depict the art of original (Indiana Jones-styled) adventurous Kiwi spirit. A hallmark of Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding fathers. Must watch TV.
- – -
Lately, the morning television production on the Good Morning television show has been so good. It’s relevant cultural television from the heart of New Zealand’s cultural values. Some of it is so deep, I’ve been staying write away from blogging about it. However, Jeanette Thomas is ever a shape-shifting magician as a TV talent, sharing the limelight with cohosts Matai Rangi Smith and Aster and guests. The team have been doing an amazing job at turning on the Arohatia Te Reo: Love the Maori Language theme of the show this week.
One of the upcoming TV shows the team have promo-ed is First Crossings, a show that celebrates the adventurous indomitable spirit of our early Pakeha settlers to New Zealand (eg: Sir Peter Jackson‘s people for example and many Kiwis’ founding fathers, my own too – and Kiwi moms). First Crossings is a reality TV concept, featuring adventurer record holders, Jamie Fitzgerald and Kevin Biggar, that takes audiences across the wilds of New Zealand’s vast whenua, fiordland rivers and diverse landscapes. The show is very Sir Edmund Hillary in spirit.
Already, I can tell it’s my favorite new TV show to hit the air soon, as in New Zealand, what we want is to see ourselves, our people, our stories, our identity onscreen at this time, more than anything else the world can offer us. First Crossing takes us back in time and does that. To be Kiwi cool you have to reinterpret what our icons of culture gave us in the past, switch it up and play it forward in a modern and relevant manner, imbued with new levels of meaning. It’s just what we Kiwis do. Our sense of fun, play, humor being shared.
On that note, we are extremely proud of our Pakeha culture in Aotearoa New Zealand. Most of it anyways.
It’s fact: New Zealand is defined by adventurous people who know how to navigate change. That trait, brought us all on the trail to Aotearoa in different waves and stages. (more…)
July 24, 2012 | Categories: 3D, 3D Documentary, A Different View, Action Stars, Adventure Tourism, Adventurous Team Achievements, Antarctica, Art, artist, Asia Pacific, Asia-Pacific, Athletes, Barry White On Tour, Bronaaki, Buddy Movies TV, Comedians, Courage, Cowboy Culture, Crafts, Creative, Creative Writing, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Crown Minerals, Cultural Cringe - How We Got Over It, cultural lore, Culture, Directors, Dream Environments, Earth, Earth Watch, Eccentrics, Endurance, Entertainment Distribution, Entertainment News, Experiments, Explorer, Extreme Sports, First Crossings, Founding Father's South Pacific, Founding Fathers - Aotearoa New Zealand, Freedom, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Speech, Fun:, Funny TV, Graduates - School of Hard Knocks, Harrison Ford, Hats, Heritage Arts & Culture, Hollywood Television Service, Innovation, Inventors, Jamie Fitzgerald, Jeanette Thomas, John Mulgan, Kevin Biggar, Kiwi Heroes, Kiwi Sayings, Kool Kiwis, Krazy Kiwis, Leadership, Life Coaches, Maori Television Service - Hollywood, Matai Rangi Smith, Navigation, New Zealand, New Zealand Citizens, New Zealand Wool, New Zealand's Got Talent, Pakehas, Pioneering Spirit, Pop Art, Pop Cultural Commentary, Producers, Reality TV Stars, Relevancy, Resilience, Resource Management, Robert Falcon Scott, Rock Climbing, Rowing, Science, Science & Innovation, Science Teachers, Science-Fantasy, Screenplays, Screenwriters, Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Peter Jackson, Sled Racing, South Pacific, South Pacific Television Hollywood, Spirit, Sport & Weight Loss Nutritionals, Sports, Sports Horiwood, Sports Psychology, Sports Talent Management, Star System - The Art of Aotearoa New Zealand Celebrity, Star System - The Art of South Pacific Celebrity, Super heroes, Superpowers discourse and direction, Sustainable Living, Sustainable Prosperity, Trekking, Vision, Wrestling, Writers | Leave A Comment »