What an interesting thread, Ladyzekke! And what a thoughtful post to start it.
I was born in 1937, so I don't remember any real peace. I lived through war in my childhood and I was too old not to be aware of news after the war, so I feel as though we have never known peace. We have had times that have been more tense than others, is all!

The present time feels as though we are on a cusp of history. We can either go down a road that leads to greater and greater disaster - or we can go down a road leading to increased security and real progress in international and interpersonal relations.

At present it is impossible to predict which it will be, imho.

But there is so much concern among the ordinary people of this world for the situation of those in Afghanistan and other desperate peoples that I have just a tiny bit of hope we will go down the path of peace.
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Dubbed Queen of the Illuminati by Diogenes.

You have a good point Ronn Bman, as kids we were oblivious to much. I remember seeing certain things on the news about "conflicts", and I remember when the gas prices went up (Carter days), and everyone had to get gas on certain days, odds or evens I think if I remember correctly, but because it did not directly affect ME, it did not seem real, again especially as a kid. Eventually I grew up, and actually started wanting to watch the news and be informed on what was going on in not only my neck of the woods, but other countries as well. Now, at this point in life, I have read and watched so much (via the news, TV interviews, documentaries, video footage, etc. etc. etc....) it is almost overkill, there are some things I really didn't want to see or know. Ignorance is truly bliss, but once ignorance is taken away, there is no going back. So of course now, with everything going on, I find myself doing a lot of thinking and wondering and worrying, but at the same time, am not going to hide away in a hole in fear, will "carry on." http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

Flotjsdale - Glad you liked it http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...miles/wink.gif

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I just hope I can supply my kids with the same sense of safety and security my folks did, while at the same time trying to keep them aware of the world they live in.

Now if I could just get my kids to listen to the Commodores once in awhile http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif

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"The Martyr" (excerpt)

There is sobbing of the strong,
And a pall upon the land;
But the People in their weeping
Bare the iron hand:
Beware the People weeping
When they bare the iron hand.

--Herman Melville (written after the assasination of President Abraham Lincoln)

[This message has been edited by Ronn_Bman (edited 10-20-2001).]

Hey Wendy! Took me a while to get here but I'm glad I found this! Very interesting and as usual, you make me think! http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...les/tongue.gif

I have 6 yrs on you! Born in 1960, I grew up with Beatles, Star Trek, the Cold War, mood rings, hot pants, and pet rocks. I did Vacation Bible school in summers, 'progressive' school the rest of the year.. you know experimental at the time.. let the student learn at their own level and pace. I remember running outside on a clear night to watch the moon the night that Neil Armstrong made history.

I do think we live in times that are full of huge events. Sometimes it may feel like the end.. but I know from my studies in church that we can't know when the actual end time is upon us. Christ will "come as a thief in the night" and thieves don't announce themselves as a general rule! http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif I look at my life and think how extraordinary it is that I am where I am and have love and friendship in my life . I am Blessed beyond belief and sometimes it's overwhelming. My life has not always been rosy and in fact it wasn't typical nor did I have the ideal family. (ok... I'm gonna earn a prize for understatement on that one!) But it was what I had to live through, endure and experience in order to become who I am today. Life is an ongoing lesson and I have finally learned how to be a good student.... although I still don't always get my lesson the first time around!
I believe we should live each day as if it were the last and try to be at peace with ourselves and God. If we are always ready, we won't have regrets.

Great thread, Wendy.. thanks.http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif

Cloudy


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Raindancer of the Laughing Hyenas Clan
CloudDragon of the OHF
Storm-Queen
Raven's Cloud
StormCloud of the Black Knight: Heart Mind Soul Forever
"To sleep, perchance to dream..."

[This message has been edited by Cloudbringer (edited 10-20-2001).]

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You caught me Lady Z!
1961 here. The worst thing I was afraid of was vampires when I was growing up..mostly Barnabus Collins and Dark Shadows. The world events of even Vietnam never crossed my mind. Nor did any world events until 1979 when I joined the Army.
Kids now a days are alot more aware and mature than our days growing up. Times are different. Wars and rumors of wars have gone on for thousands of years. Weapons are now capable of complete mass destruction so I can relate to your concern. But is that feeling different than thinking some kind of guards could find you at anytime and execute you..its fear itself. (If the chip for an identification mark came out tomorrow I would say differently. But. mybe the buds are showing a little on the tree of life.) Keep your oil in your lamp sis http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

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*\Conan/*
Laughing Hyenas
Peace Keeping Force member

[This message has been edited by Conan (edited 10-21-2001).]

Thanks for posting that Conan http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif. I'm making an effort to not "freak out" because of our recent incidences and circumstances, just one of those things that just hover in the back of my mind is all. I'm hangin in there strong, big bro! http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...miles/wink.gif It's not like I really believe "end times" are here or "a'comin", more like these types of instances makes me ponder that subject more often. I tend to look at things "as a whole", and therefore tend to think of future reactions from present actions, and what will happen next.

ANYWAY, was it a beautiful day in Virginia today or what!? http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif Perfect weather! Hope you had a nice day and were able to enjoy it Conan http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

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Born in 1961 - and yes, the world was different then, I believe. The nuclear threat came along, don't remember quite when exactly - but I do remember it being a factor of unease when I was growing up. There was always that feeling that the world could 'end'. That was a new feeling for the world.

Nowadays, the media get around a lot more, and so we are aware of much more of what is happening. I think the world's always had a lot going on, but before we had all this communications technology, we were only aware of our own little portion of it. (Of course, I'm talking way before my own childhood there...)

Nowadays, there really IS a lot going on, though. Much of our technology is far from benign - there are more weapons, of more types, with more killing potential, on the earth now than there ever have been. Environmentally, there's a lot happening too, much of it bad. We weren't particularly aware of environmental issues in the sixties - Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' might have been published in 1962, but it mostly fell on deaf ears.

Our current fast expanding population is also a major factor in the feeling of unease, I feel. In 1800, for example, just 200 years ago, there were only 1 billion of us. The year before I was born, 1960, we hit 3 billion. Now, just 40 years later, our population has doubled to 6 billion, with all the associated problems and issues that such a large increase in a very short time brings. Diminishing resources, an exploding global population, and a world economics that depends on growth (which cannot be sustained, as the earth's resources and carrying capacity are finite). It was inevitable that already existing problems would escalate both in scale and severity. And they are.

But I am not a supporter of 'end of the world' thinking and prophecies, and never will be. I believe that the human race faces challenges never before seen, and we can choose to take the wisdom path, founded firmly in a sense of community and love, caring about each other and the planet that is our home, (enlightened self interest) or we can take the woe path, and carry on as we are until the shit *really* hits the fan, (just plain self interest) and we are forced to change both the ways we live our lives, and the ways we interact with each other.

In a way, the current situation, not just with regard to terrorism, but the environment, developing countries, human rights, and so on... all this gives us a huge opportunity to do things differently. 'If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got'. So goes the old adage. Time for the human race to find ourselves a couple of new paradigms, maybe??

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Most Ecstatic and Exotic Mistress of the Illuminati

[This message has been edited by Silver Cheetah (edited 10-23-2001).]