· · · Of By For ward · · ·
Our Descendants
What Will They Think?
I think we can wonder whether our descendants—because I think they'll still be here—what they will think about us, and let us hope that at least they will give us the benefit of the doubt.
That they will believe (and have the living evidence to truly know, enjoy and fully appreciate) that we have honestly striven in our day and generation to preserve for our descendants a decent land to live in and a decent form of government—of by for we the people—to operate under.
- Franklin D Roosevelt
- David Biagini
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Sleight Of Penned
Virtuous Precepts
A Governement Of By For We The People, must be a government populated with those same people, for that is the only way of assurance of such a Government.
Benjamin Franklin created a list of virtues that are of good guidance for such People and such a Government.
• Temperance —
Eat not to dullness : Drink not to elevation.
• Silence —
Speak only what may benefit others or yourself : Avoid trifling conversation.
• Order —
Let all your things have their places : Let part of your business have its time.
• Resolution —
Resolve to perform what you ought : Perform without fail what you resolve.
• Frugality —
Make no expense but to do good to others and yourself : Waste nothing.
• Industry —
Be always employed in something useful : Cut off all unnecessary actions.
• Sincerity —
Use no hurtful deceipt : Think and speak innocently and justly.
• Justice —
Bring no injuries : Do not omit benefits for others that are your duty.
• Moderation —
Avoid extremes : Forbear resenting injuries through thoughtful consideration.
• Cleanliness —
Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes or habitation : Mind, body & spirit.
• Tranquility —
Be not disturbed at trifles : Peaceful through accidents common or unavoidable.
• Chastity —
Let all enactions be through kindly morality : Embody empathy and compassion.
• Humility —
Live with realization of a shared space : Understand the significance of all.
- Benjamin Franklin
- David Biagini
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Human Gnome
Memorable Diplomacy
That the great affairs of the world, the wars, revolution, etc, are carried on and effected by parties".
That the view of these parties is their present general interest, or what they take to be such".
That the different views of these different parties occasion all confusion".
That while a party is carrying on a general design, each person has a particular private interest in view".
That, as soon as a party has gained its general point, each member becomes intent upon a particular interest, which, thwarting others, breaks that party into divisions and occasions and more confusion".
That few in public affairs act from a mere view of good of their country, whatever they may pretend, and fail to bring real good to their country, yet have considered that their own and country's interest were united, and so did not act from a principle of benevolence".
That fewer still, in public affairs, act with a view to the good of mankind".
• • •
We The People
Matter
• • •
That there is one
GOD
... governs by providence".
... is worshipped through adoration, prayer and gratitude".
... honors the service of doing good toward others".
... gifted a soul that is immortal".
... punishes vice toward self and others".
... rewards virtue toward self and others
".
- Benjamin Franklin
- David Biagini
::
WTF
Motion for Prayers
The small progress we have made in close occasionally distant attendance and continual reasonings with each other, our different sentiments on almost every question, constantly producing as many Noes as Ayes, is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running all about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of these republics which, having been originally formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist; and we have viewed modern states all around, but found none of their circumstances suitable to our circumstances.
In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were, in the dark, to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Giver of Lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection! Our prayers were heard; and they were graciously answered. All of US who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favour. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance?
The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that GOD governs in the affairs of men! And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without notice, is it probable that an empire can rise unaided? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings, that "without gratitude of the Divine, they labour in vain to build a house". I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that without the concurring aid of GOD, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the building of Babel : we shall be divided by our little partial local interests, our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become reproach and a byword down to future ages. And, what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers, imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberations, be held at the initiation of each and every Assembly before we proceed to business; and on occasion officiated by one or more clergy.
- Benjamin Franklin
- David Biagini
::
Me Verses Me
High Achievement
It is not the critic who counts; not the person who points out how someone else stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the one who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends oneself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that one's place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
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We must act upon the motto of all for each and each for all. There must be ever present in our minds the fundamental truth that in a republic such as ours the only safety is to stand neither for nor against any one because of richness or poorness, because someone is engaged in one occupation or another, because one works more with thought or works more with hands. We must treat each person on the worth and merits as a human. We must see that each is given a square deal, because everyone is entitled to no more and should receive no less.
Finally, we must keep ever in mind that a republic such as ours can exist only by virtue of the orderly liberty which comes through the equal domination of the law over all people alike, and through its administration in such resolute and fearless fashion as shall teach all that no single person is above it and no single person below it.
- Theodore Roosevelt
- David Biagini
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Tobe, Forever Young
a republic, if
(in focus)
You & I • We can keep it
(in truth)
What do the words dictator, authoritarian, totalitarian, tyrant, oppressor, despot, autocrat, and even oligarch have in common? They all describe an individual who holds a severe belief in a universe of lack, consistently attempting to place themselves into a position of a god—gluttonously overindulgent disease. They all describe an individual who grasps onto the weakest of foundational principles—the rule of lack—clearly no act of one who holds true almighty power. For to truly be of almighty power, one would have to believe in a universe of infinite abundance—a universe where lack can only exist in the minds of the ultimate weak. As a result all—absolutely all—governments encompassing such descriptions as the preliminary list of words are doomed to fail, and assuredly will. In fact it is the safest of all bets.
In consideration of the power inherent with the common faith in money, top money players have historically acted to influence government as if it were a subservient portion of a gluttonously bloated corporation in the surest direction of doom. The power hungry, suffering under their mentality of lack, continually tighten their blinders so they are less likely to witness their own destructive repercussions, actively refusing to see the big multidimensional enriching environment. The health of a national economy only does well when the beating heart of wealth is pulsing a highly nutriated flow throughout the reaches of its existence, which always brings benefits back to the heart. Therefore money must flow through all hands in relative abundance. Otherwise the stagnation of wealth constipated in the bowels of dirty hands can only result in a cancerous tumor, that if allowed to siphon life unchecked will certainly kill any country.
An alternate bet that has many variables, including the determination and quality of what is a win or loss, is the sustainability of a government built upon the foundations of democracy. In truth the only system of rule that can successfully survive something close to eternity is a republic. But as Benjamin Franklin so concisely indicated, “a republic, if you can keep it”... For it is up to the- and every- individual and the enduring singular plural of we the people through the ages to ensure the encompassing malleability of an ever changing populous can incorporate the balancing of powers in such a manner that will persistently ensure the lifting of an entire country. Such is a purpose of the truly almighty.
- David Biagini
::
Money Charms
Motion for Peace
We, as Americans, do not choose to deny our responsibility.
Nor do we intend to abandon our determination that, within the lives of our children and our children's children, there will not be a third world war.
We seek peace—enduring peace. More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all wars—yes, an end to this brutal, inhuman, and thoroughly impractical method of settling the differences between governments.
Today, science has brought all the different quarters of the globe so close together that it is impossible to isolate them one from another.
Today we are faced with the preeminent fact that, if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships—the ability of all people, of all kinds, to live together and work together, in the same world, at peace.
Let me assure you that my hand is the steadier for the work that is to be done, that I move more firmly into the task, knowing that you—millions and millions of you—are joined with me in the resolve to make this work endure.
The work, my friends, is peace. More than an end of this war—an end to the beginnings of all wars. Yes, an end, forever, to this impractical, unrealistic settlement of the differences between governments by the mass killing of people.
Today, as we move against the terrible scourge of war—as we go forward toward the greatest contribution that any generation of human beings can make in this world—the contribution of lasting peace, I ask you to keep up your faith. I measure the sound, solid achievement that can be made at this time by the straight-edge of your own confidence and your resolve. And to you, and to all Americans who dedicate themselves with us to the making of an abiding peace, I say:
The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with
strong and active faith.
- Franklin D Roosevelt
- David Biagini
::
Store Wears
Universal Rights
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of humankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people
Whereas it is essential, if humans are not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations
- United Nations
- David Biagini
::
Coloring Zen
In Courage
Where after do human rights begin? In small places, close to home-- so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: The neighborhood one lives in; the school or college one attends; the factory, farm or office where one works. Such are the places where every human on any age seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.
•
Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
- David Biagini
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We The Pupil
Of By For ward
Three four score and one and seven years ago our founders brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all humans are created equal.
Now We The People are engaged in a great civil conflict, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great land and a great world wide web of that war. We have come at this moment to dedicate a portion of our understanding and appreciation for those who have given their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this shared ground. The brave, living and dead, who struggled and as yet struggle here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for US the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for US to be dedicated to the great task remaining before US, to see then to learn then to truly see—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that We The Pupil highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of a shared and unifying freedom—and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
- Abraham Lincoln
- David Biagini (202409)
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