“
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Above all else, guard your heart for it affects everything else you do.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Psalm 28:7 NIV)
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. (Psalms 116:1-2 NIV)
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Love never fails. —I Corinthians 13:8a
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing!
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Thou shalt not stand idly by
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Matthew 10:34
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12 (NIV)
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Wisdom is justified by all her children.
Luke 7:35
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
But when perfections comes, the imperfect disappears
1st Corinthians
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Now faith is being sure of what we believe in and certain of what we do not see. (Heb. 11:1)
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising loving kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
This is my command- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Let us run with perserverance the race marked for us.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.”-
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.
And I declared that the dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.
But better than both
is the one who has never been born,
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
For this reason I tell you: When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
i breathe in strength and release my fears
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Strengthening the hearts of the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith, and by telling them, "It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God."
Acts 14:22
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
In all things God works for the good of those who love Him.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth: the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
The saviour answered...and said, If you want to be perfect, you will keep these teachings. If not, you deserve to be called ignorant. For a wise person cannot associate with a fool. The wise person is perfect in all wisdom, but to the fool, good and evil are one and the same. For the wise person will be nourished by the truth...Some people have wings but run after what they can see, what is far from the truth.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
I have learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
HE will raise me up on eagles wings...bear you on the breath of dawn...make you shine like the sun and hold you in the palm of HIS hand..
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:16-17)
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers... (Matthew 12:48)
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." -2nd Chronicles 7:14
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Do not fear, for I am with you - Isaiah 41:10
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'
40: And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
Proverbs 31:7
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good that I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
I do not understand what I do....It is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me...For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing...I find this law at work: when I want to do good, evil is right there with me...I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin...I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
- Ephesians 4:2
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
When thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet 'underneath' thee 'are everlasting arms'. Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ's great atonement is still under all.
”
”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (Morning and Evening: New International Version)
“
Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
”
”
Anonymous (The Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (Hebrews 6:19)
”
”
Anonymous
“
The Lord Will Provide.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
If you cannot pray, simply recite Lord’s Prayer (Psalm 23:1-6):-
A psalm of David. New International Version
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
”
”
Lailah Gifty Akita (Pearls of Wisdom: Great mind)
“
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down,and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery... But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.
”
”
Anonymous (The Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
14The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
What is desirable in a man is his kindness.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy bible - New International Version)
“
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version, NIV)
“
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version, NIV)
“
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)
”
”
Anonymous (New International Version Single Column Text Bible: Burgundy)
“
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
- Proverbs 18:15 (NIV)
”
”
Anonymous
“
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. a
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about for many a day, he steps again upon the solid shore, is the satisfaction of a Christian when amidst all the changes of this troublous life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth---'I am the Lord, I change not.'
”
”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (Morning and Evening: New International Version)
“
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”d
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
so that his terror would frighten me no more. 35Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
John baptized with[37] water, but you will be baptized with[38] the Holy Spirit.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. 14The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
It was about four in the afternoon.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
”
”
Anonymous (NIV Holy Bible)
“
5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
This new situation, in which "humanity" has in effect assumed the role formerly ascribed to nature or history, would mean in this context that the right to have rights, or the right of every individual to belong to humanity, should be guaranteed by humanity itself. It is by no means certain whether this is possible. For, contrary to the best-intentioned humanitarian attempts to obtain new declarations of human rights from international organizations, it should be understood that this idea transcends the present sphere of international law which still operates in terms of reciprocal agreements and treaties between sovereign states; and, for the time being, a sphere that is above the nation does not exist. Furthermore, this dilemma would by no means be eliminated by the establishment of a "world government." Such a world government is indeed within the realm of possibility, but one may suspect that in reality it might differ considerably from the version promoted by idealistic-minded organizations. The crimes against human rights, which have become a specialty of totalitarian regimes, can always be justified by the pretext that right is equivalent to being good or useful for the whole in distinction to its parts. (Hitler's motto that "Right is what is good for the German people" is only the vulgarized form of a conception of law which can be found everywhere and which in practice will remain effectual only so long as older traditions that are still effective in the constitutions prevent this.) A conception of law which identifies what is right with the notion of what is good for—for the individual, or the family, or the people, or the largest number—becomes inevitable once the absolute and transcendent measurements of religion or the law of nature have lost their authority. And this predicament is by no means solved if the unit to which the "good for" applies is as large as mankind itself. For it is quite conceivable, and even within the realm of practical political possibilities, that one fine day a highly organized and mechanized humanity will conclude quite democratically—namely by majority decision—that for humanity as a whole it would be better to liquidate certain parts thereof.
”
”
Hannah Arendt (The Origins of Totalitarianism)
“
They used Akbar's principles to formulate a version of Islam that could peacefully co-exist with other religions (or so they claimed). An Emperor's Bequest to Islam, their joint 1,300-page doorstopper, spent twenty weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in hardcover alone. The fact that they remained practicing Muslims (albeit the liberal, wine-guzzling kind) put their message in high international demand.
”
”
Manil Suri (The City of Devi)
“
Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”
What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again.
All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing.
What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which one can say,
“Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
No one remembers the former generations,
and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow them.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: New International Version)
“
If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”j 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,k neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
Psalm 56a For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.b When the Philistines had seized him in Gath. 1Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. 2My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. 3When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 5All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin. 6They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life. 7Because of their wickedness do notc let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down. 8Record my misery; list my tears on your scrolld— are they not in your record? 9Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. 10In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise— 11in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me? 12I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: NIV, New International Version)
“
ONE SIDE OF the history of Rome is a history of politics, of war, of victory and defeat, of citizenship and of everything that went on in public between prominent men. I have outlined one dramatic version of that history, as Rome transformed from a small, unimpressive town next to the Tiber into first a local and eventually an international power base. Almost every aspect of that transformation was contested and sometimes literally fought over: the rights of the people against the senate, the questions of what liberty meant and how it was to be guaranteed, the control that was, or was not, to be exercised over conquered territory, the impact of empire, for good or bad, on traditional Roman politics and values. In the process, a version of citizenship was somehow invented that was new in the classical world. Greeks had occasionally shared citizenship, on an ad hoc basis, between two cities. But the idea that it was the norm, as the Romans insisted, to be a citizen of two places – to count two places as home – was fundamental to Roman success on the battlefield and elsewhere, and it has proved influential right up into the twenty-first century. This was a Roman revolution, and we are its heirs.
”
”
Mary Beard (SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome)
“
Even if there is no connection between diversity and international influence, some people would argue that immigration brings cultural enrichment. This may seem to be an attractive argument, but the culture of Americans remains almost completely untouched by millions of Hispanic and Asian immigrants. They may have heard of Cinco de Mayo or Chinese New Year, but unless they have lived abroad or have studied foreign affairs, the white inhabitants of Los Angeles are likely to have only the most superficial knowledge of Mexico or China despite the presence of many foreigners.
Nor is it immigrants who introduce us to Cervantes, Puccini, Alexander Dumas, or Octavio Paz. Real high culture crosses borders by itself, not in the back pockets of tomato pickers, refugees, or even the most accomplished immigrants. What has Yo-Yo Ma taught Americans about China? What have we learned from Seiji Ozawa or Ichiro about Japan? Immigration and the transmission of culture are hardly the same thing. Nearly every good-sized American city has an opera company, but that does not require Italian immigrants.
Miami is now nearly 70 percent Hispanic, but what, in the way of authentic culture enrichment, has this brought the city? Are the art galleries, concerts, museums, and literature of Los Angeles improved by diversity? Has the culture of Detroit benefited from a majority-black population? If immigration and diversity bring cultural enrichment, why do whites move out of those very parts of the country that are being “enriched”?
It is true that Latin American immigration has inspired more American school children to study Spanish, but fewer now study French, German, or Latin. If anything, Hispanic immigration reduces what little linguistic diversity is to be found among native-born Americans. [...] [M]any people study Spanish, not because they love Hispanic culture or Spanish literature but for fear they may not be able to work in America unless they speak the language of Mexico.
Another argument in favor of diversity is that it is good for people—especially young people —to come into contact with people unlike themselves because they will come to understand and appreciate each other. Stereotyped and uncomplimentary views about other races or cultures are supposed to crumble upon contact. This, of course, is just another version of the “contact theory” that was supposed to justify school integration. Do ex-cons and the graduates—and numerous dropouts—of Los Angeles high schools come away with a deep appreciation of people of other races? More than half a century ago, George Orwell noted that:
'During the war of 1914-18 the English working class were in contact with foreigners to an extent that is rarely possible. The sole result was that they brought back a hatred of all Europeans, except the Germans, whose courage they admired.
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Jared Taylor (White Identity: Racial Consciousness in the 21st Century)
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Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia prohibit inmates from voting while incarcerated for a felony offense. Only two states - Maine and Vermont - permit inmates to vote. The vast majority of states continue to withhold the right to vote when prisoners are released on parole. Even after the term of punishment expires, some states deny the right to vote for a period ranging from a number of years to the rest of one's life.
This is far from the norm in other countries - like Germany, for instance, which allows (and even encourages) prisoners to vote. In fact, about half of European countries allow all incarcerated people to vote, while others disqualify only a small number of prisoners from the polls. Prisoners vote either in their correctional facilities or by some version of absentee ballot in their town of previous residence. Almost all of the countries that place some restrictions on voting in prison are in Eastern Europe, part of the former Communist bloc.
No other country in the world disenfranchises people who are released from prison in a manner even remotely resembling the United States. In fact, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has charged that U.S. disenfranchisement policies are discriminatory and violate international law. In those few European countries that permit limited postprison disqualification, the sanction is very narrowly tailored and the number of people disenfranchised is probably in the dozens or hundreds. In the United States, by contrast, voting disqualification upon release from prison is automatic, with no legitimate purpose, and affects millions.
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Michelle Alexander (The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness)
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The last refuge of the Self, perhaps, is “physical continuity.” Despite the body’s mercurial nature, it feels like a badge of identity we have carried since the time of our earliest childhood memories. A thought experiment dreamed up in the 1980s by British philosopher Derek Parfit illustrates how important—yet deceiving—this sense of physical continuity is to us.15 He invites us to imagine a future in which the limitations of conventional space travel—of transporting the frail human body to another planet at relatively slow speeds—have been solved by beaming radio waves encoding all the data needed to assemble the passenger to their chosen destination. You step into a machine resembling a photo booth, called a teletransporter, which logs every atom in your body then sends the information at the speed of light to a replicator on Mars, say. This rebuilds your body atom by atom using local stocks of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and so on. Unfortunately, the high energies needed to scan your body with the required precision vaporize it—but that’s okay because the replicator on Mars faithfully reproduces the structure of your brain nerve by nerve, synapse by synapse. You step into the teletransporter, press the green button, and an instant later materialize on Mars and can continue your existence where you left off. The person who steps out of the machine at the other end not only looks just like you, but etched into his or her brain are all your personality traits and memories, right down to the memory of eating breakfast that morning and your last thought before you pressed the green button. If you are a fan of Star Trek, you may be perfectly happy to use this new mode of space travel, since this is more or less what the USS Enterprise’s transporter does when it beams its crew down to alien planets and back up again. But now Parfit asks us to imagine that a few years after you first use the teletransporter comes the announcement that it has been upgraded in such a way that your original body can be scanned without destroying it. You decide to give it a go. You pay the fare, step into the booth, and press the button. Nothing seems to happen, apart from a slight tingling sensation, but you wait patiently and sure enough, forty-five minutes later, an image of your new self pops up on the video link and you spend the next few minutes having a surreal conversation with yourself on Mars. Then comes some bad news. A technician cheerfully informs you that there have been some teething problems with the upgraded teletransporter. The scanning process has irreparably damaged your internal organs, so whereas your replica on Mars is absolutely fine and will carry on your life where you left off, this body here on Earth will die within a few hours. Would you care to accompany her to the mortuary? Now how do you feel? There is no difference in outcome between this scenario and what happened in the old scanner—there will still be one surviving “you”—but now it somehow feels as though it’s the real you facing the horror of imminent annihilation. Parfit nevertheless uses this thought experiment to argue that the only criterion that can rationally be used to judge whether a person has survived is not the physical continuity of a body but “psychological continuity”—having the same memories and personality traits as the most recent version of yourself. Buddhists
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James Kingsland (Siddhartha's Brain: Unlocking the Ancient Science of Enlightenment)