Lest We Forget

There's a lot of attention on US troops. Some negative, such as protests at soldier funerals. A lot of positive, pictures and messages saying, "Support our troops!". It's an internet meme now. That's how many of those messages are out there. Understand, I don't want to bash the troops. I don't support the invasion of the Middle East, but that's the fault of politicians, not the soldiers. I agree that the men and women serving overseas deserve respect and admiration. And for those that die... there's a reason we say, "Lest we forget." (A phrase that I remember repeating in Canada.)

But there are other things that we should remember.

Lest we forget...
Abuse is intolerable, so is neglect; discipline is a must.
Lest we forget...
Music is meant to be felt, not heard.
Lest we forget...
Humans are not immortal, they are not gods. From dust we came, to dust we go. Swiftly.
Lest we forget...
Reading without enjoyment is meaningless.
Lest we forget...
Existing is life without a meaning; living is meaning to exist.
Lest we forget...
There is always a choice, we are powerful, and we should be responsible with our choices. Lest we forget...
"Luminous beings are we; not this crude matter."
I'll expand on this list as my thoughts flow, freeze, and thaw. Think a moment, however. What else should be repeated, lest we forget?

Current favs

It's been a while since my last "Current Favs" post. Therefore, it's time to bring it back! Here are this week's favs.

Play It Loud by the Black Eyed Peas


I heard this song while I was shopping with Malisa. It was playing in... Express(?) and I was bored. Then I heard the first line: "I pledge my allegiance to rhythm and sound." I was hooked after that because it fit into my veritas: music is life.

Brighter Than The Sun by Colbie Caillat


When I heard Colbie Caillat's first songs come out, I wasn't terribly impressed. Granted, her songs are well written and the woman can sing well. The songs just weren't in a style that I liked. This one's more upbeat and it's got a lively message.

Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO


This is just a fun song and the music vid makes me grin. 'nuff said. =D

Hey Mama by Mat Kearney


At first, I thought this song was done by Jack Johnson but it didn't seem to be quite his style. Took me a couple of days to figure out who sang it. Was kind of like an itch that's just out of reach - once you're irritated enough, you'll find a way to scratch it. Then there's just endorphins and a smile.

My Veritas

I find that lately I have had a lot of questions.  I have questioned who I am.  What I believe.  What my purpose is right now.  Un/fortunately, it is the nature of Man to question.  That's the way of Life.  But while questions are plentiful in this life, answers are found once in a quarter-century.  And questions often breed unwanted results.  Questions often breed inaction.  So, for tonight, I choose to act.  I choose to find/make answers.  What follows is my philosophy, my game plan.  What follows are my answers.  What follows is my veritas.  What follows is me.

My name is Peter Joseph Okimi, but my name is Joe (and I am Canadian).
I believe that life is a game.  Life is The Game.  If you win, you live; if you lose, you die.
I believe that living is a wonderful, joyous adventure.  It is not bland, it is not boring, it is not existence.  Living is rolling a natural 20 while duking with the final boss, stealing it's loot, and stomping around its hunting grounds.  It's not dropping a mob to 0 HP and calling yourself badass.
I believe that family is vital to my existence.  Those select few, however, are chosen by me, not by blood.  In this case, blood is not thicker.
I believe that life is about choice.  Everything is a choice.  What is perceived as no choice is simply a different choice wrapped in the rotten potato peelings of self-doubt, self-pity, and apathy.  No matter what you do with the peelings, you can't call the end result a potato.  They're still just peelings.  Likewise, life is a collection of choices.  Not a collection of the all-time greatest hits of Fate.
I believe that love is a verb.  Like a seed, it grows with time, effort, and patience.  If those are lacking, it dies.
I believe that God is my Father.  He's not my dad, and he's not my father.  He's my Father (listen carefully to hear the capital letter when I speak) and He has never loved me more or less than He does now.  God is love, and God is eternal.  Therefore, love is eternal.  It follows, then, that God has always loved me with every facet of His being and He always will.
I believe that Why is the cousin of What.  Te reason for performing an action is directly related to the action itself and vice versa.

These are 8 beliefs that I hold; 8 beliefs that are sacred to me.  These are a part of my veritas--my truth.