Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness: How? 窮則兼善天下,達則獨善其身
TJKCB Notes:
Today is World Kindness Day - an international observance on 13 November. On Saturday, wear a kindness t-shirt or sweatshirt. We also love the idea of wearing a cardigan in honor of Mr. Rogers. Be sure to take photos on World Kindness Day and tag @inspirekindacts or #worldkindnessday!
What is the theme of the World Kindness Day 2023?
14 hours ago
World Kindness Day takes on a particular theme every year with its vital values. Themes might change, but the message generally continues as before, kindness can change lives. The theme for the year 2023 is "Be Kind Wherever Possible"
"Be Kind Wherever Possible" got me to the following post, prompting me to jot down:
Liberty? Can you handle it? It is too hot to handle for the majority of ordinary people. Aha, you don't think so? Read on below to see if you can fit it into the situation of sacrifice. ARE YOU READY ?
However, I argue in favor of "窮則兼善天下, 達則獨善其身," as Jesus Christ praised the 2 penny poor woman for wanting to help others. Why?
In poverty, one should cultivate oneself and be considerate of the world, as such, expanding one's horizons and lifting up spirit; in prosperity, one should focus on self-cultivation to refrain from doing evil, greedy, and dangerous things with one's huge resources, as history's riches and fame backed up Adolph Hitler of Germany in WW2.
In the context of the Christian teaching about the "two-penny poor woman"[a way for The Pursuit of Happiness], we can argue that even in a state of poverty, individuals can exhibit a remarkable spirit of self-cultivation through acts of generosity and kindness.
The story of the "two-penny poor woman" is often associated with a biblical account in Mark 12:41–44 and Luke 21:1-4. In this narrative, Jesus observes a poor widow putting two small copper coins into the temple treasury. Despite her poverty, she gives all she has, demonstrating a selfless and generous spirit. Jesus commends her action, emphasizing that her small contribution is more significant than the larger donations of others because it represents a genuine sacrifice.
Drawing a parallel, the argument could be made that individuals, whether in prosperity or poverty, can embody the spirit of self-cultivation through acts of kindness, generosity, and consideration for others. While the phrase emphasizes personal development during prosperity, the example of the "two-penny poor woman" illustrates that even in poverty, individuals can cultivate virtues such as generosity and selflessness.
Basically, both parts of the phrase stress how important virtue and moral behavior are, no matter how good or bad things are. They also stress that personal growth should go hand in hand with a sense of duty to others, which is a universal moral principle.
In the film, repeating the scenes many times prompts you to visualize the scene through descriptive language.
Imagine a dimly lit room, perhaps with shadows dancing on the walls. Mark Felt sits at a sturdy wooden table, bathed in a pool of soft light. The air is tense, and you can almost feel the weight of his thoughts. His eyes focused, Mark taps a pen rhythmically on the table, creating a persistent and deliberate beat. The sound echoes in the room, each tap resonating with a sense of determination and purpose.
As the taps continue, you can sense the building tension, like a crescendo in a musical composition. The repetitive beats of the pen on the table become a metaphorical drumroll, symbolizing the persistence and dedication Mark Felt brings to his pursuit of justice. It's a quiet but powerful moment, foreshadowing the impact of his actions, which will eventually contribute to tearing down the walls of deception and corruption—which brought down President Nixon!
Conceptually, it came before:
In the context of Mark Felt tapping a pen on the table, it could symbolize the idea that consistent and persistent actions, even if initially small, can lead to significant outcomes or changes. It's a metaphor for the idea that seemingly minor decisions or events can have a ripple effect, influencing larger events or outcomes.
The concept you're describing, where a small, seemingly insignificant action (like tapping a pen on a table) can have far-reaching and profound consequences, is reminiscent of the "butterfly effect." The butterfly effect is a term used in chaos theory to describe the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state.
Mark Felt - The Man Who Brought down the White House
Mark Felt - The Man Who Brought Down the White House centers on the true story of “Deep Throat”, the notorious whistleblower for one of the greatest scandals of all time, Watergate. The true identity of the secret informant remained a mystery and source of much speculation for over 30 years. Until, in 2005, special agent Mark Felt shockingly revealed himself as the tipster. This powerful true story chronicles the life of the brilliant and uncompromising Felt, who sacrificed everything—his family, his career, his freedom—in the name of justice.
Plot Summary:
The movie focuses on the true story of Mark Felt, also known as "Deep Throat," who played a crucial role as a whistleblower in the Watergate scandal.
The central theme revolves around the mystery of Deep Throat's identity, which remained undisclosed for over 30 years until Mark Felt revealed himself in 2005.
Mark Felt is portrayed as a brilliant and uncompromising individual who made significant sacrifices, including his family, career, and freedom, in the pursuit of justice.
Historical Context:
The movie is set against the backdrop of the Watergate scandal, which is considered one of the greatest political scandals in U.S. history. This suggests that the film explores historical and political aspects of that era.
Character Focus:
The main character is Mark Felt, and the narrative seems to revolve around his life, decisions, and the impact of his actions on both his personal life and the larger political landscape.
Themes:
The themes of justice, sacrifice, and the pursuit of truth are likely central to the narrative.
Narrative Style:
The description implies that the movie tells a powerful true story, suggesting a focus on realism and authenticity in portraying historical events.