Good piece nephew 'C', you're definitely thinking outside of the box. It's very good indeed to see the next generation taking a thoughtful stance, gives me hope for the survival of humanity. Barry does, however, make an interesting point. I want to discuss those three words in question though, respect, understanding and compassion, and throw another log on the fire.

Respect and understanding seem to both be subjective, that is both actions are based solely on the perspective of the giver. If, for instance, someone is a great country western musician and I hate country, I may not be able to see beyond the genre and show respect for the artist's talent because I don't understand his efforts and ability as my perception is clouded by my own limited thinking regarding country western music. Respect does seem to be, as Barry says, "an earned gratuity" in the eyes of the giver.

Compassion is different in my mind as it doesn't require direct personal knowledge of others, but is instead offered to all, when done in its purest form, simply because we ARE all the same when you cut through the layers of life and experience we all coat ourselves with. Compassion is more a way of life, a connection to things great and small, good and bad, right and wrong, the "seeing" beyond the appearance of things. Compassion generates not from conscious thought, but from becoming truly immersed in being human and all that brings with it. If you reach that state, compassion flows through you and from you, your conscious mind perhaps unaware of compassion's presence. Does a mass murder deserve our RESPECT? Probably not. Will we UNDERSTAND the mass murder's motivations? Probably never. Does the mass murder deserve and need our COMPASSION? Yes, because he/she is one of us...

I went surfing the last two days, classic Southern California days of sun and the sublime. Yesterday I had dolphins within 10'-15' of me on several occasions, very cool. They sometimes surface and roll onto their side and stare at me with coal-black eyes filled with warmth and mirth, that comical grin permanently etched into smooth gray skin. I often wonder what they think of me, a semi-bloated creature stuffed into fake skin, doing my best to play in their realm, but never coming close to their abilities. Do they connect me and my kind to the demise of their world? Do they wish I'd leave? Or do they preach what they seem to practice; quiet tolerance for humans and our intrusions into their tranquility? How would we react if dolphins dumped their waste in our backyards, trapped some of us in nets until drown, and caught us for research, strapping devices to our backs to see where we go? Political leaders around the globe would probably declare an all out war on dolphins, and other sea life would become collateral damage. It is strange indeed that we humans seem to have placed ourselves at the center of all things, and seem to view all other life as being here for the good of humanity, to be dealt with based on how we humans are affected by their presence in "our" world.

Gary, your poem was moving. It spoke of detachment and a longing for tangible connections in the same breath, and made me want to embrace the next stranger I encounter. Good. I'm really digging this blog and what it's stirring up; resurrected friendships, insight and reflective moods that come upon me more often these days, a certain spring in my step that's been long absent. Thanks for the stuff you said about my Mom, Barry. There are moments where I wish so much that I could talk with her and glean what I could from her wisdom and aura, but loss and carrying on are the way of this life. Someday we'll all be gone...so let's have a ball while we're here, i.e., LIVE LARGE. Keep the juice flowing my friends and family. Share what you have and you'll be given much more in return. Later days...

p.s.-The Lakers appear to be on a roll, and I say subjectively that they're going to win it all!

"I fear nothing, I hope for nothing, I am free.
-Nikos Kazantzakis-