Comments

Thank You Tom, Your thoughts and fast growing community are a shiningly (likely not a word) human part of what was right in '04, and what will be even better in '05. Resolving to be a more positive and proactive person this year,.. most sincere regards, Eric.

Posted by Eric Lapp at December 31, 2004 8:42 PM

Well said, and much needed. One can scarcely wrap their head around the magnitude of this tragedy without feeling overwhelmed. I've found some wonderful places that are allowing me to reinvent my own sense of community. One is omidyar.net, providing a values-based place to discover your own power to make good things happen, the other is an innovative project called DonorsChoose.org that teacher Charles Best has cultivated with great passion and love. Both have become a source of empowerment for me when I find myself feeling a "Do Something Moment" coming on, and that needs to happen so much more. Thanks, Tom, for a wonderful dose of perspective this New Year's Eve. May good things come -- Sue.

Posted by Sue Braiden at January 1, 2005 12:04 AM

According to stats, 36% of Americans resolve to lose weight at the start of each new year, and the amount of money and time invested in weight-loss products and services is -- downright staggering.
IMAGINE what impact we could have if those 36% (and more) resolved instead to invest their time and dreams (and any money they cared to shed as well) into helping others. By the way, a great side effect might be that those pounds would slip off by turning visions into action and focusing on others rather than the scale.

Instead of "Lose it!" I vote for "Use it!"--let's invest our energy to nurture others, a much healthier addiction. In the process, we'll shed pounds and feel so great about ourselves that we won't crave the comfort of food.

Posted by Dr. Pam Brill at January 1, 2005 12:52 PM

John, I strongly disagree re "fair share." In crude terms, there's nothing I'd rather have a commanding market share in--in business or in times of tragedy--than compassion. Americans are a generous people. I'm not very interested in "league standings" in generosity--I'm interested in helping milions of dislocated and disease-prone SEAsians. Period.

I'll say more later; I may indeed disagree with Mr Chirac and Mr Schroeder over Iraq, but "Euro dino-fossils" is, as Pres Bush said to John Kerry re Polish troops, hardly the case; the newly expanded EU is still our biggest and most natural economic and geopolitical ally--even more so if Turkey is admitted. As to China, the fact that it supplies Wal*Mart notwithstanding, the country--or at least three-quarters of it--is still mired in poverty.

Let's focus on giving, for once, not geopolitics.

Oh, the hell with it, let's focus on geopolitics. I want America to be the World's Beacon for Democracy & Decency & Generosity & Hope. Hence, the more we do for others, the better! Like it or not, my good colleague, American "moral leadership," regardless of whether we're right (I think we are) or wrong over Iraq, has taken a mega-hit. Most SEAsian tsunami victims are Muslim, and I long for a Reputation Revival!

Posted by tom peters at January 2, 2005 2:12 PM

Picture a "Reputation Revival" that could lead to "Democracy & Decency & Generosity & Hope" as our global brand. Wow!

When (not "if") we embrace this as our global brand, we will have contributed to the creation of a genuine world-wide web where differences (including varieties of religious and gender experiences) will be celebrated and leveraged as opportunities rather than critiqued as different and difficult. Compassion and giving will abound--turf battles and war will be out.

Thank you for the images and the new year's challenge.

Posted by Dr. Pam Brill at January 2, 2005 4:13 PM

Ah yes, the spiritual meets the material in the battle of the values. I'm with Tom on this one. The reason they call a brand's value it's goodwill is because that's what it is. It's love. And from here on out, in my opinion, this is where the growth is. I write a lot about the relationship between love and money at www.ebencarlson.com. Happy New Year and all the best! Love all around!

Posted by Eben Carlson at January 2, 2005 4:59 PM

I'm with Tom, Dr. Pam, et al. On that note, the U.S. effort is, indeed, a score for "Reputation Revival". Wonder where that Bin Laden guy is; isn't his whole thing about how bad the U.S. cause is to Muslims and how good/supportive his cause is?

Posted by Lee H. Igel at January 2, 2005 7:11 PM

I agree with Dr. Pam Brill...thanks for the inspiration...I look forward to when Christians, Jews & Muslims & all ppl are not discriminated against...and regards to giving IMHO it should be about the motive & attitude behind it - cheerfully or begrudgingly. Not who gave the most. Love!

Posted by Jason Ewart at January 2, 2005 11:27 PM

it feels sad that it takes a "tragedy" to understand humanity, however now that we have, lets pledge to be "human" and build hope to help the distressed to "Re-Imagine" a better and stronger Future

Posted by Nikhil. Nadkarni at January 3, 2005 10:10 AM

-- White House: Former Presidents Clinton and Bush to lead nationwide
charitable fund-raising effort for tsunami victims.

Watch CNN or log on to http://CNN.com for the latest news.

Posted by John at January 3, 2005 12:54 PM

I have no news of friends in Chenni (madras) !! I got back from my holidays and the first thing I did was raise a personal drive for summer cloths. I hope, that we all in Canada and US and all over the world unite (lay aside differences) and begin a new vision for HumanityV2.0.

This is an eye opener for all peeps of all nations.. simply put... united we stand , divided we fall.. the more that we can build bridges the faster we can heal the pain.

...nuff said.. I got my personal work cut out for me.. now think of what you can do for others too..

Posted by /pd at January 4, 2005 10:37 AM

Sue is right on. If you're looking for somewhere to plug in, go to omiyar.net and to Donorschoose. Worthwhile.

Posted by Matthew Mahoney at January 10, 2005 3:37 AM