Dec 24

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

By Wisdom
Santa's Reward from http://www.scottgustafson.com

Santa's Reward by http://www.scottgustafson.com

“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
“Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
“Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
“Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

“VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
“115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.”

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

Newsman Francis Pharcellus Church wrote The Sun's response to Virginia.

Newsman Francis Pharcellus Church wrote The Sun's response to Virginia.

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

[source: Newseum http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/]
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Dec 23

Does evil exist?

By Drawing and artwork, Juesatta art, Wisdom

doesevilexist

The professor of a university challenged his students with this question. “Did God create everything that exists?” A student answered bravely, “Yes, he did”.

The professor then asked, “If God created everything, then he created evil. Since evil exists (as noticed by our own actions), so God is evil. The student couldn’t respond to that statement causing the professor to conclude that he had “proved” that “belief in God” was a fairy tale, and therefore worthless.

Another student raised his hand and asked the professor, “May I pose a question? ” “Of course” answered the professor.

The young student stood up and asked : “Professor does Cold exists?”

The professor answered, “What kind of question is that? …Of course the cold exists… haven’t you ever been cold?”

The young student answered, “In fact sir, Cold does not exist. According to the laws of Physics, what we consider cold, in fact is the absence of heat. Anything is able to be studied as long as it transmits energy (heat). Absolute Zero is the total absence of heat, but cold does not exist. What we have done is create a term to describe how we feel if we don’t have body heat or we are not hot.”

“And, does Dark exist?”, he continued. The professor answered “Of course”. This time the student responded, “Again you’re wrong, Sir. Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in fact simply the absence of light. Light can be studied, darkness can not. Darkness cannot be broken down. A simple ray of light tears the darkness and illuminates the surface where the light beam finishes. Dark is a term that we humans have created to describe what happens when there’s lack of light.”

Finally, the student asked the professor, “Sir, does evil exist?” The professor replied, “Of course it exists, as I mentioned at the beginning, we see violations, crimes and violence anywhere in the world, and those things are evil.”

The student responded, “Sir, Evil does not exist. Just as in the previous cases, Evil is a term which man has created to describe the result of the absence of God’s presence in the hearts of man.”

After this, the professor bowed down his head, and didn’t answer back.

 [source: http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/religion/a/einstein_god.htm]

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Dec 23

[新闻] 印尼‧5年了，心仍在痛‧南亚大海啸灾民创伤难癒

By Compassion

（印尼‧楠普克）12月26日，是南亚大海啸5週年。当年承受生离死別、家园消失的灾民，如今也逐渐恢復正常的生活步调。

然而，对於10岁的伊科拉来说，这是她永远挥之不去的惨痛回忆。除了父亲外，她的家人都在海啸中遇难。

伊科拉来自印尼苏门达腊楠普克（Lampuk）一个平静的小渔村，2004年12月26日发生南亚大海啸时，巨大的水墙把这个渔村从地图上狠狠抹去。

亚齐省以回教徒居多，但当地100多名华裔週日（12月20日）在班达亚齐举行集体悼念会，放河灯及供奉祭品，悼念葬身大海的亡魂。（图：法新社）

亚齐省以回教徒居多，但当地100多名华裔週日（12月20日）在班达亚齐举行集体悼念会，放河灯及供奉祭品，悼念葬身大海的亡魂。（图：法新社）

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Dec 21

AIDS poster, no discrimination

By Compassion
337

Poster of I have AIDS, please hug me, I can't make you sick

The left image is one of the most recognized HIV/AIDS posters ever produced, this image of a child with outstretched arms accompanied by the message, “I have AIDS, please hug me, I can’t make you sick,” has become a worldwide icon in the fight against HIV/AIDS discrimination. Inspired by the experience of Ryan White, a 13-year old hemophiliac with AIDS who was barred from school in 1985 and became a symbol of the intolerance that is inflicted on AIDS victims, this reproduction of a child’s drawing has a disarming quality that works closely with the textual message. This poster reflected the changed tone of the media coverage of AIDS following Ryan White’s courageous battle, which helped shift focus from ignorance and discrimination to acceptance and newfound knowledge of the fatal disease. Designed to evoke compassion, the simple yet powerful message in the poster has subsequently inspired a variety of spin-offs used by international AIDS awareness and education programs.

[source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/visualculture/living.html]
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Dec 21

Understand AIDS/HIV

By Compassion

noaidsdiscrimination

Having said that people infected with AIDS sometimes face prejudice and discrimination, there are few things we need to know about AIDS or HIV so that we have better understanding of this disease.

We do not get HIV from:

  • donating blood.
  • mosquito bites or bites from other bugs.
  • sneezes or coughs.
  • touching, hugging or dry kissing a person with HIV.
  • the urine or sweat of an infected person.
  • public restrooms, saunas, showers or pools.
  • sharing towels or clothing.
  • sharing eating utensils or drinks.
  • being friends with a person who has HIV/AIDS.
[source: http://www.thebody.com/content/art33163.html]
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Dec 21

Give them your hand by CJ

By Compassion, Drawing and artwork, Juesatta art
Give them your hand by CJ

Give them your hand by CJ

After I finished watching “By My Side“, a Singapore TV series, I felt touched. The drama series portraits a few characters infected with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the problems they face every day and how their family and close friends’ life are affected. In the series, some people discriminate them and stay away from them.

When the main character, Bu-Fan knows he is contracted after having sex with a prostitute, he is unable to face up with the disease. He encounters problems like being rejected by friends, sacked by boss, and neighborhood’s discrimination. At first, the wife is at rage, disappointed with him and wants to divorce with him. His daughter hates because her friends stay away from playing with her and she is kicked out from her swimming class. However, Bu-Fan is always a good husband and father and because of that, his wife forgives and supports him and so does his daughter.

A wise man once told me: when he gives talk to the prisoner in jail, he doesn’t call them criminal. They are not to be tagged criminal because of a crime which they have done. They are responsible for that but shall not carry the name ‘criminal’ for the rest of their life. That statement is very true: everyone should be given a second chance.

The other character, Yu-Hang who is also contracted with AIDS from her boyfriend (who then passed away), spends most of her time helping other with AIDS. Since her boyfriend passed away, she doesn’t want to fall in love again because she knows it will not have fairy tales happiness. She keeps that as secret. In that series, Bu-Fan’s brother falls for her. However, being proposed for many times, she finally tells him the reason why she keeps rejecting him. He is stunned and does hesitate when he is told. Dramatically, the story ends up a happy ending as he never gives up on her.

Although I have not met anyone infected with AIDS in person, but I believe many people have incorrect perception of the AIDS disease and discriminate the patients. Every AIDS victim surely is depressed and dilemma when they know they are contracted. Some are blaming themselves, deeply regretted and begging for a second chance. If we can’t give them a second chance, how would they forgive themselves and go on with their life? 

The drawing above was inspired by the drama when Bu-Fan sits on the rooftop of a flat feeling dilemma and yet does not have the courage to end his life. It’s named Give them your hand on the purpose of hoping everyone of us; we can give them our hand without discriminating them. At this very moment, our hands meant so much to them to support and give them courage.

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