{"id":1050,"date":"2025-03-11T18:20:51","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T18:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/adventure\/?p=1050"},"modified":"2025-03-12T17:14:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T17:14:43","slug":"modern-milk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/adventure\/modern-milk\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern Milk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Raoul’s Two Cents: March 7, 2025<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Looking Forward to a Better World<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Did you notice people walking around with black smudges on their foreheads last Wednesday? Actually, it wasn’t dirt. It was ash\/charcoal. This strange beauty mark was supposed to come from the burned palm leaves that was used in Palm Sunday of last year. Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, a celebration of the start of Lent in the Catholic tradition to remind us about our mortality and our need for humility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I grew up Catholic. When I was a kid growing up in a Catholic school, the priest would mark our foreheads with a sign of the cross saying “from dust you come and from dust you shall return.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know this is silly but I used to think the ashes came from dead people. I was curious why someone would even volunteer to share their ashes with strangers. I wondered why it was black ash. Were they from Africans? I had such strange imaginations as a kid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hindus have their tilak <\/em>(or bindi<\/em> or sindoor<\/em>) — the red dot right between their eyes believed to be the seat of wisdom, intuition and spiritual energy. That spot is where they believe their Third Eye is located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People adorn a variety of symbolism and signs to declare their allegiance. You see it in sports uniforms, in bumper stickers, in flags, hats, tattoos \u2026 even in bodily mutilations. Some marks spark good and healthy competition while others demand unquestioned loyalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a problem with that last one. I believe we should remain curious and always question what we don’t understand \u2026 that’s why I encourage open and honest dialogues. And if the group moves in reprehensible contradictory directions we should be brave enough to correct the wrong or to leave the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPPRESSIVE AND BENEVOLENT COLONIZATION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good leader is confident and generous. A bad leader is insecure and withholds information to keep his underlings ignorant. When Spain colonized the Filipinos they suppressed education from the natives. They did the same to the Mexicans. Both countries remained under Spanish rule for 300 years. Kudos to the Americans. It was different when they colonized the Filipinos. Americans started public schools and gave the Filipinos a chance to succeed. The Americans did the same for Japan and South Korea. The Americans elevated their colonies to a better world<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has always been tension between individuality and solidarity: good versus evil — right from wrong \u2026 the left and the right \u2026 so clean and bright. Clap them softly, one, two, three. Clean little hands are good to see.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think the media has been manipulating us — pushing an agenda of hate and dividing us for years. Conflict keeps them relevant and fills their pockets. Maybe we should be more like the compassionate Good Samaritan who wasn’t supposed to help but did<\/em> \u2026 unlike those who were supposed to help but didn’t.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of championing our differences and choosing sides, maybe we should understand more and put our diversity to good use and elevate each other to a better world<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course this is just me. TGIF people!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”<\/em> — Martin Luther King, Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion.” <\/em>— Anonymous<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And above all these, put on love — which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”<\/em> — Colossians 3:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”<\/em> — 1 Peter 3:8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JOKE OF THE WEEK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Colleen of Washington State<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Original art by Raoul Pascual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parting Shots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Richard of New Manila, Philippines<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Colleen of Washington State<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Jose of San Diego, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Joanne of Hacienda Heights, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I found these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SUBSCRIBE<\/a><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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