Quotes of Presidents

(With fully respect to all American Presidents, here are quotes of some American Presidents. Happy Presidents Day!)


“As the sword was the last resort for the preservation of our liberties, so it ought to be the first to be laid aside when those liberties are firmly established.” – 1776
George Washington

“Let me have my farm, family and goose quill, and all the honors and offices this world has to bestow may go to those who deserve them better and desire them more. I court them not.”
John Adams

“Nature intended me for the tranquil pursuits of science, by rendering them by supreme delight. But the enormities of the times in which I have lived have forced me to take a part in resisting them, and to commit myself on the boisterous ocean of political passions.” – 1809
Thomas Jefferson

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Abraham Lincoln

The indiscriminate denunciation of the rich is mischievous. It perverts the mind, poisons the heart and furnishes an excuse to crime. No poor man was ever made richer or happier by it. It is quite as illogical to despise a man because he is rich as because he is poor. Not what he is, settles his class. We can not right matters by taking from one what he has honestly acquired to bestow upon another what he has not earned.” – 1898
Benjamin Harrison

“Unlike any other nation, here the people rule, and their will is the supreme law. It is sometimes sneeringly said by those who do hot like free government, that here we count heads. True, heads are counted, but brains also. And the general sense of 63 millions of free people is better and safer than the sense of any favored few, born to nobility and ruling by inheritance.” – 1891
William McKinley

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” – 1918
Theodore Roosevelt

“It is not men that interest or disturb me primarily; it is ideas. Ideas live; men die.”
Woodrow Wilson

“We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms, ... freedom of speech and expression ... freedom of every person to worship God in his own way ... freedom from want ... freedom from fear.” – 1941
Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Three things can ruin a man – money, power, and women. I never had any money, I never wanted power, and the only woman in my life is up at the house right now.”
Harry S Truman

“It should be clear by now that a nation can be no stronger abroad than she is at home. Only an America which practices what it preaches about equal rights and social justice will be respected by those whose choice affects our future.”
John F. Kennedy
(undelivered speech, Dallas, 1963)

“I believe that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our government but civilization itself. That bond, though strained, is unbroken at home and abroad. In all my public and private acts as your President, I expect to follow my instincts of openness and candor with full confidence that honesty is always the best policy in the end.” – 1974
Gerald R. Ford

“Confidence has defined our course (as a nation) and has served as the link between generations. We’ve always believed in something called progress. We’ve always had a faith that the days of our children would be better than our own. Our people are lising the faith. Not only in government itself but in the ability as citizens to serve as the ultimate rulers and shapers of our democracy.” – 1979
Jimmy Carter

“What I’d really like to do is go down in history as the President who made Americans believe in themselves again.” – 1981
“Freedom is not the sole prerogative of a chosen few; it is the universal right of all God’s children. Look to where peace and prosperity flourish today. It is in homes that freedom built. Victories against poverty are greatest and peace most secure where people live by laws that insure free press, free speech, and freedom to worship, vote, and create wealth.”
Ronald Reagan – State of the Union address, 1985

“The day will come – and it is not far off – when the legacy of Lincoln will finally be fulfilled at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue when a black man or woman will sit in the Oval Office. When that day comes, the most remarkable thing about it will be how naturally it occurs.” – 1990
George Bush

“I refuse to be part of a generation that celebrates the death of communism abroad with the loss of the American Dream at home.”
Bill Clinton – declaration of candidacy for president, October 3, 1991

“These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve ... America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacons for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.”
George W. Bush – (Presidential address, September 11, 2001)

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
Barack Obama – (Inaugural speech, January 20, 2009)

Source: The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents by William A. Degregorio
Pictures:
http://arlie3.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/portrait_of_george_washington.jpg
http://www.powerlineblog.com/media/archives/lincoln.jpg
http://www.djztrip.com/obama/obama_hope.png

Go with Confidence, Mr. President!

Yesterday, president of the United States, Barack Obama gave the States of the Union address. As far as I understood, one of theme of the speech was to reshape America’s image at both home and abroad. It is included to increase exports and firmly stand for true freedom of human beings as America always does.

Today, I see some people are criticizing and talking about they do not believe in government, bla, bla, bla.... If they are making those efforts for true freedom and goodness of American citizens, it is great and blessing. Nevertheless, as once I said to one of my colleagues, there is quite difference between ‘eat the food and say it is salty’ and ‘fixing it to become a delicious meal.’ Every single body can do (very well) to talk ‘salty’ or ‘bitter’ or ‘sour,’ after they eat the food. They may not know or effort to try to become a good and delicious meal. And yet, they do not know how much they are lucky to have those kinds of grand opportunities in this great country of the United States where every body can be part of decision making for their own country, and have Legal Right to criticize or agree or disagree with authorities Freely. There are many states those citizens do not have to say something like ‘I do not agree with government,’ as a Legal Chance, (not legal right) in this planet of human beings. Even they say something like that in their family’s dinning table, sooner or later that family will be in trouble. What do you think; is that true freedom of human beings? Government/s in the United States may be wrong sometimes as one of natures of the universe. But we all have legal right to agree or disagree or support or against it. I will be one of the poorest persons in this great country but I will always be proud of to be here since I am truly living my life with true freedom and dignity of human being. No system is perfect. Nothing is perfect. Nobody is perfect. But till today, democratic society give more guaranty of true freedom and birthrights of human beings than any other kind of.

Because of many systematic obstacles, we may have problems but please go with Confidence, Mr. President! Even we die, it is always blessing because we die while we are trying for good future of America, greatness of human beings and true freedom of mankind! God bless America and our planet!


Picture: http://ilriclippings.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/obama.jpg

True human being’s spirit

This morning, I read a book, which was written about Titanic, with my little son, Izana.

After we read that book, I asked Izana that what he would do if he was in Titanic when the ship sunk. He said that he could be swimming as much as he could. I asked him again that he would not see any lifeboat though he was swimming, if he would be swimming or not. He said he would be swimming. Then, I asked him why he would be swimming though he would not see any lifeboat. He was some silent. I realized that the question was little difficult to answer for six year old boy.

After we had that conversation, I told him how much I appreciated for his answers. Yes, it was. It was true spirit of true human being. And it was also the only way to be meaningfully doing at that kind of time and situation. Whether we could see lifeboat or not, we should be making effort or must be swimming till the last second of our lives! I was really glad for my little boy.

How our neighbors celebrated Christmas

These are some of pictures that how our neighbors celebrated Christmas. I took these pictures at the Christmas night of (I think) December of 2008.

Thanks!

Happy Birthday Your Honor!

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day. Dr. King was also like Gandhi, one of the finest persons in the history of mankind with greatest dreams. Though we have no more chance to see him again in person, we can be and are living with his dreams and spirits in every single day of our lives. Our children, children’s children also will be there.

He was born on January 15, 1929 but we still can celebrate in honor.

Happy Birthday Your Honor!

Picture: http://jean9fhunter.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/mlk2.jpg

Let us hope for brighter future of Haiti!

Many state, political and civic leaders are now trying to support the victims of recent earthquake in Haiti. All efforts are great. Currently, in America, there are many organizations those accept donations for Haiti. Though we are having some economic problems by ourselves, many Americans are participating to donate, support and help as much as we can in both ways of officially and freely but all are humanitarianly as we are living in democratic society. I am very proud of to be an American!

After we face these kinds of disasters, though it could take time only a few minutes or a few hours to be destroyed, it will take months or years or decades to rebuild both of physical and mental rehabilitations. Unexpectedly, it happened already. Therefore, both of Haitians and international communities should focus on rebuilding and rehabilitations, with courage, empathy, sympathy, good mind and heart in order to have Haiti’s stronger and better future. Important thing is to seek for farsightedly, and avoid mistakes as much as we (they) can in this period.

There are many countries in the world those became stronger after they faced disaster events. We can obviously see a few examples are the United States, Japan and Korea (south), etc. Haiti may not be same like those countries but Haitians deserve the brighter, stronger and better future as a warm, smart and stable democratic society.

Let us hope and try for the best!


Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html

Some Pictures of Chicago

I took these pictures at Chicago downtown when we visited there during the last winter. I am posting these just for fun.
Thanks!

How do you love your country and your people?

After I read the disaster news about cyclone in Burma last year and current Haiti earthquake, a few questions have left in me that – how do you love your country and your people? What does protection mean? Are they (we) still living in such as, 12th century?

Great leaders with deepest love to their countries and people always consider for the development and progress of their land and people. One example could be a Sri Lankan king, Duhtaghamani’s swear in a warfare. How much that king loved his people or he wished for the people’s progress was, we could see in his vow even in a war-time. Before he went to the front line for war, he took an oath or swear that,

If he was a leader who could be able to make more prosperity, security and peace for the people of his country than the enemy, the winner in that war must be himself!

If his enemy was a leader who could be able to make more prosperity, security and peace for the people of his country than himself, the winner in that war must be the enemy!

It was one of true examples of great leaders’ great love on their countries and people in history. Any way, how do you love your country and your people?

In our prayers!

All victims of natural and non-natural disasters in Haiti and around the world are in our prayers!

Picture: http://media.ft.com/cms/e50cbb40-0027-11df-8626-00144feabdc0.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/assets/images/2010/01/13/100113105603_haitiquake_466x262_afp.jpg

A teacher who changed my life

His name was U Kaung Kyaw Tun. Actually, he was not a teacher. He was my uncle, a guard or a guider. Nevertheless, his visions made me to move forward. His teachings with passion made me worth of meanings in my whole life. His home library made me to see wider and broader views not only just in me, but also the outside world. He made a huge difference in my life.

I was a villager who was grown in very remote area of Burma. I arrived at my uncle’s home in the city, in order to study when I was an eighth grader. My uncle had two bookshelves with many books. A couple days later, after I arrived there, I began to read students periodicals, such as Aurora and Teza (Young Leaders) journals under my uncle’s guidance. Teza journal was written in only Burmese and Aurora was printed in both English and Burmese. My uncle always encouraged me to read essays and editorials of those issues. I read them. Eventually, I became a good reader. I also began to know the values of books. I could say that the books were windows to see, feel, learn, know, touch and contact with the other people, other cultures and other places of the world. (Nowadays, computer took over that place.) Gradually, I fall in love with reading, one of the most valuable heritages in my life, which I was given.

In dinner times and on weekends, he often told us about the great leaders and respectful persons in the world history, such as Abraham Lincoln (USA), Mahatma Gandhi (India), General Aung San (Burma), Martha Trisha (Calcutta), Winston Churchill (the United Kingdom), Napoleon (France), Mao Zedom (China). Every time he told about those persons, he also said that ‘You guys also can be anyone of like them; the only thing you need is, your self-belief and passion to follow your dream.’ When we were inspired by knowing about great individuals, their lives, their visions, their contributions in the world history, whether we also become great leaders or not, in the bottom line, it guided us to become good people, with good characters and big dreams.

One day, he told us that to put our school bags, books, shirts at the higher places where we could not reach for easily. Then, when we tried to reach for our things, we were already exercised to become tall persons.

Moreover, he often told the valuable words, such as “if you ignored on learning, this meant you ignored your life because life was full with learning processes.” “Under the word of success, ‘self-discipline’ is on the top.” “With passion, think about the others, help the others, then you will be thanked and helped already in your life.”
Precisely, my uncle who was a teacher, an immigrant officer, a member of city council made me to become a good reader, a young man with self-discipline and big dreams, loving and helping on the others as much as I can.

As a traditional Buddhist, almost every night before I sleep, I worship five greatnesses in my life those are;
- The Buddha
- The Dhamma (the Buddha’s teachings)
- The Sangha (Monks and Priests)
- The Mada & Pida (all my parents, guarders and world leaders)
- The Arsariya (all my teachers).
In my worship, my uncle is always included in both places of my parents and my teachers.

Thank you!