The Pakistani Spectator

I am happy to do so.  I am a man of 62 years. I have, in my experience, been raised in a fundamentalist, evangelical, protestant christian family. All of my youth, and, indeed, even my early to middle adulthood, was dominated by the precepts of and the disciplined practice of life within the confines of that religious framework. That remained the central core of my life’s value system and practice until my displeasure with the bigotry and sectarian disrespect displayed in and encouraged by that world made it impossible for me to continue in it. I happily opened my eyes, heart, and mind to the fullness of a diverse and beautifully complex world around me. So, though I am still an ordained deacon in that belief system, I do not participate in any of its organized assemblies.

My employment experiences range from the installation of telephones; engineering of power lines and services; sales of life insurance, annuities, and investment products, that evolved into the ultimate position of Regional Director of an investment firm; then (upon my decision to focus my full-time attentions on the needs of my son and his cerebral-palsy challenged life) various part-time jobs that complimented the vagaries of his needs.  (Upon my choice to follow this path … my wife of 20 years demanded and secured a divorce.) After 20 years of delivering newspapers 365 days of each year, in the early, pre-dawn hours, I was terminated from that job … just this past June. This was a result of the cut-backs and reductions brought about by the declining readership and subscriptions to newspapers across the country. Hence, I am now living on my Social Security income alone. This is substantially below what is published as the accepted level of poverty. But my needs are few.

My son benefited immensely from my commitment to him. And this is my standard of success for my life choice. Though the bitterness of  the divorce has isolated him from me for the past three years,  I am still pleased with the level of self-assurance and accomplishment that he enjoys as a direct result of our nearly ten years of daily work together.

I began my blogging site as a way of distributing the chapters of a book that I was working on. Prior to that time, I was sharing those chapters with interested parties, as attachments to Emails. The blog presented a more varied and flexible format for that task. It has grown from there.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

Yes … I do continue to grow in my writing. This is a natural result of the stimulation of interplay with Readers … and the refinement of my own awareness as I develop my comfort with my expression of ideas and feelings.

This is vitally important because to ‘not grow’ … is to die. No a difficult choice [smile].

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

All of those experiences (and there have been many) are born of the intimacies exchanged between Readers and my Self. To know the satisfaction and joy of an awareness that what I have offered has been the source of some happiness; relief from pain and discouragement; encouragement and/or inspiration; or sense of comfort and peace to another of my fellow travelers on this path of life … is always memorable. And I am most delighted in the fact that I am blessed with such experiences quite frequently.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

Because I am very mindful of and respectful of the rights of others to their privacy, I am quite reluctant to intrude into the personal space of others. Thusly, my communications with others is as an interplay and interaction between myself and those who opt to open their door of welcome by way of comments shared on my blog or Emails that they send. I only tread where I feel welcomed. (as you will note by my careful and reserved response to your kind inquiries [smile])

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

The implementation of immediate and direct access to opinions and information through the evolving internet medium.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

Judging from the increasing frequency of mention of blogging by traditional news media and political figures, I can only surmise that the entirety of the world is paying heed to the ever-increasing strength of the voice of many who have, here in cyber-space, made their voices heard.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

What sets my site apart from others is exactly what separates us all from each other. I allow my individual voice to speak through my blog … just as I hear the unique voices of others through theirs.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

The very thing that identifies my blog. The message that is at the core of my appreciation of life and its possibilities. The reality that I (just as you, and, in fact, all of us) am created with particularly unique and individual qualities, abilities, instincts, and views, that are pricelessly valuable to the overall betterment of life in the world that is my honor to touch. The challenge of my every moment of living is to … be. To be me. Not in what I do or what offices, titles, or positions of authority or honor I hold. Nor wealth or fame that I may accumulate. But in simply ‘being’ the honest and genuine self that I am responsible, to my own appraisal, and to eternity, for ‘being.’ The person that I am charged by my very existence, with being … in the very best and most honestly genuine way that I am able. This is my gift to life. And to my own sense of completeness.

Wedded to this commitment is my devotion to never leaving any moment with the possibility that, at some future time, I could say “If only I had said ____, or done ____ when my heart told me to or impressed me with the message or inspiration. So, in my daily walk and talk, I will frequently say “Please forgive my intrusion, but you have the most beautiful smile. You have blessed me today.” or “Please forgive my intrusion, but I am touched and impressed by the beauty of the family that you are blessed with.” I will tell men how beautiful their companion is; women how lovely their hair; or eyes; or garments are. Always with an immediate removal of myself afterward so that they have no concern hat I am invading or disrespecting their privacy. And always, I start with “Please forgive my intrusion …” This lets them know that I do respect them and am aware of my intrusion. i have never been rebuffed or had anyone respond with anything but gracious appreciation. I am convinced that if some element of someone touches and blesses my senses … for me to choose to keep this fact from them would deprive them the blessing of knowing that they made a difference in their world. And that would simply be an act of cowardly theft on my part. so, hundreds of times, I let the people with whom I share my world know of their effects on those who they are probably not even aware of. This is my calling. To leave every place that my life touches… a small bit better for my having passed by.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

You know, of course, that as soon as I speak of the happiest or gloomiest and communicate it to you … I will soon thereafter, think of some moment that supersedes or excels the one that I spoke of. [smile] But I will try to be spontaneous and say that the gloomiest was the moment that my son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (when he was less than one year old.) That was a devastating moment … yet served to be the pivotal moment that changed my life from one of purposeless meandering to determined commitment to becoming the man, and the parent of exception that my son needed to have for his best opportunities in life.

The happiest was when I was confronted by a woman who freely expressed her unfettered and unconditional desire for my love. From the blessed relationship that ensued, I learned that completely open and honest vulnerability to someone who has no agenda other than her genuine adoration of and respect for me is, indeed, possible. What a marvelous discovery!

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

I know not the geographic definition of these places … only that they are where there exists a slow, calm, gentle pace and tempo of living and loving of life and the people with whom that life is shared. I have researched Bulgaria, Greece, India, Panama, and the UK. I have not, yet, found the desired places. I seek open village markets … sidewalk cafés … coffee shops … ocean, lake,, river, or stream views … and a receptive spirit of respectful hospitality in this yearned for destination. Suggestions are welcome.

What is your favorite book and why?

Joseph Campbell’s “The Power of Myth” because in it he opens our awareness of mankind’s quest to know the power tat is identified in every form of religious practice that has ever been exercised. An awareness of the universality of a Divine Power, that has always communicated with the Spirit of Man, is the Gift that this book gave me. It tore down the walls of the “box” that my earlier life had insisted that God be placed in … the walls of sectarian exclusivism and bigoted separateness.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

Their willingness (or absence thereof) to honor others around them with respect and quiet attention.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

No … never.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I do not entertain any aspects of remuneration or compensation for blogging. I feel that (for my blog) to do so would taint its credibility. Further, I like to offer photos and illustration, created by others, that illustrate and set an appropriate mood and ambience for the message that I present. To have a compensatory element to my blog, I would be hampered in the availability of resource materials to offer. Bringing my blog’s offering to its Readers without any compensatory benefit to me allows me access to a much wider scope artistic creations from others.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

I would have no way or means of knowing anything about that.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

Tearing down walls of ignorance-based Fear, Uncertainty, and Discomfort by making themselves, and their ideas, and convictions, openly available to their Readers through a willingness to be vulnerable to misunderstanding. Through this bloggers can demonstrate a humble generosity of spirit and concern for others ahead of self.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

The Inventive … Unafraid … Artful … Uplifting … and Loving. These bloggers are my favorites.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

The Truth of our value, merit, and worth … as individuals … has been the thing that I find that those who read my blog are consistently hungry for. In a world that encourages mass homogeneity, there is a scarcity of encouragement of and support for the unique individuality of each person. This is something that I am constantly attuned to in my daily walk … and bring to the constantly receptive hearts of my Readers.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Not stunned … but delighted  … by the wide spectrum of diversity and uniqueness that the freedom of blogging brings into the common arena of our awareness. I rejoice in this delicious variety and rich quality of human potential.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

Focus. The elements of life that are focused on. The natural desires, inclinations, and predispositions are exactly the same. But the objects of focus vary as determined by needs, wants, desires, and the leadership that directs them … and their focus.

What is the future of blogging?

As the window of free Voice for all of humanity … I see blogging as unlimited in its possibilities.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

My ‘blogging life’ has opened my world to possibilities and ideas that were unknown to me before. The relationships that have been born of this world are rich and deep. The potentials for possibilities in living my tomorrows have become without bounds. I as an individual person, am enhanced by this world of fresh awareness.

What are your future plans?

I have no plans for my future. I live in the moment. I would like to know the love of a Significant Other. To live in environs that I have already described. To celebrate a peaceful life of contributing to the growth and development of children hungry for knowledge and love, whilst enjoying the company of adults who are glad to share a community of appreciation of one another.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

The slow and steady quietude of respectful listening and contemplative thought is far more powerful than the loud and explosive haste of a bullet. To be still … is to allow the opportunity to know … to know Truth … Reason … and Peaceful bliss.

Only in the raucous noise of clamorous conflict can idiots become leaders, ahead of masses deafened by the din of unreasoned and impatient voices. These masses and their undeserving Leaders are easily manipulated and steered by the forces of greed, hunger for power, and self aggrandizement.