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Comment by Cal-el on January 14, 2009 at 12:10am

In 1979 I got my first computer that could connect with a modem. I learned as much as I could and sought to set up a BBS system. I decided on FidoNet(r), the first I know of that had a type of email and later a group messaging system. I became a Net Coordinator.

When the group email systems were put into place, there was a lot of confusion, but eventually, between those of us working together, we were able to get things going smoothly and were able to communicate with people all across the U.S. Eventually, as technology spread to other countries, we were able to communicate with people of other countries as well.

Eventually, Russia started a FidoNet(r) Network, but they had massive problems communicating at first. No one wanted to talk to them or help them because of all the cold war era nonsense and propaganda that our governments had taught us. They were afraid to talk to us as well.

People cautioned me against talking to the "evil Reds," but I decided to be the first one to reach out. I talked to one person at first, mostly talking about Tolkien books. We started discussing the misconceptions we had about the people in our countries and had a good laugh over it. It really was just the lies told to us by our respective governments that made us seem so different.

Eventually, a few others started talking to me and I found that there were many others who would like to talk, but they were having problems with the system. I asked them questions about their hardware and found that they were using an incompatible modem. It wasn't long before there were FidoNet(r) users all over Russia who were able to talk with us.

A few years later, Ronald Reagan made an announcement that he was going to ask them to tear down the Berlin wall. I really don't believe that Reagan had as much to do with it as the communication we had in FidoNet(r) did, but politicians like their glory.

It's not the people who want to remain separated from others in most cases. It's the politicians who want to control or use people who demonize entire groups of people. Many members of the population only know what they've been taught by the government controlled schools and what they hear or see on television and radio. Few at that time ventured to look beyond what they had taught and tried to reach out to others in other countries.

With the advent of the internet, it's been easier to reach out to more people. It's no longer limited to extreme hobbyists. People are slowly starting to realize that we're not really so different, though our laws and culture may be different. I believe this gives the most hope for humanity. If people can just learn to tolerate, or even celebrate the differences and learn to respect the beliefs of others, I think there is a very good chance for world peace eventually.

Copyright © 2009 Cal Jennings

Comment by Stephanie on January 13, 2009 at 10:45pm

Thank you Sandman for this delicious tale which will definitely show other story tellers the various possibilities of experiences that can lead to a smile.

Comment by Sandman on January 13, 2009 at 10:29pm

This I Believe PART 2---
I am a chef though I spent many years trying not to be one. I have been in many countries in Europe and S.E. Asia and spent years chasing flavors and trying to experience the world in every facet w/ no restrictions. I have cooked in half a dozen countries ( I paid to work in a kitchen in Hong Kong just for the education.)
Those many years I developed a philosophy about food and wine and as I made more income spent more money on food and wine and chasing flavor wherever I could go and meet new people and taste new things.
For many years I struggled to avoid being a working chef until I moved to Florida. It then became apparent to me that it had chosen me and that I had no choice but to succumb.
Now, where I live in Florida is, to me, in some respects, like the Twilight Zone except Rod Serling could not have created this place.........sooooooo consertvative, seemingly very insular.............just not a "real" city such as I am used to............also seemingly very closed minded and very "group think." In all, though beautiful in a lot of ways, not a natural environment for me.
I therefore, after succumbing to chefdom, opened a very small restaurant in a terrible location, made it reservation only, and changed the menu every night. Everything that had never been done here with cooking that had never been seen here. And we began to struggle...and I began to learn, about people and about myself.
Many of my stories will come from this place...........

One night a friend and his wife came to dinner, and at the end of the evening she told me that I had at last created aplace where I could practice what I believed in a way where I could be my true self. This had never ocurred to me as I was trying to build a business and a reputation. But I never forgot it and it helped me see more clearly reactions to what we were doing and to more clearly see peoples' faces and truly hear their words.

One night a couple came in for dinner and the husband clearly did not want to be there. (The wife had told me on the phone that it was their anniversary and she was desperate to really go out rather than go to his favorite beer and steak place which is all she ever got to do.)

I placed them at the table closest to me (I had an open kitchen) and welcomed them. I saw sadness in her eyes and felt the tension between them. At that moment I decided that she deserved a very special night and that her heart could stand a little bit of "feeling special."

I made sure that I left the kitchen to personally take their orders, giving special attention to her when describing the food, the effects it could have, etc.

I watched them throughout their night, did they hold hands, did they talk, did they touch each other, etc. After they received the check I took some sherry to them on the house and spent a minute getting feedback about their experience. I had made her feel so much better, the sadness was not so much in her eyes any more, and I believe she felt, for alittle while, special.

About a week later she called me and asked me could I talk for a minute. Absolutely I told her.
She thanked me for some time and then told me something I shall never forget---------------she told me that once they were home that her husband made l;ove to her for the first time in a long time-and that it was the best sex they had had in many, many years. And she thanked me for being the fulcrum for that result.

In the restaunt I hung a sign that said.........and This I Believe........

"At cafe stella blue we believe in the power of flavors and the purpose of food to enhance life and bring people together."
I believe deeply that sharing meals, even with strangers, brings us together, not just for the moment but more deeply...........sharing a meal leaves no room for judging one another or for anger....it leaves no room for yelling at each other and, I believe, arouses our spirits in concert to feel deeply, more openly, and more genuinely. I allows us to really hear each other rather than pretend to listen.
Sharing a meal inspires us to find a natural voice and express those things that are the best in each of us, and common to all of us.

Food allowed me to give voice to what I believe and to be able to articulate, through my actions, in a very natural way, to promote peace by teh simple act of tryingto add something good to someone's day that would stay with them for a while after they left.
Food can be a huge tool for promoting peace, not through proslytizing (sp) but through simple belief and action toward ione another. It is a way to provide some shelter and some respite from the pressures of day to day life. ASnd, lastly, it allows a pause to respect each other and maybe see ourselves and each other anew.
Peace, and excellent flavors to each of you.

Comment by Sandman on January 13, 2009 at 9:08pm

This Christmas I received a most extraordinary gift I would like to share with all of you-about the power of actions toward another and our ability to help influence others and expand their thinking.
I spent this Christmas with my wife and her daughter (to whom I always refer lovingly as "my daughter."

I have known Danielle about 11 years, since she was about 17-18, and in many ways typical of that age.
As I have always been so aware of mistakes made by my parents I promised myself long ago that I would always do certain things in regard to her:
1-Never lecture
2-Always let her know that she could talk to me about anything and always trust me to ber honest and objective as possible
3-And that if we disagreed about things (as we did soooooooooooooo many times) I would never reject her
4-I would stress that we all live with the consequences of our decisions (and help her livewith hers)
5-And that I would always come from love, even if she didn't see it at the time.

I am a chef (mainly) because I believe ib the power and purpose of food---------being so I have spent my years with Daniell teaching her about better food and better wine, teaching her to be more discerning and to show her, by example in my restaurant, that people can be touched unexpectedly by what they are served and how they are treated. Over the course of some years she came to see and understand the reactions of our customers and how they came to treat and welcome us and the change they underwent.
Being life long "liberal" I hae also tried to teach her about human rights, justice, ethics in government, business, and our dealings with one another.................and that peace starts with each one of us and spreads.
Over the years I have given her writings by Ghandi, MLK Jr., Naruda, and others---------one time I gave her the writings of Rumi-------------I never wxpected her to always understand oreven agree with me---just to be exposed to so much of the world and the things I love and want to share with everybody.
Absolutely nothing is unapproachable to speak of between us has always been my message to her.
S0............................
On Christmas day as she gave a gift to me she handed to me a card with her Christmas message for me...................and herein lies the gift.......
She told me how much of an influence I have been on her life and that she would never have become the person she is without my influence. She spoke to me of how much a huge part of her being I am and thanked me for her being who she is-----------------------to quote her, "I would be such a different person without you, and see and understand so much less. You truly make me a better, more compassionate, more understanding human being, and I love you."

I of course was uplifted to tears ans we held each other for some moments---------I then hugges she and my wife together and told them both thank you for their love and what they have brought to my soul.
THIS I BELIEVE-------
We all have the power to influence, especially children, by our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. We all have the power to love unconditionally, and to let our children know that no matter their mistakes we will always love them, and each other. We all have it within our hearts to promote peace on a daily basis and topromote understanding and acceptance.and we all have the power to daily stand up against injustice, poverty, war, and hate.
For me it was simply through love and I will never forget her gift to me, and the person she has become.
Peace and love to all of you...................may we share our grace with each other always.
Sandman

Comment by Stephanie on January 13, 2009 at 5:50pm

NOTE:
DAVID can show videos here. Punto e basta (in Italian that means "That's all, and PERIOD". )
PLLLLEEEEESE no one else put them on, ok? Just David....he knows just what we need....after all, he is our "iPeace Daddy", right?

(David....just between you and me, that drawing down below with "sigh" is just what happened when you sent the hugs video. I was smiling with tears in my eyes. You really know how to get to people don't you!!!) It's a beauty and fits in here JUST PERFECT!!
Stephanie

Comment by David Califa on January 13, 2009 at 5:38pm

Comment by Stephanie on January 13, 2009 at 5:37pm

Comment by Sandra Reis on January 13, 2009 at 5:33pm

Hi my dear friends

My story is also about a free hugs`s episode.

At the last edition of Yoga for Peace in 2008, more than 15,000 people gathered to do yoga, chant mantras and celebrate peace. This happened in one of the largest parks in São Paulo, Brazil, the Ibirapuera Park. This event was restricted to a part called 'Square of Peace' (Praça da Paz).
When the event finished , my husband and me were going away for a gate of the event, where people could not know from where we were coming.
We found in our way people's free hug. We huged several of them, and one of the women told me: Wow, I can feel an energy so good on you!
She felt for me the vibration energy of when we were celebrating peace!!!
So if you cultivate good thoughts, good deeds and good words, people may feel that you, radiating up the world as a great stream of light and brotherhood.
This is my story!

In Brazil is very comom people send hugs....so, BIG HUG FOR ALL!!

Comment by David Califa on January 13, 2009 at 5:00pm

Comment by Stephanie on January 13, 2009 at 4:12pm

ITALIAN STORY

I was a student and at a party in an Italian town; I was so enthralled with the excitement of this new foreign environment. Standing at a table with me, eating foods, was an Italian boy, so different from the Americans I had met. We talked (my Italian wasn't great, his English even worse) and at one point went to buy a cake and champagne together, I all the time thinking how charming he was. Finally at 10.30 I said I had to get to my youth hostel that closed at 11pm. "No" he said, "I'll find you a place to sleep!" "I know some ragazze who have an apartment". (ragazze means "girls") So, off he and I walked, together with an Australian girlfriend who had been at the party too. We walked up winding streets until we came to an old building with a large door. He knocked on the door, and a male friend sleepily opened it. The girlfriend and I went in, and she and I slept in a big old bed, with a leaky sink in the tiny bathroom right next to the bedroom.

The next morning, we opened the bedroom door to find THREE VERY DELIGHTED MALES - one short and muscular (Luigi) one taller and heavier (Gianni) one very tall (Leo). "But I had understood 3 ragazze, I said to my friend!" But no, my new male friend must have said "ragazzi", meaning BOYS. I just had not understood the pronunciation correctly in Italian.
These three turned out to be my dearest friends for the many years that I have lived in Italy. And remembering this dear story still brings a warm smile each and every time I tell it.

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