Enitan's Posts - iPeace.us2024-03-29T12:57:41ZEnitanhttps://ipeace.us/profile/Enitanhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/63677565?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://ipeace.us/profiles/blog/feed?user=1d01rbwo88kwk&xn_auth=noWhat Does It Mean to Humble One's Self ?tag:ipeace.us,2009-03-08:2217368:BlogPost:13205502009-03-08T15:48:16.000ZEnitanhttps://ipeace.us/profile/Enitan
The search for an answer to my question has taken me through scores of responses. I have come to the following conclusion: Humbling one's self means recognizing and accepting that everyone is of equal value; recognizing and accepting that no one is more worthy or more significant than another. This includes a true respect for one's self and for all others whether we perceive them as weaker or stronger. Humbling one's self is understanding and accepting one's rightful place or position in…
The search for an answer to my question has taken me through scores of responses. I have come to the following conclusion: Humbling one's self means recognizing and accepting that everyone is of equal value; recognizing and accepting that no one is more worthy or more significant than another. This includes a true respect for one's self and for all others whether we perceive them as weaker or stronger. Humbling one's self is understanding and accepting one's rightful place or position in relationship to others. A servant who commands his master to bring him morning coffee will quickly learn what it means to know one's rightful place; so also it is for an impudent person who expects others to cater to his/ her every whim. On the other hand, a master who chooses to take his servant coffee of his own volition must be one who understands what it means to be of equal worth.<br />
<br />
When one speaks of knowing one's respectful place, some are quick to come to the conclusion that this must involve some kind of oppression; the truth is knowing one's rightful place breeds respect and leaves no room for strife or oppression. Knowing one's respectful or rightful place does not mean that one should begin kow- towing to others because one is trying to be "humble"; it does not mean ignoring injustice to self or others as a show of "patience"/ "tolerance" or "long suffering" neither does it mean unquestioning servitude or devotion to a group, person or idea. Pretending to be subservient, acting like a doormat, or fawning over those we see as "superior", more powerful or influential is not an act of humbling oneself; such behaviors are acts of foolishly giving someone else power over one and enslaving one's self. Pretension, hypocrisy and misguided acts of "humility" lead only to unfounded anger, resentment and needless stress. Humbling one's self in my mind involves an inner confidence; a belief that one is complete as a human being. Being complete does not equate to being faultless or perfect nor does it involve arrogance.<br />
<br />
We must be especially careful when we interpret what it means to be of equal value being that it is a fundamental element of understanding what it means to humble one's self. Having equal value is not about being "equal" to another. A son can never be the equal to his father in the sense that they are two different beings with one existing before the other. Whether that son is more affluent than his father has no bearing on the situation. The fact that the father was here first suffices. The father has in fact gathered more experiences simply by the virtue of existing before his son. Both father and son are however of equal value. We must not be deluded into measuring a person's intrinsic value or intrinsic worth by measuring their possessions, position/societal status, privilege, influence or accomplishments. Using changeable factors as measures of the value of a person comes as a result of ignorance, immaturity or fool hardiness. All men are created equal i.e. whether or not one has more privilege than another.<br />
<br />
Why does the matter of making penance, confessing one's mistakes, or admitting one's wrong doing come into play in religious circles when one truly seeks to humble one's self? It is hard to fix something until one realizes that it is broken. In stating the offenses one has committed because of not respecting the intrinsic value of others one clearly recognizes where one went wrong, regrets those errors and can begin to make amends. The person who can identify and accept their wrong doing who then takes full responsibility for the wrong they have done is highly likely to be able to fix it.Your Problem is My Problem - My Problem is Your Problemtag:ipeace.us,2009-03-05:2217368:BlogPost:13038032009-03-05T18:00:00.000ZEnitanhttps://ipeace.us/profile/Enitan
“It is often easier to become outraged by injustice half a world away than by oppression and discrimination half a block from home.” -- Carl T. Rowan<br />
<br />
Can fear of a people result in peace? I for one, doubt this very much. Collective fear of a people builds walls that further separate people, deepens suspicions and fuels hatred. For the width of a rabbit's hair, I hesitated to write this moment's blog, but I know that understanding and perspective taking help people know each other better and…
“It is often easier to become outraged by injustice half a world away than by oppression and discrimination half a block from home.” -- Carl T. Rowan<br />
<br />
Can fear of a people result in peace? I for one, doubt this very much. Collective fear of a people builds walls that further separate people, deepens suspicions and fuels hatred. For the width of a rabbit's hair, I hesitated to write this moment's blog, but I know that understanding and perspective taking help people know each other better and breed mutual respect.<br />
<br />
<b>Here I am</b><br />
I am a Nigerian born American citizen who is very proud of my heritage and my life journey. I also hold myself to pretty high standards both as a professional and a human being. I attended college and earned degrees in the United States and have served as an educator. I am the founder and executive director of , Eduwatch, an education nonprofit organization whose vision is to ensure the meaningful education of Nigerian children in order to promote peaceful co-existence, global understanding and a world citizenry that is both responsible and productive<br />
<br />
<b>The Trigger Word of the Day</b><br />
Today, as I attempted to send a message to invite my friends on iPeace to join my group, I found myself staring at a prompt that pointed out that my message had a trigger word that might result in my message ending up in spam. I could not imagine what this word could possibly be. The word to my amazement was <b>NIGERIAN</b>.<br />
<br />
<b>Decision Making</b><br />
My shock gave way to disappointment because just a few months ago I felt that I had joined a group of peace lovers and was ecstatic to have found a group into which I could settle down and enjoy for a good while. I would never have imagined that the word which describes part of who I am would be a trigger word for spam! I was faced with a difficult decision; 1. to cancel my account and never to look back or 2. to shed light on this situation with the hopes that it might foster better understanding. My decision is obvious.<br />
<br />
<b>Choosing understanding over Fear</b><br />
As in several talks that I have been forced to give over the years because people who should know better claim to be surprised that I am "Nigerian", I shall once more seek to bring logic to a sometimes illogical situation. Some Americans speak English does not mean that all Americans speak English. Some Arabs are moslem does not make all Arabs moslems. Some religious people are extremists does not make all religious people extremists. Some Nigerians are fraudulent does not mean that all Nigerians are fraudulent. Some Caucasians commit crimes does not mean that all Caucasians are criminals. Some Europeans were slave traders does not mean that all Europeans were slave traders. I'm sure the reader gets the point and I do not need to drag this out much further.<br />
<br />
<b>Choosing Knowledge and Understanding over Fear</b><br />
Segregating, isolating and/ or promoting attitudes that separate a group of people speaks louder about those of us who choose to separate others than the targeted group of the day. I do not support and will not support evil in any form neither will I choose in unfairness as a tool for false security. I hope that those who manage this web site will take the time to think things over.<br />
<br />
<b>Building Trust in An Uncertain World</b><br />
We are adults and can make some pretty good decisions about friends we choose to make. Chosing online friends like every other activity we engage in is about trust and sensible choices. I chose my friends in good faith and believe that they also have chosen to be my friend in good faith. I wish to know my friends better as I hope they in turn wish to know me better. I hope that this blog entry is taken in the same spirit with which I've written it. Someone once said, "It is never to late to do the right thing". After all is said and done I will still be a Nigerian-American who wishes for peace in a world that will forever include Nigerians.<br />
<br />
"I do not want peace that passeth understanding. I want understanding that bringeth peace." --- Helen Keller (Deaf blind American author, activist)Do not fear the changing times... Your answers lay withintag:ipeace.us,2009-03-04:2217368:BlogPost:12974562009-03-04T09:43:03.000ZEnitanhttps://ipeace.us/profile/Enitan
“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Christopher Robin to Pooh” -- A. A. Milne<br />
<br />
The world can be such a scary place sometimes. Everyone seems to be searching for something. Some search with such fierce intensity, uncaring and desperation; it is scary. I continue to be most grateful for those who in their search are respectful and reasonably considerate of others.<br />
<br />
Interesting how these difficult economic…
“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Christopher Robin to Pooh” -- A. A. Milne<br />
<br />
The world can be such a scary place sometimes. Everyone seems to be searching for something. Some search with such fierce intensity, uncaring and desperation; it is scary. I continue to be most grateful for those who in their search are respectful and reasonably considerate of others.<br />
<br />
Interesting how these difficult economic times seem to foster a greater desperation in those whose approach to life is desperate hunting. The more desperate their hunt, the hungrier they seem to become; bottomless pits never filled. The peaceable ones meanwhile continue to find contentment even as they search. They find abundance in what masks itself as lack.<br />
<br />
Seems as if some things don't change much. It is not the absence of food on a plate nor the seemingly limited options that present themselves in difficult times that are the mark of a man; it is that ability to know what is enough and to find contentment from within. Is it not greed that got us where we are? Is it indeed not time to examine the heart and to lay greed aside?<br />
<br />
The older I get, the smaller the world seems to get and the closer I find myself standing with some other people. The things I learned with my head, I now realize I already knew with my heart. Funny to think that the things I learned with my head for decades have served to help me express fully what I already knew in my childhood heart.Star Bright Star Light - Words That Guide My Head and Feettag:ipeace.us,2009-02-02:2217368:BlogPost:11314702009-02-02T18:00:00.000ZEnitanhttps://ipeace.us/profile/Enitan
Here are some quotes that serve me well. I treasure them and thank the one who raised me and who provided the framework for my thinking in those crucial formative years. I intend to keep adding to them over time.<br />
<br />
"People mistakedly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it."<br />
... Anthony De Mello<br />
<br />
"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what…
Here are some quotes that serve me well. I treasure them and thank the one who raised me and who provided the framework for my thinking in those crucial formative years. I intend to keep adding to them over time.<br />
<br />
"People mistakedly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it."<br />
... Anthony De Mello<br />
<br />
"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it."<br />
... John Ruskin<br />
<br />
I'm not a self-made man. I cannot forget those who have sacrificed for me to get where I am today. --Jessie Hill<br />
<br />
“Let's face it. In most of life we really are interdependent. We need each other. Staunch independence is an illusion, but heavy dependence isn't healthy, either. The only position of long-term strength is interdependence: win/win.” --Greg Anderson<br />
<br />
"...and then she did the thing they said could not be done." anon<br />
<br />
"I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace." -- Helen Keller<br />
<br />
"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit." -- Helen Keller<br />
<br />
"“It demands great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck, and an even greater miracle of perception and charity not to teach your child to hate." --James Arthur Baldwin<br />
<br />
<br />
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.” William Shedd<br />
<br />
“The key to change... is to let go of fear.” -- Rosanne CashA Place Where I Belongtag:ipeace.us,2009-01-24:2217368:BlogPost:10781052009-01-24T21:00:00.000ZEnitanhttps://ipeace.us/profile/Enitan
It's amazing how many children walk on this earth living in pain that is not of their own making, yet feeling the pain of others so intensely that they just seem so odd and so different. We wonder why they always seem to be in pain; why they never seem to feel like they have a place to call their own in this world. We wonder why they are always aloof; always standing apart; always standing away from the boisterous crowd; always so ready to leave the earth space to into which they've been born.…
It's amazing how many children walk on this earth living in pain that is not of their own making, yet feeling the pain of others so intensely that they just seem so odd and so different. We wonder why they always seem to be in pain; why they never seem to feel like they have a place to call their own in this world. We wonder why they are always aloof; always standing apart; always standing away from the boisterous crowd; always so ready to leave the earth space to into which they've been born. We wonder... Do we ever stop long enough to think why they do not feel like a part of the world they know? Do we ever wonder why their eyes always seem to be toward the exit door?<br />
<br />
Do we ever stop to think that fish don't do well on land as children do not do well living under water? No air to breath; no peace; no life. Have we ever wondered? Do we ever ask why children shrivel and curl and seem to fade away despite being well fed and well nurtured? Do we ever wonder? Do we stop to think. Do we ever stop to think that PEACE just doesn't live where we try to build our nest? Do we realize that Peace is what we need to breath; to live and grow. Have you ever wondered?<br />
<br />
No more war! No more disharmony! No more discord!<br />
Peace! Alafia! Shalom! Salam! Jama! Amani<br />
<br />
Give me PEACE. Let me live among peaceful people. Let me live among people with whom I belong.