Stephen Grellet1773-1855
"I expect to pass though this world but once.
Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to my fellow-creature, let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
- Stephen Grellet
- Stephen Grellet
"He who rejects change is the architect of decay.
The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery."
Harold Wilson
"They must often change,
who would be constant in happiness or wisdom."
Confucius
"The birds are molting.
If only man could molt also - his mind once a year its errors,
his heart once a year its useless passions."
James Allen
"The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water,
"The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water,
and breeds reptiles of the mind."
William Blake
Étienne de Grellet du Mabillier fled France at the time of the Revolution, making his way to the young United States in 1795. Like generations of immigrants after, he Americanized his name, becoming Stephen Grellet.
Étienne de Grellet du Mabillier fled France at the time of the Revolution, making his way to the young United States in 1795. Like generations of immigrants after, he Americanized his name, becoming Stephen Grellet.
It was in the town of Newtown (later absorbed into Queens, New York City) that he discovered the Society of Friends, known popularly as the "Quakers, joining the fellowship in 1796. He was recorded a minister in 1798.
His success as a New York City businessman afforded him the freedom to follow his heart, and so he made missionary tours in the United States and later to every major nation in Europe where he had the opportunity to meet with Kings, Queens and Prime Ministers.
Though I first read his published journal many years ago, I have never forgotten one big take-away message. Mr. Grellet and his missionary companions often found the heads of state very receptive to their message of pacifism and square dealing among people. What shocked me as a youngster, and has stayed with me all these years, was the frankness of these "absolute" albeit constitutional rulers when they told the Friends that their nations, indeed the whole international
system, were so constituted that war and inequality were inevitable. Sadly, these "rulers" could do nothing but preside over the "way things are." For to suggest otherwise, or to lead in another direction, would be tantamount to abdication.
The king can lead only where the nation wants to go.
Today, here in the US, we have an intelligent President who wants to lead us somewhere different. As he wrestles with major problems that took years to develop, it is seemingly popular to blame him for not repairing EVERYTHING in a matter of months.
Doesn't he have the cooperation of all patriotic Americans, after all? Oh wait, that's right: the (dis-)loyal opposition has dredged the sewers for every crackpot slur and scare tactic with which to derange a frightened populace. The President was born in Kenya, he is a Muslim, he is a socialist, the economic collapse was his fault (though it commenced under his predecessor). NONE OF THAT IS TRUE! But facts, it seems, have ceased to matter to too many.
As Stephen Grellet learned centuries ago, it is a thankless task to try and improve the world. Every day there are hopeful signs of social improvement in the US for anyone paying attention. But the president's detractors would rather fault him for graciously accepting an unsought and prestigious world prize than to collaborate in providing health care to our fellow citizens thus protecting us from bankruptcy and early death that too often result from the system we have now.
People get the government they deserve.
I hope we snap out of our adolescent moodiness in time to move forward together. The alternative is too awful to contemplate.
Thanks for listening! What do YOU think?
ALOHA! Cloudia
27 comments:
I think your new President has not an easy work.
Aloha, Cloudia !
I agree that the rabid right has done all they can to divide and confuse. They want the power to dictate how life in America is going to be lived.
While I appreciate the presidents intellectualism and thoughtful approach I also want him to lead as the top dog in the majority party and show some balls of a Chicago politician.
I do not like the anything about the private deal given to the pharmaceutical companies that will most like ly end in their gaining more profit not less.
I do not like that he is so determined that he gets at least one vote from the right on health care reform that he has accepted less than what he spoke of during the campaign.
I do not like that he has not reversed the most egregious of the powers assumed by the administrative branch in the Patriot Act, such as warrantless wiretaps and the right to detain people and deny them Habeus Corpus.
I do not like that he has not declared no business to big to fail nor started us down the road of real financial reform and still has ex board members of Goldman-Sachs on his payroll.
I do not like that he has not issued a presidential order rescinding "Don't ask, don't Tell" and made the military open for anyone who wishes to be of service regardless of their sexual orientation. (Truman integrated the military by presidential order and there was no backlash.)
Yes it has been less than a year but it honestly looks like the president is afraid to throw the punches we elected him to throw for us. I would rather he fight and lose than appear to roll over for the dogs who simply want power back.
true..we tend to change our opinions of something in the long run..
Ooh, political diatribes on this glorious morning. Unfortunately, I do not have time to jump in. Loved the info on the Quakers. I will come back tonight after my third day of interpreting for human rights lawyers from China who are risking their lives there to educate the populace that they have rights on paper and need to stand up to their government and DEMAND that the government obey its own laws. Two of them have had their law licenses revoked for "making trouble," i.e., taking cases that will promote freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and abolition of torture (all of which are rights guaranteed to the people in China's constitution). They said yesterday in a presentation at Pepperdine University's school of law that one of the biggest components of their work is educating the people that they have rights and must demand them. In the past, due to China's low literacy rates, the people thought they had to roll over whenever a government official told them to. One lawyer was arrested while consulting with Falun Gong clients in their home. He was hand-cuffed and hung up on a hook in an iron cage by the handcuffs for several hours. All of them have been beaten by the police for defending people who stand up to the government. Today they will be speaking to an International Studies class at my school on the problems with internet censorship, social justice, and forcing the government to abide by its own laws. (I'm talking about China here, but I think there are lessons for all of us.)
...Let me do it now.....
what could be a more useful maxim at any time during our short span on earth.
thank you for introducing me to these words.
Aloha!
From over here it looks like your President has his work cut out to get anywhere. What is wrong with people, this man has WON the election, now let him do his work.
Wonderful, wonderful post Cloudia!! Thanks so much for this. I agree with you about our new president 100 percent. Keep 'em coming. Aloha friend.
Maybe if the previous administration, especially the former Vice President, AND their supporters, had any memory of what they caused and left behind to be cleaned up BEFORE any reforms and advancements could be made.
How can one start anew if the road is blockaded by wars and ecomonic failures that need to be cauterized before anything else can be done ..
I am not happy this morning that NJ and VA went Republican ....
I was so pleased to read that about President Obama - I think everyone expected miracles - give the poor man a chance, I say.
Bonjour, Claude. Merci
Walking Man: You are clear as a bell and twice as right. I hope it is a matter of strategy and long term thinking - not an abdication. Remember the lesson of Stephen Grellet: the inertia must be steered wisely. The ship of state is a carrier- not a speed boat. But all in all, we agree as usual.
Wenn: Thank you for your dear visit.
Teresa: Thanks for the important work that you do!!!
Friko: Amen.
Daryl: Ditto!
Tricia: *Blush* mahalo.
Weaver: Thanks for adding that.
Nicely said. It saddens me that American political discourse is so devoid of actual discussion and so likely to immediately descend into vitriolic name-calling.
There's such an adversarial tone to much of the criticism of the President that I often wonder if ANYONE would be good enough for the detractors out there. The world needs to chill a little and people need to learn to be nicer.
Maybe if they read more of your work, huh?
:)
Thanks Carmi!
Fabulous quotes, especially the one from William Blake.
I love Blake, and I had not seen that quote before. Love it!
Psssst....I started your book today! :-)
Bonjour Ontario!
Fire Blossom!
As Stephen Grellet learned centuries ago, it is a thankless task to try and improve the world.
Humans seem strangely programmed to resist attempts to improve the world. From not wanting to let go of old and ancient hates to the rich and greedy scared that any change will result in the loss of their position of power and prestige.
what walking man said!!!
I'm always so relectant to be disappointed with Obama since he has so many loons detracting from him to begin with but enough of extending hands
Get it done!!
You hit the nail right on the head when you said that our current health care system often results in bankruptcy and early death.
I think that our president is doing everything in his power to change not only our country but the world for the better.
And it is a thankless task.
Aloha, Cloudia. I've not forgotten you, it's just a season of busy for me. That's no excuse to neglect my friend on a boat! I must try harder.
Just got news that the sister of the boy my son plays with daily has swine flu. It may be a matter of days for us. Or not. Only God knows. If I go missing, you'll know why.
As for Obama, I saw a quote in Newsweek this week that said something to the effect that Obama might be the president we elected if we started acting like the people that elected him. Something to think about. Lots of finger pointing these days and not a lot of it turned in the right direction. Myself, I am in the minority here, but hold hope that one day, we'll know we made the right choice.
You folks added so much to this dialog today! I'm edified and grateful, friends.
You're funny! Snow building character...I usually build a snow creature!
Wise words, Cloudia. I am amazed that they say he is "your president".
I think a few folks elected him.
Amazing what controversy and change will bring.
I do adore Obama. Not the easiest of jobs...we love our health care system in Canada- Ontario Seniors for more info!
aloha!
I agree with a lot of the comments on the blog, both about hoping Obama will take the hard stances, (although I also believe that he sometimes waits for strategic moments before making his move) and about hoping that more people who voted for him will postively stand behind him. Politicians listen to the money when there is a vacuum of voices directed at them. Money is nice, but if they want to stay in power, they need to garner votes. Soooo, if enough people are saying the same thing, they will listen. This was proved by the students at my school this week. We had a letter writing campaign asking students to write letters to our governor and their state legislators asking them to reconsider always balancing the budget on the backs of the state universities, which is a way of cutting off our future. We wound up with a total of almost 2000 personal letters, many of which were really well thought out. On Monday, our school was closed for a budget furlough day. We had some students and faculty give a press conference at the empty school before going up to Sacramento with the envelopes of letters (my work as political activist intern for the faculty association...). Five legislators had agreed to meet with them and receive their packets. Our dear governor was refusing to take the 9 over-sized envelopes stuffed with letters addressed to him. The news got on the radio, and while they were still on the plane, the governor changed his mind about meeting with them. It may have been a press ploy, but at least he had to see them, and when I got to my internship desk today, there were a number of calls from other legislators who had blown us off before (calling the closed university on the furlough day) asking to set up appointments to receive their letters. We had tried those internet letters and other things, but to be honest, I think that we make a difference when we take some time and thought and get out of our comfort zone. We may need to give up an hour or so to express our views. If government is not that important to us, then how can we expect our elected officials to read our minds and know what we want. And in this vacuum of popular voices, they will follow the lobbyists bucks...
Preaching done for the day. The class with the human rights lawyers from China at our school went really well. I have learned so much from them and am so grateful that the undergrads got to hear them and ask questions. Most of them were really interested and asked very intelligent questions. So there is hope for the future, but I think we all have to share in shaping it.
Love that Grellet quote. Very wise words! Aloha, cher!
I agree with you completely. I can't believe the people who are faulting our President for not having everything fixed already. Excuse me? How long has he been president? How long has our problem been going on? It can't be fixed overnight. Sigh...
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