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Yes, I do support the sense of openness in using the real name, therefore I am changing Gotami to Yolanda Rommel...
Thank you for the great forrum.

BTW... and this is not relaterd to this tread. English is my second language and my writing requires editing. The pencil icon next to my entries is embarassing, yet I do not knnow how to edit my comments. Is there an edditing feature on this site to be used by participants? Thank you for help with this. My mistakes do not mean a lack of respect for the reader.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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My observation is that, generally, people choose their sources of information according to what degree the source leans toward supporting their own orientation. Accordingly, the journalist featured will hold more credibility than another one, who represents a source which does not support viewer's/reader's beliefs.
For me the credibility of journalists rests in their ability to present various views with equal respect, in their ability to choose a most relevant information, and in their ability to discuss issues from the least prejudicial perspective.
Having said that, I do recognize the fact that every time we make a choice in our focus/perspective we elude objectivity, yet the maximum effort to be objective in their presentation is a holmark of a credible journalist.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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English is my second language. I came to this country at the age 26, with an 18 months old son. We lived in an ethnic community for 5 years. In that time, while being involved in the community, and working, I have not been able to learn speaking English, as people around me spoke some curious mixture of old language with English "modifications". I have learned to read and write by reading publications written in English, and used written words to communicate outside of my community. When my son reached the age of five and began kindergarden, he did not know one word of English. Within a very short time (days and weeks) he was speaking English ( his classes were taught in English) and I was learning from him.
This experience confirms my academic knowledge (psychology of learning). We learn new language with a greatest ease before the age 5, and the older we are the more difficult the task becomes. This is due to the patterns of a brain development.
The measure 58 does not take this knowledge under consideration, therefore it might be appropriate for students beyond the first two or three education levels (maybe beyond 7-8 years of age). At the earlier age immersion in the new language is most effective. As foreign speaking students are older and in later grades, they will require longer exposure to the new (English) language, and the Measure will not serve them well either. As it is often observed, forming the question as either-or is not appropriate and will not lead to the best solution.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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yes! In my 50's, following years of depression and disillusion with life I was introduced to Buddhist teaching through a grassroots Hospice movement. My life has changed radically as I found a view of reality that was sensible, logical and constructive. 20 - some years of study and practice followed and Buddha's discovery has saved not only my own life, but also helped me to understand some suggestions burried in other religious traditions.
What makes one a "Buddhist?" There are four "seals", or believes that are the foundation of buddhist philosophy: 1)nothing comes to being or exists by itself independent of external conditions, 2)therefore everything is transitory, 3) our attachment to thhhings and conditions is the cause of suffering, 4) ooops... forgot the 4th :-)
Buddhism is a psychology, philosophy, a world-view, and a way of living, and yes, it does "fit" with most of religikous traditions, as long as we don't discuss a theological underpinnings. With time many culture have created religious systems rooted in Buddha's teaching.
Incidently, Buddha's findings are curiously close to the newest scientific findings of Western culture, and his teaching is just as applicable to the modern relationships and conditions as it did 25000 years a go. Thank you for the program and clarifying so many misconceptions...

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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