Esteem News 

24July2008

Gates/Bloomberg help anti-smoking initiative

Posted by Cecilia under: Health.

Do you know which five countries have the highest percentage of smokers?  The most smokers live in China, India, Indonesia, Russia and Bangladesh. 

The organization of an anti-smoking campaign in a country requires a large effort and requires support from all sides. 

Bill Gates and Michael R. Bloomberg announced their support for the anti-smoking campaign by contributing $500 million dollars.  This shows how important solidarity is when it’s a matter of health.

An anti-smoking initiative can be successful when it respects smokers as well as nonsmokers.  Information given with esteem is the basic of each successful campaign.  Getting information creates understanding.  Understanding is the ultimate aid to help people stop smoking.

23July2008

The spirit of Townsend Harris

Posted by Cecilia under: Art and Culture.

Probably only a very few among us know who Townsend Harris was.  But in Shimoda, on the Idu Peninsual about 85 miles southwest of Tokyo students from kindergarten on automatically learn about Townsend Harris.

Who was this man? He was sent to Japan to become the first American consul-general in 1856.  Thanks to his efforts the trade between Japan and the U.S. began - and still goes on.  With the trade deficit between the United States and Japan running at over $80 billion for the past two years, it’s little wonder this man has fallen into obscurity in America.

But Townsend Harris is still an impressive example for national esteem.  His hard work in the 1800’s opened up the Japanese market to US companies and he certainly would not have envisioned a day when things would be so out of balance between the two countries. 

When we envision esteem between nations we think of trading but also of cultural approach.  Townsend Harris did both and is therefore an important figure for realized national esteem.

22July2008

Esteem and love

Posted by Cecilia under: Philosophy.

If you make a list of the most important moments in your life you will likely add marriage.

Marriage is the moment that connects life and love.  As another word for love you can consider esteem.  Esteem is the ground on which a marriage is built and on which the whole life of married people rests.

Esteem and love stand equal.  For some it is the same.  For others there are nuances of differences.  Esteem and love, they have the same roots. 

Esteem and love are patient and kind, both don’t envy or boast, both aren’t arrogant or rude and both don’t insist on their way. They aren’t irritable or resentful.  They don’t rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoice the truth.  Esteem and love bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things.

21July2008

Women’s and men’s brains are different

Posted by Cecilia under: Science.

A new scientific study attempts again to prove how women and men are different.  It’s a study about male and female brains and their differences.  No big surprises here, it states that in general women are better in some things and men are better in other things.

It isn’t much of a revelation to say that there are physical differences between men and women.  But can we really transfer these physiological differences to general conclusions about what typical female and male behaviors are?

Esteem would answer that at the level of personality there is no basis of direct comparison.  Everybody is different from everybody.  Everybody has his or her own combination of abilities.  There are women with a few so called “male brain” abilities and men with a few so called “female brain” abilities.  Deeply we also feel that each categorization ignores our real personality.

Esteem doesn’t need to prove why some persons act different than others.  Esteem teaches us that each single person is unique.  Realizing esteem in our lives stops us from making stereotypes and allows each of us to be how we are, unique and precious.

20July2008

The moment of esteem

Posted by Cecilia under: Philosophy.

Our life is filled with countless moments.  They can be happy moments but also sad moments.  They appear sometimes unexpectedly and sometimes in pleasant anticipation.  And then after a while they fade away.

We can’t hold moments back, and we can’t force them to last forever.  The least we can do is to keep their memory in our hearts.  This memory keeps the desire in us awake to recreate those wonderful moments.

The moment of esteem has the same structure.  Esteem comes sometimes unexpectedly, and sometimes we wait for it.  We enjoy its presence and the feeling it creates.  And then the moment of esteem fades away.  But we keep the memory of the esteem we have received and we try to recreate those wonderful moments.

The more we live the moments of esteem the more we learn to live in the present.  Each moment of esteem is for enjoying, remembering and recreating.

19July2008

The language of esteem

Posted by Cecilia under: Philosophy.

Some weeks ago I collected translations of the word “esteem” in different world languages.  I realized then that esteem might be one of the little used words in our society.  Despite that we need to speak about it and we need to express it with words.

In which language do we express our esteem?  And with which words?

First of all we express our esteem in our native language.  The words we use for it are positive and uplifting.  But we shouldn’t forget that esteem is a deeply human expression of life.  That means we can express esteem with words, gestures and actions. 

The language of esteem is all embracingly human.  Whatever words you find to show your esteem toward somebody, don’t hesitate to say it.  You may also smile or just hug somebody silently.

The language of esteem is open.  You may use your fantasy and most of all your empathy to express your esteem feelings properly.  No doubt, you’ll find the right words of your language of esteem.

18July2008

New visions for public education

Posted by Cecilia under: Education.

As president of the United Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten represented New York City teachers for ten years.  On Monday Randi Weingarten was elected as president of the national teachers union, the American Federation of Teachers.

Her visions of the future of public education are remarkable.  The reforms should be good for teachers and students.  Community schools which offer after-school and evening recreational activities with homework assistance.  Her vision even suggests that schools should include more complete medical or counseling clinics.

However Weingarten’s visions are realized, the important point is on what level the schools can give esteem toward teachers but also toward children.  Each step leading toward this goal is essential.

See also my thoughts about the vision of an esteemful education for children.

Our children are our future.  Their broad education should be our first responsibility reflecting esteem toward children.

17July2008

Enjoy a hamburger in Paris

Posted by Cecilia under: Art and Culture.

As if it were the arrival of a great innovation the hamburger finally found its way into the center of the genuine French kitchen, into three-star-restaurants of Paris.

More and more restaurants in Paris offer this summer staple.  Hélène Samuel, a restaurant consultant in Paris said about the hamburger: “It has the taste of the forbidden, the illicit - the subversive, even.”

But it wouldn’t be French style if they didn’t transform the hamburger into a French version with cornichons, fleur de sel and fresh thyme.

I admit I really like this idea - not only because I like to cook and because I’m interested in every kind of recipe from all over the world.  I like it because it’s a sign of cultural exchange on a level of mutual esteem.

Our world is open to other traditions, to other eating and cooking traditions.  We enjoy different meals with mutual esteem and respect for the cooking culture of other nations.  That’s why I love this news so much.  Esteem on the level of eating!

16July2008

Tanned skin for esteem

Posted by Cecilia under: Health.

Hundreds of years ago light skin was considered as a status symbol among the Caucasian population in European countries.  In many texts of those times you can read about the beauty of porcelain white skin.  Caucasians with tanned skin were considered as poor because it meant they were working outside.

This opinion about beauty changed dramatically.  More recently tanned skin is a sign of health and beauty and therefore high esteem.  But just being in the sun is no longer enough.  Now we have tanning studios where people can get their skin tanned artificially.  In reality, all we are seeking with tanned skin is getting esteem.

Tanned skin for esteem?  We pay for it - with our health.  In the July 10th edition of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology researchers report that the cases of melanoma have strongly increased for young adults since 1980. 

This is a strong sign for how much we want to get esteem in our lives.  We are even capable of jeopardizing the health or our skin.  The message today is: people with tanned skin get attention and esteem.

Real esteem is given to everybody no matter what our skin looks like.  Everybody is a precious person and deserves esteem just because we are here. 

15July2008

French National Holiday

Posted by Cecilia under: Art and Culture.

Yesterday was the French National Holiday, called “quattorze juillet” (14 July).

This French National Holiday is also called “Bastille Day” in remembrance of the storming of the Bastille on 14th July 1789. 

I was once able to celebrate this day in the South of France and enjoy the festivities.  Each small town has its own military parade - even when there are more dancing girls and musicians than veterans.  Another must is a huge fireworks display in the evening.   Like many other independence day celebrations, citizens come together like one big family on the beaches or lawns of their city to watch the impressive display.

In a higher sense a national day is an expression for esteem because independence means acknowledgment of a country’s culture and tradition.  It’s also a celebration of the present esteem the citizens give their country and the country gives its citizens.