Human Dignity and Respect: A Right That Should be Conferred on All.I think that human beings should be, without let nor hindrance, given and conferred upon, the dignity and respect that we should all desire.

I'm tired of seeing injustice, inequality, and maltreatment of people in this world.

I decided long ago not to be one who doles out this kind of treatment to others, and try to treat everyone with respect and dignity.  But I'm not a stone cold person who lacks humor or a sense of fun.  I'm happy to help, and to be kind and do what I can for my friends.

I expect nothing in return, but do not expect disrespect nor require insults.

I met with a corpulent and flatulently fake former friend yesterday, and he decided to insult me in his diatribe praising others who had taken up my mantle since my departure.  Alas, my former friend, I wish you the best.
However, I shall not be the one to provide it any longer.  But I wish you the best in your solitary and unfortunate solitude.

Dignity is ours.
 
I have a new job, it's official.  I've been working since the 26th of September.
 
I'm on the cusp of getting a new job, have interviewed twice and visited a school for orientation and some training and am due to complete contract negotiations and details soon.  However, there appears to be some trouble in communication vis a vis work visa.  I'm hoping to get it solved this weekend.  Today is a holiday, mid-Autumn festival, so people are busy being festive and enjoying the day off.  I hope to get it fixed soon, so I can begin work next month.






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My girlfriend and I decided to go to a Muslim restaurant (Gansu food), this evening for dinner, as I wanted to eat some la mien soup and beef with hot peppers.  The restaurant was empty, except for one man, with head shaved, and a kind face eating plain noodles.  He said to me in English "hello, how are you", and then spoke with my girlfriend in Chinese.  It turns out that he is from Anhui Province, and he had crutches, and is a victim of childhood polio.  He spoke with a slow kind of slur, but had the kindest and most reassuring face.  He told us his story.  He is the youngest of 9 children, his parents are now deceased.  He was a beggar for 7 years.  One day, a huge rain storm came, and he was stuck in the street, and the local Buddhist temple took him in.  He had a vision from the "Buddha of the Sea", a female Buddha incarnation.  She told him "to ask for a job at the monestary", and he did.  It is where he works now.


The owner of the restaurant came in, and we had a very good conversation about religion, kindness and tolerance.  As one of the hallmarks of Islam, giving alms to the poor and being kind to the less fortunate,  and this was very much in evidence at this restaurant.  The owner told us how this man comes and has breakfast, lunch and dinner here.


I was touched by this story, and the kindness shown across faiths, from these men who have very different religions and cultures, Gansu and Anhui.  So, in Shenzhen, I was fortunate to see this and tell this story.




 
Meetings.
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Museum of Ethnology, Taiwan.  I visited this museum in 2005.