Egypt and Christmas-To Be or not to Be President with Manners

December 21, 1909
Feeling a trifle stale for want of exercise I put over to the Princeton Club tonight. The clubhouse on Gramercy Park is oddly attractive. After strolling through the rooms and hesitating a moment in the library, I settled to an illustrated lecture by Mr. Dwight Elmendorf on Egypt. He has a pleasant, clear voice, and made interesting comment on some excellent pictures. Two or three of these were caviare to the general and relished with the gusto of the arcane. I missed something of poetic interpretation, but even a stiff realism and moving pictures and British progress can not kill the fascinating illusion and romance of old Egypt.

December 25, 1909
Christmas passed off pleasantly with good things to eat and plenty of cheer, with family presents, mostly books, given and received. A few friends chipped in from the periphery and outer circles. Three of my Italian tenants sent wines, fruit, cheese, perfumes, and marvelous cakes, colorful, artistic, architectural. The donors came in person an((d)) gave with expressive greetings and that expansive good nature and courtesy for which the Italians have a talent. In one case I might suspect the motive, yet ungraciously, for they all acted so spontaneously and evinced some covert admiration or gratitude. In several ways I have aided them to get along.
In this connection I recall that one of them a short time ago -he is a political leader in a minor degree, with his district association, and affiliated with the machine -wanted me to put myself forward as a mayoralty candidate. Others have asked me to do the same and in respect to other offices in the past. While I expressed my appreciation and pleasure, I thought to myself, and without any depreciation of the conventional places and houses, for which indeed I formerly had a hankering. -I thought how little I am now in intimate harmony with them, how little I am finely touched by the usual, ordinary service and reward. As matters stand men must serve, nor may they stand too curiously inactive. There may be no warmth of approval or just understanding. They may receive only coldly measured stipends and modicum of praise, grudgingly or perfunctorily given, and at much compromise of their individual and innate selves. Still they should serve. Yet there are degrees of sacrifice. And while so many clamor to serve and do it with an exaggerated sense of importance, do it expediently, if not finely: yet there are others who might not refuse, if need were, to be fired out of the cannon's mouth for their country's sake, who nevertheless serve too, and perhaps more supremely because more rarely and unwontedly, by the cultivation of themselves, by the culture of criticism and creation, by adding somewhat of distinctive character and beauty to the general mass. Yes they have and fulfil their great office in the state. And it often redounds to the greater glory of the nation they represent. Individual standards light the way and diffuse their radiance widely.
Jocosely I fancied the Mayoralty of Jersey City -bah! -that fails to tempt me. The presidency of the United States would scarcely suffice. Perhaps I might consider the direction of the Confederation of Europe and all the Americas with their several limitations. But I should not stop at that: I feel for the supreme. Make me the Ruler of the Universe with stars and planets to play with!

Social Revaluation


Revaluation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Revaluation means a rise of a price of goods or products. This term is specially used as revaluation of a currency, where it means a rise of currency to the relation with a foreign currency in a fixed exchange rate. In floating exchange rate correct term would be appreciation. The antonym of revaluation is devaluation."

I

Social Revaluation is a Revelation
In culture and society
Look around the world
Look inside ourselves
Who and what is valued?
Social Revaluation means a rise
Of each Person's worth
Of the Good in All
A rise of currency
To the relation
With a foreign currency
In a fixed exchange rate
Who or what fixes the rate?
In a floating exchange rate
Who floats the rate?
Where is the appreciation?
And what is currency?
Originally currency
Was a form
A unit of account
Representing food
In the form of grain
Stored in temple granaries
A store of value
Four thousand years ago
Currency was a creation
A circulating medium of exchange

II

Now the global accounting mediums
Ask us again to trust them
With new units, markers, and derivatives
Representing we know not what
In forms few can explain or understand
Of dubious or even toxic value
Stored in forts and banks
Often traded or exchanged on line
Lines pushed by many global bankers and lawyers
By some accountants and most politicians
Snorted up their noses
Fat cats sitting in mansions
Made of promises they have not kept
Guarded by uniformed military police
Lifted up as heroes without earning the name
The weak and the poor too often seen without rights
Counted as collateral damage
When they are in the way
Devaluation spread like cancer
The earth and its resources
Viewed by huge corporations as pawns for the taking
Leaving the ground, the water, and the air
Damaged and polluted
For others to clean up
Debating climate change in blindness and arrogance
Giant conglomerates without a conscience
Poisoning paradise in a consuming wake.
The signs are everywhere
Their party is almost over
Environmental devaluation is being exposed
Shocks of economic crisis felt 'round the world
And endless war continues supported by both parties .........however

III

In the Cradles of Civilization
On Every Continent
The Places of Nature
Nurture quietly Rising Plant Nations
Sheltered in Earlier Stages
New ImagiNations Without Borders
Changing Under and On the Surface
A Myriad of Chrysalis-like Cradles Rocking in the Wind
In Grand Transformational Style
Marked by an Emerging Revaluation of Food, Goods, and Services
Showing True Appreciation for Work and Workers
Individuals and Communities
Making their Own Declarations of Independence
Moving Back to Basics
Sharing Food and Resources
Taking the Time to Love and Care for Others
With our Hands and From our Hearts
We the People Are Rising Up
To Protect the Earth
And Life Everywhere
Spreading our Wings with Wisdom and Words
Growing Food and Medicine Organically
Building Sound Sustainable and Ecofriendly Habitats
Raising Children with Respect and Nonviolence
Creating Art and Music and Dance and Theater
Surrounding Our Children
The Poor and the Oppressed
With Arms of Support and Healing
Giving Health Care and Freedom to All
We Can Do This
We Are Doing This
This Revaluation
This Revelation
This Revolution
This Time
2009.


1

February 8, 1909
The current push of nature that overbears our fine calculations for its own ends, though perfectly natural, is looked askance at and little studied or understood. A frank and honest discussion of the whole matter, with its varied, implications, would give it direction and control, largely insure against frightful dangers and make potently for the health, perpetuity and advancing strength of the race. What pretenses and subterfuges we scuttle under where things the most vital are concerned! Why not let in the light of truth, come out in the open and ride full-panoplied on the plain?


2


May 24, 1910
In and about the financial district this afternoon, I was imbued with some of its iron tonic and marveled at the battle of the exchanges, the members of which resembled in effect if not in character the howling dervishes. Minds that can carry on for any length of time in this manner and atmosphere have a certain repugnance or hardness and narrowness. They may be stimulated in some directions, but are dwarfed in all the saner and nobler aspects of existences. I had a stock transaction with the American Trustee Company in the Wall street Exchange building, and then sauntered down Broad street amidst the noisy curb brokers and found a haven of rest in Fraunces’s Tavern. How quietly and picturesquely it sits at the corner contemplating its grim surroundings and recalling its interesting and appealing memories!


3

April 7, 1910
The masses seem to be moving up, whilst the classes, their monitors and inspiration, are in a measure being sacrificed. Yet there is a wide perceptible gain, and there will always be light-bearers, certain choice spirits of culture to carry on the nobler traditions and best thoughts. Perhaps they are commonly not prized, but they have their secret recompense. They are the very salt of society and do indeed savor and retrieve the mass. Alas when one looks afield! Such a general level and aspect, such a rush for the necessary and obvious; so little appreciation of pause, envisagement and personal distinction! Yet these things are but phases and relative; the whole is divinely moved and needs but the sounding mood, the penetrating eye, to divine its high and sufficient purposes. The life is justified of its being.