Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Questions for the Game of Life and Love

Normally, I provide a quote from The Big Book of If, but this time a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson is more appropriate to my answer to this week's question.

Success
To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
    and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
    and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
    whether by a healthy child,
    a garden patch
    or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
    because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

As such, the question, and my answer, for this week is:

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?

Call me an idealic sap, but I would want to win the Nobel Peace Prize. When Alfred Nobel had the clause for the Peace Prize written into his will, it stated that the award should go "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolitionof standing armiesand for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."  He actually anticipated that the award would not be needed within thirty years' time. Oh how wrong he was! We were battling a World War before the thirty years were over. 

If you click on the link, there is an essay written by Irwin Abrams titled Courage, Friends, Courage. It details the history of the Peace Prize and highlights some of the more notable, and even controversial, recipients of the award. There are critics who believe that the award should be discontinued since it has yet to achieve the lofty goals of its benefactor. Abrams answers the nay-sayers with this:

"Yet after the awarding of ninety Peace Prizes, the world is still rife with violent conflicts. Some cynics have suggested that the Norwegian Nobel Committee should shut up shop and give its funds to some needy cause. But peace is not just a goal. Peace is a process, a continuing effort, and the Nobel Committee makes grants for partial achievements and for efforts that may not succeed. Above all, the Committee makes its most significant awards to individuals whose untiring labours for peace can raise the level of our expectations about the human potential for dedicated service to humanity."

Ultimately, I would like to win the award for finding a means to establish peace throughout the world, for no person to ever have to fight and die in a war. To me, war is an archaic concept that has no place in this world anymore. There are no new lands to be discovered and conquered. We have developed intellectually and technologically to the point that we have a Space Rover on Mars, yet humanity has not found a means of settling its differences without bloodshed.

I wouldn't hold my breath, if I were you. Unfortunately, even I don't hold out hope of ever seeing such a thing in my life time. But, I do hope one day that it can be so.  Until then, I will do what I can to be successful in my life by striving for better social conditions and doing whatever I can so that even one person breathes easier because I have lived.

Finally, in the words of John Lennon:

Imagine
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

What prize would you like to win?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

what prize would I like to win.
I can't think of a single prize I would like to win.
I can think of a lot of other things I would like to win.
ooooh, yea...money.
that's a prize I most would like to win.
greedy...noooo.  there is things I need to do with it. :)

Anonymous said...

This will take some thought!

Anonymous said...

A noble prize to go after, Robbie--The Nobel Peace Prize. I'm afraid that the one that came to mind first for me was a little more superficial: Best Actor Oscar. 2nd choice: Best Actor Tony. but of course, for an "important" piece of acting!  Maybe something I wrote myself... Hey, that's it: winning best Screenplay, best direction AND best acting. Dream big!!! --Albert

Anonymous said...

People's Choice Award.  "They like me, they really like me.    LOL

Kathy

Anonymous said...

I receive my prize every day. I live my life as best I can, I show love to others that is somehow lacking and from that, the prize of love comes back to me. There is no greater prize then to see a smile where once was a frown. A spark of hope where there was none before me. I am not an answer to the world, but I make it my mission to pass love to those around me, so they might feel it, and pass it on. In time who knows?  Hugs Lanny

Anonymous said...

This was very good.  And could have come out of my mouth (pen?) word for word.  I don't think I'll write about the award...but I HAVE been thinking a lot about John Lennon's "Imagine."  I think I'll write about THAT in my journal today.  Lisa  :-]

Anonymous said...

i would like to win the lottery 100 zillion dollar prize!  

( i would share )

phinney

Anonymous said...

I was once voted "Most Likely To Take A Life." Does that count?

Oh yeah. I'm Baaaack!!

Anonymous said...

Ummm.. err... this one is a hard one for me.  I'm not much on awards, so I have trouble coming up with one I'd choose.  Hmmm.. maybe The Nobel Peace Prize also, though I can't begin to imagine *how* I'd win it.  

Murder within families over disputes is considered atrocious - yet the mass murder that occurs during war is considered necessary. I find that concept disheartening.  Keep hoping. ::smile::

Anonymous said...

Good Work, Robbie!
V

Anonymous said...

I love that poem from Ralph Waldo Emerson.  I wish the same things that you wish for here in this entry...if not in my lifetime...then at least some day...Great entry!

Anonymous said...

I would like to win Mother of the Year:  I would hope that my children can not only see, but feel what they mean to me.  Kristi

Anonymous said...

Funny you mention the Nobel Peace Prize as your choice, because that's my choice, too.  Quite a lofty goal, but peace is indeed a dynamic thing for which we always have to be vigilant.  

Anonymous said...

This is such a wonderful entry. Excellent choice. Did you know they banned (among others) 'Imagine' from playing on the radio for a while after 9-11? Ugh. Anyway, I really enjoyes the Success poem too. Hummm, you know? I think I'd have to say the Nobel Peace Prize as well. I mean, isnt that as honorable as it gets?
~Mary

Anonymous said...

Wonderful entry and answer. Love the poem and have always loved "Imagine"

http://journals.aol.com/ggal3133/LivinginSavannah/entries/913

Anonymous said...

Success isn't in the prize, but the deeds.

Anonymous said...

YOu should win an award FOR NOTHING!!!!!!!!! I tell you NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!

god bless

Anonymous said...

The Nobel Peace Prize, eh? Hmmm. What a nice thought. You never know. :-)

P.S. LOVE that new pic you have posted in your About Me section -- it makes you look as literate as you are.

Anonymous said...

Robbie that was a wonderful entry.  Nobel Peace Prize that is a good one to have as a goal or a want   john

Anonymous said...

Love the poem! Haven't heard the full poem in years, only bits and pieces of it. But reading it now that I am an adult, I understand it better. :)

Strange...I can't think of a prize I'd like to win. Give me time, I'll think of something. :)

Nice entry as usual, Robbie!

take care!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Robbie!  I hope you know just what a good person you are.  This is such a magnificent entry and so telling of your heart.  I, too, would like to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Anonymous said...

If I were to win any public award, I would want to win the Nobel prize for finding a cure for cancer, or a solution to world peace.