We can Do Better Wednesdays, & Taking My Courage in Both Hands…

    Here’s a saying from the French “Prendre le couage de/dans mes deux mains…” or as we might have said a few years ago, to “take my courage in hand” and do something scary, like sending the Project Do Better book link to folks like ONE DC, or Yuval N. Harari.

    I really wish I had others to work on this with.

But these bits of paper on my desk are driving me crazy, so I guess I’ll just have to try.

*****************

Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Casa de Papel, or  Lupin Reviews

Holistic High School Lessons,

           or Long Range Nonfiction, or Historical Fiction

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about Project Do Better.

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons From Z’ha’dum (B5:s3e22) On Hope

       This week’s lessons:

          1.   Those who trust you will show you their true faces.

          2.   We fight “not against powers or principalities… but against the death of hope.”

 

     This is one of G’Kar’s best monologues:

           We fight not against powers or principalities, … but against the death of hope.  … The future is always born in pain.

  Let’s learn, ourselves, please, to keep building hope.                

    We can Do Better.

 

Last Monday’s review was S3e21 Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons “Shadow Dancing” (B5:s3e21) Teaches on Living ,

and 

Next Minbari Monday will be a new year:  2261

           Season 4e1: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons From “The Hour of The Wolf” (B5:s4e1) On Wisdom ;

  …

Nih sakh sh’lekk, sleem wa.

I come in peace, I am your friend.

 

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your thoughts on how we Human Beings might start to build a more fully inclusive society for all of us, and how this episode of Babylon 5 could help that process.

2.) Write a book, story, post or tweet that uses these thoughts.

***************** 

Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan:Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, or La Casa De Papel/Money Heist Reviews,

Holistic College Algebra & GED/HiSET Night School Lesson Plans,

           or My Nonfiction  & Historical Fiction Serial Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons “Shadow Dancing” (B5:s3e21) Teaches on Living

       This week’s lessons:

          1.   Those who care will stick with you, even when it it difficult.

          2.   Choosing to stay alive, even when all hope seems lost, really can make a difference.

 

     This is one of Garibaldi’s shining epiphanies:

Sometimes people walk away because they want to be alone, and sometimes they walk away because they want to see if you care enough to follow them into hell.

  With a fantastic juxtaposition of two battles for life, one that of Dr. Franklin deciding to choose to live, the other of Delenn hoping to live, with excellent music and a poignant response from Franklin:

Alive.  Everything else is negotiable.

   I love how the episode ends on Delenn watching her potential mate sleep.

Z-2 Days…

  Let’s learn, ourselves, please, to stick by each other through difficulty, and help our friends choose to live.                

    We can Do Better.

 

Last Monday’s review was S3e20: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place” (B5:s3e20) on Volunteering , and then

Next Minbari Monday will be

           Season 3 ep22:  Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons From Z’ha’dum (B5:s3e22) On Hope ;

  …

Nih sakh sh’lekk, sleem wa.

I come in peace, I am your friend.

 

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your thoughts on how we Human Beings might start to build a more fully inclusive society for all of us, and how this episode of Babylon 5 could help that process.

2.) Write a book, story, post or tweet that uses these thoughts.

***************** 

Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan:Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, or La Casa De Papel/Money Heist Reviews,

Holistic College Algebra & GED/HiSET Night School Lesson Plans,

           or My Nonfiction  & Historical Fiction Serial Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place” (B5:s3e20) on Volunteering

       This week’s lessons:

          1.   Those who care will come when called, even to the death, if “the cause is just and fair, and necessary.”

          2.   Volunteering, when it comes down to brass tacks, really can make a difference.

 

          This episode begins on December 7th (ironically enough), 2260, on one of the best nights for telepaths: we have the ill uses of their powers, as lived by poor Vir this night, and the highest uses of those powers, as proven by the telepaths volunteering to to put their lives on the front line fighting the Shadows.  This was mostly arranged by Dr. Franklin via his contacts from the telepath Underground Railroad, which now turns around to help the mundanes frm whom these very telepaths had to hide.

     And in 14 days, Sheridan will see how much good those telepaths have done, when he goes to Z’ha’dum.

   Some visiting Resistance leaders, all men of the cloth, bring information from earth, and remind us that 

“The world is changing all the time.  The only question is who’s doing the changing.”

  With a fantastic juxtaposition of song words (this title) between a prayer service, and a fleeing war criminal, the episode ends on

Z-10 Days…

  Let’s learn, ourselves, please, to volunteer for a crucial cause, which we also hope is “just, and fair, and right.”                

    We can Do Better.

 

Last Monday’s review was S3e19: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “Grey 17 is Missing” (B5:s3e19) on Warrior’s Empathy, Despite Differences? , and then

Next Minbari Monday will be

           Season 3 ep21:  Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons “Shadow Dancing” (B5:s3e21) Teaches on Living 

  …

Shira

 

Nih sakh sh’lekk, sleem wa.

I come in peace, I am your friend.

 

 

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your thoughts on how we Human Beings might start to build a more fully inclusive society for all of us, and how this episode of Babylon 5 could help that process.

2.) Write a book, story, post or tweet that uses these thoughts.

***************** 

Click here to read, if you like:

Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, & La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic High School Lessons,

           or Long Term Nonfiction & Historical Fiction

 

 

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “Grey 17 is Missing” (B5:s3e19) on Warrior’s Empathy, Despite Differences?

       This week’s lessons:

          1.   Even our enemies can teach us something, if we listen.

          2.   Even our enemies can have empathy.

 

          This episode is one of my all-time favorites, if we ignore the Zarg.    Last week we lost Ranger One, so a replacement is needed, and that will be Delenn:  over someone’s dead body.    Marcus thinks it will be his…

   Garibaldi, meanwhile, has a useful piece of functional genealogy research: the “slug-thrower” of a Smith & Wesson revolver used by his grandmother, when she worked Security: as a Boston police officer!  Pretty cool, huh? 

“…solid piece of my family’s history.”

     And, my favorite line, perhaps of the entire series, is that of Neroon’s epiphany:    

“…and death there was.   …   the rightness of my cause disappeared .”

   An absolutely gorgeous line from an absolutely humbled and humbling warrior.  Who refrained from killing Marcus, thank you, Neroon!

  Let’s learn, ourselves, please, to build humility and trust for our cause, which we also hope is right.                 

    We can Do Better.

 

Last Monday’s review was S3e18: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “Walkabout” (B5:s3e18) on Too Much for Yourself, vs. Making a Difference , and then

Next Minbari Monday will be the one Neatnik said he has been waiting for:

           Season 3 ep20:  Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place” (B5:s3e20) on Volunteering 

  …

Shira

 

Nih sakh sh’lekk, sleem wa.

I come in peace, I am your friend.

 

 

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your thoughts on how we Human Beings might start to build a more fully inclusive society for all of us, and how this episode of Babylon 5 could help that process.

2.) Write a book, story, post or tweet that uses these thoughts.

***************** 

Click here to read, if you like:

Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, & La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic High School Lessons,

           or Long Term Nonfiction & Historical Fiction

 

 

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “Walkabout” (B5:s3e18) on Too Much for Yourself, vs. Making a Difference

       This week’s lessons:

          1.   Even Vorlons, as intelligent and advanced as they are, can lack empathy, despite the gruff empathy of Kosh the Good.  Even the ‘good guys’ can have diversity.  In not good ways.

          2.   Those who lack empathy will probably never expect different types of people to be able to work together, so diversity and cooperation really are strengths.  This is the failure of Shadow understanding, fortunately for us.

 

          This episode is not one of my favorites.  I always feel angry at the spoiled hypocrisy of Dr. Franklin, even as I cheer the cooperation of those Minbari telepaths who saved Sheridan in battle, while a singer is saving hope in Down Below.

   Those opening credits grab me more than ever, now, with worried looks, thinning hair, and horror.

   Garibaldi has the best crew/regular cast line, in this episode: 

“…the cause is just, and fair, and necessary.”

     Yet, my favorite line, perhaps of the entire season, is that absolute truth ending with the conviction of hope:  

“Honey, we are all gonna die from something.           …        I can make a difference.”

   An absolutely beautiful line from an absolutely beautiful woman.

  Let’s learn to build tools and the trust to share those tools, for our cause is just, and fair, and necessary.”                  

   Let’s help “make a difference.”

    We really can Do Better.

 

Last Monday’s review was S3e17: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “War Without End, P2” (B5:s3e17) on Empathy & Trust , and then

 the Minbari Monday before the one that  Neatnik said he has been waiting for:

           Season 3 ep19: ” Grey 17 is Missing “

  …

Shira

 

Nih sakh sh’lekk, sleem wa.

I come in peace, I am your friend.

 

 

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your thoughts on how we Human Beings might start to build a more fully inclusive society for all of us, and how this episode of Babylon 5 could help that process.

2.) Write a book, story, post or tweet that uses these thoughts.

***************** 

Click here to read, if you like:

Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, & La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic High School Lessons,

           or Long Term Nonfiction & Historical Fiction

 

 

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “War Without End, P2” (B5:s3e17) on Empathy & Trust

       This week’s lessons:

          1.  Sometimes empathy requires giving the benefit of the doubt to an old enemy.

          2.  Sometimes one must trust the script writer to tie up all the loose ends!

          This episode is full of ties to the ultimate fates of both Londo Mollari and G’Kar, which we see hints of now, but will only be able to fully understand much later.

   My favorite line is that knockout ending:

“I am called Valen.”

  Let’s learn to build community and trust, which we need in spades to solve our current problems, please.  

We, as a society and globally, really can Do Better.

 

Last Monday’s review was S3e16: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “War Without End, P1” (B5:s3e16) on Empathy & Trust , (and Neatnik has a fuller review of Parts 1 and 2, here…)

Next Minbari Monday,  will be

           Season 3 ep18: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “Walkabout” (B5:s3e18) on Too Much for Yourself, vs. Making a Difference ;

  …

Shira

 

Nih sakh sh’lekk, sleem wa.

I come in peace, I am your friend.

 

 

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your thoughts on how we Human Beings might start to build a more fully inclusive society for all of us, and how this episode of Babylon 5 could help that process.

2.) Write a book, story, post or tweet that uses these thoughts.

***************** 

Click here to read, if you like:

Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, & La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic High School Lessons,

           or Long Term Nonfiction & Historical Fiction

 

 

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “War Without End, P1” (B5:s3e16) on Empathy & Trust

       This week’s lessons:

          1.  Sometimes empathy requires putting yourself in really old shoes, like Valen’s.

          2.  Sometimes one must trust others to complete what one has begun.

          This episode is the first in which we finally see Minbar, where the current Ranger One, Sinclair, takes delivery of a box sealed 900 years ago, addressed to him:   with a letter to himself.

         I generally don’t go for time travel episodes in hard sf, but given the Vorlon technology, I could live with this (especially since we’ve already seen their ability to travel through time and pluck out certain people who are perfectly suited to certain tasks…) one.  The fact that it starts with the shock of hearing a distress call from an uncharacteristically frantic Cmdr Ivanova helps set the mood, while the origin being Sector 14, quarantined three years ago due to Bermuda Triangle like phenomenon, caps off the feeling of anticipation.  “Strange things” have happened there…

   Marcus shows why the Rangers are a trustworthy institution:

    “Where Delenn points, I follow.”

   Leading the soon to be Valen to have enough trust to say that:

“…come what may, the Rangers will finish the job.”

   I love the ties in this episode to the tragic fate of Londo Mollari, which we see hints of now, but will only be able to fully understand much later.

   So, this episode required a lot of empathy, and a lot of trust.

  Let’s learn to build community and trust, which we need in spades to solve our current problems, please.  

We, as a society and globally, really can Do Better.

 

Last Monday’s review was S3e15: Minbari Mondays, Two Lessons from “Interludes And Examinations,” (B5:s3e15) on Empathy for a Useful Death?  , and 

Next Minbari Monday will be Part 2, Season 3 ep17: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “War Without End, P2” (B5:s3e17) on Empathy & Trust ;

  …

Shira

 

Nih sakh sh’lekk, sleem wa.

I come in peace, I am your friend.

 

 

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your thoughts on how we Human Beings might start to build a more fully inclusive society for all of us, and how this episode of Babylon 5 could help that process.

2.) Write a book, story, post or tweet that uses these thoughts.

***************** 

Click here to read, if you like:

Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, & La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic High School Lessons,

           or Long Term Nonfiction & Historical Fiction

 

 

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minbari Mondays, Two Lessons from “Interludes And Examinations,” (B5:s3e15) on Empathy for a Useful Death?

       This week’s lessons:

          1.  Sometimes a death is not what it seems.  Be sure the investigation covers all angles.

          2.  Not all deaths are a waste, as Vir points out.

   I love Vir’s honesty, and the way we finally see Morden’s true colors on full display in this  episode.   This episode ought to have been called “Deaths and Manipulations.”  Bribing a Rent-a-Cop, then killing him, and blaming the death of Adira on Lord Refa.  Efficient.  True?  We’ll find out, but knowing Vir’s good heart, a death wish from him is not to be taken lightly.

   Delenn gives us more information on how your technology can become your best friend, and maybe even a part of you, as with Kosh. 

     Context, again, also matters, and greatly.

    This is a packed episode, with the deaths of Adira and Kosh, the direct involvement of the Vorlons against the Ancient Enemy, and Dr. Franklin fighting his own internal enemy: addiction.  Of course he can’t take the lesson from a friend who still fights the same enemy.   Sadly.  I suppose that we human beings must always learn from hard experience, if we refuse to learn from history or from the counsel of others.

 

  Let’s learn to build community, based on useful lives, please.  

We, as a society and globally, really can Do Better.

 

Last Monday’s review was S3e14: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons in “Ship of Tears” (B5:s3e14) on Empathy & Information, and

Next Minbari Monday will be Season 3 ep16: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons from “War Without End, P1” (B5:s3e16) on Empathy & Trust ,

  …

Shira

 

Nih sakh sh’lekk, sleem wa.

I come in peace, I am your friend.

 

 

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your thoughts on how we Human Beings might start to build a more fully inclusive society for all of us, and how this episode of Babylon 5 could help that process.

2.) Write a book, story, post or tweet that uses these thoughts.

***************** 

Click here to read, if you like:

Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, & La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic High School Lessons,

           or Long Term Nonfiction & Historical Fiction

 

 

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons in “Ship of Tears” (B5:s3e14) on Empathy & Information

       This week’s lessons:

          1.  Sometimes it really is necessary to withhold information.  Context matters, but empathy also matters, especially when it’s time to do the explaining…

          2.  Not all information is correct.  Empathy can probably help figuring that out, too…

   I love the growth we see in this  episode.    G’Kar admits, and Delenn understands, that he would have killed her, had he heard what she just told him, some time ago.  She had to withhold it for the greater good, allowing the fall of Narn, in order to prevent it’s entire destruction.  But he was too angry to have understood that back at the time.  His time in isolation has given him time to ponder, and to learn.  Writing about it has probably also helped in the reflective process, although we will see that some information should not be released prematurely, even if it is correct. 

Context, again, also matters, and greatly.

“…extremely popular martial law…”

    That, of course, is simply a lie.  Despite those who do think that it lowered street crime.  No one cares about the crime that goes on behind closed doors, apparently.

 

   Cptn Sheridan, meanwhile, gets to worry Bester by “thinking it over.”   Excellent!

 

  Let’s learn from this, and to build community, based on information transparency, please.  

We, as a society and globally, really can Do Better.

 

Last Monday’s review was S3e13: Minbari Mondays, and Two Lessons in “A Late Message from Avalon” (B5:s3e13) from Charles Dickens on Housing & Health Care , and

Next Minbari Monday is

                                    Season 3 ep15: Minbari Mondays, Two Lessons from “Interludes And Examinations,” (B5:s3e15) on Empathy for a Useful Death? ,   …

Shira

 

Nih sakh sh’lekk, sleem wa.

I come in peace, I am your friend.

 

 

Action Prompts:

1.)  Share your thoughts on how we Human Beings might start to build a more fully inclusive society for all of us, and how this episode of Babylon 5 could help that process.

2.) Write a book, story, post or tweet that uses these thoughts.

***************** 

Click here to read, if you like:

Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, & La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic High School Lessons,

           or Long Term Nonfiction & Historical Fiction

 

 

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.