Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Love: Kindness

Hi funmi
Your postings are always kind. I think you’ve won the war
Ken

Kenneth Harrow

Dept of English and Film Studies

Michigan State University

619 Red Cedar Rd

East Lansing, MI 48824

517-803-8839

harrow@msu.edu

http://www.english.msu.edu/people/faculty/kenneth-harrow/


From: usaafricadialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Funmi Tofowomo Okelola <funmitofowomo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: usaafricadialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, 9 August 2017 at 04:53
To: usaafricadialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Funmi Tofowomo Okelola <cafeafricana1@aol.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Love: Kindness

Prof, 


After a traumatic experience with a sociopath, I made a conscious decision to always be kind; and most importantly, to be cognizant of unkindness behavior from clients, friends, family members, and Others. Greatness is not a prerequisite for kindness, and being kind has no relationship with mediocrity. 


Anyway, earlier today, I was in Court for a disposition hearing on a case. When I arrived in Department 6, the door was closed and I observed some defendants were seating and waiting, while others were conversing with their lawyers. I stood by the door waiting for the Bailiff or the Court Clerk to open the door in order to enter the Courtroom. (I was wearing my badge while standing by the door). 


Well, the Court Clerk arrived and he said "Are you a County Counsel?" I replied that I was not a County Counsel, but ERCSW. He replied rudely "Just wait for the Bailiff." After his conversation with me, he opened the door and he allowed an attorney to enter the Courtroom with him. I stood at the door contemplating my next move. Then, another attorney arrived and he opened the unmanned door and went inside the CR. At this point, I made the decision to wait few more minutes for my client. However, my client didn't arrive on time. Thus, I went inside the Courtroom and sat down on the left side of the aisle. While sitting down, the Court Clerk raised up his head and stared at me. I stared back at him. And he went to talk to one of the lawyers and I heard him stating "Is the Bailiff in yet?" He kept going up and down the aisle like a timid tyrant, however, he couldn't approach me. After couple of minutes, the Bailiff came and he was very kind and he offered to help me. Then, the Presiding Judge came in and immediately she also offered to help me. She was very kind. She wasn’t judgmental. She asked for the name of my client and the name of my Department. And she said "I won't keep you long today.", with a smile. 


What is my point? I've been in Court many, many times, and the protocol is for the Court Clerk to observe my badge and to allow me to enter the Courtroom. However, this particular Clerk failed to follow the protocol. Instead, he told me to wait for the Bailiff. He was very unkind. 


Personally, kindness comes in small packages. It’s a choice to be kind or to be unkind. My choice is always to be kind. 


Well, have a good evening, Prof. 



On Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 7:38:10 AM UTC-7, Kenneth Harrow wrote:
But can you become great if you are kind all the time, or will your kindness make you mediocre.
Funmi, got to make up your mind…!
ken

Kenneth Harrow

Dept of English and Film Studies

Michigan State University

619 Red Cedar Rd

East Lansing, MI 48824

517-803-8839

har...@msu.edu

http://www.english.msu.edu/people/faculty/kenneth-harrow/


From: usaafricadialogue <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Funmi Tofowomo Okelola <funmit...@gmail.com>
Reply-To: usaafricadialogue <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, 8 August 2017 at 16:07
To: usaafricadialogue <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Funmi Tofowomo Okelola <cafeaf...@aol.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Love: Kindness


The great medieval mystic Johan Ruysbroeck, when asked how to become perfect, gave the same answer: “Be kind, be kind, be kind.” When we remove all unkindness from our deeds, words, thoughts, and feelings, what remains is our natural state of love.

This may sound simple, but it demands many years of sustained effort to eliminate all unkindness from our inner and outer lives. Some would say that this is humanly impossible – that it is beyond human nature to return kindness for unkindness even in our thoughts. Only when we see someone who has attained these heights do we begin to say, “Maybe it is possible, after all.” When we come in contact with such a person, we know there is no limit to the human capacity to love.

– Eknath Easwaran, from “The Constant Companion”





Funmi Tofowomo Okelola

-In the absence of greatness, mediocrity thrives. 

http://www.cafeafricana.com

On Twitter: @Bookwormlit

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