OPPORTUNITY CAFE

Get it.   We are interdependent.   Economically and spiritually, we are a chain.  A world of links, one pulled by the other.  And yes, the USA is the mother link, economically.  Now.  That will not always be the case.  Change is the nature of life.  Today, the USA.  Tomorrow, perhaps, China.  The next day, perhaps, Jamaica.  Or Brazil.  Or Dubai.  Or Cuba.  What is clear without a doubt, is that we are all linked together.  For the well being of one, we must root for and support the well-being of the …

Faith. The belief in something that is as yet unseen.

Hope. Belief in a positive outcome in the future.

Love. The antithesis of Apathy.  The opposite of Fear.
(No, not hate. Hate is a disfiguring of love.  The true evil is apathy.)  Love must begin with love of self.  From there Love catalyzes all else.

The Biggest Obstacle to Success: The absence of Faith, Hope and Love.

Faith, Hope and Love – these three.   But the greatest of these is Love.

Believe in Yourself.   Believe in a Positive …

There is a television show on American T.V. about a man known as “The Dog Whisperer.”   Born in Mexico, his ability to communicate with dogs became apparent when he was young.  The locals called him: “El Perrero”- which is Spanish for “The Dog Man.”   On every television episode of “The dog Whisperer,” Cesar Millan tames and rehabilitates dogs who seem impossible to control.  The ferocious, the biters, the “fraidy-cats,” the “escape-artists”- Cesar Millan can cause them all to become well-behaved and well-adjusted.   But on last night’s episode, it looked like …

Luis is a Taxi Driver from Argentina who has evidenced a keen aptitude for dispute resolution.  On a recent road trip in Baltimore, I appreciated his ability to “be his own boss” and complained about the lack of “human-ness” working in a corporation.   He jumped at the opportunity to share his unhappy experiences in the corporate world, as a manager stuggling to balance work needs and the needs of employees in the midst of office politics and pettiness.  It seems the employees were constantly arguing about the heat.  Some thought …

Throughout the world, millions of people are alone. Some are alone as a result of mistakes made in the past. Some are alone as the result of mistakes made by others. Some are alone because that is their destiny. It is a destiny of opportunity.

Would you? Watch the outstanding video on the “Make a Difference” page above.  It is about an American hero.   It is about hundreds of thousands of children who have been given a new opportunity to live, in Haiti, Guatemala, and other impoverished countries.

In India, and in some parts of the Muslim world, marriage is entered into much like a Business Agreement (contract) is entered into in the United States.  Under US law, in order for a contract to be binding, it must include four components:  An Offer, Acceptance, Competency, and Consideration (the exchange of value.)  An offer must be presented and accepted.  The parties entering into the Agreement must be mentally competent and of an age of accountability.  Something of value must be exchanged.
In seeking marriage:
The process of Sourcing for  the contract …

Praise to President Obama who is remaking the face of government to reflect the face of America. Yesterday, he announced that he will nominate Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. A federal appeals judge in New York, she is the daughter of Puerto Rican parents. Raised in the Bronx, she was educated at Yale University. Her professional background exceeds that of Supreme Court Justices before her, including work as a former prosecutor in NY. Sonia Sotomayor will bring real-world life experience to the decision-making that shapes our nation.

Of course, the politicos and racists are out in number- seeking minutiae to grasp hold of and contort. It seems that statements indicating her Latino background will enable her to be a more well-rounded, culturally aware decision maker are threatening to some. There is contention by some that these types of statements present a reverse discrimination of sorts. Read more….

Capitalism has a bad rap. Say the word and imagery of gross excess floods the senses. Read the word “capitalism” and picture: People driving gas guzzling SUVs to a mega-store to buy their third wide screen TV, while wearing thousand dollar sunglasses that shield them from noticing that people a world away- or even two city blocks away- are suffering in poverty.
Read more about global opportunity, capitalism and greed..

There is a piece of fancy footwork known as the “diplomatic shuffle” to Americans who work overseas. It refers to the fact that in many countries, the circles of personal space that people are comfortable with are much smaller. For example, when someone from an Asian country speaks to an American, they often stand closer to the American than the American is comfortable with. This causes the American to shuffle backwards. The Asian then shuffles forwards, to maintain the circle of personal space that they are comfortable with. The American, personal space violated, shuffles backwards again. This continues until the American’s back hits a wall and s/he begins to perspire with discomfort. Click above to read full article….