First let me say, I have returned, after an evening of sorrow, but with comfort from all of the kind words I recieved from all of you. Pardon me if I wax philosophical for a moment, but it is my way. I tend to see the world with philosophical slant. First some background on me personally, so if you are prone to a judgement of me, you do so with some formal data. I am 43 years old, I was born in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, and I have lived in Oklahoma City since I was 6 months old. I have had a "rough life". At the age of 13, (1969) I left home and "became a hippie". I remained on the streets until 1974, crossing the United States many times, in my search for "life's meaning". This time in my life taught me a great deal about prejudice and hatred. It also began my understanding of how people use words to hurt other people. We give words power. Words are nothing without intent. The master, Jesus, once said that forgiveness is not forgiveness unless we forgive with our hearts. This is a true saying. The words "I am sorry." have no meaning without the intent. I began to think on my travels about the idea of profanity. I realized that there is no arrangement of letters that are profane. Only the intent to defile something sacred is profane. We teach our children that the word has power, when it is really the heart expressing the word. External blame. We are all prone to it. Look at how we blame the gun that kills the person. We make laws for the gun. We ignore the fact that no external law will change the internal heart/law. My intent here is not to be a "know it all". Indeed, I believe too, that ignorance grows exponentially with knowledge. For each new thing you KNOW, there are 10 new questions, therefore the more your learn, the less you know. Someone mentioned the word "Indian" being offensive. I have paused in my writing over that word many times. I have paused over many words. And it seems daily there are more and more and more that must "give one pause". But the pause should not be because of someone else's possible offence. It should be to examine the intent of your heart. With that said, my apologies for causing rumblings in our group. It was not my intent. My intent is to help people find their kin. I know the great peace and joy that comes ESPECIALLY from finding the elusive ones. Nalora

Apologize for what!!!!! Ha! You are a Doll!! Glad you are back. I suggest to all on the list a prayer for "someone". After reading their words, (of ?) they need it. Have a nice day Nalora, Katy If I had a quarter for every time I was called a name, I could take everyone on the list to lunch at the Hilton, and I am willing to bet, "someone" would have come! ----- Original Message ----- From: Nalora <vashti@theshop.net> To: <CHOCTAW-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2000 8:39 AM Subject: [CHOCTAW] Good Morning > First let me say, I have returned, after an evening of sorrow, but with > comfort from all of the kind words I recieved from all of you. Pardon me if > I wax philosophical for a moment, but it is my way. I tend to see the world > with philosophical slant. > > First some background on me personally, so if you are prone to a judgement > of me, you do so with some formal data. > > I am 43 years old, I was born in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, > and I have lived in Oklahoma City since I was 6 months old. I have had a > "rough life". At the age of 13, (1969) I left home and "became a hippie". I > remained on the streets until 1974, crossing the United States many times, > in my search for "life's meaning". This time in my life taught me a great > deal about prejudice and hatred. It also began my understanding of how > people use words to hurt other people. > > We give words power. Words are nothing without intent. The master, Jesus, > once said that forgiveness is not forgiveness unless we forgive with our > hearts. This is a true saying. The words "I am sorry." have no meaning > without the intent. > > I began to think on my travels about the idea of profanity. I realized that > there is no arrangement of letters that are profane. Only the intent to > defile something sacred is profane. We teach our children that the word has > power, when it is really the heart expressing the word. External blame. We > are all prone to it. Look at how we blame the gun that kills the person. We > make laws for the gun. We ignore the fact that no external law will change > the internal heart/law. > > My intent here is not to be a "know it all". Indeed, I believe too, that > ignorance grows exponentially with knowledge. For each new thing you KNOW, > there are 10 new questions, therefore the more your learn, the less you know. > > Someone mentioned the word "Indian" being offensive. I have paused in my > writing over that word many times. I have paused over many words. And it > seems daily there are more and more and more that must "give one pause". > But the pause should not be because of someone else's possible offence. It > should be to examine the intent of your heart. > > With that said, my apologies for causing rumblings in our group. > It was not my intent. > > My intent is to help people find their kin. I know the great peace and joy > that comes ESPECIALLY from finding the elusive ones. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Nalora > > > > ==== CHOCTAW Mailing List ==== > Please support wonderful & FREE genealogy on the internet. Join Rootsweb.com today! >

Nalora, I'm glad you're back!!!!!! Kelli ----- Original Message ----- From: Nalora <vashti@theshop.net> To: <CHOCTAW-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2000 8:39 AM Subject: [CHOCTAW] Good Morning > First let me say, I have returned, after an evening of sorrow, but with > comfort from all of the kind words I recieved from all of you. Pardon me if > I wax philosophical for a moment, but it is my way. I tend to see the world > with philosophical slant. > > First some background on me personally, so if you are prone to a judgement > of me, you do so with some formal data. > > I am 43 years old, I was born in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, > and I have lived in Oklahoma City since I was 6 months old. I have had a > "rough life". At the age of 13, (1969) I left home and "became a hippie". I > remained on the streets until 1974, crossing the United States many times, > in my search for "life's meaning". This time in my life taught me a great > deal about prejudice and hatred. It also began my understanding of how > people use words to hurt other people. > > We give words power. Words are nothing without intent. The master, Jesus, > once said that forgiveness is not forgiveness unless we forgive with our > hearts. This is a true saying. The words "I am sorry." have no meaning > without the intent. > > I began to think on my travels about the idea of profanity. I realized that > there is no arrangement of letters that are profane. Only the intent to > defile something sacred is profane. We teach our children that the word has > power, when it is really the heart expressing the word. External blame. We > are all prone to it. Look at how we blame the gun that kills the person. We > make laws for the gun. We ignore the fact that no external law will change > the internal heart/law. > > My intent here is not to be a "know it all". Indeed, I believe too, that > ignorance grows exponentially with knowledge. For each new thing you KNOW, > there are 10 new questions, therefore the more your learn, the less you know. > > Someone mentioned the word "Indian" being offensive. I have paused in my > writing over that word many times. I have paused over many words. And it > seems daily there are more and more and more that must "give one pause". > But the pause should not be because of someone else's possible offence. It > should be to examine the intent of your heart. > > With that said, my apologies for causing rumblings in our group. > It was not my intent. > > My intent is to help people find their kin. I know the great peace and joy > that comes ESPECIALLY from finding the elusive ones. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Nalora > > > > ==== CHOCTAW Mailing List ==== > Please support wonderful & FREE genealogy on the internet. Join Rootsweb.com today! > >