Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld (29 July 1905 – 18 September 1961) was a Swedish diplomat, economist, and author. The second Secretary-General of the United Nations, he served from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. He is the only person to have been awarded a posthumous Nobel Peace Prize. Hammarskjöld remains the only U.N. Secretary-General to die in office, and his death occurred en route to cease-fire negotiations. American President John F. Kennedy called Hammarskjöld “the greatest statesman of our century"
In 1953, soon after his appointment as United Nations secretary general, Hammarskjöld was interviewed on radio by Edward R. Murrow. In this talk he declared: "But the explanation of how man should live a life of active social service in full harmony with himself as a member of the community of spirit, I found in the writings of those great medieval mystics [Meister Eckhart and Jan van Ruysbroek] for whom 'self-surrender' had been the way to self-realization, and who in 'singleness of mind' and 'inwardness' had found strength to say yes to every demand which the needs of their neighbours made them face, and to say yes also to every fate life had in store for them when they followed the call of duty as they understood it."
His only book, Vägmärken (Markings), was published in 1963. A collection of his diary reflections, the book starts in 1925, when he was 20 years old, and ends at his death in 1961. This diary was found in his New York house, after his death, along with an undated letter addressed to then Swedish Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Leif Belfrage. In this letter, Dag writes, "These entries provide the only true 'profile' that can be drawn ... If you find them worth publishing, you have my permission to do so". The foreword is written by W.H. Auden, a friend of Dag's. Markings was described by a theologian, the late Henry P. Van Dusen, as "the noblest self-disclosure of spiritual struggle and triumph, perhaps the greatest testament of personal faith written ... in the heat of professional life and amidst the most exacting responsibilities for world peace and order." Hammarskjöld writes, for example, "We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put into it is ours. He who wills adventure will experience it — according to the measure of his courage. He who wills sacrifice will be sacrificed — according to the measure of his purity of heart." Markings is characterised by Hammarskjöld's intermingling of prose and haiku poetry in a manner exemplified by the 17th-century Japanese poet Basho in his Narrow Roads to the Deep North. In his foreword to Markings, the English poet W. H. Auden quotes Hammarskjöld as stating "In our age, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action."
Wikipedia says: On April 3, 1882, Jesse James was killed by Robert Ford, who was a member of the gang living in the James house and who was hoping to collect a state reward on James' head.
Wikipedia again: Patrick Floyd "Pat" Garrett (June 5, 1850 – February 29, 1908) was an American Old West lawman, bartender, and customs agent who became famous for killing Billy the Kid.
The legacy I spoke of was not your own, but that of your daughter. I know myself, if my life was taken, I would not rest easy knowing my mother showed bitterness towards others as a result. I would hope she sought out the help she needed and found peace. I would not want her to be a 'victim' for the rest of her days. Your comments towards the man that perpetrated the crime against your loved one are not random obviously, but negative comments I have seen you leave on other bloggers posts, are.
Over the course of my time here I have not paid much attention to Mr Clarke's blogs and this was perhaps the first comment I have ever left for him. I do not take much from reading what can be interpreted as personal attacks on blogs, and don't pay them much attention, just as I don't appreciate personal attacks about the comments I choose to leave.
You asked me "Do you honestly think your comments here are going to change Mr. Clarke's demeanor and/or behaviors?".
Interestingly, it is not Mr Clarke's demeanor and behaviors I am as concerned about changing, as your own. I chose to comment on this post because it showed me that Mr Clarke has taken the time to look at what is being said, and asked himself... 'why are they saying these things, and lets look at why that might be.' To send in the submission he has, it shows me that he spent a lot of time on self reflection, and this is what leads us all to personal growth. I'm not suggesting for a moment that he's reached the stage of enlightenment, but he's trying and should be commended for that. That is why I chose to offer my support for this particular post and that is what I hope all of my comments encourage.
I got your letter, and I hear you sent a card as well (at least I assume it was you). Thank you. I've read and re-read the letter a few times. You gave me quite a bit to think about. This is a brief note to say thank you.
I will write a proper letter and mail it after the holidays when I have more time.
Until then, my thoughts are with you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. One step closer to you being free again.
One more thought, Nicki. Mr. Clark's posts are RIFE with anger and hatred (directed, usually, at the prison administration). BTB has allowed him to fuel his hatred by publishing his rants. Have you considered contacting him personally via snail mail and offering him another venue to vent? Do you honestly think your comments here are going to change Mr. Clarke's demeanor and/or behaviors? Mr. Clarke (as far as I can determine) will never be paroled. He is and will continue to be incarcerated until his number comes up or his higher power decides to forgo that process. That's not my call nor, thankfully, will I ever be asked to make that decision.
Sure, I agree that life on death row certainly seems like a living hell. I do correspond with others on "the row". I am not completely void of empathy and compassion.
The others, however, do not continue to spew hatred or I wouldn't waste my time and/or energy communicating with them (let alone offer any comforts such as commissary). There is an inmate in California to whom I regularly provide $$$ to fund his family's telephone acct. Without my funds, they would be unable to receive his collect phone calls. Gigantic relief for them and a small sacrifice on my part. I also regularly provide funds to others in need. Can you say the same?
As a student of psychology and criminology, surely you know that not all death row convicts are created equal. Some are just bad seeds and need to be removed before they taint the flower bed. While that seems harsh in print, I'm again grateful that I'm not making the decisions as to the fate of Mr. Clarke. I will say I think he could use his time much more wisely rather than his ad nauseum rants.
First of all, my reasons for being here are not your concern. You're not sure of anything (especially the legacy I leave or intend to leave). What a pompous statement...that you're sure about what my family would have wanted.
With that said - you're entitled to blog anything you'd like. Earlier there was a statement on here that as of 12/12/2012 Mr. Clark had nearly $350.00 in his commissary acct yet his blogs are full of whining about needing to cut back on his art as his paints are low. I believe he deliberately misleads the readers in the attempt to solicit funds. I find that underhandedness deplorable.
If you want to give Ronald Clarke the warm fuzzies you go right ahead. Let him rant and rave about Warden Reddish and his henchmen while you hold his hand. Not me.
I don't seek random vengeance, Nicki. I am a victim of Mr. Clarke's (one of MANY). I'd hardly call that random.
Society did not throw these death row inmates away. They are ALL there because there was a murder, they were accused, tried by a jury of peers, and convicted. They, themselves, are responsible...not society.
Have you considered that Mr. Clarke did and continues to defame the former Warden (Reddish). He did and continues to publish undocumented rumors of DUI incidents he has no knowledge of. The records do not reflect his statements. He needs to stop that. His records, however, do depict his crime(s). There are many other crimes for which he was NOT convicted.
I also value Between the Bars as an important learning resource, as a psychology and criminology student. It concerns me that if bloggers only receive negative comments, they will stop contributing here and I, and others, would lose their valuable contributions. I am here to learn from and encourage personal change in those society has thrown away. Why are you here SAH? it often seems like it is to seek random vengeance for your lost loved one. I'm sure that is not the legacy they intended to leave you with
I enjoyed reading your comments Tom. This is one of my beliefs too, that we are all capable of making poor decisions and laws should not rule anyone as beyond redemption.
I live in Australia and as our legal system is based on yours, we thankfully don't have the death penalty either. It makes no sense to me at all... To kill as punishment for killing... What message does that send!?
I Thank you for your thoughtful comments & I know Ronald will too :)
I hold the very simple belief that hatred breeds hatred. It therefore makes sense to me that kindness breeds kindness. I believe in humility and humanity. None of these people have harmed me, and perhaps none of them have been treated with kindness, perhaps my voice is one that can make a positive difference. We all need someone to believe in us. To believe we are capable of more. Capable of doing better and creating a more harmonious world for us all to live in. I am happy with the fact that my voice on this site is your opposing voice SAH. I hope my comments provide hope in a place where it seems there is none.
Continuing to do wrong to those that have done wrong will only continue a cycle of hatred and I will not be a part of that.
RSS
Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld (29 July 1905 – 18 September 1961) was a Swedish diplomat, economist, and author. The second Secretary-General of the United Nations, he served from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. He is the only person to have been awarded a posthumous Nobel Peace Prize. Hammarskjöld remains the only U.N. Secretary-General to die in office, and his death occurred en route to cease-fire negotiations. American President John F. Kennedy called Hammarskjöld “the greatest statesman of our century"
In 1953, soon after his appointment as United Nations secretary general, Hammarskjöld was interviewed on radio by Edward R. Murrow. In this talk he declared: "But the explanation of how man should live a life of active social service in full harmony with himself as a member of the community of spirit, I found in the writings of those great medieval mystics [Meister Eckhart and Jan van Ruysbroek] for whom 'self-surrender' had been the way to self-realization, and who in 'singleness of mind' and 'inwardness' had found strength to say yes to every demand which the needs of their neighbours made them face, and to say yes also to every fate life had in store for them when they followed the call of duty as they understood it."
His only book, Vägmärken (Markings), was published in 1963. A collection of his diary reflections, the book starts in 1925, when he was 20 years old, and ends at his death in 1961. This diary was found in his New York house, after his death, along with an undated letter addressed to then Swedish Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Leif Belfrage. In this letter, Dag writes, "These entries provide the only true 'profile' that can be drawn ... If you find them worth publishing, you have my permission to do so". The foreword is written by W.H. Auden, a friend of Dag's. Markings was described by a theologian, the late Henry P. Van Dusen, as "the noblest self-disclosure of spiritual struggle and triumph, perhaps the greatest testament of personal faith written ... in the heat of professional life and amidst the most exacting responsibilities for world peace and order." Hammarskjöld writes, for example, "We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put into it is ours. He who wills adventure will experience it — according to the measure of his courage. He who wills sacrifice will be sacrificed — according to the measure of his purity of heart." Markings is characterised by Hammarskjöld's intermingling of prose and haiku poetry in a manner exemplified by the 17th-century Japanese poet Basho in his Narrow Roads to the Deep North. In his foreword to Markings, the English poet W. H. Auden quotes Hammarskjöld as stating "In our age, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action."
Wikipedia says: On April 3, 1882, Jesse James was killed by Robert Ford, who was a member of the gang living in the James house and who was hoping to collect a state reward on James' head.
Wikipedia again: Patrick Floyd "Pat" Garrett (June 5, 1850 – February 29, 1908) was an American Old West lawman, bartender, and customs agent who became famous for killing Billy the Kid.
Over the course of my time here I have not paid much attention to Mr Clarke's blogs and this was perhaps the first comment I have ever left for him. I do not take much from reading what can be interpreted as personal attacks on blogs, and don't pay them much attention, just as I don't appreciate personal attacks about the comments I choose to leave.
You asked me "Do you honestly think your comments here are going to change Mr. Clarke's demeanor and/or behaviors?".
Interestingly, it is not Mr Clarke's demeanor and behaviors I am as concerned about changing, as your own. I chose to comment on this post because it showed me that Mr Clarke has taken the time to look at what is being said, and asked himself... 'why are they saying these things, and lets look at why that might be.' To send in the submission he has, it shows me that he spent a lot of time on self reflection, and this is what leads us all to personal growth. I'm not suggesting for a moment that he's reached the stage of enlightenment, but he's trying and should be commended for that. That is why I chose to offer my support for this particular post and that is what I hope all of my comments encourage.
I got your letter, and I hear you sent a card as well (at least I assume it was you). Thank you. I've read and re-read the letter a few times. You gave me quite a bit to think about. This is a brief note to say thank you.
I will write a proper letter and mail it after the holidays when I have more time.
Until then, my thoughts are with you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. One step closer to you being free again.
Always,
Jason
Sure, I agree that life on death row certainly seems like a living hell. I do correspond with others on "the row". I am not completely void of empathy and compassion.
The others, however, do not continue to spew hatred or I wouldn't waste my time and/or energy communicating with them (let alone offer any comforts such as commissary). There is an inmate in California to whom I regularly provide $$$ to fund his family's telephone acct. Without my funds, they would be unable to receive his collect phone calls. Gigantic relief for them and a small sacrifice on my part. I also regularly provide funds to others in need. Can you say the same?
As a student of psychology and criminology, surely you know that not all death row convicts are created equal. Some are just bad seeds and need to be removed before they taint the flower bed. While that seems harsh in print, I'm again grateful that I'm not making the decisions as to the fate of Mr. Clarke. I will say I think he could use his time much more wisely rather than his ad nauseum rants.
With that said - you're entitled to blog anything you'd like. Earlier there was a statement on here that as of 12/12/2012 Mr. Clark had nearly $350.00 in his commissary acct yet his blogs are full of whining about needing to cut back on his art as his paints are low. I believe he deliberately misleads the readers in the attempt to solicit funds. I find that underhandedness deplorable.
If you want to give Ronald Clarke the warm fuzzies you go right ahead. Let him rant and rave about Warden Reddish and his henchmen while you hold his hand. Not me.
I don't seek random vengeance, Nicki. I am a victim of Mr. Clarke's (one of MANY). I'd hardly call that random.
Society did not throw these death row inmates away. They are ALL there because there was a murder, they were accused, tried by a jury of peers, and convicted. They, themselves, are responsible...not society.
Have you considered that Mr. Clarke did and continues to defame the former Warden (Reddish). He did and continues to publish undocumented rumors of DUI incidents he has no knowledge of. The records do not reflect his statements. He needs to stop that. His records, however, do depict his crime(s).
There are many other crimes for which he was NOT convicted.
I live in Australia and as our legal system is based on yours, we thankfully don't have the death penalty either. It makes no sense to me at all... To kill as punishment for killing... What message does that send!?
I Thank you for your thoughtful comments & I know Ronald will too :)
Continuing to do wrong to those that have done wrong will only continue a cycle of hatred and I will not be a part of that.