Tired of the negative reporting

News has been so negative in the recent months, I haven't posted since January. Reporting on the economy, missing children, increase in crime, murder, etc. can leave one numb with discontent.

Today, I would like to mention a story in the news that underscores what we can do for others while also trying to stay positive.

For his 90th Birthday, celebrated on St. Patrick's day, Father Maurice Chase visited Skid Row in L.A. and handed out $15,000 in cold hard cash to those most in need. Now that's thinking of others and staying positive!

While families are increasingly worried about surviving, employees fearful of layoffs, and others who were once at the top (through merit not greed) facing the most difficult era in their lifetimes, we all need to pull together and focus on what each of us can do as an individual to contribute to the greater cause.

Each night I listen to CNN Headline News on the way home and listen to callers calling in to comment on stories about Casey Anthony, or Chris Brown, they express their outrage at the AIG executives (well deserved). What would happen if instead of continuing to analyze, reanalyze and blame for the situations we see occurring around us, we took personal accountability to change the mind set from focusing on the negative to looking towards the positive?

If we focus on the things that are going right instead of worrying and being angry about everything around us that is falling apart, and commit to it, I wonder what would happen.

For my part, I try to greet every person from my building who I see on my way to and from work with a smile. Even if I don't feel like smiling, I realize I have a reason to smile, it's called a JOB.

I no longer look at my 401K statements or my son's college savings account. When I receive the statements they are promptly placed on top of the shredder. I've taken proactive measures moving forward to invest in money market funds, but there's nothing I can do about the ten years of savings placed in aggressive investments that have dwindled in less than a year. Instead, I look at the bright side and hope that in ten years, the stocks will once again be of value, if not, at least I have many years ahead until retirement.

Some of us are fortunate, others are not. But each of us can try to help each other. Donate your time, or money to those in need. Smile, open a door or let someone in during traffic. If you have a friend or neighbor that has been laid off, offer to bring them dinner, get their minds off of all of the worries even if just for a moment. If you have grumpy colleagues at work who are worried about losing jobs, remember when they get edgy with you to be patient...many, many people have stress that we can't see on the outside.

If we all work towards a little more patience, a lot less worry, a dash of hope and a heaping amoung of positive attitude for a bright future, we will make it to the other end in one piece. We might get there with less monetarily, but as long as we maintain our love for friends, family, community and each other, we will be rich in a more powerful way and we can pass that wealth on for free.

One hundred Palestinians for One Israeli?

It was reported today that more than 420 Palestinians have died and another 2,200 have been injured in Gaza since the recent outbreak of long simmering hostilities boiled over again in the Middle East. Israel has lost four citizens with another 57 injured. That's about 105 Palestinian lives for each Israeli life. If you added up all the deaths on both sides, I assure you a disproportionate amount of Palestinians have been killed - most notably, children.

According to B'Tselem, The Israeli Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, since 2000 the death counts for this conflict are 4897 Palestinians to date, and 1062 Israelis. In fact, 1050 of those Palestinians were children and 123 were Israelis. I'm not sure that such numbers could be justified as "retaliation" against Hammas.

Putting aside whether you support the Palestinians or the Israelis, is anyone doing the math? Is anyone asking the question why after so many years of bloodshed and loss do the Israelis continue to justify their excessive actions upon a (once nation) of disenfranchised individuals who have been, in my opinion, forced to live in extreme conditions of inequity? And, why does Hammas not recognize that whether they throw a rock or launch a rocket that the reaction from Israel will be extreme and cost lives? It has been that way for years so no one should react with surprise.

What is surprising, is the continued lack of response from the United States. I have long held the belief that the United States needs to treat the situation with less favoritism for US Political alliances and more equity towards humanity and justice. The reaction of Israel is not humane or reasonable, and the actions of Hammas will not gain justice for the wrongs committed against the Palestinians. Now is the time to take a step back and recognize that neither side will win this battle and only compromise, a fair compromise for both sides, will end this battle. Unfortunately, neither side is willing to meet in the middle and meanwhile the death count will continue to rise with the Palestinians losing the most in the long and short run.

Seriously, lets set aside our emotions and help to foster peace in the region. Whether Arab or Israeli, all are citizens of humanity and all deserve peace.