Daily Archives: August 7, 2008

Achieving Peace

We can all play a role in making our community, country, and world more peaceful.  The practice of compassion can lead one to happiness, and ultimately to peace within, the ultimate bliss.  We must strive to be compassionate instead of angry, happy instead of sad, and at peace rather than in turmoil.  However, I feel frustrated at times because I realize that we are all facing this struggle within us, in addition to the possibility that we face billions of negative people that may never tip back to the positive.  I feel, there is currently more negative energy than positive in our world.  People are more impatient, angry, and hurtful, which only leads to suffering for everyone.  Negative people affect other people and it goes on and on with waves of negative impact and influence. 

On the other hand, when we practice compassion, we can impact many people with waves and waves of positive energy.  Therefore, we must do all we can to counter negativity with compassion and tip the balance towards the positive.  I like to see it as taking negative energy and converting it to positive energy.

Through compassion, we appreciate life and everything around us.  The definition of happiness may change.  Even the simple pleasures become very important.  We become happy a majority of the time.

We can never be 100% compassionate and happy, but we must strive for this highest goal.  Only through our determination to reach this highest goal, will we become compassionate and happy for a great majority of the time, and as a result, many of us will understand the meaning of life, our surroundings, and finally, the answer to peace.  When a majority of us are compassionate, happy, and at peace, a majority of the world will be at peace.

In the future, I will share with you my strategy to achieve compassion, happiness, and peace.

Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Event

Co-Chairs Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu & Ann Ishizu

Date: September 21, 2008

Time: 3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Location: Hawaii Convention Center

Personally, not having Rep. Kirk Caldwell in the Hawaii State House of Representatives or politics is a big loss for the State of Hawaii.   I am really saddened with the result of his disqualification for the Honolulu City Council race, but I admire his strength and honor to not appeal the decision.  He is smart, full of positive energy, and just a great person.  When I served as Vice Speaker, I got much closer to him because he served as Majority Leader until present, and together we served on Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say’s leadership team.  Right before his disqualification for the Council race, he helped me lift my spirits.  I sincerely appreciate his friendship.