February 2008 - The Parklander Magazine

HUMANITIESA Creed for Allby Jack BloomfieldI often receive emails from One Planet United column readers that giveme the inspiration to write a new column based on the thoughts orcomments they have shared. Recently, I received an email from a regularreader who said he wanted to pass along something that was meaningfulto him that he thought was aligned with the OPU column. He said,“These 65 words have helped shape my life as I try to serve as a livingexample of them.” He was referring to the Jaycees Creed.After reading it, I was inspired to share it in the OPU column because itspeaks so closely to what I write about each week. It also reminded meThe Jaycees Creed states:We Believe:• That faith in God gives meaning and purposeto human life• That the brotherhood of man transcends thesovereignty of nations• That economic justice can best be won byfree men through free enterprise• That government should be of laws ratherthan of men• That earth’s great treasure lies in human personality,and• That service to humanity is thebest work of life.18,000 Sq. Ft. Baseball & SoftballIndoor Training Center• 5 Multi Use & 4 TokenOperated Batting Cages• 2 Clay Mounds• Team & Individual Training• Clinics, Camps, Video Analysis• Strength & ConditioningProgram• Professional Instructionthat about a year ago, another reader sent in a creed that inspired me towrite a column called “The Four Way Test” which is the creed of theInternational Rotary that is recited by all of their members at thebeginning of every meeting.If you think about it, not all creeds are a good thing because many timesthey are written with an “us and them” mentality. They are oftendesigned to divide. But I’m realizing more and more that some creeds aregood and could be adopted by all of society. What would the world belike if the Jaycees Creed was adopted by us all? Every individual? Everystate? Every nation?The line that jumps out at me the most is “That the brotherhood of mantranscends the sovereignty of nations.” This is the creed of One PlanetUnited and speaks loudly to the place humanity must reach in its thinkingif we are to become a society of peace and unity. Imagine what the worldwould look like if this was a reality. War cannot exist if all of society is onebrotherhood. Nor can violence, crime, prejudice, or division. If a societalbrotherhood exists, there will be fellowship. Where fellowship exists, therewill be mutual respect, honor, and the promotion of equality.Pro Shop -All Major BrandsGloves • Bats • UniformsAccessories • Glove Re-lacingParty & Meeting RoomIs the world a brotherhood today? Not quite, but as in all evolution,things take time. It must begin inside the human heart, one person at atime. We first need to take our own inventory and see if we are alignedwith any group or thinking that keeps us from being a part of thebrotherhood of man. Next we need to take action in helping thisevolution process along by finding ways to help build bridges and fosterunity with all people whether it’s in our own communities or across theglobe. It is really up to each and every individual to be a part of thischange in helping the whole world to become a brotherhood. If we alladopt the Jaycees Creed, the brotherhood of all of humanity will be thatmuch closer to being a reality. Peace out.Receive a FREE Louisville SluggerMLB225YB or a MLB180 with any purchase of$150 or higher in our Pro Shop.While supplies last.1690 Banks Rd., Margate, FL • 954-968-3737 • Open 7 Dayswww.ExtraInnings-Margate.comOne Planet United’s mission statement is: “To bring unity andunderstanding to all people through experiential and educationalprograms, projects and resources.”Jack Bloomfield is the co-founder and executive director of One PlanetUnited, Inc. E-mail him at bloomfield@theparklander.com.110 FEBRUARY 2008