Leaders are celebrating Nelson Mandela and his undeniable contribution to ending apartheid in South Africa, but nobody seems to be talking much about a disturbing aspect of racism (besides misguided fear) and an underlying force behind slavery. Greed.

This untamed, inconsiderate, unsympathetic want for riches contributes to people having no empathy - or disingenuous empathy for the poor.

Let's face the troubling economic, logistical, reasons for slavery, past and present.

The slave conditions, the unsafe environments, the toppling of unsafe buildings and deaths of hundreds of workers in Bangladesh happened this year. Yet are those responsible sorry?

It takes incredible courage to oppose the rich. Just ask Snowden. The rich want information. Governments make strange exceptions for them.

Are the rich concerned about national debt? Do they have a conscience about the societal impact of immorality and mainstream thinking?

Why is it that the media seems to keep saying that taxing the rich is not a good idea?

The media, in general, bows to money. Such media is clearly afraid of people empowerment.

Those who have excessive wealth cling to their controlling ways, obstruction of truth and immoderate lives.

Like organized religion, in which systems and image often take higher importance than people and reality (notice the corruption and misbehavior of priests now being brushed aside for a newly spun image of "a poor church"), organized powers and governments of the excessively wealthy abuse their control.

Is the desire for temporary foreign laborers in Canada because there is a real shortage of workers or is cheap labor the actual goal? Hmmm. Vulnerable immigrants... with poor English skills... coming from afar, to The West. Are the rich concerned for these people's long-term well-being and future?

Taxing the rich heavily, rather than just enacting small, incremental, percentage increases should be an easy solution. If the rich, in a huff, leave on account of such enactment, good.

In demotivating the rich from making large profits, in decreasing mass production, in abolishing cheaply made, poor quality, products and increasing the skill and salaries of workers, morale among laborers would get a much needed boost. Consumers would be able to make purchases in good conscience, happy that workers aren't being abusively treated. 

The greed of those who are immoderately wealthy and privileged continues to do damage. They are ignorant and don't know real happiness. They are arrogant and don't know real gratitude.

Humility and courage are two key qualities that Mandela had. These virtues are rare, if at all existent, in supposedly democratic rulers, who kneel down to the uncaring rich.

Look at the kindness and humanity shown on Mandela's face. What kind of unsympathetic leaders and influential system would imprison this guy for twenty-seven years?

"...I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way..." Edgar Guest.

OBSERVATION

I see that wealth and riches can make people complacent in their faith.

WORKING VALUES (values that work)

I would like to live victoriously. I hope Canadian culture does not become one that places little value on merit and performance. I try to write about the uniqueness and dignity of all people, who are able to perform great feats, by the Creator's help, when they are meek, and through the considerate, humane, encouragement and help that mercifully comes from others. Never underestimate the power of a bit of kindness. That's something I want to prove in my life. Be down to earth. Work hard. Appreciate what's good. More and more, I hope to see values in action.

REAL MINISTRY

Hardship and toil contribute to blessing, rather than easy success and an easy life. It's a blessing to be able to relate to people. Ministry involves relating to people. So many people in churches are well off and have had good lives with minimal struggles. They can't relate. Their ministry is weak. There should be evidence of inner strength and endurance. Christ talked about the straight gate and narrow way, and taking up your cross (Mt. 7:14, Mt. 16:24). How is the fruit of one's goodness, or lack thereof, revealed? "By their fruit you will recognize..." (Mt. 7:20). Every man will be rewarded "...according to his works..." (Mt. 16:27). It is "...in the sweat..." of Adam's face he would eat (Gen. 3:19). It's known that Paul worked in a trade (Acts 18:3). The labour of Paul's tent making not only provided him with earthly necessities, but spiritual sustaining also, not only for himself, but for others. It's easy for someone to teach, preach or give council if he or she receives pay to do so and he or she does not have to labour hard and industriously with his or her own hands. Such ministry is not real, but nonsense. Consequently, many church leaders are "armchair experts" who prey on and bully vulnerable people. Alternatively, I personally know that weight training helps you to learn what you're capable of - and so does hard work in a trade.

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Training.