Last issue’s challenge was to sit down for ten minutes and write down topics that come to mind when you think about this quote by Maya Angelou: "African Proverb: The ax forgets, the tree remembers."
Here's what I came up with:
 Suicide - the family is left to wonder and grieve
Environmentalists - save the rainforests, etc
Prejudice - feels natural to the prejudiced, but the person it's against sure notices. This can be racial, sexual orientation, religious, physically handicapped, mentally disabled, creative people, athletes, gender, age, etc
Disease
Unintentional hurt - jokes, comments, etc
Good-doers helping people who will remember
God's forgiveness, even when we don't forgive ourselves
Thank you for your feedback! There was a lot this month. Many people participated in the challenge.
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PastVoices   said:
"The ax forgets, the tree remembers."
Parenting,
acts forgiven but not forgotten by injured party,
callous, unconstructive criticism
Those are all I have time for. As always, I enjoy your newsletter Megaroonie.
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Big Mike 2humble2bragbut... said:
“African Proverb: The ax forgets, the tree remembers.”
The ax is basically unaffected by the tree; however the tree will never be the same. Some people are oblivious to the damage they do to others, whose lives and hearts lay devastated in the wake.
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DB Cooper said:
I am honored you published my letter & I will think over an Article about POD. Your newsletter is the best at Writing.Com
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robi4711 said:
The thing upper most in my mind is influenced by a book I just finished reading. The ax (child abuser, murderer, a parent/husband who criticises all the time) and the tree (the victims). Abuse lingers for the rest of the person's life. The tormentor moves on to torment others and forgets the last one he/she made a victim. That's the negative side. Positively, the giver (the ax) gives and moves on to give to others: time, help, money, etc. The receiver (the tree) will always remember the goodness of others.
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Maria Gonzalez said:
As I read the quote I can see the ax hitting the bark of the beautiful tree and hear the splinter of wood and the pain the tree must feel as it is being cut down. How much it would lkie to get away but because the roods are imbedded in the grown it can not move. It would be like one of those nightmares that you try to run but your feet are stuck to the ground and you can not move no matter how hard to will yourself to do so! the birds cry out as they feel there beautiful home is being destroyed and they feel the ax as if it was hitting them too. The nest in which they have come to borne and raise their young will no longer be there for them. Is this the way the people in the pass of hurricanes or earthquakes feel when what they know will be taking away from them with out a thought? And I wonder?
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krewsk8er said:
Affection is only felt to the effected. As in, of course the words against other do not hurt me, but do they hurt who i tell is the real question.
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bymydesigns said:
I truly enjoy your newsletter and choice of places to visit. You bring a smile to my face and put thoughts into my head. <grin>
I have fun meeting new people and loved your challenge. I think that is what drew me to WDC...the community and fellowship I feel here. I am not so much a writer as I am a reader...and sharer.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for taking time to do this newsletter and enlighten me and all the others weekly.
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Raine said:
All writing is swimming under water and holding your breath. F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Breezy-E ~ In College said:
“African Proverb: The ax forgets, the tree remembers.” Maya Angelou
God's tools don't always know they've been used for good (or bad), but the changed person remembers.
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Mitch  said:
Thanks for highlighting my "Your Song" contest. Much appreciated.
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Aiken4LOTR said:
Hey! I just wanted to say that this week's newsletter was very nice. I have seen that African proverb before, and it did indeed make me think. Your way of getting out of writer's block seems great. I'll be sure to try it out sometime. Thanks!
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ZION said:
Hi Megan. Took your challenge and spent ten minutes writing down random thoughts on the proverb. ---abortionists and their clients; families who have had loved ones harmed by criminals; ourselves, when we 'prune' habits we're attached to; surgeons who must amputate to save lives; cancer patients who sacrifice body parts to preserve the whole - breast cancer awareness month; hurts that we inflict on others 'for their own good; parents who push children to grow up too quickly. --- Problem is, all the topics that came to mind were more depressing than I'd like to explore in the wake of Katrina. ....maybe someday...
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schipperke said:
Excellent newsletter Megan. I may accept your challenge.Thank you for inspiring me!
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ironlaw13 said:
Well in ten minutes I came up with these and I think your idea of using quotes is a
great one.
Gossip
Hunting
Rape
The judicial system
Hurricanes
War
Smoking
Drinking
Divorse
Bad decisions
Child abuse
Raceism
Self-Mutilation
Bad Teachers
Domestic Violence
Tyrants
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Michelle M said:
Love the newsletter! When I think of this line--The ax forgets, the tree remembers.” I
think of the trees that get chopped down in the rain forests. The ax might forget what
it's done but the tree still remembers that pain of all the other trees being cut down.
My husband thought the same thing when he heard this line. Great line by the way, isn't
it?
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Starr* Rathburn said:
Hi! Thank you for adding my "The next 5 words" to this week's For Authors newsletter. If you'll give me a link to the permanent version in your port (or in SMs's port?) I'll be glad to put the
link into the header.
OH, and I liked the James Joyce quote so much, I added it to my "Quotations for Writers". Great job on the newsletter!
Cordially,
Starr*
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mightywriter said:
Okay.Here are my thoughts on the phrase: "the ax forgets, the tree remembers..."
1)Abuse--the abuser applies his trade with no remorse. The abused takes it and lives with
it long after the abuser has gone.
2)Bullying--When someone is bullied they never forget the pain or torment brought upon
them by the bully. The bully doesn't think it's any big deal.
3)Hurt feelings-- A careless comment may mean nothing to you, but can be very painful to
someone else.
4) News topics-- We go from one disaster to antoher. The victims of these disasters are
still suffering, but the world moves on to different subjects.
5)Class structure--The "ax" being the "haves" who just keep moving ahead with no heed or
concern for the past, or others who are less fortunate. The "tree" being the "have nots"
who struggle to overcome,without aknowledgement from their better off peers.
These are five different topics I came up with from this phrase.
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For Authors: October 05, 2005 Issue [#643]
