Rainbow

Rainbow (noun) is a bow or arc of prismatic colors appearing in the heavens or in a spray of water from a fountain or waterfall. A rainbow is caused by the refraction and reflection of the light on droplets of water. A primary rainbow shows red on the outer edge of the arc and violet on the inner edge.  When there is a double rainbow, the second rainbow shows the colors in reverse order.  The colors of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. 

A Fogbow is similar to that of a rainbow, but is formed by fog and cloud droplets which diffract light.  

I love this time of year in Southern California because I know that many times when we have rain it will be followed by a beautiful rainbow.  I also love when the light shines through a triangular prism of glass creating a colorful rainbow on whatever surface happens to be in its path.  The rainbow is one of my favorite forms of nature!

“The true harvest of my life is intangible - a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched”  Henry David Thoreau

An Irish Blessing For You: 

“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.  May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.  May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.”

Manifesto

Manifesto (a noun) means a public written declaration of intentions, opinions, motives or views.  A manifesto can come from an individual, group, government or political party.  It is often political or artistic in nature.  In religion it is referred to as a creed. 

The United States Declaration of Independence is one example of a manifesto. The Communist Manifesto, written in 1848 by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels is considered one of the most influential political manifesto’s.  The Art of Noises is a futurist manifesto written by Luigi Russolo in 1913, arguing that the human ear had become accustomed to the speed, energy and noise of the urban life. 

Just this last week, ex-LAPD police officer Christopher Dorner posted a revengeful manifesto against fellow police officers. A very sad situation that has yet to be resolved.  

Anyone can write a manifesto and there are plenty of resources and templates available on the internet if you are so inclined to write one.  

“In the old times men carried out their rights for themselves as they lived, but nowadays every baby seems born with a social manifesto in its mouth much bigger than itself.”  Oscar Wilde, Irish Poet

"Commitment to the poor is based on the Gospel: it does not have to rely on some political manifesto.” Pope John Paul II originally Karol Jozef Wojtyla, from the Speech at the Third Conference of Latin  American Bishops, Puebla.