Plagerism vs The Sharing Of Ideas

The ideas I stand for are not mine, I borrowed them from Socrates, I swiped them from Chesterfield. I stole them from Jesus. And put them in a book. If you don't like their rules, Whose would you use? ~Dale Carnegie~

This article is written in response to the Barack Obama "Plagerism" issue, in order; that you may find value. Not that I defend or endorse any candidate.I stand for what matters(value) and truth! Iam registered as an "Independent". I look for a candidate who runs for the whole of humankind. One who has not limited himself/herself within the demarcation of their party, class or the even the United States of America.. But one who can open himself/herself as a channel or beacon, if you will; for the positive advancement; of the whole entire human race! Whoever comes closest get my vote!

We have heard the accounts lately of the Clinton camp making claim that Barack Obama is guilty of Plagerism, in that; he cited a phrase or used words that were used by Massachusetts governor DeVal Patrick without giving the governor credit for it.

And I quote:........

"Don't tell me words don't matter! 'I have a dream.' Just words. 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' Just words. 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Just words, just speeches," ~Barack Obama~
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'-just words. Just words. 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself'-just words. 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country'-just words. 'I have a dream'-just words," ~DeVal Patrick~

The ideas conveyed by both leaders were clearly borrowed, swiped and stolen from our former leaders John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr, Franklin D. Roosevelt and The Declaration of Independence.

What exactly is Plagerism? My computer defines it as: "To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (a created production) without crediting the source vi: to commit literary theft: present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source".

According to this definition. Barack Obama's speech was guilty of Plagerism! In that, he quoted an idea without crediting the source. Should he have credited the source? I feel that he should have given credit where credit is due. It is just the right thing to do, however; you must consider his overall intent, really? Was it to steal another's ideas or to convey ideas that are the bedrock of our Nation? I believe the latter.

Great ideas such as these are valuable and timeless and contributory to the overall good of humanity! Who should have exclusive rights to them? Two people who share a similar vision will share ideas! I feel that if the an idea is contributory to the overall good then it can and should be utilized by everyone who has a vision FOR the overall good. We all use one another's ideas. Isn't this how it is supposed to be? You take an idea and expand on it! This is how humanity progresses! I am not saying to copy anybody's work and pass it off as your own, thats just plain wrong! Give credit, however; expand on the idea and make it better!

What is really important here? The answer is to focus on what matters. Ask yourself. What brings value? The central question is does this idea operate for the expansion or restriction of life?

This simply was a sharing of ideas for the common good! Lets learn from the author of "A Fortune At Your Feet" as he has so eloquently translated the value of ideal sharing:

" What's indispensable to the working of an idea is the idea itself, not the person who came up with it, and not even the person who knows it best. The more an idea is utilized and the more people that have input into it, the better that idea becomes. Its benefits become synergistic". ~A.D. Kessler~