Humanity
Who will be the next pope? Here are some possible candidates
RomeCNN — According to an old proverb, "he who enters the conclave as pope, leaves it as a cardinal" refers to papal elections. To put it another way, any candidate who is considered to be the front-runner prior to the start of the voting process ought to be treated with caution, and no cardinal ought to enter the Sistine Chapel assuming that they will win votes.
By Al Shahriar Pranto2 years ago in Confessions
What I'd Go Back In Time To Tell Myself
What's the best thing anyone ever told you? Do you remember it? Did you listen? Since you probably didn't listen, the next generation won't do any better. Who are any of us kidding by thinking we can impart wisdom onto the young? If we were lucky, someone tried with us. They failed, but at least they tried.
By Jason Morton2 years ago in Confessions
Dark Comedy
“The story of my life is a two-day Maury Povich Special.” It’s the line I used to start this story with. I refined those particular words to describe a salacious tale of treachery and deceit, entertaining others at the expense of my dignity. Reducing my whole existence to a wild rollercoaster tale that changed how others saw and valued me, I paved the way for my listeners to categorize me into the crazy column. It really is a good story as long as you’re not the protagonist.
By Aspen Marie 2 years ago in Confessions
MY WORKING EXPERIENCE . Content Warning.
I started working in the hospitality industry in July 2022, before I used to believe that all the ladies working there were prostitutes until I started working there. I had no job in my mind that would give me the time and off-days I needed. I searched, I asked, I even checked online, but nothing was fitting. Every job I saw was either full time with no off days or too stressful. I wanted something different, something that will give me time to rest, think and plan my life. But nothing was working out. Then I looked at the hospitality industry. At first, I was not interested. I thought it was not for me. But when I checked well, I saw that it had the kind of schedule I needed. They work shifts, they have off days and most times they even get time during the day to relax. It was not easy work, but at least the timing was better than other jobs. So I had no choice. I had to make up my mind to work there. It was not what I planned, but it was what I had to do for now. I accepted it. I told myself I would give it my best. Sometimes life will not give you what you want, but you take what you can and make it work for you. I was working as a Beverage specialist when I got Employed because I had Experience because my father sister which is my aunt has a small bar at our neighboring village where she leaves with her family and I use to visit and help out at her bar sometime’s and coupled with my qualification I was able to acquire that job in the hospitality industry. While I was working, that was when I found out the truth about ladies and the stories I have been hearing, first thing first there are different departments and their way of exposure some departments don't have that link or should I say means of seeing customers so as to have any form of relationship with them like in a big and organized hospitality industry this department:”bartender’s,kitchen,Auditor, laundry operations Maintenance and engineering Accounting and finance, Human resources, Procurement and purchasing, IT and technology support,” this department doesn't have the opportunity of meeting with the customer’s in the hospitality industry. So any lady working in this department can not or will not have the opportunity to have any affair with the customer's, and so many people don't know this. And another thing I find out is that with what we see ,A particular man we come with different ladies and acting and talking as if the lady is the only one in his life and the lady will believe not knowing the truth so this can make you that is working there not to indulge in any affair with people like that Some men will even go as far as criticizing the ladies that they have made with, discussing them like they are foolish and nothing while them are smart and wise ,you working there will be disgusted with the words of condemnation and would not want to have anything to do with these kind of customers or any customers wanting to be friends with you. Some of these men are your neighbor living in the same street with you or building and you get to notice that their wives are looking so unkept and sick while their husband is spending hugely on their mistress and believe me” you seeing this will not want to have anything to do with such men . And all these and more is my experience in the hospitality industry when I started working there, so all this changed my impression about ladies working in the hospitality industry. Conclusion I hope this clears the thoughts of some people who are thinking that any lady working in the hospitality industry is into prostitution.I hope you understand my story. Please I come in peace and once again thank you for reading my story like I always Will say I am very grateful.
By Henry Lucy2 years ago in Confessions
Wi-Fi Strong, Humanity Weak
Me: Today morning, I open my eyes. No stretch. No smile. No hope. Just muscle memory hand reaches for the phone. Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. The routine scroll begins. But today… it feels heavier. Heavier than yesterday. Heavier than ever. Me: (blinks slowly) Why do I already know what I’ll see… and yet still, I look? (Opens Facebook. First post loads. A toddler. Covered in dust. Eyes shut. Lifeless.) Me: (gasps softly) Ya Allah… again? (Silent tears roll down without warning. No permission asked. No resistance offered.) Me: This baby… maybe two years old? Those tiny hands, like my nephew’s. His cheeks… soft, dirty, still. Too still. (Scrolls. Another post: a woman clinging to two children, screaming into the void. Caption: “Pray for Gaza.”) Me: (voice trembling) Why am I starting my day like this? This isn’t news anymore. It’s a routine. Death has become a morning update. (Sits up in bed, blanket sliding off. Phone still glowing in hand.) Me: I wake up. Look for light. Instead, I scroll into blood. Into rubble. Into another headline that screams… and gets ignored. (Closes eyes. Holds breath. Swallows the lump forming.) Me: Are Palestinian children not children? Are their lives not warm enough, cute enough, worthy enough to mourn? (Puts phone down. Stares blankly at the ceiling.) Me: What is this world becoming? They talk of democracy, of freedom, of peace. But whose freedom? Whose peace? Inner Voice: One hand sends vaccines and aid… The other funds jets that shatter babies mid-dream. They give with one hand and erase with the other. Me: (heart heavy) They host peace talks. They wear suits and speak of “human rights.” But behind every handshake, there's a hidden trigger pulled. (Opens Twitter. Sees #FreePalestine trending. Clicks.) Me: (reads slowly) “Israel has the right to defend itself.” Me: Defend… from what? From sleeping babies? From praying mothers? From kids playing football? Inner Voice: They protested for dogs. They painted murals for Ukraine. But Gaza? They look away. Me: (choking back sobs) Where are those human rights now? Why do they apply so selectively? Why does justice wear a blindfold only for Palestine? (Stands up. Walks aimlessly around the room. Heart racing.) Me: Why is it so hard to see Palestinians as people? Why does their blood not outrage the world? (Opens Instagram. Stories load: a wedding. A couple laughing. Then: A food reel. A new coffee spot. A meme “Struggles of no Wi-Fi lol.”) (Suddenly, a black slide: “200+ killed in Gaza hospital blast.”) Me: (voice breaks) Boom. (Holds chest, breath catches.) Me: Ya Allah… while I complain about bad internet, they’re losing entire families. Their children are being buried in plastic bags. (Walks to the mirror. Looks at own reflection. Eyes red.) Me: What kind of world is this? Where a trending sound gets more attention than a child’s death? (Sits back down. Grabs phone again. Thumb shaking.) Me: I want to scream. I want to shout. But what difference would it make? My screams don’t echo across the silence of the privileged. Inner Voice: They posted black squares once. They wrote “We stand with...” once. But when bombs fall on Gaza… they stay silent. Me: (whispers) It’s performative. All of it. Freedom. Justice. Equality. All nice words for speeches… and lies in reality. (Thumb hovers. App icons dancing under the screen glare.) Me: Twitter delete. Instagram delete. Facebook deactivated. (Places phone screen-down. A heavy silence floods the room.) Me: I don’t hate people. I hate their silence. Their fake concern. Their ability to forget so quickly… while bodies are still warm. (Closes eyes. Breathes deeply. Stands up.) Me: Tonight, I won’t scroll. I won’t repost another video that will be buried under dance reels in two hours. I won’t pretend a hashtag is enough. (Walks to the prayer mat. Kneels. Tears fall again this time into the carpet.) Me: I will just pray. Me: For Gaza. For the children who died with candy in their hands. For the fathers who buried half their hearts. For the mothers who have forgotten what silence sounds like. For justice that is more than a trending word. For a world that remembers… and acts.
By Taj Muhammad 2 years ago in Confessions
I Found a Breakup Letter in My Coat Pocket — and It Was Addressed to Me
It had been almost a year since we ended things. No big fight. No dramatic walkout. Just silence. A slow fade-out. Like a movie you keep watching, even when the credits are already rolling.
By Ishaq Ahmadzai 2 years ago in Confessions
I Ghosted My Dream Job — Here’s Why
It was supposed to be the one. The job I’d been working toward for years — the kind of position I used to daydream about when I was buried in spreadsheets at 10 p.m. or silently crying in a bathroom stall during lunch breaks. It had the title, the pay, the remote flexibility, even the trendy company culture I thought would finally make work feel like something other than survival.
By Ishaq Ahmadzai 2 years ago in Confessions
The Cost Of Comfort
The Cost of Comfort A story about the quiet trap of staying safe—and the strength it takes to break free. Darius sat in silence, elbows on his knees, fingers pressed into his forehead like they could hold back the weight of his thoughts. The apartment was quiet—too quiet. The only sound was the ticking of the cheap wall clock, each second echoing like a missed opportunity.
By Rick Brown2 years ago in Confessions
Attacks Continue Despite Putin's 'Easter Truce' Pledge, Zelensky Says. Content Warning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian forces had continued their attacks throughout the country despite President Vladimir Putin's declaration of a 36-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Easter. In light of reports of shelling and drone strikes coming from multiple frontline regions, Kyiv dismissed the alleged truce, which was supposed to begin at midnight on April 19 and last until April 21. On April 18, Putin issued an order to temporarily suspend hostilities in honor of Orthodox Easter, a significant religious holiday celebrated by both Ukrainians and Russians. This announcement was made by the Kremlin. The ceasefire, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, was a "unilateral humanitarian gesture" to permit Christians to attend church. But officials in Ukraine rejected the idea right away, claiming that Russia could not be trusted after months of relentless attacks on civilian infrastructure. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, stated, "This is not a truce, but another attempt to buy time for regrouping and reinforcement." Zelensky discusses the ongoing attacks by Russia. Despite Moscow's assertions, Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian strikes continued in the Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions. In his nightly video address, Zelensky said that Russia had broken its own ceasefire within hours. Zelensky made the following statement: "The enemy shelled Kherson today, as the world celebrates Orthodox Easter, killing and injuring civilians." While their missiles are aimed at our homes and churches, they discuss religious principles and peace. Local officials confirmed that at least three civilians were killed by Russian attacks during the alleged truce. Zaporizhzhia's energy facilities were targeted by drones, and Donetsk's residential areas were hit by artillery fire, further straining Ukraine's already stretched power grid. John Kirby, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, characterized the ceasefire announcement as "disingenuous" after NATO allies and the United States expressed doubts about Russia's sincerity. There are a few possible explanations for Putin's move, according to analysts. Propaganda Tool: Russia wanted to show that it was the more "reasonable" side by blaming Ukraine for rejecting peace and declaring a ceasefire. The refusal was presented by state-controlled media as evidence that Kyiv was unwilling to negotiate. Reorganization of the military: Some experts say that Russia used the pause to strengthen weak positions, especially those around Bakhmut, where Ukrainian forces have been slowly encroaching. By timing the truce around Easter, Moscow may have hoped to stymie Western arms deliveries or preparations for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukraine's Response to Demands for More Weapons Oleksii Reznikov, the country's Defense Minister, stated that the military would not relax and that the country's forces would remain on high alert. He stated, "We have seen too many Russian promises broken." "Our troops are prepared for any circumstance." Zelensky reiterated his request that Western weapons, such as battle tanks, long-range missiles, and advanced air defense systems, be delivered more quickly. He stated, "Every delay in aid costs Ukrainian lives." "To put an end to this war as soon as possible, we need these tools." Energy and Civilian Toll Attacks Russia's ongoing strikes have made the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine even worse, particularly its numerous attacks on power plants. As a result of ongoing emergency blackouts in many areas, millions of people continue to lack stable electricity. Residents of Kherson, which was liberated in November but is still frequently bombarded, described a night of terror as Russian forces bombarded the city, despite the alleged ceasefire. A local volunteer stated, "There was no pause, no truce—just more death." There is no way out. The grave lack of trust that exists between Kiev and Moscow is demonstrated by the Easter truce's failure. No serious peace talks are going on right now. Instead of retreating in response to Ukraine's demands for a complete Russian withdrawal, Putin has increased the number of conscripts and the production of weapons. The international community is still divided about how to respond as the war enters its second year. Some European leaders advocate for harsher sanctions, while others express concern that the situation will deteriorate. In the meantime, the Ukrainian military maintains that sustained Western support is necessary for victory. Conclusion.
By Fahim Alom2 years ago in Confessions
"Echoes of the Mind"
The room was quiet, save for the gentle ticking of a clock mounted above the doorway. Soft light spilled through a narrow window, cutting across the white linoleum floor in long, golden streaks. Dr. Elara Venn sat in a sleek gray chair, her fingers curled around a pen that had long since stopped writing. Her eyes were focused on the man seated across from her, his expression vacant, as if he were staring through her and into something far more distant.
By muhammad khalil2 years ago in Confessions
