Even as a child, I have believed in the power of the universe. I had rejected the notion of man's organized religion initiative, because of what it was attached to. Ideology, money, control, and justifications of wars, holy and unholy. The notion that a God would want all of those things attached to spirituality baffled me, and although I grew up in a baptist household and family, I started to carve out my own path of belief. I chose what I call "The belief of the universe mission", which is a fancy way of saying that a higher power does exist, and shuffles the cards in the deck, but the conduit has no man made connotations to it. The conduit is the world and people around ones self , and I have believed that if you just pay attention, the universe will in fact send you signs and messages, and puts you in places for a reason. I am all about that aspect of a higher power playing the shell game in our lives, and that even in misfortunes, the universe must be up to something greater in the spider web of our time and space as occupied here on earth.
I have always considered myself as just me. Not special at all. Just a man here on earth who wants to leave good ripples wherever he goes. That is very important to me and always has been even as a child. To leave my corner of this place better than when I found it has always been what I considered my universe mission. I have been called special before, but reject the term constantly. Some people want to be famous. Others want to be rich, and still others just want to be left alone. I have always been one to want to spread something that will last, whether it be art, music, or making a difference in others' lives. I try to be as good a person as possible not for some promise of going to heaven, but because it's the right thing to do. And I believe that heaven is right here on earth, so why wait for some bigger advancement to somewhere to do something that is important for someone?
I never really thought more of my "Universe Mission' until yesterday. Yesterday, I had a major epiphany that was unforeseen by me. I have been very fortunate as far as my own well being in life with an exception of some major unresolved issues that sometimes still need ironing. But for the most part, I believe that I have a good head on my shoulders, and am in great physical shape for my 51 years here on earth.
I had long ago resolved myself to the fact that I would die alone, and that love is just not in the cards for me anymore. But a funny thing happened. The universe did me a solid, and then turned around and knifed me in the back. How can those two things happen you ask? The funny thing is that they have happened to me constantly throughout my life. The universe sent an amazing wonderful woman into my life. One who is definitely from the same universe stream as I. Someone as intelligent and spiritual, kind and talented as I could imagine. In fact if someone were to ask me(and they have) what my ideal woman would be, then some secretary in the cosmos would have popped her out of some imaginary universe Rolodex. I fell in love with her, and deeply. I would do anything for her, and finally was able to take some bricks down off of this wall I have been holding up around my heart. Why one may ask? The heart doesn't ask why. The head does. And for some reason I was able to finally separate the two, and feel again. She has been the only one able to do that in years, because other women have been quite unsuccessful. And how good it felt to feel. But here's where the universe in my opinion pulls the rug from under me, and here's where my epiphany about myself began last night.
In my life, when it came to women, I have always been a person who has somehow came in at the right time of a woman's life to give them something that they desperately need, or to light the way towards something that their life's mission has in store. And the times that this has happened, I was not destined to be in the future plans. It is if my Universe Mission is to help these wonderful women start the process of finding themselves, or some aspect in life that is essential to them and THEIR universe mission. This is a very painful revelation for me, because this circumstance is no different. It seems that there is a reason that I came into this particular woman's life, and have helped her to start a process of self journey that at least for right now doesn't include me being in the capacity as a lover and partner, but as a friend. This is obviously a painful kick in the groin by the universe, but the strange thing is that I believe that this has to happen this way for her, and support her decision 100%. I love this woman so much, that I am more than willing to take a back seat in her life, and be there in any capacity that she wants. What she has given me was the ability to realize again my own capacity to love someone more than my own selfish desires of what I want.
It took me a long time to understand this quote but it is definitely true:If you love someone, set them free. It they are truly meant to be with you, they will come back. Will she? I really don't know the answer to that, but I am her friend and consider myself her biggest ally, and am there for her at any point she needs me. If she has fulfilled her particular journey, and would like to possibly revisit the idea of an "us" then we can meet at the middle and talk. But for now, if my universe mission was to help her to get better, then I accept that, and am rather proud of it, even if it hurts now. I won't be a hypocrite. If I truly am a person who wants to leave something better than when I found it, then that has to pertain to curtailing my wishes and desires, even if the universe occasionally breaks my heart.
I have figured out that this is the burden I carry with me. The gift that my Grandmother may have given me. It really isn't a choice. I am not an asshole, and could never be if I tried. I care too much about humanity in general, and people that touch my soul in particular. My ability to come into lives and change them somehow for the better is a noble one, but hard to accept sometimes. I am still wrestling with that aspect, because having this epiphany, it does leave me closed off now to receive love out of fear, which is where I started when this began. So as I have said before, maybe my universe mission does not have me destined for love ever in my life again. But if I am helping someone become better than before I came into their lives, does it really matter?
only the universe knows.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Sunday, February 21, 2016
50: The Crossroads With More Roads To Cross
I am now at the age of 50.
When I was a much younger man, the people who were around the age of 50 seemed so far off to me. Not necessarily age-wise, but even though I have from an early age considered myself an old soul and had such an easy time talking to people much older than me as a youth, they still seemed different, and untouchable. I could never put my finger on it. Now that I reached the age of 50, I know the reason completely. When you reach 50, you ARE to an extent different and untouchable.
By the time one reaches 40 years old, there should be a nice cachet of experience to draw from. At 40, your methodology of gathering information, and processing it should be honed, and fully operational to the extent where you can make an informed decision about certain things based upon the combination of experience and knowledge. Before 40, the ratio is different. You have educated guesses, assumptions, and are still practically new into the realm of your own self sufficient world, and should be thinking clearly gathering information as you experience things. I am not saying at 50 one stops these exercises, but at that age, you have a wider variety of sources to pull from. 50 sets up the next stage of life because now you hopefully understand yourself, know what you fully want in life, and are self aware enough to understand what you don't want. 50 is the culmination of the previous age brackets, and everything learned in those previous brackets can be used to your full advantage. It should be a highly appreciated event. Yet for some reason, many people fear 50, and I believe it is for a variety of things with two main reasons at the head: Vanity, and mortality.
With all the wisdom and life experience that comes with 50, there are the two things that seem to unnerve people the most about growing older. Vanity takes hold of many around this time because we all remember just how we felt in that 18-35 bracket. Our bodies were youthful and taut, we had lots of energy, with full lips with thick eyebrows and hair, and just an aura of sure footed strength and confidence that came from being youthful. Men and women at that age are more likely if the choice presents itself to use brawn over brain, because we felt invincible and good enough to do such. For many at that age, there were no aches and pains, and we needed less sleep to do the things we needed the next day proving that age bracket as being the ultimate state of existence for some. When you ask someone to give a time in their lives that given the choice, they would go back to, many will choose their 30's. With the ability to see pictures of when one was in their 20's and 30's people start lamenting about the difference, and just what it takes now to not fall below their own physical standard of themselves. Weight gain, aches and pains, wrinkles, grey hair, and the other aspects of hitting this milestone affect a great many people who never thought about any of these dynamics when they were 30, and it can really get into their heads creating mid life crisis decisions, depression, and other life changes that they believe will somehow rejuvenate their mind, and body.
Mortality is the second fear factor for those on the way to 50. People at this age are now not immune to death on a regular basis. Almost everyone approaching this age knows someone or multiple people that have succumbed at was is perceived to be a relatively early age. At 30 you hardly know anyone at that age that has passed, but near 50 you are aware of, and have experienced relatives or friends pretty close to your age who have passed, and it is unnerving. It is as if 50 brings you to the hard faced reality that yes, this occupation of life as you know it isn't permanent. That is hard to face for many because society has told plenty of people where they should be in life, and what they should have at a certain point, and many feel that they are running out of time, to complete whatever it is that they have set their sites on, and acquire whatever it is that will make them comfortable for sunset. 50 usually in peoples minds means that they have probably 15 good years left for something if they are lucky, before they can't do what they want, the way they see themselves doing it. They look at the elderly around them, many who are ailing, on medication, have finished their working lives, and are trying to figure out their sunset years, and when you are 50 and afraid, you feel that is your situation right around the corner, and will be in your lap before you know it.
The combination of these two aspects of aging is overwhelming to many, and contribute to the (often non admitted) fear of growing older.
All of this is daunting, and I can understand how many get dragged down by it. I for one am perfectly fine turning 50. It is another birthday yes, but I do have to acknowledge the milestone. All of the positive that I described about turning this age I feel has been bestowed upon me. I feel everything that was so foreign to me about 50 year old folks when I was younger. I have experienced some very powerful things in life both joyous and tragic that have shaped just who I am and altered my thinking widening my pool of knowledge about life and myself. I must admit that while some of the tragedies and emotional hardships that were happening to me back then, I would have offered my right arm to make feeling what I felt go away. But now looking at it in hindsight, those times in my life led to the greatest emotional and psychological growth spurts I have ever had. It is absolutely true that quote by Nietzsche of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and if you let it, you will benefit greatly from the experience.
I know so much now, with so much more to learn and grow from, and I consider the growth aspect to be a lifelong pursuit, and my duty as a thinking feeling human being. Yes I am, and always have been an old soul of sorts,and being 50 accentuates all of those traits within me. Some of the things that I believe haven't changed because they are timeless lines of thought, while other things I have adjusted based upon any new found informed perception. But my core of who I am was instilled in my formative years by my Grandparents, and has only gotten more solid as I understand more of what they were trying to arm me with for my own future.
I guess I am not bothered by 50 as much as others because of that old soul inside myself. I follow no one, and I lead no one. I am my own person who is perfectly in harmony with myself. I have been married twice, and while I enjoyed being married when I was, I now enjoy being single and unmatched with someone and will quite probably remain so for the rest of my life. I have no desire to be a part of a couple story anymore, and I have no children to help guide, so I will probably die alone, and am perfectly ok with that. I am totally self sufficient emotionally, and do not need anyone to complete my happiness equation. I am happy beyond measure, inside, and by myself. I do not need plenty of money to survive, and do not desire to partake in the all devouring consumerism network of stuff to make me feel alive. I don't have many material things and I like it that way. My most personal gifts are the thoughts in my head, and the friends that I have intimate conversations with about life. This is probably why I don't have some "clock" ticking over my shoulder telling me that time is running out. I know that time moves on, and mine will eventually end. The only thing I wish to do in life is create more musical art as my footprint, so I will do that as much as possible, because it is what I love to do, but as for the urgency of what I am supposed to do, and accumulate before I die, I have no sense of that.
I am grateful to reach this milestone because I have experienced the mortality aspect, with people my age or around my age dying tragically, and unexpectedly, at a more rapid rate than ever which if I live long enough will be even more frequent. But nothing shakes the foundation of your being more than someone being here one day, and then being gone another at an age fairly close to yours. I don't feel invincible anymore in that respect so I will take what I consider the gift of every day. I certainly am not as spry as I used to be, and grey has decided to replace some black hair in spots, but I have tried to maintain myself in the gym out of enjoyment as part of my lifestyle, and out of sheer desire to not go up in clothes sizes.
I am proud of who I am at 50. Still passionate about whatever task I take on, not complacent about trying to learn from people and experiences, and I am always trying to search within myself and be introspective about discovering what lies deep in the inner workings of me, so I can interact and share something with people better and more intimately. I have not lost the desire to laugh at funny things subtle, and dirty, and I believe that laughing at my own self is essential to remain grounded. I am not perfect, nor do I want to be, and I accept all of the traits in myself that if someone else had, I would become tired of quickly, and I am fine with that as well. At 50 there is still a great deal that I want to discover, share, experience, and make, but if my life ends soon, I am happy about what I have done so far, how I have lived, and what kind of positive stamp I have left with others. Society is always playing with ages to avoid the idea of aging. "50 is the new 40", "70 is the new 50" etc..I say that 50 is 50, and leave it as such. 50 is a good assessment point. The crossroads that one finds themselves once they look up, and can decide to lay low and wait for the sunset years, or pursue more roads to cross. I hope to see some of you at other roads. Bring on 60!
Peace.
When I was a much younger man, the people who were around the age of 50 seemed so far off to me. Not necessarily age-wise, but even though I have from an early age considered myself an old soul and had such an easy time talking to people much older than me as a youth, they still seemed different, and untouchable. I could never put my finger on it. Now that I reached the age of 50, I know the reason completely. When you reach 50, you ARE to an extent different and untouchable.
By the time one reaches 40 years old, there should be a nice cachet of experience to draw from. At 40, your methodology of gathering information, and processing it should be honed, and fully operational to the extent where you can make an informed decision about certain things based upon the combination of experience and knowledge. Before 40, the ratio is different. You have educated guesses, assumptions, and are still practically new into the realm of your own self sufficient world, and should be thinking clearly gathering information as you experience things. I am not saying at 50 one stops these exercises, but at that age, you have a wider variety of sources to pull from. 50 sets up the next stage of life because now you hopefully understand yourself, know what you fully want in life, and are self aware enough to understand what you don't want. 50 is the culmination of the previous age brackets, and everything learned in those previous brackets can be used to your full advantage. It should be a highly appreciated event. Yet for some reason, many people fear 50, and I believe it is for a variety of things with two main reasons at the head: Vanity, and mortality.
With all the wisdom and life experience that comes with 50, there are the two things that seem to unnerve people the most about growing older. Vanity takes hold of many around this time because we all remember just how we felt in that 18-35 bracket. Our bodies were youthful and taut, we had lots of energy, with full lips with thick eyebrows and hair, and just an aura of sure footed strength and confidence that came from being youthful. Men and women at that age are more likely if the choice presents itself to use brawn over brain, because we felt invincible and good enough to do such. For many at that age, there were no aches and pains, and we needed less sleep to do the things we needed the next day proving that age bracket as being the ultimate state of existence for some. When you ask someone to give a time in their lives that given the choice, they would go back to, many will choose their 30's. With the ability to see pictures of when one was in their 20's and 30's people start lamenting about the difference, and just what it takes now to not fall below their own physical standard of themselves. Weight gain, aches and pains, wrinkles, grey hair, and the other aspects of hitting this milestone affect a great many people who never thought about any of these dynamics when they were 30, and it can really get into their heads creating mid life crisis decisions, depression, and other life changes that they believe will somehow rejuvenate their mind, and body.
Mortality is the second fear factor for those on the way to 50. People at this age are now not immune to death on a regular basis. Almost everyone approaching this age knows someone or multiple people that have succumbed at was is perceived to be a relatively early age. At 30 you hardly know anyone at that age that has passed, but near 50 you are aware of, and have experienced relatives or friends pretty close to your age who have passed, and it is unnerving. It is as if 50 brings you to the hard faced reality that yes, this occupation of life as you know it isn't permanent. That is hard to face for many because society has told plenty of people where they should be in life, and what they should have at a certain point, and many feel that they are running out of time, to complete whatever it is that they have set their sites on, and acquire whatever it is that will make them comfortable for sunset. 50 usually in peoples minds means that they have probably 15 good years left for something if they are lucky, before they can't do what they want, the way they see themselves doing it. They look at the elderly around them, many who are ailing, on medication, have finished their working lives, and are trying to figure out their sunset years, and when you are 50 and afraid, you feel that is your situation right around the corner, and will be in your lap before you know it.
The combination of these two aspects of aging is overwhelming to many, and contribute to the (often non admitted) fear of growing older.
All of this is daunting, and I can understand how many get dragged down by it. I for one am perfectly fine turning 50. It is another birthday yes, but I do have to acknowledge the milestone. All of the positive that I described about turning this age I feel has been bestowed upon me. I feel everything that was so foreign to me about 50 year old folks when I was younger. I have experienced some very powerful things in life both joyous and tragic that have shaped just who I am and altered my thinking widening my pool of knowledge about life and myself. I must admit that while some of the tragedies and emotional hardships that were happening to me back then, I would have offered my right arm to make feeling what I felt go away. But now looking at it in hindsight, those times in my life led to the greatest emotional and psychological growth spurts I have ever had. It is absolutely true that quote by Nietzsche of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and if you let it, you will benefit greatly from the experience.
I know so much now, with so much more to learn and grow from, and I consider the growth aspect to be a lifelong pursuit, and my duty as a thinking feeling human being. Yes I am, and always have been an old soul of sorts,and being 50 accentuates all of those traits within me. Some of the things that I believe haven't changed because they are timeless lines of thought, while other things I have adjusted based upon any new found informed perception. But my core of who I am was instilled in my formative years by my Grandparents, and has only gotten more solid as I understand more of what they were trying to arm me with for my own future.
I guess I am not bothered by 50 as much as others because of that old soul inside myself. I follow no one, and I lead no one. I am my own person who is perfectly in harmony with myself. I have been married twice, and while I enjoyed being married when I was, I now enjoy being single and unmatched with someone and will quite probably remain so for the rest of my life. I have no desire to be a part of a couple story anymore, and I have no children to help guide, so I will probably die alone, and am perfectly ok with that. I am totally self sufficient emotionally, and do not need anyone to complete my happiness equation. I am happy beyond measure, inside, and by myself. I do not need plenty of money to survive, and do not desire to partake in the all devouring consumerism network of stuff to make me feel alive. I don't have many material things and I like it that way. My most personal gifts are the thoughts in my head, and the friends that I have intimate conversations with about life. This is probably why I don't have some "clock" ticking over my shoulder telling me that time is running out. I know that time moves on, and mine will eventually end. The only thing I wish to do in life is create more musical art as my footprint, so I will do that as much as possible, because it is what I love to do, but as for the urgency of what I am supposed to do, and accumulate before I die, I have no sense of that.
I am grateful to reach this milestone because I have experienced the mortality aspect, with people my age or around my age dying tragically, and unexpectedly, at a more rapid rate than ever which if I live long enough will be even more frequent. But nothing shakes the foundation of your being more than someone being here one day, and then being gone another at an age fairly close to yours. I don't feel invincible anymore in that respect so I will take what I consider the gift of every day. I certainly am not as spry as I used to be, and grey has decided to replace some black hair in spots, but I have tried to maintain myself in the gym out of enjoyment as part of my lifestyle, and out of sheer desire to not go up in clothes sizes.
I am proud of who I am at 50. Still passionate about whatever task I take on, not complacent about trying to learn from people and experiences, and I am always trying to search within myself and be introspective about discovering what lies deep in the inner workings of me, so I can interact and share something with people better and more intimately. I have not lost the desire to laugh at funny things subtle, and dirty, and I believe that laughing at my own self is essential to remain grounded. I am not perfect, nor do I want to be, and I accept all of the traits in myself that if someone else had, I would become tired of quickly, and I am fine with that as well. At 50 there is still a great deal that I want to discover, share, experience, and make, but if my life ends soon, I am happy about what I have done so far, how I have lived, and what kind of positive stamp I have left with others. Society is always playing with ages to avoid the idea of aging. "50 is the new 40", "70 is the new 50" etc..I say that 50 is 50, and leave it as such. 50 is a good assessment point. The crossroads that one finds themselves once they look up, and can decide to lay low and wait for the sunset years, or pursue more roads to cross. I hope to see some of you at other roads. Bring on 60!
Peace.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
God Given Land: Religion and Patriotism as weapons in tandem
Be forewarned: I am primarily a positive person, but I am also a realist, and write what I see from my point of view. I take great care in writing these so that it is understood clearly what my observations are.
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel~Samuel Johnson
Nothing unnerves me more than when someone announces to no one in particular, and everyone in particular that they are a "Patriot". I have a problem usually not with just the terminology, but with the context of which it is used. Some people have a tendency to create a label for themselves which is flowery, has power, and is non threatening in one way, but still commands some sort of fear based respect. "Patriot" is one of those labels that fits that criteria. It's hard to criticize without it backfiring because the critic is an easy target for retaliation. One would be criticizing a self proclaimed love of country, and if you are that person that is doing the criticizing, there obviously is something wrong with your patriotism. And if there is something wrong with your patriotism, then obviously you are a threat, and must be ostracized, and dealt with accordingly. It is a safe platform to operate from, and one that the operator can easily use to dish out fear, and suspicion. McCarthyism thrived on that whole concept for years in the 50's, and took down plenty of innocent people in the process. McCarthy knew that in the case of patriotism, and in his case against Communism, the best defense was an offense, and keeping the task of making someone seem unpatriotic, or even traitorous was an easy process that didn't take much persuasion or evidence because fear is an ugly barrier to common sense. And fear based patriotism is exactly where the scoundrels call home, because they seem safe there. The problem I have with the terminology and the context is that it often times than not is used to belittle another person. The people who tend most to use it, insinuates that their love of country is more important and valuable than another person's and even suggests that the other person has NO love of country. I would never in my cockiest mood question another American's love of their country, but they have created an atmosphere where this is acceptable. In order to fulfill some agenda, one must have a common enemy that others can side with them against. That common enemy happens to be in this day and age, the folks that are hampering America's grip on "values" and the great American way of doing things, so the best thing that the patriots can do to spark fear, is to wage an imaginary war with those they deem as unsympathetic to the values they have declared as solely American, and worth fighting for. They need scapegoats for the decline of some lost idealistic picture that they have in their heads created by the affectionately mentioned "Forefathers" because if you don't know at least two or three quotes by one of the men who founded this country, then of course you are not a patriot either. In order to conduct this imaginary war, the self proclaimed patriots need an ally. For the huge task of inserting even more righteousness into the cause, the Patriots have chosen the perfect ally to couple with their " I love my country and you don't" illusion. Religion.
I have nothing against organized religion to an extent. I come from a family of Southern Baptists, and I understand where that history lies. Particularly the aspect of the Southern Blacks going back to a time of Slavery in this country where the religion that they were allowed to practice, which was Christianity gave them at least some modicum of comfort believing that something better lay ahead awaiting them, and that bondage was temporary. And although the very Christianity they adopted was used against them to justify oppression, it nevertheless was source of strength. The same holds true for all peoples. I understand their need to believe in something for themselves that gives them strength and hope, and although I choose to believe in a higher spiritual plane of the universe as opposed to one particular deity which directly contradicts with how I was raised, trust me, I get it. I won't take away anyone's idea of spiritual comfort. That is not my place. The problem with organized religion occurs when those in power adopt it and manipulate it for their own particular agenda, which happens quite often. Christianity in this country has fallen more prey to that in the last 15 or so years almost more than it has in the history of this country. Almost. Christianity has always been a good springboard for power hungry individuals, because historical belief has been twisted and turned to make people think that this country is a Christian nation, and was founded upon Christian principles which couldn't be further from the truth, but it is now entrenched within the minds of millions that Christian values have run this country for years. Christians will even tell you that they are being persecuted in this country for being Christians today when that is laughable, and some fantasy concocted by political extremists to gin up fear and support. The values that are prominent for anyone to follow are not cornered on the market by Christianity. They are within the fabric of all ancient doctrines and credos about how human beings would like to conduct themselves in a perfect world. Religion is actually supposed to be a man made vehicle to lift individuals to a higher plain of consciousness to commune with their deity, but as we have seen throughout history, religion is a powerful weapon of control, domination, and misconduct tool in the hands of the powerful who have enacted themselves as the chosen keepers of religious law.
Keeping those two separate paragraphs in mind, I now come to connect the two headed dragon that breathes fire upon everyone in America. Patriotism and Christianity seem to be doing a nice little hop skip and jump across America as those in power pulling the strings for these two entities manipulate others to disparage those they believe are destroying the country. Now what I am going to write next may piss some people off, but I am unafraid to write it, because I am unafraid to analyze exactly what it is. Most of the "religious patriotism dialogue" comes from whites in America who are feeling threatened and disenfranchised right now in this country. They believe that past American greatness came from a work ethic born in Europe, and that when America was a white dominated country, the country was in better shape. This statement I put out may offend some, but the fact is that most of the militias that emerge from this country have been born from the ideas of racial hostility, that justify their pledging allegiance to God and Country to restore the white man to his place for natural order. Anyone not seeing this does not want to see it, and doesn't understand the residual nature of the civil war that still exists after almost 150 years. This is not me looking for racial aspects under some rug where it isn't. This is America, where this mindset exists and thrives very easily in troubled economic times. Now since blatantly saying this is too radical for the mainstream of America to digest and get behind, the subtle nature of disparaging people using code words and phrases is in effect. "America is ruined, and these are the people destroying it: Food stamp mothers, Welfare recipients, Immigrants coming into the country, Atheists, People with Non Christian values, and folks who won't use the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance. It's out of control and we have to get back to what our forefathers envisioned". There is that phrase again. "The Forefathers". In the minds of people they are saying, "Yes..The white men who built this country and saved the land from the savages that inhabited it, were decent Christian men. They would save us." That is what is being said whether one wants to acknowledge it or not, and this is the language being dropped upon the lowest common denominator target audience to motivate them. What is being said is, "Get rid of these people, and everything will be all right, and fall back into place." This xenophobic outlook is exactly what McCarthy understood and was genius at until people caught on, because he just couldn't help himself from going too far.
Mind you, I don't have a problem with religion OR patriotism in their own realm of context. As I stated I was born into a very religious family, and have seen how people can have a hope for the future based upon the belief of something greater, and how that can guide their value system and make them conduct themselves accordingly. Spirituality is what I choose over organizations, and there is a tremendous difference. But I don't begrudge anyone from having something to believe in that perhaps helps them. I also love the country I live in despite all of the huge flaws that it has had and still seems to be infested with, and the questionable way it became what it was, to become what it is. I DO however have a problem when the two are intertwined as they seem to be nowadays for a specific reason. And that reason is to control certain ideas, actions, thoughts and people from obtaining power, and keeping others who are corrupt from losing power. Americans will be the first people to condemn another sovereign nation as being religious based and full of entities of zealots that do harm. But we are in fact filled to the brim with those individuals right in our own back yard. And those individuals have killed, maimed, persecuted, spread fear, organized for power, and manipulated minds all in the name of "God given land". One can be a patriot all one wants and love ones country, and dissent with ones government and fly the stars and stripes until the cows come home. I am not saying that one can't. I actually encourage it when it's necessary. Also one can worship and practice whatever religion one desires, and quote Bible scriptures and go to church five times a week if they want to, because that actually is something that those "founding men" meant to happen. But what's not supposed to happen is the influence of both to be placed within the conduct of each other to influence set agendas and disparage others, particularly a religion such as Christianity where of course love, acceptance, and forgiveness are supposed to be the center pieces of conduct. But obviously those values are thrown out of the window in favor of those aspects that the religious patriots wish to highlight for whatever just cause they wish.
If you haven't gotten my point by now, I will just say this: The combination of any deity based belief coupled with fanatical love of country is a dangerous mixture that feeds itself on its own justification of existence. It doesn't have to be America, and it doesn't have to be Christianity. The combination can happen anywhere in the world and leaves nothing but devastation in its path. The least of what can happen is corruption, power struggles and marginalizing people for a particular agenda. The most that can happen is war, and we have seen that too many times to count. People mix the two and constantly lose themselves, and the actual purpose and good that the two can do when they are separate. So when someone has a tendency to constantly put God and country in a superior conversational, and action based context, your hackles should be raised. Because they are weapons in tandem to be feared, and if you don't comply with the agenda, you could be the next target of some agent of the Lord who is in reality a scoundrel in refuge.
Just sayin'..
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel~Samuel Johnson
Nothing unnerves me more than when someone announces to no one in particular, and everyone in particular that they are a "Patriot". I have a problem usually not with just the terminology, but with the context of which it is used. Some people have a tendency to create a label for themselves which is flowery, has power, and is non threatening in one way, but still commands some sort of fear based respect. "Patriot" is one of those labels that fits that criteria. It's hard to criticize without it backfiring because the critic is an easy target for retaliation. One would be criticizing a self proclaimed love of country, and if you are that person that is doing the criticizing, there obviously is something wrong with your patriotism. And if there is something wrong with your patriotism, then obviously you are a threat, and must be ostracized, and dealt with accordingly. It is a safe platform to operate from, and one that the operator can easily use to dish out fear, and suspicion. McCarthyism thrived on that whole concept for years in the 50's, and took down plenty of innocent people in the process. McCarthy knew that in the case of patriotism, and in his case against Communism, the best defense was an offense, and keeping the task of making someone seem unpatriotic, or even traitorous was an easy process that didn't take much persuasion or evidence because fear is an ugly barrier to common sense. And fear based patriotism is exactly where the scoundrels call home, because they seem safe there. The problem I have with the terminology and the context is that it often times than not is used to belittle another person. The people who tend most to use it, insinuates that their love of country is more important and valuable than another person's and even suggests that the other person has NO love of country. I would never in my cockiest mood question another American's love of their country, but they have created an atmosphere where this is acceptable. In order to fulfill some agenda, one must have a common enemy that others can side with them against. That common enemy happens to be in this day and age, the folks that are hampering America's grip on "values" and the great American way of doing things, so the best thing that the patriots can do to spark fear, is to wage an imaginary war with those they deem as unsympathetic to the values they have declared as solely American, and worth fighting for. They need scapegoats for the decline of some lost idealistic picture that they have in their heads created by the affectionately mentioned "Forefathers" because if you don't know at least two or three quotes by one of the men who founded this country, then of course you are not a patriot either. In order to conduct this imaginary war, the self proclaimed patriots need an ally. For the huge task of inserting even more righteousness into the cause, the Patriots have chosen the perfect ally to couple with their " I love my country and you don't" illusion. Religion.
I have nothing against organized religion to an extent. I come from a family of Southern Baptists, and I understand where that history lies. Particularly the aspect of the Southern Blacks going back to a time of Slavery in this country where the religion that they were allowed to practice, which was Christianity gave them at least some modicum of comfort believing that something better lay ahead awaiting them, and that bondage was temporary. And although the very Christianity they adopted was used against them to justify oppression, it nevertheless was source of strength. The same holds true for all peoples. I understand their need to believe in something for themselves that gives them strength and hope, and although I choose to believe in a higher spiritual plane of the universe as opposed to one particular deity which directly contradicts with how I was raised, trust me, I get it. I won't take away anyone's idea of spiritual comfort. That is not my place. The problem with organized religion occurs when those in power adopt it and manipulate it for their own particular agenda, which happens quite often. Christianity in this country has fallen more prey to that in the last 15 or so years almost more than it has in the history of this country. Almost. Christianity has always been a good springboard for power hungry individuals, because historical belief has been twisted and turned to make people think that this country is a Christian nation, and was founded upon Christian principles which couldn't be further from the truth, but it is now entrenched within the minds of millions that Christian values have run this country for years. Christians will even tell you that they are being persecuted in this country for being Christians today when that is laughable, and some fantasy concocted by political extremists to gin up fear and support. The values that are prominent for anyone to follow are not cornered on the market by Christianity. They are within the fabric of all ancient doctrines and credos about how human beings would like to conduct themselves in a perfect world. Religion is actually supposed to be a man made vehicle to lift individuals to a higher plain of consciousness to commune with their deity, but as we have seen throughout history, religion is a powerful weapon of control, domination, and misconduct tool in the hands of the powerful who have enacted themselves as the chosen keepers of religious law.
Keeping those two separate paragraphs in mind, I now come to connect the two headed dragon that breathes fire upon everyone in America. Patriotism and Christianity seem to be doing a nice little hop skip and jump across America as those in power pulling the strings for these two entities manipulate others to disparage those they believe are destroying the country. Now what I am going to write next may piss some people off, but I am unafraid to write it, because I am unafraid to analyze exactly what it is. Most of the "religious patriotism dialogue" comes from whites in America who are feeling threatened and disenfranchised right now in this country. They believe that past American greatness came from a work ethic born in Europe, and that when America was a white dominated country, the country was in better shape. This statement I put out may offend some, but the fact is that most of the militias that emerge from this country have been born from the ideas of racial hostility, that justify their pledging allegiance to God and Country to restore the white man to his place for natural order. Anyone not seeing this does not want to see it, and doesn't understand the residual nature of the civil war that still exists after almost 150 years. This is not me looking for racial aspects under some rug where it isn't. This is America, where this mindset exists and thrives very easily in troubled economic times. Now since blatantly saying this is too radical for the mainstream of America to digest and get behind, the subtle nature of disparaging people using code words and phrases is in effect. "America is ruined, and these are the people destroying it: Food stamp mothers, Welfare recipients, Immigrants coming into the country, Atheists, People with Non Christian values, and folks who won't use the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance. It's out of control and we have to get back to what our forefathers envisioned". There is that phrase again. "The Forefathers". In the minds of people they are saying, "Yes..The white men who built this country and saved the land from the savages that inhabited it, were decent Christian men. They would save us." That is what is being said whether one wants to acknowledge it or not, and this is the language being dropped upon the lowest common denominator target audience to motivate them. What is being said is, "Get rid of these people, and everything will be all right, and fall back into place." This xenophobic outlook is exactly what McCarthy understood and was genius at until people caught on, because he just couldn't help himself from going too far.
Mind you, I don't have a problem with religion OR patriotism in their own realm of context. As I stated I was born into a very religious family, and have seen how people can have a hope for the future based upon the belief of something greater, and how that can guide their value system and make them conduct themselves accordingly. Spirituality is what I choose over organizations, and there is a tremendous difference. But I don't begrudge anyone from having something to believe in that perhaps helps them. I also love the country I live in despite all of the huge flaws that it has had and still seems to be infested with, and the questionable way it became what it was, to become what it is. I DO however have a problem when the two are intertwined as they seem to be nowadays for a specific reason. And that reason is to control certain ideas, actions, thoughts and people from obtaining power, and keeping others who are corrupt from losing power. Americans will be the first people to condemn another sovereign nation as being religious based and full of entities of zealots that do harm. But we are in fact filled to the brim with those individuals right in our own back yard. And those individuals have killed, maimed, persecuted, spread fear, organized for power, and manipulated minds all in the name of "God given land". One can be a patriot all one wants and love ones country, and dissent with ones government and fly the stars and stripes until the cows come home. I am not saying that one can't. I actually encourage it when it's necessary. Also one can worship and practice whatever religion one desires, and quote Bible scriptures and go to church five times a week if they want to, because that actually is something that those "founding men" meant to happen. But what's not supposed to happen is the influence of both to be placed within the conduct of each other to influence set agendas and disparage others, particularly a religion such as Christianity where of course love, acceptance, and forgiveness are supposed to be the center pieces of conduct. But obviously those values are thrown out of the window in favor of those aspects that the religious patriots wish to highlight for whatever just cause they wish.
If you haven't gotten my point by now, I will just say this: The combination of any deity based belief coupled with fanatical love of country is a dangerous mixture that feeds itself on its own justification of existence. It doesn't have to be America, and it doesn't have to be Christianity. The combination can happen anywhere in the world and leaves nothing but devastation in its path. The least of what can happen is corruption, power struggles and marginalizing people for a particular agenda. The most that can happen is war, and we have seen that too many times to count. People mix the two and constantly lose themselves, and the actual purpose and good that the two can do when they are separate. So when someone has a tendency to constantly put God and country in a superior conversational, and action based context, your hackles should be raised. Because they are weapons in tandem to be feared, and if you don't comply with the agenda, you could be the next target of some agent of the Lord who is in reality a scoundrel in refuge.
Just sayin'..
Monday, June 30, 2014
What's In A Name: Dignity vs Brand and Profit
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them"
Malcolm S. Forbes
I believe in that quote, and that quote also pertains to a collective entity towards a collective people also. People who have no say in politics, business, media, or entertainment, usually in this country have no say at all since that foursome seems to be the "Cerberus Hell Dog" guarding the capitalism gate when it pertains to this country. People in this country just love to tout capitalism, and how this system is so wonderful. They will fight you tooth and nail about the benefits of a capitalist system, and how it makes this country run.They will call you anti American whenever you even suggest that the system may be flawed and that it creates this love and fascination of " material things" that America can't seem to break free of. But the one thing these wonderful Apple Pie /flag waving/ hand on the pulse of business enthusiasts seem to forget about, and never want to acknowledge about the capitalist system is that it exploits for profit more than any other system, and in that quest for profit, it sometimes makes people lose their soul at the expense of the dignity of others. The almighty dollar and ethics are not only estranged to one another, they rarely romance one another when lonely. And that quest for things has built this country to what it is at the expense of the dignity of many groups of people whom this country thought could do them no good. Segue into the topic of dignity:
This controversy concerning the name of the Redskins football team is a battle pitting "Dignity" vs "Brand and Profit". And in the capitalist society, brand and profit never want to relinquish power. Also Brand and Profit have an uncanny way of bringing people to their side of the battle, because they create the illusion that someone actually has a stake in the fight other than the actual folks profiting. Such is the case where the powers that try to defend have created for themselves a multi billion dollar brand. There is no other word to describe it. It is NOT something that benefits mankind. It is NOT something that will change how you view the world, and make a difference. It is the product of the capitalism animal. Period. And to describe it as anything other than such, is a discredit to the intelligence of anyone paying attention while the shiny object is being waved by those profiting.
Years ago, Blacks here in America were called "Colored" or "Negro" or of course the major slur "Nigger", while many sub-slurs were hurled upon them from society in an effort to dehumanize them. Down in the deep south during the Jim Crow era, fried chicken was even called "Nigger Chicken". Seems so far away and long ago, but this is within the last 70 years, which is still in the memories of many blacks who at the time had no way of stopping it, and no muscle behind them to protest it. It was akin to letting people take your possessions by force, and then demand for your help in selling them. That is exactly what happened to their dignity back then, and it was like a careening boulder seemingly unstoppable down a hill.
They had no power within the four entities described earlier so they had to take what they could get, even if that meant being called something they did not like, just because it was a lesser evil. Lo and behold enter the 60's and 70's during the Civil Rights movements, and the Black Power assertion movements, Blacks for the first time were able to gain a foothold into the power structure that held them back, and labeled them. When that finally happened they found that they had a choice for the first time here. A choice to use power for their own self interests, and not for the benefit of someone else. A taste of their own economic prowess and impact upon society. And that discovery led to one thing. Dignity. The self worth discovered was worth the struggle and the uncomfortable feeling that it gave to those holding on desperately to the power they saw slipping. It was evolution for American society that was absolutely necessary for the growth of this nation.
The same holds true today for the Native American who has been marginalized and tucked away in this country since Europeans began infiltrating the land. They have been portrayed in media how someone else wants them portrayed, they have been locked out of business, and politics, and the only things that people seem to want to know about them are that they were here first and "hampered" our progress into the new world. Sure that idea and perception is changing the more that teaching American history evolves, but that was the standard thought for some time if you asked the average person what they were taught in schools. How would you feel if what your children and grandchildren have to view of themselves was based upon someone what someone else bestowed upon them? It is a dignity issue, a self esteem issue, and a sense of pride issue when people have the ability to identify themselves however they feel, and move within whatever worlds they want to as people who define themselves. If that world of capitalism is chosen then so be it, but having the choice, and power to choose is important. Which now brings me to the name "Redskins".
I have heard all of the pro arguments, which if they weren't so ridiculous, they would actually be funny.
1)"They don't find it offensive",2) "It was meant to be a compliment to honor them" 3)"Where will it end if we change the name? People will want to change something else" And of course many more arguments manufactured for the idea of status quo, but let's address these three for starters.
1) I would not be so bold to walk into a crowd of Native Americans and say "Hey Redskins!" and if someone out there decides that they are bold enough, then please let me know how that worked out for you from the gurney. If you would feel uncomfortable referring to a Native American in that terminology to their face, then why is it ok for you to be upset it's deemed offensive? I would no sooner do that, than to walk into a crowd of Italian Americans and call them "Guineas" or walk into a crowd of Irish Americans and call them "Micks". That's not my place, and anyone who would do such a thing, shows me a lack of respect for people in general, and a lack of sensitivity to other cultures in particular.. And just who are we to say what is not offensive to the Native American community, when they have a voice? The same thing was said of "Sambo", "Coon", and "Nigger chicken." "They don't find it offensive" said white Southerners concerning those disparaging names. Well if you were to ask a Black person back then behind closed doors, they would have told you how much resentment and feelings of frustration that they were not allowed to define themselves as a people. They just hadn't the courage or power to express themselves as frustrated for fear of retaliation, and feelings of powerlessness. Why is this situation different? It isn't.
2)It doesn't matter if it was meant to be a compliment or not. It is a term and name whose time has come and gone. The idea of evolution deems such, just like "You speak well for a Black person", or "I thought since you people were from the Orient, you would want to be called Orientals" Are these compliments? These are in the same ballpark and are indications of times..Times and terminology have to change in order for people's mindsets to change. With the change in mindset, comes a better change in treatment, and just who is protesting that? Look at yourself in the mirror if you are, and ask those questions. Those who are currently making money off of the current mindset that's who mainly is protesting, but just why do you side with them? These are introspective questions, and not just superficial speculations. These questions should be asked by everyone and then analyze what your answer is. And ask yourself..What if it were my people?
3)Once this name is changed, where will it end? I would say to that question, that when it comes to the dignity of people, it should NOT end. What troubles me the most about this statement is people's blatant support for corporations over the dignity of people. That to me personally is sick and twisted. It is as if the folks supporting this have some stake in the changing of the name. They will tell you everything will crumble after that, and that nothing will be sacred. Everything of what??? The Brand and profit monsters have brainwashed people into thinking that their lives will be drastically different if a name change occurs..This is a masterful ploy of deflect and protect that only big businesses can afford to engage in, and some have fallen deep into the starry eyed hypnotism that they have dispensed. The truth is that absolutely nothing in the lives of most people will change except they will have to suffer the inconvenience of purchasing new paraphernalia. That's it. America will not crumble to the sea, or suffer in any more decay than is already happening, and the dignity of a people will have taken one step forward. In the end, isn't that what's important? A slur is a slur. Chief is not, and Brave is not. No one has stated those as such. But Redskin in this day and age is. And that's enough for me, and should be enough for anyone concerned about people.
Brand and profit do not want evolution, and they want you to believe the same. That's why this is such a hotbed issue only because common sense is being locked out of the conversation as more and more people jump into the fray who are seemingly concerned about faux peripheral issues. This is about dignity, Period. And how a people are viewed by others as they try to improve a view upon themselves. The acquisition of power and respect is the first step to that, and that's all they ask at the moment. In order for this country as a whole to move forward we cannot support Brand and Profit over people's dignity. If we do, then this country really is doomed because being dependent upon a man made system that demands to be fed your adoration at the expense of the well being of its citizens puts us deeper into a battle of maintaining a crumbling society. This is deeper than just some name change of a football team..This is about that opening quote. This is about how we view and treat people who can seemingly do us no good. But the ironic reality is that they can do us wonders because they really are the soul of this land. But if that quote holds true, then our nation's character is empty and barren, and soulless, and only seeks what can benefit itself materially.
You can take your arguments and your unjustified fear that we are being taken over by some politically correct monster with you over the cliff of your own personal interests and cling on to it, but the truth is when it comes to this corner of the debate, it is about evolving. And if we don't evolve then we don't grow. When we don't grow, we become stagnant, and bereft of character. Where there is no character, one will never treat anyone else with dignity. So the next time you spew an idea that "they"(Meaning any group) don't mind the name, or when you get upset because certain people would like you to change some terminology as it pertains to them remember this:
What's in a name? Dignity. And everyone deserves to have at least a shot at achieving that. No matter what Brand and Profit dictate.
Malcolm S. Forbes
I believe in that quote, and that quote also pertains to a collective entity towards a collective people also. People who have no say in politics, business, media, or entertainment, usually in this country have no say at all since that foursome seems to be the "Cerberus Hell Dog" guarding the capitalism gate when it pertains to this country. People in this country just love to tout capitalism, and how this system is so wonderful. They will fight you tooth and nail about the benefits of a capitalist system, and how it makes this country run.They will call you anti American whenever you even suggest that the system may be flawed and that it creates this love and fascination of " material things" that America can't seem to break free of. But the one thing these wonderful Apple Pie /flag waving/ hand on the pulse of business enthusiasts seem to forget about, and never want to acknowledge about the capitalist system is that it exploits for profit more than any other system, and in that quest for profit, it sometimes makes people lose their soul at the expense of the dignity of others. The almighty dollar and ethics are not only estranged to one another, they rarely romance one another when lonely. And that quest for things has built this country to what it is at the expense of the dignity of many groups of people whom this country thought could do them no good. Segue into the topic of dignity:
This controversy concerning the name of the Redskins football team is a battle pitting "Dignity" vs "Brand and Profit". And in the capitalist society, brand and profit never want to relinquish power. Also Brand and Profit have an uncanny way of bringing people to their side of the battle, because they create the illusion that someone actually has a stake in the fight other than the actual folks profiting. Such is the case where the powers that try to defend have created for themselves a multi billion dollar brand. There is no other word to describe it. It is NOT something that benefits mankind. It is NOT something that will change how you view the world, and make a difference. It is the product of the capitalism animal. Period. And to describe it as anything other than such, is a discredit to the intelligence of anyone paying attention while the shiny object is being waved by those profiting.
Years ago, Blacks here in America were called "Colored" or "Negro" or of course the major slur "Nigger", while many sub-slurs were hurled upon them from society in an effort to dehumanize them. Down in the deep south during the Jim Crow era, fried chicken was even called "Nigger Chicken". Seems so far away and long ago, but this is within the last 70 years, which is still in the memories of many blacks who at the time had no way of stopping it, and no muscle behind them to protest it. It was akin to letting people take your possessions by force, and then demand for your help in selling them. That is exactly what happened to their dignity back then, and it was like a careening boulder seemingly unstoppable down a hill.
They had no power within the four entities described earlier so they had to take what they could get, even if that meant being called something they did not like, just because it was a lesser evil. Lo and behold enter the 60's and 70's during the Civil Rights movements, and the Black Power assertion movements, Blacks for the first time were able to gain a foothold into the power structure that held them back, and labeled them. When that finally happened they found that they had a choice for the first time here. A choice to use power for their own self interests, and not for the benefit of someone else. A taste of their own economic prowess and impact upon society. And that discovery led to one thing. Dignity. The self worth discovered was worth the struggle and the uncomfortable feeling that it gave to those holding on desperately to the power they saw slipping. It was evolution for American society that was absolutely necessary for the growth of this nation.
The same holds true today for the Native American who has been marginalized and tucked away in this country since Europeans began infiltrating the land. They have been portrayed in media how someone else wants them portrayed, they have been locked out of business, and politics, and the only things that people seem to want to know about them are that they were here first and "hampered" our progress into the new world. Sure that idea and perception is changing the more that teaching American history evolves, but that was the standard thought for some time if you asked the average person what they were taught in schools. How would you feel if what your children and grandchildren have to view of themselves was based upon someone what someone else bestowed upon them? It is a dignity issue, a self esteem issue, and a sense of pride issue when people have the ability to identify themselves however they feel, and move within whatever worlds they want to as people who define themselves. If that world of capitalism is chosen then so be it, but having the choice, and power to choose is important. Which now brings me to the name "Redskins".
I have heard all of the pro arguments, which if they weren't so ridiculous, they would actually be funny.
1)"They don't find it offensive",2) "It was meant to be a compliment to honor them" 3)"Where will it end if we change the name? People will want to change something else" And of course many more arguments manufactured for the idea of status quo, but let's address these three for starters.
1) I would not be so bold to walk into a crowd of Native Americans and say "Hey Redskins!" and if someone out there decides that they are bold enough, then please let me know how that worked out for you from the gurney. If you would feel uncomfortable referring to a Native American in that terminology to their face, then why is it ok for you to be upset it's deemed offensive? I would no sooner do that, than to walk into a crowd of Italian Americans and call them "Guineas" or walk into a crowd of Irish Americans and call them "Micks". That's not my place, and anyone who would do such a thing, shows me a lack of respect for people in general, and a lack of sensitivity to other cultures in particular.. And just who are we to say what is not offensive to the Native American community, when they have a voice? The same thing was said of "Sambo", "Coon", and "Nigger chicken." "They don't find it offensive" said white Southerners concerning those disparaging names. Well if you were to ask a Black person back then behind closed doors, they would have told you how much resentment and feelings of frustration that they were not allowed to define themselves as a people. They just hadn't the courage or power to express themselves as frustrated for fear of retaliation, and feelings of powerlessness. Why is this situation different? It isn't.
2)It doesn't matter if it was meant to be a compliment or not. It is a term and name whose time has come and gone. The idea of evolution deems such, just like "You speak well for a Black person", or "I thought since you people were from the Orient, you would want to be called Orientals" Are these compliments? These are in the same ballpark and are indications of times..Times and terminology have to change in order for people's mindsets to change. With the change in mindset, comes a better change in treatment, and just who is protesting that? Look at yourself in the mirror if you are, and ask those questions. Those who are currently making money off of the current mindset that's who mainly is protesting, but just why do you side with them? These are introspective questions, and not just superficial speculations. These questions should be asked by everyone and then analyze what your answer is. And ask yourself..What if it were my people?
3)Once this name is changed, where will it end? I would say to that question, that when it comes to the dignity of people, it should NOT end. What troubles me the most about this statement is people's blatant support for corporations over the dignity of people. That to me personally is sick and twisted. It is as if the folks supporting this have some stake in the changing of the name. They will tell you everything will crumble after that, and that nothing will be sacred. Everything of what??? The Brand and profit monsters have brainwashed people into thinking that their lives will be drastically different if a name change occurs..This is a masterful ploy of deflect and protect that only big businesses can afford to engage in, and some have fallen deep into the starry eyed hypnotism that they have dispensed. The truth is that absolutely nothing in the lives of most people will change except they will have to suffer the inconvenience of purchasing new paraphernalia. That's it. America will not crumble to the sea, or suffer in any more decay than is already happening, and the dignity of a people will have taken one step forward. In the end, isn't that what's important? A slur is a slur. Chief is not, and Brave is not. No one has stated those as such. But Redskin in this day and age is. And that's enough for me, and should be enough for anyone concerned about people.
Brand and profit do not want evolution, and they want you to believe the same. That's why this is such a hotbed issue only because common sense is being locked out of the conversation as more and more people jump into the fray who are seemingly concerned about faux peripheral issues. This is about dignity, Period. And how a people are viewed by others as they try to improve a view upon themselves. The acquisition of power and respect is the first step to that, and that's all they ask at the moment. In order for this country as a whole to move forward we cannot support Brand and Profit over people's dignity. If we do, then this country really is doomed because being dependent upon a man made system that demands to be fed your adoration at the expense of the well being of its citizens puts us deeper into a battle of maintaining a crumbling society. This is deeper than just some name change of a football team..This is about that opening quote. This is about how we view and treat people who can seemingly do us no good. But the ironic reality is that they can do us wonders because they really are the soul of this land. But if that quote holds true, then our nation's character is empty and barren, and soulless, and only seeks what can benefit itself materially.
You can take your arguments and your unjustified fear that we are being taken over by some politically correct monster with you over the cliff of your own personal interests and cling on to it, but the truth is when it comes to this corner of the debate, it is about evolving. And if we don't evolve then we don't grow. When we don't grow, we become stagnant, and bereft of character. Where there is no character, one will never treat anyone else with dignity. So the next time you spew an idea that "they"(Meaning any group) don't mind the name, or when you get upset because certain people would like you to change some terminology as it pertains to them remember this:
What's in a name? Dignity. And everyone deserves to have at least a shot at achieving that. No matter what Brand and Profit dictate.
Monday, May 12, 2014
May I Have Your Attention Please: Drama Kings and Queens
"When you can do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world" ~George Washington Carver
The quote above is to point out the fact that to best receive general attention one should probably decide to excel and do something that requires thought, precision, ingenuity, or something that merits the accolades of ones peers, or strangers. Out of all of the creatures on the Earth from the giant Blue Whale in the ocean, and the Golden Eagle in the skies, and to the lowest insect under a turned over rock, only human beings have the ability AND desire to manufacture, and magnify problems. Besides the drama associated with theater or television, "Drama" in the dictionary also has a definition of "An exciting or unexpected series of events or circumstances". In the world of human beings these events are magnified and manufactured to the extent where the person that these events are happening to become the center of an "attention fest" benefit aimed at those willing to donate to the cause. With all of the problems one can face during this journey of life that we all have the good fortune to be on, the most difficult involve introspection, action, and responsibility to correct and negotiate through. Most of that negotiation may come with failure, recognition of shortcomings, and a determination to repeat a process to get to success. Inevitable things such as death of loved ones, personal tragedies of love and loss, or unexpected turns in life, lead us down paths to see just where we stand with perseverance, and gauge our own intestinal fortitude. Throughout these ordeals we all need friends, counselors, and a host of outside support to help us make these ordeals just a little easier to bear. The last thing anyone wants in life is more added manufactured ordeals on top of what life deals. Anyone except "Drama Kings and Queens".
What do they do? The "Drama King or Queen" is constantly watching the world that they are in, and they just can't help but be somewhat envious of where attention is focused. Whether it be in their immediate circle of friends and associates, or the bigger world that exists beyond their center of activities, they feel completely voiceless, and devoid of any form of influence outside of their immediate realm of responsibility. In other words, they feel invisible, or like a black and white TV in a showroom of hi definition sets. They have an attention deficit, and not coming from them, but going to them, and they need it satisfied constantly. We as human beings need to feel validated, respected, and occasionally need to feel like we matter in the lives of others. Attention is what we desire, because it is nice to be noticed, and have a connection, as we are not solitary creatures by nature. Even a person who feels that they do not need attention at least requires some modicum of contact that validates their existence. And most people require that validation for accomplishment, something extraordinary about them, or even sadness that they experience, but then there are the situations of attention seeking created by "Drama Kings and Queens". Most times the term "Drama Queen" insinuates a picture of only women being emotional, and unreasonable as they raise the roof in a fit of arm waving, and hysteria over something quite small in the scheme of things, but there are men who are just as calculating, and demanding and are even more dramatic in their ability to direct attention to themselves.In fact men are even more dramatic when in this mode because men have inside them a sort of bullying aspect, so they will force guilt upon those that don't adhere to the attention program, and bully their way into someone's radar for crumbs of "Look at me" bread. In both sexes, it is all about them, and the chaos that they sometimes create, heighten, or highlight to make themselves appear to be wronged, victimized, unfortunate, or just inserting themselves into negative events in general.
How are they spotted? The "kings and Queens" have an extremely hard time sticking to the script at hand. No matter what situation in life that occurs that is slightly an inconvenience, it is a major traumatic experience for them, and they must announce that in such a way that it elicits attention, sympathy, and compliments from all who can possibly address the situation. It is all about them, and the white hot spotlight, so that they can do their Vaudeville act of "Woe is me" acts 5 & 6 to all who will listen. Even when the situation is not about them, and about someone else, they will flip things around to make it seem like they have had something similar, and that it was a much more significant ordeal. Even in whatever positive words that they utter, there is some form of negativity that pertains to their life, that involves a reassurance from others that they are important, and that they matter, of course feeding the ego in the process, and receiving the attention so needed to help them to continue to the next mini crisis.Whether it's attention not given to them when they were younger, or something that they are not receiving or lacking in their lives as an adult, the King and Queen need to feel the center of attention without really perceiving to have those needs to other people. It is trickery at its finest, and a huge effort of work for the royalty to negotiate through, but the goal of attention is so robust, that it's extremely important for them to achieve it. Most times this goal isn't malicious at all. It's a deep seeded need for respect, and validation rooted in some form of envy of others or a situation. The most bizarre aspect of them is that secretly they are almost validated when something major does happen that demands they be the center of attention. The circumstance becomes a "See I told you so" moment that makes all other incidents where someone stated that they were being dramatic, null and void. Social media has made the king and queen more prominent than ever because they have access to all avenues of attention seeking. From Facebook, to all sorts of other media outlets where one gets to vent, the drama royalty get their moments of attention feeding frenzy, by engaging different people in different situations. Social media is the real catalyst for building up these folks because more drama brings more reactions, which brings more attention, which is the whole point of the exercise. Making mountains out of mole hills is standard operating procedure for these individuals, and they sometimes will even ask for advice about a "problem" in their lives that they somehow have no idea how to solve. They will never take the advice, because they don't really need it. They already know what needs to be done. It's not about getting sound advice, it's about getting attention, and if looking weak and indecisive gets attention, then so be it.
What to do about them? We all have drama kings and queens in our life, whether they be friends, relatives, co workers, or even sometimes significant others. For the most part, they are harmless individuals who create a swirl of controversy that gets on the nerves of the folks nearest to them. They sometimes make others walk on eggshells around them, as to not "Poke the bear" and provoke any fuel for their attention grabbing tactics. Other times this doesn't matter as they will find something to latch onto for attention purposes. Since they are in our lives, most times we spend energy reigning them in because we actually care about them, and know that there is some underlying factor that makes them act the way they do. They can be royal pains, and time consuming, and high maintenance, but in the end, most of them just need people around them to notice them, and feel cared about, and any insecurities and feeling of low self esteem that they have, are only the same ones that all of us deep down inside have, but only theirs are more magnified. Human beings are so frail, and some are more fragile than others, and all the kings and queens need most times is a little reassurance, or kick in the pants to help them through either their insecurities, or their inability to deal with what comes their way in a productive manner. Try your best to roll your eyes, and be some sort of devil's advocate for them, even though it is exhausting, and can drag you away from your own agenda. If you care about them, it should make some sort of difference, and maybe they will receive enough attention where they may be able to guide themselves, or pay it forward. Then in some circumstances, maybe this tactic won't work, but if you want them to not be a royal pain in the ass to you, your other option is to back away, and disengage yourself, because most people don't want dramatic folks around stirring up things. But the only thing that creates, is a void where they will look for someone else to vent and help them through something, and give them attention. It may be in your best interest to keep them close to the vest, so that you can curb things as they happen, tiring as that may be. So why not just let it be you, if you are a good friend, family member, or significant other. We are here to try and help one another if we can, and pull up someone who wants to help themselves also. We should once in awhile back up and remember that aspect of life, and realize that somewhere along the line, we are going to have some sort of drama, and need someone to vent to, and someone might consider us a tad dramatic during the course of those events. In those moments, we will want someone to pay attention to us, and listen, and perhaps even give us a boot in the ass a little to snap us out of it. Hopefully we won't have to wish that someone is available to do so.
Because if we are alone, there is nothing dramatic about being the king or queen of wishful thinking.
The quote above is to point out the fact that to best receive general attention one should probably decide to excel and do something that requires thought, precision, ingenuity, or something that merits the accolades of ones peers, or strangers. Out of all of the creatures on the Earth from the giant Blue Whale in the ocean, and the Golden Eagle in the skies, and to the lowest insect under a turned over rock, only human beings have the ability AND desire to manufacture, and magnify problems. Besides the drama associated with theater or television, "Drama" in the dictionary also has a definition of "An exciting or unexpected series of events or circumstances". In the world of human beings these events are magnified and manufactured to the extent where the person that these events are happening to become the center of an "attention fest" benefit aimed at those willing to donate to the cause. With all of the problems one can face during this journey of life that we all have the good fortune to be on, the most difficult involve introspection, action, and responsibility to correct and negotiate through. Most of that negotiation may come with failure, recognition of shortcomings, and a determination to repeat a process to get to success. Inevitable things such as death of loved ones, personal tragedies of love and loss, or unexpected turns in life, lead us down paths to see just where we stand with perseverance, and gauge our own intestinal fortitude. Throughout these ordeals we all need friends, counselors, and a host of outside support to help us make these ordeals just a little easier to bear. The last thing anyone wants in life is more added manufactured ordeals on top of what life deals. Anyone except "Drama Kings and Queens".
What do they do? The "Drama King or Queen" is constantly watching the world that they are in, and they just can't help but be somewhat envious of where attention is focused. Whether it be in their immediate circle of friends and associates, or the bigger world that exists beyond their center of activities, they feel completely voiceless, and devoid of any form of influence outside of their immediate realm of responsibility. In other words, they feel invisible, or like a black and white TV in a showroom of hi definition sets. They have an attention deficit, and not coming from them, but going to them, and they need it satisfied constantly. We as human beings need to feel validated, respected, and occasionally need to feel like we matter in the lives of others. Attention is what we desire, because it is nice to be noticed, and have a connection, as we are not solitary creatures by nature. Even a person who feels that they do not need attention at least requires some modicum of contact that validates their existence. And most people require that validation for accomplishment, something extraordinary about them, or even sadness that they experience, but then there are the situations of attention seeking created by "Drama Kings and Queens". Most times the term "Drama Queen" insinuates a picture of only women being emotional, and unreasonable as they raise the roof in a fit of arm waving, and hysteria over something quite small in the scheme of things, but there are men who are just as calculating, and demanding and are even more dramatic in their ability to direct attention to themselves.In fact men are even more dramatic when in this mode because men have inside them a sort of bullying aspect, so they will force guilt upon those that don't adhere to the attention program, and bully their way into someone's radar for crumbs of "Look at me" bread. In both sexes, it is all about them, and the chaos that they sometimes create, heighten, or highlight to make themselves appear to be wronged, victimized, unfortunate, or just inserting themselves into negative events in general.
How are they spotted? The "kings and Queens" have an extremely hard time sticking to the script at hand. No matter what situation in life that occurs that is slightly an inconvenience, it is a major traumatic experience for them, and they must announce that in such a way that it elicits attention, sympathy, and compliments from all who can possibly address the situation. It is all about them, and the white hot spotlight, so that they can do their Vaudeville act of "Woe is me" acts 5 & 6 to all who will listen. Even when the situation is not about them, and about someone else, they will flip things around to make it seem like they have had something similar, and that it was a much more significant ordeal. Even in whatever positive words that they utter, there is some form of negativity that pertains to their life, that involves a reassurance from others that they are important, and that they matter, of course feeding the ego in the process, and receiving the attention so needed to help them to continue to the next mini crisis.Whether it's attention not given to them when they were younger, or something that they are not receiving or lacking in their lives as an adult, the King and Queen need to feel the center of attention without really perceiving to have those needs to other people. It is trickery at its finest, and a huge effort of work for the royalty to negotiate through, but the goal of attention is so robust, that it's extremely important for them to achieve it. Most times this goal isn't malicious at all. It's a deep seeded need for respect, and validation rooted in some form of envy of others or a situation. The most bizarre aspect of them is that secretly they are almost validated when something major does happen that demands they be the center of attention. The circumstance becomes a "See I told you so" moment that makes all other incidents where someone stated that they were being dramatic, null and void. Social media has made the king and queen more prominent than ever because they have access to all avenues of attention seeking. From Facebook, to all sorts of other media outlets where one gets to vent, the drama royalty get their moments of attention feeding frenzy, by engaging different people in different situations. Social media is the real catalyst for building up these folks because more drama brings more reactions, which brings more attention, which is the whole point of the exercise. Making mountains out of mole hills is standard operating procedure for these individuals, and they sometimes will even ask for advice about a "problem" in their lives that they somehow have no idea how to solve. They will never take the advice, because they don't really need it. They already know what needs to be done. It's not about getting sound advice, it's about getting attention, and if looking weak and indecisive gets attention, then so be it.
What to do about them? We all have drama kings and queens in our life, whether they be friends, relatives, co workers, or even sometimes significant others. For the most part, they are harmless individuals who create a swirl of controversy that gets on the nerves of the folks nearest to them. They sometimes make others walk on eggshells around them, as to not "Poke the bear" and provoke any fuel for their attention grabbing tactics. Other times this doesn't matter as they will find something to latch onto for attention purposes. Since they are in our lives, most times we spend energy reigning them in because we actually care about them, and know that there is some underlying factor that makes them act the way they do. They can be royal pains, and time consuming, and high maintenance, but in the end, most of them just need people around them to notice them, and feel cared about, and any insecurities and feeling of low self esteem that they have, are only the same ones that all of us deep down inside have, but only theirs are more magnified. Human beings are so frail, and some are more fragile than others, and all the kings and queens need most times is a little reassurance, or kick in the pants to help them through either their insecurities, or their inability to deal with what comes their way in a productive manner. Try your best to roll your eyes, and be some sort of devil's advocate for them, even though it is exhausting, and can drag you away from your own agenda. If you care about them, it should make some sort of difference, and maybe they will receive enough attention where they may be able to guide themselves, or pay it forward. Then in some circumstances, maybe this tactic won't work, but if you want them to not be a royal pain in the ass to you, your other option is to back away, and disengage yourself, because most people don't want dramatic folks around stirring up things. But the only thing that creates, is a void where they will look for someone else to vent and help them through something, and give them attention. It may be in your best interest to keep them close to the vest, so that you can curb things as they happen, tiring as that may be. So why not just let it be you, if you are a good friend, family member, or significant other. We are here to try and help one another if we can, and pull up someone who wants to help themselves also. We should once in awhile back up and remember that aspect of life, and realize that somewhere along the line, we are going to have some sort of drama, and need someone to vent to, and someone might consider us a tad dramatic during the course of those events. In those moments, we will want someone to pay attention to us, and listen, and perhaps even give us a boot in the ass a little to snap us out of it. Hopefully we won't have to wish that someone is available to do so.
Because if we are alone, there is nothing dramatic about being the king or queen of wishful thinking.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Greed: The Animal That Possesses
In the famous speech from the movie "Wall Street", the character Gordon Gekko played brilliantly by Michael Douglas, made a compelling argument that "Greed for lack of a better word, is good." The character insinuated that greed of men who were at the vanguard of the industrial revolution were responsible for building America into the power that it became. Now that particular aspect may hold some water, because if you look at any successful empire in history, it was because of the initial torch of greed that lit the way for conquest, if conquest is what one appreciates. Greed is one of the sins that brings human beings completely lower than any other species that has ever existed on earth. Man has never been satisfied, and has never had enough on his plate, so at the cost of lives, cultures, nature, ethics, and sanity, and even the well being of his planet, man has been a slave to the inner animal of greed. We are taught subliminally at a very young age to be greedy. More toys equates to more happiness. For kids who used to play board games years ago, most times, you had to accumulate something in order to win. And for some time now television commercials aimed at young minds for the sake of consumerism tell them that they must get this, own that, and accumulate things in order for their life to have meaning. It is insinuated in school, and later in life that success equates to having more money, so that you can have more things. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the desire to have things, but this line of thinking over time often manifests itself into greed, because desire is just one leap away from greed where material things are concerned. Greed is the desire to acquire, possess, and hoard "things", and that is just what human beings have been doing for their time here on earth. If the history of Earth could be put in clock terms, man has been here probably close to a second. But in that very miniscule span of time, greed has been at the center of our hearts and minds, driving human beings to "get" something, even just for the act of getting in itself, and not necessarily for self preservation, and has done more damage in man's time on earth than any other trait that we have inside.
Greed is some wild animal that can't be tamed or stopped once it realizes how easily its prey can be taken over, and eaten. This is exactly how desire morphs into greed. In the human mind, once something has been gotten, we are content, but we have been programed to think that someone or something is after our contentment. Therefore in order to solve that, we must have more of what has made us content. Now our rational mind knows that this isn't true, but the subconscious mind is hard at work, and that's where greed has set up an office for it to report to. "Bigger, Better, and More" are greed's triumvirate Father, Son and Holy Ghost entities that people worship and obsess over, making them do things completely unethical, and unreasonable for the sake of getting and having. In fact ethical behavior and greed, usually are in direct contradiction with one another, because ethics demands judgment and restraint, and greed demands to run rampant and be visceral. I am not saying that all who exhibit signs of greed are evil, but greed often puts quite rational people in a position of trying to acquire things to please their ego, or accumulate things for recreation, or possession wrapped in the guise of "the pursuit of happiness". Greed has a way of justifying itself, and making others feel guilty for questioning motives. The motive is none other than the greed itself, because it burns in people. The phrase "Because you can doesn't mean you should" never comes to mind for one possessed by greed. "I can, and will" is the only phrase worth articulating.
Is greed good? People will argue with me, and state that this country was in fact built by greed, but I am sure that the Native Americans would beg to differ that as a good thing. This country was actually built by desire, but but greed came quickly enough disguised as an idea of "destiny". Individual greed is bad enough, but when put within a collective mindset of a group of people,or an entity in power, it becomes dangerous, and sometimes catastrophic for those on the other end.Tell the richest person in the world that there is hidden treasure somewhere, and watch the sparks fly as they destroy everything trying to run to it. Greed has started wars, made people incredibly wealthy while making others impoverished, and has been the central cause for murder, exploitation, enslavement of other people, and a host of nefarious things that have disastrous results. Greed doesn't have to initially have these things in mind at the forefront, but as more fuel is needed to feed the animal, the more ethics fade into the background, causing extreme lapses of remorse for actions, and ability to curtail the urges for more of what makes imaginary comfort, and happiness. Happiness is exactly what greed replaces during its onslaught. When people place their trust into man made acquisitions, the result can only a never ending search for fulfillment resulting in the need for more of something. Power, money, items that can be purchased with money, land, and other things that can be easily put in the category of "stuff" are what greed goes after purely for the satisfaction of the host. A husband and wife with four cars? Why not make it five, because they can. A man worth 12 million dollars? He'll call his attorneys to arrange making some acquisition to make it 13. Some material that can make money discovered in a tropical jungle? Get rid of the indigenous people, clear out all of the trees, and let's make some dough. Screw people, screw environments, screw everything, because there's gold in them thar hills, and we are gonna get rich. And what greed whispers in the ear of its host is "This is mine, and let someone else get theirs, but theirs is nowhere near yours." God help anyone getting near yours.
Greed finds something, anything to mine. And greed will drive someone to mine it over and over until all of the riches, and resources are taken from whatever it is being mined, and there is nothing left, destroying exactly what sustained it for some time. Desire is a great thing, and the desire to want the things that one truly needs is important for survival. That is the instinct that we all should possess. But greed trumps that, and once what one needs is fulfilled, it will continue to fuel a want. Not a want, but a burning white hot energy for conquest and possession. A want for excess, and anything else just because it's there to be taken, and just because someone isn't clever enough or strong enough to take it. The human race will eventually destroy itself and its environment all because of greed within the hands of the powerful, and if technology ever allows us to leave this planet, we will reproduce our greed elsewhere, of course causing the normal human chaos of competition for having, while destroying something else in the process.
Individual greed, corporate greed, governmental greed,etc are all tied in together, and symptomatic of man's inability to just take exactly what he needs to survive. That is precisely why the gap between the rich, the poor exist, exactly why one needs to protect their belongings from thieves, and exactly why wars are started, and lands taken over. Somewhere, someone wants something that they just don't need, but the animal of greed dictates otherwise. The animal in the mine reminds us just how destructive, how unhappy, and how disrespectful of everything man is. Man is not harmonious with anything. The greed within us all makes us want to take over, dominate, and possess, and when all is raped pillaged, or taken, look elsewhere for satisfaction.
Greed is discord, and hopefully one can avoid being possessed by the animal. You can have a wonderful life with desire. Desire to do well, and be the best you can be. Desire to leave a footprint in the world that is positive. Desire to leave others with knowledge, and receive knowledge from others. And particularly, a desire to reject an idea that happiness is aligned with man made items such as money, property, and material that you will eventually feel an urge to get more of. If one has these ideals, then one will raise children to believe that the richest individuals are the ones who have the best clarity about what's really important. A smile, a family, friends, being alive, and healthy to experience nature and the arts, and appreciation, and empathy for your fellow human beings in the world. That is being rich, and should you feel that way, you will only take what you need, and leave the rest for others. When I daydream, that philosophy is what I wish for everyone, and I imagine the world it would be if that were the case.
.But maybe I'm just being greedy.
Greed is some wild animal that can't be tamed or stopped once it realizes how easily its prey can be taken over, and eaten. This is exactly how desire morphs into greed. In the human mind, once something has been gotten, we are content, but we have been programed to think that someone or something is after our contentment. Therefore in order to solve that, we must have more of what has made us content. Now our rational mind knows that this isn't true, but the subconscious mind is hard at work, and that's where greed has set up an office for it to report to. "Bigger, Better, and More" are greed's triumvirate Father, Son and Holy Ghost entities that people worship and obsess over, making them do things completely unethical, and unreasonable for the sake of getting and having. In fact ethical behavior and greed, usually are in direct contradiction with one another, because ethics demands judgment and restraint, and greed demands to run rampant and be visceral. I am not saying that all who exhibit signs of greed are evil, but greed often puts quite rational people in a position of trying to acquire things to please their ego, or accumulate things for recreation, or possession wrapped in the guise of "the pursuit of happiness". Greed has a way of justifying itself, and making others feel guilty for questioning motives. The motive is none other than the greed itself, because it burns in people. The phrase "Because you can doesn't mean you should" never comes to mind for one possessed by greed. "I can, and will" is the only phrase worth articulating.
Is greed good? People will argue with me, and state that this country was in fact built by greed, but I am sure that the Native Americans would beg to differ that as a good thing. This country was actually built by desire, but but greed came quickly enough disguised as an idea of "destiny". Individual greed is bad enough, but when put within a collective mindset of a group of people,or an entity in power, it becomes dangerous, and sometimes catastrophic for those on the other end.Tell the richest person in the world that there is hidden treasure somewhere, and watch the sparks fly as they destroy everything trying to run to it. Greed has started wars, made people incredibly wealthy while making others impoverished, and has been the central cause for murder, exploitation, enslavement of other people, and a host of nefarious things that have disastrous results. Greed doesn't have to initially have these things in mind at the forefront, but as more fuel is needed to feed the animal, the more ethics fade into the background, causing extreme lapses of remorse for actions, and ability to curtail the urges for more of what makes imaginary comfort, and happiness. Happiness is exactly what greed replaces during its onslaught. When people place their trust into man made acquisitions, the result can only a never ending search for fulfillment resulting in the need for more of something. Power, money, items that can be purchased with money, land, and other things that can be easily put in the category of "stuff" are what greed goes after purely for the satisfaction of the host. A husband and wife with four cars? Why not make it five, because they can. A man worth 12 million dollars? He'll call his attorneys to arrange making some acquisition to make it 13. Some material that can make money discovered in a tropical jungle? Get rid of the indigenous people, clear out all of the trees, and let's make some dough. Screw people, screw environments, screw everything, because there's gold in them thar hills, and we are gonna get rich. And what greed whispers in the ear of its host is "This is mine, and let someone else get theirs, but theirs is nowhere near yours." God help anyone getting near yours.
Greed finds something, anything to mine. And greed will drive someone to mine it over and over until all of the riches, and resources are taken from whatever it is being mined, and there is nothing left, destroying exactly what sustained it for some time. Desire is a great thing, and the desire to want the things that one truly needs is important for survival. That is the instinct that we all should possess. But greed trumps that, and once what one needs is fulfilled, it will continue to fuel a want. Not a want, but a burning white hot energy for conquest and possession. A want for excess, and anything else just because it's there to be taken, and just because someone isn't clever enough or strong enough to take it. The human race will eventually destroy itself and its environment all because of greed within the hands of the powerful, and if technology ever allows us to leave this planet, we will reproduce our greed elsewhere, of course causing the normal human chaos of competition for having, while destroying something else in the process.
Individual greed, corporate greed, governmental greed,etc are all tied in together, and symptomatic of man's inability to just take exactly what he needs to survive. That is precisely why the gap between the rich, the poor exist, exactly why one needs to protect their belongings from thieves, and exactly why wars are started, and lands taken over. Somewhere, someone wants something that they just don't need, but the animal of greed dictates otherwise. The animal in the mine reminds us just how destructive, how unhappy, and how disrespectful of everything man is. Man is not harmonious with anything. The greed within us all makes us want to take over, dominate, and possess, and when all is raped pillaged, or taken, look elsewhere for satisfaction.
Greed is discord, and hopefully one can avoid being possessed by the animal. You can have a wonderful life with desire. Desire to do well, and be the best you can be. Desire to leave a footprint in the world that is positive. Desire to leave others with knowledge, and receive knowledge from others. And particularly, a desire to reject an idea that happiness is aligned with man made items such as money, property, and material that you will eventually feel an urge to get more of. If one has these ideals, then one will raise children to believe that the richest individuals are the ones who have the best clarity about what's really important. A smile, a family, friends, being alive, and healthy to experience nature and the arts, and appreciation, and empathy for your fellow human beings in the world. That is being rich, and should you feel that way, you will only take what you need, and leave the rest for others. When I daydream, that philosophy is what I wish for everyone, and I imagine the world it would be if that were the case.
.But maybe I'm just being greedy.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Whistling Past Graveyards: Learning how to walk past barren minds of ignorance
I walked into my favorite gym a couple of weeks ago, and the first person I saw was a good friend of mine who is a kind and gentle man, and whom I hadn't seen in quite awhile. He was talking to another man whom I had spoken to off and on and had in previous times made small talk about gym stuff. I walked up and hugged my friend, and then shook the hand of the man he was talking to. The man then said right after saying hello something that blew my mind, and threw me off guard.
"We were talking about Der Fuhrer" he said.
I thought it odd, but interesting so I responded.
"A conversation about Hitler huh?" I replied..
"No, Obama is Der Fuhrer" he replied.
"Huh" I said with my good friend standing next to me. I must have looked like someone told me aliens had landed.
"Yes, it's 1933 Germany again, and I'm worried. He is the new Fuhrer"..He said.
I was all of a sudden very annoyed, and asked, "So you are equating The President of The united States to a mass murdering dictator who exterminated 10 million people in his quest to start a world war, and take over the world with a master race?"
"Yes" This man stated.
I said, "Ya know what, I'm done..I didn't come here to talk about this, I came to work out."
And right then, I dismissed this man, and anything else that he had to say was irrelevant. He must have felt that from me, and walked away with myself and my friend who had been cornered by this guy before I got there, shaking our heads. Years ago, I would have gotten sucked into the bottomless pit of that exchange, but I have learned to pick important battles of enlightenment, and that was NOT one of them. Now before anyone of whatever political affiliation they are jumps all over me, I will explain that I really don't care who thinks what about whatever politician, and those conversations are worth having because the thought process of folks is worth investigating. But when someone makes a statement that is so idiotic, and off the charts irrational I have learned to whistle past their graveyard ignorant mind, and not even engage. Why? Because it's a complete waste of time.
We are a country of people full of different ideas about how the world works, and how it's supposed to work. That's fine, I get that. But there are people out there who are so underneath the radar of critical thinking, that their conclusions are almost comical, and how they have reached them are almost inconceivable. People such as this have a great tendency to open their mouths and say all kinds of things and watch what sticks to the wall. There is no depth of thinking, no rational lineage of reason for conclusions, and no original thought process. Just usually repeating what they have seen and heard without any understanding. Their mouths are moving but even they don't know what they are saying. While these encounters may be in person, and perplexing enough, the ones that are downright scary are on social media. It is one thing for someone to say something completely unnerving straight from the mind, to the mouth, but the fact that so many folks take the time to think something, then type it, and then post it, and somewhere in between those events, didn't see that it wasn't a good idea, is downright scary.
Before social media there really wasn't a way to see what people were thinking other than talk to them, or if strangers,catch the occasional talk show where someone put a microphone in front of their face. It seemed like no big deal because everyone knew that there are some wing nuts out there running around with ideas that aren't necessarily grounded, and honed. This was our thinking back then that there was no threat because there wasn't a great deal of people and their twisted ideas of thought spreading. That WAS the thinking. In this day and age of technology and cyber voyeur media and forums, we actually have a chance to see what has been the case all along. Why is this an issue? Because with the age of technology, those ideas can actually spread to easily led minds. I am speaking of not primarily speaking of issues of just politics, or such. But I am speaking of behavior patterns, acts of violence, nefarious trends, and just overall ignorance in general that can be latched onto, copied, and reproduced like spreading cancer.
I will get the argument that this is America, and that people can think what they want, and say whatever they want, and that is absolutely true.My argument is that it doesn't make it correct. It can actually be downright dangerous, but their right nonetheless. This is not someplace where people will be dragged from their homes and executed for thought like in certain countries, and this will never be that type of place regardless of idiotic statements. It then becomes my choice to dismiss them, and not engage them at all. Do I like dismissing people? No, not at all because I am a person who believes that everyone has a voice. But when that voice is so far gone from any sort of reality, it is a complete waste of my time to deal with them, and will present me with nothing but frustration. What they desire is to engage, because the people with the least amount of reality based thought tend to be the loudest of their opinions, as they try to convert others to their way of thinking. People who are based in reality often times don't have anything to say unless asked, because they have no need to present an idea that they have thought out from all angles. And once again the word "Empathy" comes into play because those based in reality realize that they are not the holders of all knowledge, and that there is always room to grow from the knowledge of others also based in reality, and what conditions they have endured that prompt them to think the way they do. People like the gentleman that I dismissed are part of the problem, because they create chaos. They have no desire to talk to people, and solve problems with others, but they have a complete mission to talk at people, and recruit others to their torch mob. Ignorance does not necessarily mean dumb. Some of those folks are very smart. Extremely smart for that matter. Ignorance is just not being aware. Period. Having a worldview that has horse blinders attached, and being proud of it.
If no one were to engage these folks, they have no argument to blast upon others, and their ignorance and self absorbed ideas of how the world works would eventually die with them. They love confrontation, and someone getting upset at what they say just fuels them enough to push their agenda even further to barren like minds not based in reality.Years ago, I would get pissed, confront them, and engage, and challenge their idiocy, but I am now over that aspect, and I just whistle past ignorance. The world is full of wonderful people who are filled with light, and love, and present ideas that are positive and present solutions to complex problems, because they have used their brains to think. Those are the people I like to surround myself with, and anyone who is not based in reality, and who has a barren mind of ignorance is subject to my dismissal of anything they say. Am I the holder of all knowledge? Absolutely not, but I do consider myself someone who will think before opening my mouth or typing something, and I have been taught and raised to not echo the thoughts of others but rather to have a 3 dimensional view of how people work, and how the world functions when people are involved.
Always know where the ignorance, and non reality based minds are not so that you can rehabilitate them, but so that you can let them suffer and wallow in their own ignorant stew. It is a waste of time, and effort to do anything otherwise, and your own world will be much better, and filled with much more quality. You may have to weed them out, but they are there, and causing chaos..When that happens, put your hands in your pockets, think of happiness, and whistle past the graveyard..
There are no ghosts in a critical thinking mind.
"We were talking about Der Fuhrer" he said.
I thought it odd, but interesting so I responded.
"A conversation about Hitler huh?" I replied..
"No, Obama is Der Fuhrer" he replied.
"Huh" I said with my good friend standing next to me. I must have looked like someone told me aliens had landed.
"Yes, it's 1933 Germany again, and I'm worried. He is the new Fuhrer"..He said.
I was all of a sudden very annoyed, and asked, "So you are equating The President of The united States to a mass murdering dictator who exterminated 10 million people in his quest to start a world war, and take over the world with a master race?"
"Yes" This man stated.
I said, "Ya know what, I'm done..I didn't come here to talk about this, I came to work out."
And right then, I dismissed this man, and anything else that he had to say was irrelevant. He must have felt that from me, and walked away with myself and my friend who had been cornered by this guy before I got there, shaking our heads. Years ago, I would have gotten sucked into the bottomless pit of that exchange, but I have learned to pick important battles of enlightenment, and that was NOT one of them. Now before anyone of whatever political affiliation they are jumps all over me, I will explain that I really don't care who thinks what about whatever politician, and those conversations are worth having because the thought process of folks is worth investigating. But when someone makes a statement that is so idiotic, and off the charts irrational I have learned to whistle past their graveyard ignorant mind, and not even engage. Why? Because it's a complete waste of time.
We are a country of people full of different ideas about how the world works, and how it's supposed to work. That's fine, I get that. But there are people out there who are so underneath the radar of critical thinking, that their conclusions are almost comical, and how they have reached them are almost inconceivable. People such as this have a great tendency to open their mouths and say all kinds of things and watch what sticks to the wall. There is no depth of thinking, no rational lineage of reason for conclusions, and no original thought process. Just usually repeating what they have seen and heard without any understanding. Their mouths are moving but even they don't know what they are saying. While these encounters may be in person, and perplexing enough, the ones that are downright scary are on social media. It is one thing for someone to say something completely unnerving straight from the mind, to the mouth, but the fact that so many folks take the time to think something, then type it, and then post it, and somewhere in between those events, didn't see that it wasn't a good idea, is downright scary.
Before social media there really wasn't a way to see what people were thinking other than talk to them, or if strangers,catch the occasional talk show where someone put a microphone in front of their face. It seemed like no big deal because everyone knew that there are some wing nuts out there running around with ideas that aren't necessarily grounded, and honed. This was our thinking back then that there was no threat because there wasn't a great deal of people and their twisted ideas of thought spreading. That WAS the thinking. In this day and age of technology and cyber voyeur media and forums, we actually have a chance to see what has been the case all along. Why is this an issue? Because with the age of technology, those ideas can actually spread to easily led minds. I am speaking of not primarily speaking of issues of just politics, or such. But I am speaking of behavior patterns, acts of violence, nefarious trends, and just overall ignorance in general that can be latched onto, copied, and reproduced like spreading cancer.
I will get the argument that this is America, and that people can think what they want, and say whatever they want, and that is absolutely true.My argument is that it doesn't make it correct. It can actually be downright dangerous, but their right nonetheless. This is not someplace where people will be dragged from their homes and executed for thought like in certain countries, and this will never be that type of place regardless of idiotic statements. It then becomes my choice to dismiss them, and not engage them at all. Do I like dismissing people? No, not at all because I am a person who believes that everyone has a voice. But when that voice is so far gone from any sort of reality, it is a complete waste of my time to deal with them, and will present me with nothing but frustration. What they desire is to engage, because the people with the least amount of reality based thought tend to be the loudest of their opinions, as they try to convert others to their way of thinking. People who are based in reality often times don't have anything to say unless asked, because they have no need to present an idea that they have thought out from all angles. And once again the word "Empathy" comes into play because those based in reality realize that they are not the holders of all knowledge, and that there is always room to grow from the knowledge of others also based in reality, and what conditions they have endured that prompt them to think the way they do. People like the gentleman that I dismissed are part of the problem, because they create chaos. They have no desire to talk to people, and solve problems with others, but they have a complete mission to talk at people, and recruit others to their torch mob. Ignorance does not necessarily mean dumb. Some of those folks are very smart. Extremely smart for that matter. Ignorance is just not being aware. Period. Having a worldview that has horse blinders attached, and being proud of it.
If no one were to engage these folks, they have no argument to blast upon others, and their ignorance and self absorbed ideas of how the world works would eventually die with them. They love confrontation, and someone getting upset at what they say just fuels them enough to push their agenda even further to barren like minds not based in reality.Years ago, I would get pissed, confront them, and engage, and challenge their idiocy, but I am now over that aspect, and I just whistle past ignorance. The world is full of wonderful people who are filled with light, and love, and present ideas that are positive and present solutions to complex problems, because they have used their brains to think. Those are the people I like to surround myself with, and anyone who is not based in reality, and who has a barren mind of ignorance is subject to my dismissal of anything they say. Am I the holder of all knowledge? Absolutely not, but I do consider myself someone who will think before opening my mouth or typing something, and I have been taught and raised to not echo the thoughts of others but rather to have a 3 dimensional view of how people work, and how the world functions when people are involved.
Always know where the ignorance, and non reality based minds are not so that you can rehabilitate them, but so that you can let them suffer and wallow in their own ignorant stew. It is a waste of time, and effort to do anything otherwise, and your own world will be much better, and filled with much more quality. You may have to weed them out, but they are there, and causing chaos..When that happens, put your hands in your pockets, think of happiness, and whistle past the graveyard..
There are no ghosts in a critical thinking mind.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
The Clown, And The Snake: Thick and slick personalities to watch for
In the Quentin Tarantino movie "Inglorious Basterds",there is the character of SS Col Hans Landa brilliantly played by Christoph Waltz. All one needs to see of this character's nature is the first scene. He is upon first meeting outwardly charming, accessible, polite, and likeable. He smiles, says all of the right things, and makes you feel like you want to sit with him, and tell stories. It is then that he becomes most dangerous, because he has made you feel very comfortable with his presence. In that comfort he can work his way into a person's psyche, and then show his true colors, and his main agenda. He is a snake who has let you hold him gently, ready to strike and leave a person helpless, and destroy them because they have let their guard down admiring his seemingly personable nature. He is slick, cunning, and observant of weaknesses that he can exploit, and is quite evil underneath the guise of friendliness.No one saw him coming. Although he is just a movie character, he has parallels in real life.
There are two types of adversaries who are tricksters that one encounters in life. One is "The Snake", and the other is "The Clown". These people are one in the same, and usually have the same agendas which is to serve themselves through the dealings and manipulations of others, but they have two ways of coming at you because they are on different levels of operational ability. Both types have immense egos, and inflated ideas of their self importance, and are narcissists through and through, and both are hellbent at showing the world their (in their eyes) underrated intellect and abilities. They both make friends and then proceed to thoroughly burn those bridges by the sheer desire to dominate a situation, or be the top person of an interaction. They constantly win battles by creating conflict that turns situations into struggles for power, and if they can't win, they will use scorched earth tactics while extracting themselves away, but careful to not make themselves look like the cause of the conflict. There is one fundamental difference between these individuals. Intellectual tactic abilities.
"The Clown" is someone that if you are perceptive, you can see coming a mile away. He or she might as well have on a big red nose, and oversize shoes. These folks really aren't as smart as they think they are, and constantly can't get out of their own way while trying to get in the way of yours. People are constantly amazed at how "The Clown" constantly is a bull in a china shop, clumsily getting into situations that require detail and finesse, and finding ways to awkwardly stumble out of those situations while blaming others for the failure. He/she always approaches people from an angle, but that angle and their agenda is visible for many to see it. And if they see it, they have an opportunity to avoid that person, and just not engage. They are usually seen from afar as a loud mouth know it all, because of they can't help opening their mouths which usually blows their cover.The Thick personality of "The Clown" is unrelenting as they don't know how to back down because that is a personal affront to their ego. The Clown wants something from you, and that usually is something that can benefit them on some level, but they usually have no focus, and when they lose focus, that is what actually trips them up.
Many people who engage other people want something from them, and sometimes what that is will be something gained anyway. Knowledge, friendship, comfort, reciprocity of conversation, that would benefit both, validation of opinion or self worth. All of those are things that we as human beings give and take every day from our relationships with others. The Clown wants and needs their ego stroked, and they have no use for you if you don't do it for them, because they get satisfaction from people telling them how wonderful they are, and they really need to hear it constantly. And they will burn that relationship bridge if you do not give them what they need, and do their best to make it seem like you are in the wrong for the demise of the interaction.They will spray you with their fake flower, and you will be covered in water wondering just how you let "The Clown" inside your inner sanctum. But since they are not very smart, all of this is telegraphed, and those wise enough, and alert enough to see it coming can enjoy the ride for their own amusement, or dismiss altogether. Either way, "The Clown" doesn't always win because of it, but they win enough times to create havoc.They are perceived as harmless because of the clumsiness that they exhibit, but they use that perception to their advantage.
"The Snake" is a different story altogether. These folks are savvy, and they are extremely good at showing different facades tailored to whomever they are after. "The Snake" manages to be articulate, polite, and knows how to put words together to imply that they are intelligent and positive, and full of light and wisdom.They understand when to hunt, and when to hide in the shadows. They have a way of working themselves into situations, and groups of people by making them feel comfortable, and making them think that they are a like minded individual. Coiled and docile for the moment, "The Snake" is aware enough to lay back and observe, before asserting any type of clue of the agenda. And the agenda is self serving destruction.. Like "The clown", "The Snake" needs their ego stroked also, but how they achieve that is more calculating. Now that they have worked their way into a situation, the goal is to take over by making it seem like a good idea. Because they are now well liked, the process of divide and conquer happens, because you will have people who have seen "The Snake" by now for their true colors, and people who have not. And the people who have seen and understand what is happening try to prevent it. "The Snake" wants this, because secretly they have disdain for situations that do not include the focus upon them, therefore they know just how to break it up so either they are the focus, or that the situation just ceases to exist.They will have crept up and bitten someone with venom, and paralyzed all around before anyone realizes what happened. And because of the slick personality that they are, they are perceived as wonderful for putting up with the antics of chaos which upon scrutiny it's revealed that, "The Snake" created it.
Both of these types of individuals are rampant in society, and if you look closely at your own lives, there are individuals that you have encountered just like them both. The problem with these individuals around is that they create allies, and people who actually believe that they are contributing something in some sort of way. Those allies will be in cahoots with them for their agenda. There is never a true home for them with people because they float to whomever they believe has the lightest coat tail at the moment. Once that coat tail is weighed down, and the person is useless to them, they will have latched onto someone else for something else. Anyone who questions their intellect or aspect of what they do, gets ostracized and perhaps even publicly dragged through the mud. All in an effort to retain the ignorant pride that they possess. They cannot, and will not take advice, and because of control issues, they usually would be extremely successful if they worked with others, and focused on their own personal goals in their minds. But they have to control and/or sabotage things that they shouldn't or can't control in the quest to maintain their image of actually being in control. A wicked spiral for both.
These folks are actually dangerous to your well being, because getting involved with them means being frustrated, and possibly manipulated into relinquishing control to your own goals in favor of something that they want you to do for them. It is all about them, and what they need despite the words that come out of their mouths. The thick and slick personalities of these individuals are easy to spot when you see the agenda. The agenda is them, and their goals. (Enough about me, here's more about me) Be careful of "The Clown" because you feel sorry for them.You want to help them, because you may see them as needing a friend that cares. What they are actually looking for is someone, anyone who has something that they can use. Be careful of "The Snake" because you may admire and feel comfortable around them.That person is looking for the same but is usually intelligent enough to execute these exercises from multiple home bases. Both feelings of concern and admiration will fade respectively, but it will be too late because they have entered your space, and altered your own personal agenda which should be you in conjunction and harmony with the agenda of others..Not their philosophy which is them way over, and be damned the agenda of others.
Sprayed with a fake flower, or bitten with venom. Both are very uncomfortable, and embarrassing.And both come from the same type of individual..You were warned.
There are two types of adversaries who are tricksters that one encounters in life. One is "The Snake", and the other is "The Clown". These people are one in the same, and usually have the same agendas which is to serve themselves through the dealings and manipulations of others, but they have two ways of coming at you because they are on different levels of operational ability. Both types have immense egos, and inflated ideas of their self importance, and are narcissists through and through, and both are hellbent at showing the world their (in their eyes) underrated intellect and abilities. They both make friends and then proceed to thoroughly burn those bridges by the sheer desire to dominate a situation, or be the top person of an interaction. They constantly win battles by creating conflict that turns situations into struggles for power, and if they can't win, they will use scorched earth tactics while extracting themselves away, but careful to not make themselves look like the cause of the conflict. There is one fundamental difference between these individuals. Intellectual tactic abilities.
"The Clown" is someone that if you are perceptive, you can see coming a mile away. He or she might as well have on a big red nose, and oversize shoes. These folks really aren't as smart as they think they are, and constantly can't get out of their own way while trying to get in the way of yours. People are constantly amazed at how "The Clown" constantly is a bull in a china shop, clumsily getting into situations that require detail and finesse, and finding ways to awkwardly stumble out of those situations while blaming others for the failure. He/she always approaches people from an angle, but that angle and their agenda is visible for many to see it. And if they see it, they have an opportunity to avoid that person, and just not engage. They are usually seen from afar as a loud mouth know it all, because of they can't help opening their mouths which usually blows their cover.The Thick personality of "The Clown" is unrelenting as they don't know how to back down because that is a personal affront to their ego. The Clown wants something from you, and that usually is something that can benefit them on some level, but they usually have no focus, and when they lose focus, that is what actually trips them up.
Many people who engage other people want something from them, and sometimes what that is will be something gained anyway. Knowledge, friendship, comfort, reciprocity of conversation, that would benefit both, validation of opinion or self worth. All of those are things that we as human beings give and take every day from our relationships with others. The Clown wants and needs their ego stroked, and they have no use for you if you don't do it for them, because they get satisfaction from people telling them how wonderful they are, and they really need to hear it constantly. And they will burn that relationship bridge if you do not give them what they need, and do their best to make it seem like you are in the wrong for the demise of the interaction.They will spray you with their fake flower, and you will be covered in water wondering just how you let "The Clown" inside your inner sanctum. But since they are not very smart, all of this is telegraphed, and those wise enough, and alert enough to see it coming can enjoy the ride for their own amusement, or dismiss altogether. Either way, "The Clown" doesn't always win because of it, but they win enough times to create havoc.They are perceived as harmless because of the clumsiness that they exhibit, but they use that perception to their advantage.
"The Snake" is a different story altogether. These folks are savvy, and they are extremely good at showing different facades tailored to whomever they are after. "The Snake" manages to be articulate, polite, and knows how to put words together to imply that they are intelligent and positive, and full of light and wisdom.They understand when to hunt, and when to hide in the shadows. They have a way of working themselves into situations, and groups of people by making them feel comfortable, and making them think that they are a like minded individual. Coiled and docile for the moment, "The Snake" is aware enough to lay back and observe, before asserting any type of clue of the agenda. And the agenda is self serving destruction.. Like "The clown", "The Snake" needs their ego stroked also, but how they achieve that is more calculating. Now that they have worked their way into a situation, the goal is to take over by making it seem like a good idea. Because they are now well liked, the process of divide and conquer happens, because you will have people who have seen "The Snake" by now for their true colors, and people who have not. And the people who have seen and understand what is happening try to prevent it. "The Snake" wants this, because secretly they have disdain for situations that do not include the focus upon them, therefore they know just how to break it up so either they are the focus, or that the situation just ceases to exist.They will have crept up and bitten someone with venom, and paralyzed all around before anyone realizes what happened. And because of the slick personality that they are, they are perceived as wonderful for putting up with the antics of chaos which upon scrutiny it's revealed that, "The Snake" created it.
Both of these types of individuals are rampant in society, and if you look closely at your own lives, there are individuals that you have encountered just like them both. The problem with these individuals around is that they create allies, and people who actually believe that they are contributing something in some sort of way. Those allies will be in cahoots with them for their agenda. There is never a true home for them with people because they float to whomever they believe has the lightest coat tail at the moment. Once that coat tail is weighed down, and the person is useless to them, they will have latched onto someone else for something else. Anyone who questions their intellect or aspect of what they do, gets ostracized and perhaps even publicly dragged through the mud. All in an effort to retain the ignorant pride that they possess. They cannot, and will not take advice, and because of control issues, they usually would be extremely successful if they worked with others, and focused on their own personal goals in their minds. But they have to control and/or sabotage things that they shouldn't or can't control in the quest to maintain their image of actually being in control. A wicked spiral for both.
These folks are actually dangerous to your well being, because getting involved with them means being frustrated, and possibly manipulated into relinquishing control to your own goals in favor of something that they want you to do for them. It is all about them, and what they need despite the words that come out of their mouths. The thick and slick personalities of these individuals are easy to spot when you see the agenda. The agenda is them, and their goals. (Enough about me, here's more about me) Be careful of "The Clown" because you feel sorry for them.You want to help them, because you may see them as needing a friend that cares. What they are actually looking for is someone, anyone who has something that they can use. Be careful of "The Snake" because you may admire and feel comfortable around them.That person is looking for the same but is usually intelligent enough to execute these exercises from multiple home bases. Both feelings of concern and admiration will fade respectively, but it will be too late because they have entered your space, and altered your own personal agenda which should be you in conjunction and harmony with the agenda of others..Not their philosophy which is them way over, and be damned the agenda of others.
Sprayed with a fake flower, or bitten with venom. Both are very uncomfortable, and embarrassing.And both come from the same type of individual..You were warned.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Left To Our Own Devices: The distraction from being
I can remember sitting under trees, and listening to Cicadas,and wondering how they made that sound. I can remember taking walks in farm fields, and smelling the crop air, or the fresh earth moved by the tractor. I can remember wonderful dinners where there was laughter, and great food. I can remember walking over to a friends house to have a conversation about life. I can remember sitting reading a book, and thinking about what I would like to do in life, and trying to figure out who I was, and what I wanted to be like as an adult. And I can remember looking into the eyes of people I didn't know, yet spoke to, and felt their pain, or joy that only face to face I would be able to absorb. And in these now precious fleeting moments that I won't ever get back, I was able to enjoy them as they happened, and accept them as they were. And they defined my sense of being. Sometimes I had nothing to do but think. That was when the most important light bulb moments in my life came into play.
Wherever I am, I always try to look around me to see what people are doing, and try to read faces to try and figure out what they must be thinking, or what their lives must be like. It's part of my own personal way of connecting with people even though I don't know them. A face can reveal quite a bit of a person's personality, and when you see someone's face, and talk to them, you can't help but humanize them, and perhaps feel empathy when conversing, because it's the empathy that connects us more than the actual visual offering. People can be sad, happy, troubled about something, great senses of humor, or completely unlikeable folks, but seeing them and interacting, does wonders to flesh that out.
Often times I see someone alone outside sitting on a bench, walking their dog, or even within a crowd of people and there is one thing consistent with quite a few of these individuals. They are in fact all connected, but not to each other. To their phone. It's in their hand, on their hip, dinging from texts received, or on because of games being played. I've even seen and heard phones ringing in funerals and wakes. The over saturation of phones is everywhere, in every corner of American society amongst every type of person. And it is now sometimes impossible to look someone in the eye, for they are looking elsewhere, and focused on something else besides the task that is being performed.
These modern devices and the companies that make them always boasts about how they are "connecting America". But in fact they are doing the complete opposite. They are isolating the American mind, and making people live in a world where the instantaneous access to information allows them to not have to interact if they don't want to, and when they do perhaps interact, it is with unemotional texts that can and do get confusing, because there is no vocal inflection accompanying them. Unlike some, I believe that this is part and parcel to an end game of a dangerous trend in human culture.
A huge part of connecting with others is the ability to accept yourself and what you as an individual has to offer, and a big part of that road to discovery is just "being".The idea of just being as an individual is slowly eroding, as more people rely on these devices to keep them company, or to just randomly do things in a place that years ago would have been impossible to do it. The epiphany part of discovering yourself and what you believe your role to be in the universe comes from introspection during times where you can reflect, experience questions within you, and having moments of loneliness, and uncertainty that you must hurdle over. To define ones self means to just sometimes allow yourself to "be", and let answers come to you. Whether that moment or moments come from sitting under a tree, taking a walk, a conversation with someone, or performing some mundane task while your mind wanders, you must go through the act of some type of birth many times over before you as an individual can become well rounded enough to accept and absorb the complexities of life, and be able to handle them in mature fashions. We are becoming a society that is full of individuals who just cannot be left with their own thoughts, and their own fears and questions by themselves. They have to have these devices where they can randomly send some idiotic message to someone not for the urgent need to converse, but to cure the overwhelming silence of nothing going on. But there is something going on. They are being. Life is happening around them. and there are questions to answer inside them where if they would just be, they could hear these things transpiring.
You have people in crowded events and places not interacting with others, but looking at their devices, and not just enjoying the act of being, or what is happening around them. At concerts, at movies, at parties, or just sitting outside, the attention span of people is dwindling at a frantic pace. No attention span for the act of being, because our lives now need to be filled with information, and non emotional back and forth. The empathy is being drawn out of us because of conversing through text, facebook, and other social aspects that demand our attention away from being. The ironic thing about these connections is that it is actually disconnecting us from one another. We are words to one another, and not people with hearts and souls that have more in common with us than differences. The more we gain knowledge in technology for these devices, the more we lose knowledge about ourselves, because they are cold and heartless, and people can't even seem to do mundane tasks without checking their device for something so that they can feel like they are connected to people. But in reality, the connection is an illusion. Someone takes a walk in nature, and they post on Facebook that they are "Walking in nature". Why does anyone even need to know that you are walking in nature? keep it a secret, and enjoy it. Just be, and don't take the time to tell the world in your moment of possible reflection. The needless announcements of whereabouts, or situations in people's lives is ironic when people complain about lack of privacy. People living in the same house texting one another while in the household together at the same time, instead of walking up to one another, and conversing, and yet the total breakdown in the family unit is questioned.
People have presented an argument to me that it's wonderful to have a mini computer in ones hand to look up something that they don't know on the spot. Why is it a necessity now and then? Is there anything that is not life threatening that needs to be known instantaneously? Information overload is ruining the ability to ask questions, because some answer is right there at your fingertips waiting for you to accept it. These devices are not allowing human beings to enjoy the solitude of themselves, and the result may soon be people who can't handle who they may be, because they've never had the time and space with nothing to do, to think about it. "Nothing to do" should not mean boredom. It should mean that life has given you an opportunity to retreat a little from all that you have to think about, in order to confront things that you need to think about, such as your place in the world, and how it relates to others. Too many people make an announcement that they are bored, and that announcement usually comes from some device, and instead of allowing themselves to be, they have chosen to announce to the world that they don't know what to do to occupy themselves, when in fact the act of "being" is plenty.
We are raising a nation of people who are hypnotized by the glow of light coming out of their devices, and they don't know how to just enjoy anything. They are mesmerized by the idea of any information or whim that they wish to convey being accessible, and therefore communicating with individuals is unnecessary, and to some uncomfortable, so why do it? The less we communicate personally with people, the less empathetic we are to someone's idea, condition, or state of mind, which is crucial to identifying potential problems of mental well being. And the full circle is the fact that the lack of time with ones self is a major contributing factor in an unhealthy mind existing in a world going 150mph constantly, with information receiving and giving. Is it any wonder why we have so many unstable minds walking around? They cannot, and will not part without their devices for an extended period of time because with some, the idea of just "being" is foreign and unthinkable. It is boredom to them, and with all of the amenities that people seem to have around them, it really is ridiculous for someone to announce boredom. The idea of exchanging thoughts personally may soon be a thing of the past, and therefore the lack of empathy in our civilization is at risk, because people will lose the ability to look at themselves. So how can one see him/herself in another human being, and feel a connection? It is now considered almost a necessity for someone to have at least a cell phone with them, and if that person does not, they are looked upon as a possible questionable individual. When did that happen in our minds?
We are being left to our own devices, and becoming slaves to technology in ways that remove us from one another, and distract us from just moments that could transform our ways of thinking about ourselves and the people amongst us, and the universe around us. The more technologically advanced we get, the more we get away from our primordial instincts of community, taking care of one another, and personal need for connection with another being. The world is being tightened by cyber wire, but it is slowly coming apart at the seams spiritually-wise, because we are decidedly hellbent on chronicling every aspect of life as it occurs for the sake of not wanting to be alone with ourselves.
"I am"....What a wonderful sentence laced with the idea of just being. Soon to be an archaic statement.
Wherever I am, I always try to look around me to see what people are doing, and try to read faces to try and figure out what they must be thinking, or what their lives must be like. It's part of my own personal way of connecting with people even though I don't know them. A face can reveal quite a bit of a person's personality, and when you see someone's face, and talk to them, you can't help but humanize them, and perhaps feel empathy when conversing, because it's the empathy that connects us more than the actual visual offering. People can be sad, happy, troubled about something, great senses of humor, or completely unlikeable folks, but seeing them and interacting, does wonders to flesh that out.
Often times I see someone alone outside sitting on a bench, walking their dog, or even within a crowd of people and there is one thing consistent with quite a few of these individuals. They are in fact all connected, but not to each other. To their phone. It's in their hand, on their hip, dinging from texts received, or on because of games being played. I've even seen and heard phones ringing in funerals and wakes. The over saturation of phones is everywhere, in every corner of American society amongst every type of person. And it is now sometimes impossible to look someone in the eye, for they are looking elsewhere, and focused on something else besides the task that is being performed.
These modern devices and the companies that make them always boasts about how they are "connecting America". But in fact they are doing the complete opposite. They are isolating the American mind, and making people live in a world where the instantaneous access to information allows them to not have to interact if they don't want to, and when they do perhaps interact, it is with unemotional texts that can and do get confusing, because there is no vocal inflection accompanying them. Unlike some, I believe that this is part and parcel to an end game of a dangerous trend in human culture.
A huge part of connecting with others is the ability to accept yourself and what you as an individual has to offer, and a big part of that road to discovery is just "being".The idea of just being as an individual is slowly eroding, as more people rely on these devices to keep them company, or to just randomly do things in a place that years ago would have been impossible to do it. The epiphany part of discovering yourself and what you believe your role to be in the universe comes from introspection during times where you can reflect, experience questions within you, and having moments of loneliness, and uncertainty that you must hurdle over. To define ones self means to just sometimes allow yourself to "be", and let answers come to you. Whether that moment or moments come from sitting under a tree, taking a walk, a conversation with someone, or performing some mundane task while your mind wanders, you must go through the act of some type of birth many times over before you as an individual can become well rounded enough to accept and absorb the complexities of life, and be able to handle them in mature fashions. We are becoming a society that is full of individuals who just cannot be left with their own thoughts, and their own fears and questions by themselves. They have to have these devices where they can randomly send some idiotic message to someone not for the urgent need to converse, but to cure the overwhelming silence of nothing going on. But there is something going on. They are being. Life is happening around them. and there are questions to answer inside them where if they would just be, they could hear these things transpiring.
You have people in crowded events and places not interacting with others, but looking at their devices, and not just enjoying the act of being, or what is happening around them. At concerts, at movies, at parties, or just sitting outside, the attention span of people is dwindling at a frantic pace. No attention span for the act of being, because our lives now need to be filled with information, and non emotional back and forth. The empathy is being drawn out of us because of conversing through text, facebook, and other social aspects that demand our attention away from being. The ironic thing about these connections is that it is actually disconnecting us from one another. We are words to one another, and not people with hearts and souls that have more in common with us than differences. The more we gain knowledge in technology for these devices, the more we lose knowledge about ourselves, because they are cold and heartless, and people can't even seem to do mundane tasks without checking their device for something so that they can feel like they are connected to people. But in reality, the connection is an illusion. Someone takes a walk in nature, and they post on Facebook that they are "Walking in nature". Why does anyone even need to know that you are walking in nature? keep it a secret, and enjoy it. Just be, and don't take the time to tell the world in your moment of possible reflection. The needless announcements of whereabouts, or situations in people's lives is ironic when people complain about lack of privacy. People living in the same house texting one another while in the household together at the same time, instead of walking up to one another, and conversing, and yet the total breakdown in the family unit is questioned.
People have presented an argument to me that it's wonderful to have a mini computer in ones hand to look up something that they don't know on the spot. Why is it a necessity now and then? Is there anything that is not life threatening that needs to be known instantaneously? Information overload is ruining the ability to ask questions, because some answer is right there at your fingertips waiting for you to accept it. These devices are not allowing human beings to enjoy the solitude of themselves, and the result may soon be people who can't handle who they may be, because they've never had the time and space with nothing to do, to think about it. "Nothing to do" should not mean boredom. It should mean that life has given you an opportunity to retreat a little from all that you have to think about, in order to confront things that you need to think about, such as your place in the world, and how it relates to others. Too many people make an announcement that they are bored, and that announcement usually comes from some device, and instead of allowing themselves to be, they have chosen to announce to the world that they don't know what to do to occupy themselves, when in fact the act of "being" is plenty.
We are raising a nation of people who are hypnotized by the glow of light coming out of their devices, and they don't know how to just enjoy anything. They are mesmerized by the idea of any information or whim that they wish to convey being accessible, and therefore communicating with individuals is unnecessary, and to some uncomfortable, so why do it? The less we communicate personally with people, the less empathetic we are to someone's idea, condition, or state of mind, which is crucial to identifying potential problems of mental well being. And the full circle is the fact that the lack of time with ones self is a major contributing factor in an unhealthy mind existing in a world going 150mph constantly, with information receiving and giving. Is it any wonder why we have so many unstable minds walking around? They cannot, and will not part without their devices for an extended period of time because with some, the idea of just "being" is foreign and unthinkable. It is boredom to them, and with all of the amenities that people seem to have around them, it really is ridiculous for someone to announce boredom. The idea of exchanging thoughts personally may soon be a thing of the past, and therefore the lack of empathy in our civilization is at risk, because people will lose the ability to look at themselves. So how can one see him/herself in another human being, and feel a connection? It is now considered almost a necessity for someone to have at least a cell phone with them, and if that person does not, they are looked upon as a possible questionable individual. When did that happen in our minds?
We are being left to our own devices, and becoming slaves to technology in ways that remove us from one another, and distract us from just moments that could transform our ways of thinking about ourselves and the people amongst us, and the universe around us. The more technologically advanced we get, the more we get away from our primordial instincts of community, taking care of one another, and personal need for connection with another being. The world is being tightened by cyber wire, but it is slowly coming apart at the seams spiritually-wise, because we are decidedly hellbent on chronicling every aspect of life as it occurs for the sake of not wanting to be alone with ourselves.
"I am"....What a wonderful sentence laced with the idea of just being. Soon to be an archaic statement.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Dare To Be Self Aware : "Making something" of yourself
There was an individual on a radio program that was talking about his success. He came from a background of poverty, and despair, and he railed against the system that puts others in the situation that he was once in. He described how he slowly made the trek to fame and fortune, and "Made something of himself". And he stated how he believed others could do the same. That's an interesting choice of words that we hear from the time that we are young. "Make something of yourself". His interpretation was the description of fame and fortune. It's disturbing in a sense because it falls right in line with the capitalism play that exists within this country. To "Make something of ones self" is thought by many to be equated to having money and value of material things that give the illusion of not being impoverished, or wanting from anyone. It is a constant goal in this country that people maintain that requires them to work hard within the scheme of the "system" that we have created so that they can have "things". Whether those things be a house with land, a spouse, an expensive car, or creating an excess of liquidity in their own value, people are trained early in life to have the idea that they must bust their asses to "Make something of themselves", so that they are not strains on society, and they become a productive individual. Which people do, and I don't begrudge anyone who wants to make money, and have things. That is their desire to do so, then so be it. But is that all there is? What if making something of ones self is far above the concept of capitalism ideology.What if making something of ones self is beyond the tangible aspects of materialism.
There are many people who chase those aspects of what they believe are "something" all of their lives. They are completely driven, and preoccupied with the advancement of their material gains. The pursuit of such gains seems to exist within quite a few of us to different degrees through osmosis of this American culture. People constantly look over the horizon to things that could make them happy, and show the world that they are a productive person who has made something of themselves. But what this society lacks is the teaching of looking within yourself to make something. People don't create goals to be "Self Aware". They don't teach that early in schools, but being self aware is the most important aspect of existing as a human being that people miss, and never try to aspire to. Maybe people miss this aspect because they don't know what it is, or what to do, or some can't even see the point to strive for something as intangible as that. There lies the problem with that particular corner of cultural aspirations within a capitalist society. You can't see and touch self awareness. It doesn't pay bills, or buy groceries, or earn a living for you. Nor can it be found in any books or TV show. It doesn't require organized religion, but it does require a certain depth of spiritual acknowledgment. It is a task, and a hard one that everyone should want to take on because it is a selfish endeavor that has selfless benefits.
What is being self aware? Self awareness is not a fantasy at all. It is the most based in reality condition a person can make for themselves. It involves the idea of introspection on a high level to figure out the inner workings of you. Being self aware is understanding your personal place in the universe, and understanding that there is something greater than you.Not necessarily a deity, but the situation of your life as it pertains to you and the universe. It is not all about just you, but the ability to see that you are a part of something bigger that you can have an impact on. Whether it be a cause in life, or an acceptance that you are connected to the fabric of nature and everyone else, or knowing what it was that you were placed here for, someone who is self aware understands themselves, and is constantly asking the questions of why they act a certain way, and challenge not the way anyone else thinks, but why they think the way they do, and how they came to that conclusion. The self aware person understands that it is not solely the monetary or material aspects of accumulation that matter most. It is the idea of what ripples are provided by ones drop in the pond. It is good and well to have money, power, or fame if someone wants that and gets it. But the making something of yourself comes from how you use all of what you have to make something just a little better than you found it. Whether that be easing the suffering of someone, creating something that benefits someone, or improving a condition that is in dire straits, or just plain contributing to the betterment of some aspect greater than an individual. Making something of ones self is not just hoarding money,and more money for a rainy day, or living in a luxurious house because you can. We as human beings, just like the things in nature have a purpose, and what we do, or not affects the chain of everything. Some will argue with me that they "Worked hard to obtain the things they have, and anyone could do the same." That is the robotic answer given when people feel attacked for having material aspects of wealth, and the standardized societal descriptions of success. They resent the people seemingly trying to make them feel guilty for having. That is really not what it's about. It's about the aspect of individualism instead of collectivism. The "Mine all mine" philosophy behind greed, and the thing that resonates in the American consciousness. I believe that the way we teach people to achieve is backwards. We teach people to search for things outside of ourselves, and then inward. it should be the other way around. There would be many less people with inner turmoil and more collectivism ideologies in the long run if we taught young minds to search for things within first. The result of that backwards philosophy is the individual who is not self aware.
People who are not self aware have a constant struggle, because they have no idea who they are, and just what they stand for. Their ideas are never their own, but borrowed interpretations of others that they admire, and want to be like until someone else comes along to latch onto, and be like. They constantly live for something else, and are constantly searching for something over the horizon that is not in their grasp yet, that will fulfill their happiness, and guide them somewhere, but they don't know where. They are preoccupied with the petty aspects of what other people do or say, because their mind is not focused on their particular task of owning an agenda to make themselves and their own personal journey remarkable. They are unhappy plain and simple, and unable to reach inside themselves to understand what makes them tick, and how to drive their own soul. They suffer inside, and eventually it spills to their behavior outside as they repeat mistakes, and wander aimlessly trying to find themselves. The phrases "Tortured soul", or "Troubled individual" or someone who says they "Have their demons", is all the result of individuals who are not self aware, and bereft on the inside because they are chasing things without, and not within. The "something" that is always looked for may be right in front of them, and inside them, but there is a feeling of loss for these folks because they think that someone needs to show it to them. They want something, but have no idea what it is, and can't articulate it by any stretch. They may turn to all kinds of things negative to feed their need for understanding, and their feelings of isolation from the rest of the world.
Introspection is not easy. It takes a lot of hard looks at ones self, and discovering quite a few things that are very unpleasant to know that you possess. It is a hard journey to be self aware, and there is growing and changing constantly. sometimes even reinventing ones self, and changing ideas about how the world works, and how they view things in order for epiphanies to occur. To find out just who you are is a lifelong work in progress, but once you are in the process, you are at peace. You never feel the need for conflict, you understand just why you have reached certain conclusions that you have reached, you have empathy for others, and their struggles, and most importantly, you are happy. Happy that there is growth inside you to be who you want to be. Happy that even though you may not have all of the things you want right now, you understand what you want completely, and you also understand that the journey is just as rewarding as the reward itself. No person or thing will change that happiness. You also understand that no matter what position you are in life, someone 1)is worse off, 2)Has gone through what you are going through 3)Is going through it now, or 4)Can benefit, or suffer at the hands of your ripples. That you are part of a large spider web connected to everything in some fashion, and that things are bigger than your petty needs is an important aspect of being self aware, Also having empathy for others..Just putting yourself in someone's shoes to examine another point of view is crucial to an open mind that leads to self awareness.And it all starts with the questions, "Who am I, and what do I want in life?" Yes the questions are that easy, but the answers are extremely hard, and may change constantly. But in order for one to understand ones self, those are two major questions to revisit constantly.
A selfish endeavor such as looking inside yourself can lead to a selfless view of the world, and how you perceive your role. Selfish, leads to selfless,which leads to self aware. And that my friends can only lead to happiness. And if you are happy, you will want to infect everyone else, and make the world better. Which is in my opinion truly "Making something of yourself."
There are many people who chase those aspects of what they believe are "something" all of their lives. They are completely driven, and preoccupied with the advancement of their material gains. The pursuit of such gains seems to exist within quite a few of us to different degrees through osmosis of this American culture. People constantly look over the horizon to things that could make them happy, and show the world that they are a productive person who has made something of themselves. But what this society lacks is the teaching of looking within yourself to make something. People don't create goals to be "Self Aware". They don't teach that early in schools, but being self aware is the most important aspect of existing as a human being that people miss, and never try to aspire to. Maybe people miss this aspect because they don't know what it is, or what to do, or some can't even see the point to strive for something as intangible as that. There lies the problem with that particular corner of cultural aspirations within a capitalist society. You can't see and touch self awareness. It doesn't pay bills, or buy groceries, or earn a living for you. Nor can it be found in any books or TV show. It doesn't require organized religion, but it does require a certain depth of spiritual acknowledgment. It is a task, and a hard one that everyone should want to take on because it is a selfish endeavor that has selfless benefits.
What is being self aware? Self awareness is not a fantasy at all. It is the most based in reality condition a person can make for themselves. It involves the idea of introspection on a high level to figure out the inner workings of you. Being self aware is understanding your personal place in the universe, and understanding that there is something greater than you.Not necessarily a deity, but the situation of your life as it pertains to you and the universe. It is not all about just you, but the ability to see that you are a part of something bigger that you can have an impact on. Whether it be a cause in life, or an acceptance that you are connected to the fabric of nature and everyone else, or knowing what it was that you were placed here for, someone who is self aware understands themselves, and is constantly asking the questions of why they act a certain way, and challenge not the way anyone else thinks, but why they think the way they do, and how they came to that conclusion. The self aware person understands that it is not solely the monetary or material aspects of accumulation that matter most. It is the idea of what ripples are provided by ones drop in the pond. It is good and well to have money, power, or fame if someone wants that and gets it. But the making something of yourself comes from how you use all of what you have to make something just a little better than you found it. Whether that be easing the suffering of someone, creating something that benefits someone, or improving a condition that is in dire straits, or just plain contributing to the betterment of some aspect greater than an individual. Making something of ones self is not just hoarding money,and more money for a rainy day, or living in a luxurious house because you can. We as human beings, just like the things in nature have a purpose, and what we do, or not affects the chain of everything. Some will argue with me that they "Worked hard to obtain the things they have, and anyone could do the same." That is the robotic answer given when people feel attacked for having material aspects of wealth, and the standardized societal descriptions of success. They resent the people seemingly trying to make them feel guilty for having. That is really not what it's about. It's about the aspect of individualism instead of collectivism. The "Mine all mine" philosophy behind greed, and the thing that resonates in the American consciousness. I believe that the way we teach people to achieve is backwards. We teach people to search for things outside of ourselves, and then inward. it should be the other way around. There would be many less people with inner turmoil and more collectivism ideologies in the long run if we taught young minds to search for things within first. The result of that backwards philosophy is the individual who is not self aware.
People who are not self aware have a constant struggle, because they have no idea who they are, and just what they stand for. Their ideas are never their own, but borrowed interpretations of others that they admire, and want to be like until someone else comes along to latch onto, and be like. They constantly live for something else, and are constantly searching for something over the horizon that is not in their grasp yet, that will fulfill their happiness, and guide them somewhere, but they don't know where. They are preoccupied with the petty aspects of what other people do or say, because their mind is not focused on their particular task of owning an agenda to make themselves and their own personal journey remarkable. They are unhappy plain and simple, and unable to reach inside themselves to understand what makes them tick, and how to drive their own soul. They suffer inside, and eventually it spills to their behavior outside as they repeat mistakes, and wander aimlessly trying to find themselves. The phrases "Tortured soul", or "Troubled individual" or someone who says they "Have their demons", is all the result of individuals who are not self aware, and bereft on the inside because they are chasing things without, and not within. The "something" that is always looked for may be right in front of them, and inside them, but there is a feeling of loss for these folks because they think that someone needs to show it to them. They want something, but have no idea what it is, and can't articulate it by any stretch. They may turn to all kinds of things negative to feed their need for understanding, and their feelings of isolation from the rest of the world.
Introspection is not easy. It takes a lot of hard looks at ones self, and discovering quite a few things that are very unpleasant to know that you possess. It is a hard journey to be self aware, and there is growing and changing constantly. sometimes even reinventing ones self, and changing ideas about how the world works, and how they view things in order for epiphanies to occur. To find out just who you are is a lifelong work in progress, but once you are in the process, you are at peace. You never feel the need for conflict, you understand just why you have reached certain conclusions that you have reached, you have empathy for others, and their struggles, and most importantly, you are happy. Happy that there is growth inside you to be who you want to be. Happy that even though you may not have all of the things you want right now, you understand what you want completely, and you also understand that the journey is just as rewarding as the reward itself. No person or thing will change that happiness. You also understand that no matter what position you are in life, someone 1)is worse off, 2)Has gone through what you are going through 3)Is going through it now, or 4)Can benefit, or suffer at the hands of your ripples. That you are part of a large spider web connected to everything in some fashion, and that things are bigger than your petty needs is an important aspect of being self aware, Also having empathy for others..Just putting yourself in someone's shoes to examine another point of view is crucial to an open mind that leads to self awareness.And it all starts with the questions, "Who am I, and what do I want in life?" Yes the questions are that easy, but the answers are extremely hard, and may change constantly. But in order for one to understand ones self, those are two major questions to revisit constantly.
A selfish endeavor such as looking inside yourself can lead to a selfless view of the world, and how you perceive your role. Selfish, leads to selfless,which leads to self aware. And that my friends can only lead to happiness. And if you are happy, you will want to infect everyone else, and make the world better. Which is in my opinion truly "Making something of yourself."
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Godfathers And Gangstas: The hypocrisy of how we view criminals
Everybody loved "The Sopranos". The Mafia crime drama that captured the imagination of millions. Mind you, it was a well written drama with superb acting, and well rounded characters, and was good entertainment for those that chose to watch it. People couldn't wait to see the escapades of Tony Soprano, and revel in what sort of chaotic scenarios he and his crew were going to get into involving violence, extortion, secrecy, and other aspects that The Mafia lends itself to on a day to day basis. People began to like Tony Soprano as a character, and loved his henchmen within the family, and his tortured soul as he sought psychological help for his turmoil within. Women thought the men were hot, and men thought their activities, and how they carried themselves were cool to emulate. This is a complete carry over from "The Godfather" days of cinema where some of the most violent twisted minds and activities on film mirrored the actual members of the Mob, and their brutal activities were given life to the big screen. A funny thing has happened in both instances. There is some very strange romanticism about characters of organized crime that is almost borderline love and admiration. In real life, In the 1980's, Gambino Mafia Boss John Gotti was loved and revered by millions, and was almost a media star. He was dapper, cocky, wore the best expensive suits, quick witted, and slick..And the public loved him. But here is the problem: He was a murderer, extortionist, a thief of the highest order, and ran an empire of illegal activities that made millions off of the backs of innocent people. Someone who would make your stomach twist... But the public couldn't get enough of him. And in a way, that is sick.
Criminal behavior is nothing new in our society, and often criminals do things and hide in the shadows until they are caught. Most times the ones caught are the ones who either got greedy, or who were not smart. The most heinous acts are perceived as physical hands on brutality where there is bodily harm, or even murder involved. Where these acts occur is primarily in the poor urban neighborhoods and performed by violent folks who are desperate, and desensitized to the extreme conditions around them. Kids in gangs, "Gangsta wannabes" jacking cars, robbing people, and stealing items while conducting low level turf wars, and drug deals. There is no romanticizing these folks in the public eye. They are considered the lowest forms of humans on the earth. The urban jungle is their wasteland, and without them, most in our society say that life in America would be much better. Funny..They are doing exactly what the Mob does, but only on the ground level, and with less desire to look like legitimate businessmen in the process. Car jacking, murder, and physical robbery, are the exact same things as racketeering , whacking someone, and extortion. But without the romantic aspects of honor involved. Widespread drug distribution across state lines ordered by a Don in a suit is perceived to be less heinous than small time drug distribution within neighborhoods perpetuated by thugs in hoods. They are exactly parallel. Strange? Or are few and far between giving this issue thought?
There is somehow some weird noble aspect of organized crime that people want to be close to, or are fascinated to watch. I myself am a big reader of Mafia history, because I am fascinated with history in general, but there are people who admire this aspect of psychopathic criminal behavior because once again there is an aspect of the perception of class, and ethnicity involved. No one wants to point that out but I will. An Italian member of the Mob, despite all of the investments into illegal activities, physical threats to people, engaging in and conducting themselves within a system that is designed to make illegal money, is considered a possibly honorable individual. Why? Because of the illusion of honor. Someone has to get "made", someone has to take an oath to the "Family", and there is a bond of loyalty subscribed to..it's an illusion because it's crime in $700.00 suits, and not crime in $150.00 sneakers. The only difference between "Organized" crime, and "street" crime whereas acts are concerned, is that the orders given from the top down, to the actual deeds in organized crime, are a much longer chain of command. In Street crimes, one or two are making a decision to commit a crime. a Black kid in the ghetto has no "La Cosa Nostra" that kisses him on the cheek for making the cut. No "Family" name that he becomes affiliated with that has a history. No house that he runs his operation out of as his wife takes care of kids, and no mistress that he sees and pays for, while supplementing her lifestyle. He steals, he may murder, has no empathy for others, and doesn't care about anything but himself. But the strange thing is that exact mentality and those actions take place in the organized arena. The Big shot fantasy is reserved for crime on a higher perception scale, and many people don't even realize that they are perpetuating that fantasy. Yes, there are the funny jokes about someone Italian being in the Mafia, or friends coming to break kneecaps, but that is in jest. I am talking about the bigger picture of crime as it is in our culture, and how it is viewed by the people who view it, and what the attitudes are toward the people that are perceived to commit it.
This twisted way of looking at crime, and criminals has a negative result. It once again puts in the minds of people that organized people in suits are wonderful, and their crimes hurt no one, and are actually productive members of society in some sense, who happen to be complex people with values. And yet some poverty stricken people in rough neighborhoods are the problems and bane of America. It divides crime in our society, and someone who is a "Business man" can't be touched, while jails are stuffed to the gills with small time flunkeys.Truth is that there are complex people living in the streets also with tortured minds and who can't get out of their own way. Because they are poor, and the crime is dirty and street level, they are deemed dangerous. Which they may be, but just as dangerous as the wonderful Italian man that loves his mother, and engages in racketeering, and extortion.
The most heinous damaging thievery acts of the 21st century so far, was committed by members on Wall Street wallowing in their own greed. Millions of people were affected by their irresponsible actions, and our romanticism with power, and our twisted perception of who commits crimes that are dangerous, has allowed them to go untouched. That is the total problem with the view of "Godfathers, and Gangstas". It is not a level playing field of perception, and the Mafia is in our lexicon of culture, where Capone is cool, The Godfather is an American dramatic achievement, and the Sopranos are a portrait of an American family that people like to see, and can identify with.Greed is perceived as good, and to have money, and power is the American way. There is no identification with "Gangstas". The general public reviles them, and incarcerates them in their perceptions, and eventually physically. My point in this is that the same thing needs to be done with criminals in suits whether it be on some drama, or in real life. These are criminals also who given the chance will murder, steal, and engorge themselves in expensive things illegally gotten at the expense of others. That is a fact, and just because they are 'Organized" doesn't make what they do less heinous.
This is once again a testament to how race and class are at the forefront of how people feel about other people. The criminals that have things are perceived as not really criminals, and they "earned". The criminals that have not, are that way because they don't want to work. A white individual driving an expensive car, and in a suit is perceived as a businessman, and has probably earned his assets. A Black kid from a poor neighborhood wearing sneakers and a sweat suit, and driving the same thing, is perceived as having stole something somewhere along the line.This is the romanticism result, where class conflicts with perceptions of crime.This is how a great deal of America thinks, and it is dangerous in a land where the truly biggest thieves are actually the best dressed, and considered the least dangerous. There is nothing wrong with enjoying good drama, or even having these aspects within the lexicon of our culture. the problem is when one doesn't understand just what they are romanticizing, nor the reasons for doing so. A criminal is a criminal. Whether it be at the corporate level, within the hierarchy of the mob, or if it is on the streets of some urban jungle. That is the bottom line, and should be acknowledged as such. Understand just what you are romanticizing about, and who you are demonizing, and don't try to justify one over the other. To fantasize about a lifestyle of crime, enjoy seeing it portrayed, or look forward to a show that depicts it, is just that. A fantasy, and acceptance of crime, as it pertains to power, and status. Then to turn around and say that some street kid in a gang on TV or in real life is setting a bad example, is not only hypocritical but laughable.
The two items are the exact same thing. Both bad examples. One is just held to a higher standard than the other. And that is not only hypocrisy, but a crime in itself.
Criminal behavior is nothing new in our society, and often criminals do things and hide in the shadows until they are caught. Most times the ones caught are the ones who either got greedy, or who were not smart. The most heinous acts are perceived as physical hands on brutality where there is bodily harm, or even murder involved. Where these acts occur is primarily in the poor urban neighborhoods and performed by violent folks who are desperate, and desensitized to the extreme conditions around them. Kids in gangs, "Gangsta wannabes" jacking cars, robbing people, and stealing items while conducting low level turf wars, and drug deals. There is no romanticizing these folks in the public eye. They are considered the lowest forms of humans on the earth. The urban jungle is their wasteland, and without them, most in our society say that life in America would be much better. Funny..They are doing exactly what the Mob does, but only on the ground level, and with less desire to look like legitimate businessmen in the process. Car jacking, murder, and physical robbery, are the exact same things as racketeering , whacking someone, and extortion. But without the romantic aspects of honor involved. Widespread drug distribution across state lines ordered by a Don in a suit is perceived to be less heinous than small time drug distribution within neighborhoods perpetuated by thugs in hoods. They are exactly parallel. Strange? Or are few and far between giving this issue thought?
There is somehow some weird noble aspect of organized crime that people want to be close to, or are fascinated to watch. I myself am a big reader of Mafia history, because I am fascinated with history in general, but there are people who admire this aspect of psychopathic criminal behavior because once again there is an aspect of the perception of class, and ethnicity involved. No one wants to point that out but I will. An Italian member of the Mob, despite all of the investments into illegal activities, physical threats to people, engaging in and conducting themselves within a system that is designed to make illegal money, is considered a possibly honorable individual. Why? Because of the illusion of honor. Someone has to get "made", someone has to take an oath to the "Family", and there is a bond of loyalty subscribed to..it's an illusion because it's crime in $700.00 suits, and not crime in $150.00 sneakers. The only difference between "Organized" crime, and "street" crime whereas acts are concerned, is that the orders given from the top down, to the actual deeds in organized crime, are a much longer chain of command. In Street crimes, one or two are making a decision to commit a crime. a Black kid in the ghetto has no "La Cosa Nostra" that kisses him on the cheek for making the cut. No "Family" name that he becomes affiliated with that has a history. No house that he runs his operation out of as his wife takes care of kids, and no mistress that he sees and pays for, while supplementing her lifestyle. He steals, he may murder, has no empathy for others, and doesn't care about anything but himself. But the strange thing is that exact mentality and those actions take place in the organized arena. The Big shot fantasy is reserved for crime on a higher perception scale, and many people don't even realize that they are perpetuating that fantasy. Yes, there are the funny jokes about someone Italian being in the Mafia, or friends coming to break kneecaps, but that is in jest. I am talking about the bigger picture of crime as it is in our culture, and how it is viewed by the people who view it, and what the attitudes are toward the people that are perceived to commit it.
This twisted way of looking at crime, and criminals has a negative result. It once again puts in the minds of people that organized people in suits are wonderful, and their crimes hurt no one, and are actually productive members of society in some sense, who happen to be complex people with values. And yet some poverty stricken people in rough neighborhoods are the problems and bane of America. It divides crime in our society, and someone who is a "Business man" can't be touched, while jails are stuffed to the gills with small time flunkeys.Truth is that there are complex people living in the streets also with tortured minds and who can't get out of their own way. Because they are poor, and the crime is dirty and street level, they are deemed dangerous. Which they may be, but just as dangerous as the wonderful Italian man that loves his mother, and engages in racketeering, and extortion.
The most heinous damaging thievery acts of the 21st century so far, was committed by members on Wall Street wallowing in their own greed. Millions of people were affected by their irresponsible actions, and our romanticism with power, and our twisted perception of who commits crimes that are dangerous, has allowed them to go untouched. That is the total problem with the view of "Godfathers, and Gangstas". It is not a level playing field of perception, and the Mafia is in our lexicon of culture, where Capone is cool, The Godfather is an American dramatic achievement, and the Sopranos are a portrait of an American family that people like to see, and can identify with.Greed is perceived as good, and to have money, and power is the American way. There is no identification with "Gangstas". The general public reviles them, and incarcerates them in their perceptions, and eventually physically. My point in this is that the same thing needs to be done with criminals in suits whether it be on some drama, or in real life. These are criminals also who given the chance will murder, steal, and engorge themselves in expensive things illegally gotten at the expense of others. That is a fact, and just because they are 'Organized" doesn't make what they do less heinous.
This is once again a testament to how race and class are at the forefront of how people feel about other people. The criminals that have things are perceived as not really criminals, and they "earned". The criminals that have not, are that way because they don't want to work. A white individual driving an expensive car, and in a suit is perceived as a businessman, and has probably earned his assets. A Black kid from a poor neighborhood wearing sneakers and a sweat suit, and driving the same thing, is perceived as having stole something somewhere along the line.This is the romanticism result, where class conflicts with perceptions of crime.This is how a great deal of America thinks, and it is dangerous in a land where the truly biggest thieves are actually the best dressed, and considered the least dangerous. There is nothing wrong with enjoying good drama, or even having these aspects within the lexicon of our culture. the problem is when one doesn't understand just what they are romanticizing, nor the reasons for doing so. A criminal is a criminal. Whether it be at the corporate level, within the hierarchy of the mob, or if it is on the streets of some urban jungle. That is the bottom line, and should be acknowledged as such. Understand just what you are romanticizing about, and who you are demonizing, and don't try to justify one over the other. To fantasize about a lifestyle of crime, enjoy seeing it portrayed, or look forward to a show that depicts it, is just that. A fantasy, and acceptance of crime, as it pertains to power, and status. Then to turn around and say that some street kid in a gang on TV or in real life is setting a bad example, is not only hypocritical but laughable.
The two items are the exact same thing. Both bad examples. One is just held to a higher standard than the other. And that is not only hypocrisy, but a crime in itself.
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