Stifling thought is man's deadliest sin. Alright, second deadliest sin...you fill in the first. And that is because it neutralizes, nullifies, annuls, cancels, vitiates, voids, two of man's distinguishing unique attributes...his ability to think (conceptually) and express his thoughts (vocabulary).
Man has evolved in many glorious ways, but in the process has chosen to bury himself under an avalanche of lame reasons to stifle his thoughts: etiquette, manners, social graces, political correctness, protocol, politeness, and a host of others. Out of a fear of losing acceptance, friendship, employment, or other favors, man restrains from exposing his true self and lives a masquerade. Though he knows who he is, he opts, out of a shortfall of self esteem and/or pride and/or courage, not to let others know it. In an age of instant worldwide communication, he frequently hits the mute button.
Reality, however, can never be stifled, is never silent. It blares the pain of a suppressed self to the deepest level of man's soul.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
SOS...AND IT'S NOT SAVE OUR SHIP
Here we go again...and if it weren't so stupidly sickening, it would be laughable.
We have been supporting a dictator in Egypt for 30 years on the grounds that it was in our global interest to do so (Error #1, it is never in our interest to be on the side of oppression). We are telling the dictator and his opposition that we stand with both (Error #2, being on the side of both = being on the side of neither). We are telling that dictator and the Egyptian people what they must do in this time of unrest (Error #3, we have no right to tell any other country what it must do to solve its problems, particularly when we don't know how to solve our own). We have given billions of dollars to that dictator and, put your money on this, we will soon be sending more (Error #4, we are broke). We are saying we support democracy (Error #5, democracy is mob rule, we are a nation founded on and supportive of guaranteed individual rights and freedom).
Correction: We elected the wrong people (Error #1).
We have been supporting a dictator in Egypt for 30 years on the grounds that it was in our global interest to do so (Error #1, it is never in our interest to be on the side of oppression). We are telling the dictator and his opposition that we stand with both (Error #2, being on the side of both = being on the side of neither). We are telling that dictator and the Egyptian people what they must do in this time of unrest (Error #3, we have no right to tell any other country what it must do to solve its problems, particularly when we don't know how to solve our own). We have given billions of dollars to that dictator and, put your money on this, we will soon be sending more (Error #4, we are broke). We are saying we support democracy (Error #5, democracy is mob rule, we are a nation founded on and supportive of guaranteed individual rights and freedom).
Correction: We elected the wrong people (Error #1).
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
THE LESSON
There is a lesson the world can learn from Israel and the Jewish people.
The Jewish race was the target and victim of the most barbaric and destructive insanity imaginable: the attempted extermination of every last one of its 12 million members on the planet. The totality of the onslaught against innocent men, women and children will reverberate forever. The gassing and burning of over 6 million... screaming infants in sight of parents, loved ones in sight of helpless lovers, elders in sight of those who revere them...sunk humanity to its lowest level.
And out of the ashes, out of the stench of burning flesh, out of the chaotic mindless and devastating holocaust, out of humanity's shame and degradation, there arose not a hatred, not a call for retribution, not a counter insanity, but a wondrous resolve, a strength, a spine, that declares its life glorifying determination in but two words: Never Again.
The world about it breeds hatred and violence again. Its neighbors scream threats of extermination again. The nation of Israel breeds stoic and mighty power. And goes about living and thriving.
That is the lesson for the ages.
The Jewish race was the target and victim of the most barbaric and destructive insanity imaginable: the attempted extermination of every last one of its 12 million members on the planet. The totality of the onslaught against innocent men, women and children will reverberate forever. The gassing and burning of over 6 million... screaming infants in sight of parents, loved ones in sight of helpless lovers, elders in sight of those who revere them...sunk humanity to its lowest level.
And out of the ashes, out of the stench of burning flesh, out of the chaotic mindless and devastating holocaust, out of humanity's shame and degradation, there arose not a hatred, not a call for retribution, not a counter insanity, but a wondrous resolve, a strength, a spine, that declares its life glorifying determination in but two words: Never Again.
The world about it breeds hatred and violence again. Its neighbors scream threats of extermination again. The nation of Israel breeds stoic and mighty power. And goes about living and thriving.
That is the lesson for the ages.
Monday, January 31, 2011
MOUNT UP!
I have written about this matter before, but in the past few weeks it has risen to the surface over and over again...and it is bewildering to me.
Over thousands of years, we have learned mountains of stuff about so many things in the universe...knowledge which enhances, enriches, our lives...but we have learned so very little about a critically important thing in the universe: Ourselves. We know so relatively little about the fundamental nature of our species, why we seem to need certain things (companionship, love, attention, admiration, respect, success) to be happy and to feel fulfilled...and why we react so often with despair, depression and violence when we don't have as much of those things as we would like.
What is love? Is all love the same? Do we need it? How much do we need? Why do I feel lonely? Do I really need someone to be with? What am I really missing when I am by myself? Am I afraid of something? I may feel bad when I don't get that new car I want, but that is nothing to the degree of badness I feel when when I get no loving. Admiration may be nice to receive, but do I need it? And why, why, why?
The answers to these and numerous other related questions are way beyond me...and from what I have seen, way beyond virtually everyone else. Parents, themselves unknowledgeable, are helpless to guide their children. Professionals treat our adverse reactions primarily with mindless drugs. Literally mindless, since they are designed to shut off your mind to what is happening with you. Still feeling the pain? Up the dose, increase the mental masking.
Our educational systems ignore the subject almost completely. Learn calculus and trigonometry in high school...two subjects that less than 1% of us will ever need to know or will ever use...but not what our species is, how it really functions, what it really needs, what makes it feel wonderful to be alive, or so painful. Is it any wonder the world tremors.
Where do we begin our voyage to safety, sanity, serenity, soulful bliss, true success?
I guess at the beginning.
Over thousands of years, we have learned mountains of stuff about so many things in the universe...knowledge which enhances, enriches, our lives...but we have learned so very little about a critically important thing in the universe: Ourselves. We know so relatively little about the fundamental nature of our species, why we seem to need certain things (companionship, love, attention, admiration, respect, success) to be happy and to feel fulfilled...and why we react so often with despair, depression and violence when we don't have as much of those things as we would like.
What is love? Is all love the same? Do we need it? How much do we need? Why do I feel lonely? Do I really need someone to be with? What am I really missing when I am by myself? Am I afraid of something? I may feel bad when I don't get that new car I want, but that is nothing to the degree of badness I feel when when I get no loving. Admiration may be nice to receive, but do I need it? And why, why, why?
The answers to these and numerous other related questions are way beyond me...and from what I have seen, way beyond virtually everyone else. Parents, themselves unknowledgeable, are helpless to guide their children. Professionals treat our adverse reactions primarily with mindless drugs. Literally mindless, since they are designed to shut off your mind to what is happening with you. Still feeling the pain? Up the dose, increase the mental masking.
Our educational systems ignore the subject almost completely. Learn calculus and trigonometry in high school...two subjects that less than 1% of us will ever need to know or will ever use...but not what our species is, how it really functions, what it really needs, what makes it feel wonderful to be alive, or so painful. Is it any wonder the world tremors.
Where do we begin our voyage to safety, sanity, serenity, soulful bliss, true success?
I guess at the beginning.
Friday, January 28, 2011
NERDS, GEEKS AND EGGHEADS, UNITE!
Talking with a dear, dear friend yesterday, the question came up: Why do many people choose not to do much thinking? The thinkers are thought of today as nerds, geeks, eggheads, and worse.
After thinking of some of the popular reasons: takes too much effort, generates responsibility, sets unwanted standards of rights and wrongs, wastes time...I realized a better question is not why some of us don't do much thinking, but rather why some of us do.
And the answer to that is easy. What distinguishes man from the ants and all other living and nonliving things in the world, is our ability to think conceptually and rationally. Sorry, guys, that's it! Absent that ability, I am not sure this weak, slow moving, disease prone species would still be around. And more than be around...rule the world.
Pretty much, most everything people want, was created by a thinking mind. All civilizations were created by thinking minds. All beautiful works of art were created by thinking minds. All life enriching inventions were created by thinking minds.
So, if you want to experience the joy, the glory, the passion, of living as a human being, with all its infinite potential and rewards, think, think, think.
You're not an ant, are you?
And be a proud nerd.
After thinking of some of the popular reasons: takes too much effort, generates responsibility, sets unwanted standards of rights and wrongs, wastes time...I realized a better question is not why some of us don't do much thinking, but rather why some of us do.
And the answer to that is easy. What distinguishes man from the ants and all other living and nonliving things in the world, is our ability to think conceptually and rationally. Sorry, guys, that's it! Absent that ability, I am not sure this weak, slow moving, disease prone species would still be around. And more than be around...rule the world.
Pretty much, most everything people want, was created by a thinking mind. All civilizations were created by thinking minds. All beautiful works of art were created by thinking minds. All life enriching inventions were created by thinking minds.
So, if you want to experience the joy, the glory, the passion, of living as a human being, with all its infinite potential and rewards, think, think, think.
You're not an ant, are you?
And be a proud nerd.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
STOP THE PARTY!
President Obama's call for bipartisanship and cooperation between the parties, is pure political mumbo jumbo. Malarkey.
Why should the Republicans cooperate with Obama and help him accomplish some of his agenda, when they want to beat him in two years. They lose, the way they perceive it, when he gains. For public consumption, the Republicans will say, "Sure, we'll work with you in the interest of the country"...but they don't mean it, and they are wrong. Compromised, half-baked, measures on important issues help no one and are not in the country's interest. Ideas are right or wrong, which makes them good or bas, and in our interest or not. Compromises, meeting the other party halfway...locking the front door but leaving the back door open... serves no one, except the thief.
Suggestion for the day: Let us stop the political party system. Candidates should be elected on individual merit...and receive the most votes because the electorate is familiar with their political positions and accomplishments,and not because they are members of a certain party.
The general voter attitude, "I always vote Democratic (or Republican or whatever)"
is archaic and illogical. Not all members of a party hold the same political philosophy, and some members of every party are incompetent and should not be put into office. That prevalent attitude encourages party loyalty, party control, the election of unknowns (look at President Obama's election) and worse, and votes by Congressmen and women for reasons (eg,campaign funding)contrary to the interests of constituents.
Back to basics: We are individuals, we ought run and serve as individuals, and be judged as individuals.
individual achevenebt
Why should the Republicans cooperate with Obama and help him accomplish some of his agenda, when they want to beat him in two years. They lose, the way they perceive it, when he gains. For public consumption, the Republicans will say, "Sure, we'll work with you in the interest of the country"...but they don't mean it, and they are wrong. Compromised, half-baked, measures on important issues help no one and are not in the country's interest. Ideas are right or wrong, which makes them good or bas, and in our interest or not. Compromises, meeting the other party halfway...locking the front door but leaving the back door open... serves no one, except the thief.
Suggestion for the day: Let us stop the political party system. Candidates should be elected on individual merit...and receive the most votes because the electorate is familiar with their political positions and accomplishments,and not because they are members of a certain party.
The general voter attitude, "I always vote Democratic (or Republican or whatever)"
is archaic and illogical. Not all members of a party hold the same political philosophy, and some members of every party are incompetent and should not be put into office. That prevalent attitude encourages party loyalty, party control, the election of unknowns (look at President Obama's election) and worse, and votes by Congressmen and women for reasons (eg,campaign funding)contrary to the interests of constituents.
Back to basics: We are individuals, we ought run and serve as individuals, and be judged as individuals.
individual achevenebt
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
SARAH, SARAH, SARAH
The media's attention on Sarah Palin and everything she does and says seems never-ending and curious. On the one hand, they complain that she is "over her head", with limited experience as mayor of a minuscule town and governor of a somewhat remote and disconnected state...suddenly involved in big time politics. When she spoke about the left's baseless accusation that the right was guilty of the recent Arizona shooting tragedy, and her labeling that accusation as "blood libel", which it certainly was, the political media pundits boiled it all down to "she spoke for 8 minutes, 5 would have been better", "she spoke out on the wrong day, in the wrong venue".
Please, I wondered, what is it about this lady that draws all this media attention, what is her fascination, if those trivia and minutia are its focus?
And then I realized that that is it...it is the fact that she is not shackled by protocol and convention and political correctness, the way all other politicians are, but speaks her mind, loud and clear for all to hear. She is not constrained by shoulds and shouldn'ts. (That must be why Hollywood is fascinated with politics. Politicians are play acting, reading from scripts, they are virtually all actors, too.)
I don't know if Sarah Palin has the smarts to be President...I don't see anyone, ANYONE, else who does. I don't know if she can beat Obama, as anyone should...polls now say she wouldn't. But I do know this: as of today, Sarah Palin is my front runner. In fact, she is the only one in the race...because she is free.
And it all begins with that in my book.
Please, I wondered, what is it about this lady that draws all this media attention, what is her fascination, if those trivia and minutia are its focus?
And then I realized that that is it...it is the fact that she is not shackled by protocol and convention and political correctness, the way all other politicians are, but speaks her mind, loud and clear for all to hear. She is not constrained by shoulds and shouldn'ts. (That must be why Hollywood is fascinated with politics. Politicians are play acting, reading from scripts, they are virtually all actors, too.)
I don't know if Sarah Palin has the smarts to be President...I don't see anyone, ANYONE, else who does. I don't know if she can beat Obama, as anyone should...polls now say she wouldn't. But I do know this: as of today, Sarah Palin is my front runner. In fact, she is the only one in the race...because she is free.
And it all begins with that in my book.
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