MIA

I've been missing in action. I know... it's funny. We start something for fun, or because we're passionate, then it becomes work. How does that happen? How do we lose our zest? Is it that something better came along? Or were we not really committed from the start? The problem is that once we say we'll do something people expect us to do it. And if we don't, it's easy to feel guilty for not keeping our word, and deflect that anger on the thing itself, versus keeping it focused on the real cause, our failure to do what we said. So here I am, avoiding my blog, telling myself I'll do it later today, then later tonight, then later tomorrow... The truth is, I've found other things to occupy my time, mostly work, and some reading. I'm ok with that. I'll write here when I'm tickled. Don't think anyone is reading anyway...way way way... see... there's even an echo echo echo. . . . .

We exist.

To a friend who posed this question in an email...

We exist because we say we do. In the physical sense, if we decide not to exist, we can end our life. But our decision to exist goes well beyond that. We choose to what extent we will exist. Does staying in your house, locked in your room, disconnected from the world and from other people consitute a real existence? What about being so extroverted that you have no solitary moment to contemplate your own life? Existence is completely in our heads. We exist because we say we exist. The quality of our existence is also in our heads. Even our emotions are our choice... more on this later... right now I have to go meet some other people who exist....

Long lost blog!

I haven't had any comments lately, so I fear the brief sabatical and the fact that my blog is no longer one of the main links on my site have lost me my audience. Is anyone out there? Sigh... Ahh, no matter. I write because I like the sound of my own voice... err... my own keyboard??? well, you know what I mean....

Control over the events of our lives...

This'll be short but I'll expand on it in future blogs. It's really just an answer to a question a friend posed in an email... I hope I get some feedback too...

Life is a series of events. Things happen. Then other things happen. Most of what happens seems outside our control. But is it?

When something occurs, we have a choice to interpret it in one of millions of possible ways. If we choose the interpretation that makes us happy, that connects us with others, that empowers us, that makes us feel like we have value and we belong, then our physical response to that event will reflect all those great feelings. We'll be a more generous, calm, loving human being. This will alter the course of our life. And the next event in the string of events will not be what it might have been. So, in a very real way, we have control over events that may otherwise seem arbitrary.

My blog is back and there's gonna be trouble... doo ah

Hey folks! I promised to have the blog back up by Dec. 1st and woila! Here 'tis... I'm still working out some kinks in the code, so please bear with me. Stay tuned for new posts coming soon to a blog near you...
Bez

Be quiet, you silly Americans!

I was sent this link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,138335,00.html

It's an article by John Gibson of Fox News, in which he denounces critics of the elections, claiming they're putting American troops in danger.

Here is my email to the author...

Mr. Gibson,

When something no one ever imagined could happen actually happens, people remember it. And it will never seem like an impossibility again. That this year's election results continue to be discussed, is a direct consequence not of this election, but of the previous one. Americans learned four years ago what people with a wider world view have always known, that the "democracy" which makes us feel superior to the rest of the globe is deeply flawed.

It has been flawed from the beginning. Women and minority communities were systematically disenfranchised. Third parties are excluded from the electoral process. The electoral college undermines the one-person-one-vote democratic ideal. Redistricting controversies recur year after year with no solution in sight. Illegal campaign contributions and out of control campaign spending have made public office a commodity to be purchased rather than an honor to be won. Even the physical process of marking a ballot is problematic in this great nation.

So, many Americans are rightly concerned, even outraged. And they're finally beginning to stir. But fearful conservatives, knowing they just got away with something scandalous, would have them quieted and suppressed. No, Republicans didn't steal the election again like last time. The scandal is in how they won it. Outright lies, personal attacks, fear-mongering, race-baiting, bible-thumping, and the dumbing down of the electorate are not the values on which America was founded. But, sadly, they've become useful tactics in high stakes elections.

Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichsmarshall and Luftwaffe-Chief put it best when he said "...voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

It is unpatriotic for you to suggest it is unpatriotic and dangerous to discuss the machinery of democratic process. In fact, that's the most American thing to do.

[Signed]

Intelligent, articulate, insightful post (not mine)

Thanks to Rodney for sending this link... it's a great post!

http://www.livejournal.com/users/typefiend/304744.html

Sad but true...

Gustave Gilbert was a German-speaking intelligence officer and psychologist who was granted free access by the Allies to all the prisoners held in the Nuremberg jail after WWII. He kept a journal of his observations of the proceedings and his conversations with the prisoners, which he later published in the book "Nuremberg Diary".

Here is an excerpt from his conversation with Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichsmarshall and Luftwaffe-Chief... Does this sound familiar to anyone???

We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

Two days later...

I'm still in shock! Thanks for the prayer Rodney! I agree... God, pinch my butt so I know I'm not having a nighmare!

This election result isn't just bad for the country, it's bad for the Universe!

I used to think George W. was only one notch above Dan Quayle. Now I think he's infinitely worse. Danny boy was just stupid. This one is dangerously stupid. We've really elected Chaney to the presidency. And he's just evil.

Those who know me in the real world know I'm not prone to name calling and rhetoric... but damn it!!! These people are the devil's anus!!!

Decline of the West...

Yes, I know... two posts in just a few minutes... I had another thought...

The Persian, Byzantine, Mongolian, Arab, Greek, Anglo and every other empire that ever existed eventually collapsed. At some point, those people got drunk with their own power. They became arrogant. They treated the rest of the world with disdain. And the world stood up to say "no more". That is where America is today. We cannot continue along the current path of military expansion. Not only do we fan the world's animosity toward us, but we ignore our own domestic issues, weakening the nation from within. UGH UGH UGH UGH!!!