I have a great love of writing thoughts about the things that I see, do and hear of the happenings in the world around me, but what most people don't know, is the depth and level of my internal thoughts and the related writings that come from them.
Of late, much has been happening and it seems that finally my health seems to be stabilizing. Now, that doesn't mean that everything has magically reveresed and I am getting healthier, it just means that my body has again adapted to a new paradigm, or set of instructions/conditions that it has to work in. I liken my body to a car in Cuba, no matter the state of repair or disrepair that mybdy is in, it always seems to try and run in an optimal way for the current phase it is in. This is what is called adaption, and I firmly believe that that is the one things disabled people have a thing with which the world could sure learn about. But, since I am more often than not, not dishonest about what I type, but more, reticent to put the whole of everything up for public consumption.
I have a dislike of being too upfront about my health conditions. Those who know more about me on a personal level, or were there when I have been to doctors or surgeries, have a fair idea of what my life is projected to look like. But those who know me extremely well, know that is something I will continously challenge until I am either hit with an excessive quantity of information that makes me understand that Ineed to slow down, or, my body shuts down to the point where I am in need of an armed guard to keep my from going out too often and doing stupid stuff.|
But, what is the whole situation? Often enough, I can be found counselling friends who are in need of advice ranging from what to go and see at the movies to major life changes and how to help them get through them safely. What a lot of people can't do in return, is counsel me on a lot of things relating to my health, and though they mean well with it will be alright, or other sincerely given platitudes, they can't related to or unerstand the base giant elephant in the room of my health condition, and that is it severity.|
With i think a bit of universal good luck in my very early years, I was introduced to Buddhism and thus over the years, many new and enlightening things from with which to draw from and help improve the quality of my existence. There have been theoretical concepts, that I have spent many years getting my head around, in the hope that I will somehow enlighten myself to how to deal with a degenerative condition, but at the same time, learn how to get the most out of life, within and beyond, the physical limitations of my body. I also periodically research my heatlh condition, and check for any new advances in spinal repair and rejuvination. Much of that information has not changed much in the last 20 years and that is basically, that short of breaking every vertebrae in my spine to remove the curvature and heighten exponentially, the chance of major infection, the other option is transplant, and the techonology for that is not remotely close. Stem cell rejuvination of the spinal cord is an interesting concept, and would work well if there were the possibility that it would remove the curvature, or more affectionately, the hump.
Where this leaves me, is pretty much a sentence of the encroaching and persistent decline of my spine and the semingly forever increasing moments of pain. In truth, my life span is shortened to around 60 years, give or take depending on external factors and the internal fight, which at the moment, is still there. The research I have done, has let me understand that as long as I can keep effective breathing techniques, pain management and focus all in a concerted effort with meditation and understanding, then I should be able to do this well and get some good years out of it. Otherwise, IF I let it slip, then we can bring that life expectancy down to 55. The interesting factor in this, is what keeps me sane knowing this?
This goes back to the earlier mention of an introduction to Buddhism. Again sometimes I can kind of see the universe working in ways that negates chance, but then, it could be that it was chance and it had been listening to my early information of knowing what my life was. The idea tht propels me to live each day, regardless if I am in bed feeling like crap, or out taking beautiful pictures, is the concept of Impermanence. I won't bore you all with philosophical lectures about what it is all about, other than it is a a very effective measure of making sure that each breath I take, is counted as my last, and that each moment the breath is held in my lungs, I have all the power in the world to decide whether or not Iwant to take that next breath. When in that split second of time between breaths, there is this eternal peace of knowing that I have made a personal choice, and that the universe, and my spirit, are in conjunction about the desire to live to take the next breath. When you live in this mode of thinking, all things in life are put into a perspective without wasting any time on redundant and pointless emotions of fear, sadness and stress about knowing that I may not live as long as my friends and other family, but I will also know, that I have lived a fuller life than a lot of people due to not wasting time and energy on those things that have no function other than to detract and displace my happiness and enjoyment of life into other more self destructive pursuits.
I have come to a beautiful level of peace and calm with impermanence. Maybe spending too much time beyond those that are alloted would have made me more lethargic in doing and learning the things that I would want to in life, but at the same time, it has given me that guidance to focus not in the past nor in the future, but to focus on that sweet moment of decision between this moment and the next, and renew my commitment to this for as long as humanly possible.
25 October 2015
Wow, time seems to have flown... not so much this blog. So here is a new piece of writing.
Many things occur in life, and when that life is busy, they seem to occur even faster. Living a life in this world is fraught with perils such as too much information, too little compassion and love, heightened senses of insecurity and mistrust, and other mullings that come with living in an age of never ending war and violence, and limited growth in personal and spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is never always about what faith you follow, what deity you pray to, or even if you believe in a deity at all. Spirit, that essence in humanity that gives us pause when we make life changing decisions, is something we neglect, even theists do so. Sadly, with the external happenings in the world, things can often seem too much, and there never seems to be enough mechanisms of help to turn to. Governments are cutting from essential services and the poor, in an ever increasing orgy of arrogance and pay backs to those who have put them in power and bankrolled their election campaigns. Anyone going naively into politics, with the intent to change the system from within, either find themselves unprepared for what they encounter, or, even if they manage to keep that rebelliousness, they are placed far out of reach of having any power to do what they can. The average citizen is then left to perpetually toil away in a system that was designed to harness the greatest productivity whilst destroying the drive or inner light of the citizen who hopes to improve their lot in life. The industrial revolution, not only brought big change in how things are produced, but it brought arounud a change of how people are produced and educated to scrape by in the system. Like in 1984, the Proles, whilst still having their freedom from living under the party, have an upper, middle and lower class, and are kept enthralled by trappings to make their lives appear to be their own. Is all of this, they are used to fight the wars of the party, to produce the base neccessities for the party and to show "devotion" to the party when they are required to do so.
These are the things that I have noticed in the last decade, the decade or perpetual war, the decade of deceit and blind arrogance of the Party. I couldn't tell you if that spiritual revolution that I constantly wish for, and work for in my own little way, is anywhere close to fruition, but, the seeds are being sewn, it is just a matter of seeing whether the soil is ripe for growth.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As many of you know, over the past year, almost two, lots of changes have been happening within, and, around me. Life has a most interesting way of making you wonder if the universe has a very demented sense of humour, or if there is a controlling deity, whether s/he has a demented sense of humour, or just left the computer simulation in free will mode, and moved on to something a lot more interesting and less troublesome. I hear that my views or humour in relation to them, is quite often somewhat blasphemous and that I should show more defference when talking about the lack of control or oversight that occurs in the universe. Personally, I don't think myself some divine saint or esteemed and enlightened guru, but I often feel that all this life of pain and health issues have given me a lot of time to think and mull the universe around in my head. I still refuse many times, to believe that there is some guiding hand working in the world to bring us to a promised afterlife. If this is the earthly kindgom that we keep hearing about from many holy books and beliefs, I am inclined to think that this deity is a very psychopathic individual, OR, that we are in "hell" and are suffering for some imagined sin that we may or may not have committed, and are just waiting to pay off our infraction and return to the happy place that we are forced to forget until we return.
Sadly, I don't think that this is the case, and thus means that, in essence, we are in the "kingdom" and what we have done is pretty much fuck it up, and now we seemingly have no way back, other than continue through to the end and hope that we don't thoroughly destroy ourselves in the process. If this is what we have to look forward to, then we either have to find a alternative path to walk down, or take a stand, and decide that enough is enough, and grab the reigns of our future from those whose only interest is profit, war and the impending destruction of a majority of the world's population, and remind them, that we are capable of governing ourselves, that we are able to be responsible stewards of the earth and have the ability to live in harmony with eachother, regardless of race or belief. The only thing that we have issue with, and that isn't something that we have to worry too much about when the insidious influences are removed, is religion. The majority o history has shown, that before global wealth and banking became a big and profitible thing, religions and races were able to live together and thrive with very minimal violence and destruction of the surrounding environment. It wasn't until the advent of exceptionalism both politically and religiously, that the global balance shifted. With exceptionalism, came a complete and utter radicalization of Nationalism, and desires to wipe out the "competition" of either the competing deity or nation state. Other than wars of expansion or defence of borders, humanity originally rarely showed the need to anihilate their neighbours, because no neighbours meant no trade. No trade meant unrest at home and no money for new building projects or research, religious buildings or needs of the people when and if they were considered.
But times have changed significantly, people have no reason for ignorance in the developed world other than through choice. Poorer nations have limimted resources compared to the developed countries, but more often than not, they are prey for the developed countries due to their unmolested natural resourcues. I won't go into any of todady's ills as we have more than enough information to write down here, but, the one thing I want to say, is that without a fundamental shift of mindset in both the developed and under-developed worlds, we are going to finish in a cacophony of violence and turmoil, that we as a species, may not recover from.
Spiritual growth is never always about what faith you follow, what deity you pray to, or even if you believe in a deity at all. Spirit, that essence in humanity that gives us pause when we make life changing decisions, is something we neglect, even theists do so. Sadly, with the external happenings in the world, things can often seem too much, and there never seems to be enough mechanisms of help to turn to. Governments are cutting from essential services and the poor, in an ever increasing orgy of arrogance and pay backs to those who have put them in power and bankrolled their election campaigns. Anyone going naively into politics, with the intent to change the system from within, either find themselves unprepared for what they encounter, or, even if they manage to keep that rebelliousness, they are placed far out of reach of having any power to do what they can. The average citizen is then left to perpetually toil away in a system that was designed to harness the greatest productivity whilst destroying the drive or inner light of the citizen who hopes to improve their lot in life. The industrial revolution, not only brought big change in how things are produced, but it brought arounud a change of how people are produced and educated to scrape by in the system. Like in 1984, the Proles, whilst still having their freedom from living under the party, have an upper, middle and lower class, and are kept enthralled by trappings to make their lives appear to be their own. Is all of this, they are used to fight the wars of the party, to produce the base neccessities for the party and to show "devotion" to the party when they are required to do so.
These are the things that I have noticed in the last decade, the decade or perpetual war, the decade of deceit and blind arrogance of the Party. I couldn't tell you if that spiritual revolution that I constantly wish for, and work for in my own little way, is anywhere close to fruition, but, the seeds are being sewn, it is just a matter of seeing whether the soil is ripe for growth.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As many of you know, over the past year, almost two, lots of changes have been happening within, and, around me. Life has a most interesting way of making you wonder if the universe has a very demented sense of humour, or if there is a controlling deity, whether s/he has a demented sense of humour, or just left the computer simulation in free will mode, and moved on to something a lot more interesting and less troublesome. I hear that my views or humour in relation to them, is quite often somewhat blasphemous and that I should show more defference when talking about the lack of control or oversight that occurs in the universe. Personally, I don't think myself some divine saint or esteemed and enlightened guru, but I often feel that all this life of pain and health issues have given me a lot of time to think and mull the universe around in my head. I still refuse many times, to believe that there is some guiding hand working in the world to bring us to a promised afterlife. If this is the earthly kindgom that we keep hearing about from many holy books and beliefs, I am inclined to think that this deity is a very psychopathic individual, OR, that we are in "hell" and are suffering for some imagined sin that we may or may not have committed, and are just waiting to pay off our infraction and return to the happy place that we are forced to forget until we return.
Sadly, I don't think that this is the case, and thus means that, in essence, we are in the "kingdom" and what we have done is pretty much fuck it up, and now we seemingly have no way back, other than continue through to the end and hope that we don't thoroughly destroy ourselves in the process. If this is what we have to look forward to, then we either have to find a alternative path to walk down, or take a stand, and decide that enough is enough, and grab the reigns of our future from those whose only interest is profit, war and the impending destruction of a majority of the world's population, and remind them, that we are capable of governing ourselves, that we are able to be responsible stewards of the earth and have the ability to live in harmony with eachother, regardless of race or belief. The only thing that we have issue with, and that isn't something that we have to worry too much about when the insidious influences are removed, is religion. The majority o history has shown, that before global wealth and banking became a big and profitible thing, religions and races were able to live together and thrive with very minimal violence and destruction of the surrounding environment. It wasn't until the advent of exceptionalism both politically and religiously, that the global balance shifted. With exceptionalism, came a complete and utter radicalization of Nationalism, and desires to wipe out the "competition" of either the competing deity or nation state. Other than wars of expansion or defence of borders, humanity originally rarely showed the need to anihilate their neighbours, because no neighbours meant no trade. No trade meant unrest at home and no money for new building projects or research, religious buildings or needs of the people when and if they were considered.
But times have changed significantly, people have no reason for ignorance in the developed world other than through choice. Poorer nations have limimted resources compared to the developed countries, but more often than not, they are prey for the developed countries due to their unmolested natural resourcues. I won't go into any of todady's ills as we have more than enough information to write down here, but, the one thing I want to say, is that without a fundamental shift of mindset in both the developed and under-developed worlds, we are going to finish in a cacophony of violence and turmoil, that we as a species, may not recover from.
20 April 2015
The Hump And I Had A Falling Out Today.
So, as much as I love my hump at times, well most times, there is one particular time I hate it with a lot of passion. So I will tell you the incident that dragged it back to the surface.
So I went out to do some photography with my roomie, who is a generally good looking guy. We had fun and were just heading back to a spot so I could get some last minute photos before we headed out of the park, and this cute girl walks past and looks at us. We get to the corner and she is looking towards my roomie, and I was encouraging him to go talk to her, I know she was interested in him, it is usually the way. So he does, and I go about my time taking photographs.
After we get back home, he is telling me about how she is a nice girl, and they talked for a while, and she told him she liked how he thinks and then gave him her phone number. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for the guy, it has been a while since he has dated, and had a really shit marriage. And he is finally starting to get out of "All women are controlling gossiping evil creatures!". He doesn't feel like that, but that is the hurt talking. So yeah, I am happy for him, even after my encouragement. And having to encourage someone feels like the salt on a very deep wound as it is...
Now, I am going to state, that I know that I am not thoroughly repulsive, and that women, eventually, find me attractive, but that is the problem, it is a case of EVENTUALLY. I haven't had a woman get all gushy over me instantly like women do with good looking straight backed guys. Or even guys for that matter. It would be nice, just for once, to be walking past a random hot individual, and have them start talking to me in the frame of mind of getting my number because I am gorgeous.
Also, saying that whole, "Well at least that way you won't have a shallow person around you" is an absolute pot of crap. If I didn't have a hump, I wouldn't have hot individuals being freaked out, pittying or just plain ignoring me for how I look. So yeah, that argument is a null and void.
There aren't a lot of times my hump and I have disagreements, but then it is also because I don't go out much or if I do, I go out with the expectations that I might make a friend or two. Just reading that, makes me want to vomit. I wouldn't have surgery, because I still like walking, as much as it pains me, but the chances of infection, the surgery failing etc, are just way too high, and these aren't risks I am willing to take. So... unless someone either accidentally finds me naked with a boner, or has known me for quite a few months, then I know that people won't be looking past my hump any time soon. Again, the idea of going to live in Northern India as a Buddhist monk still sounds very appealing.
Sorry hump, we won't be talking tonight. The only good things about my hump half the time, is that I look like Richard O'Brien as Riff Raff, but with a shaved head; or a cross between a human and a Krogan.
Feeling a lot like this guy right about now.
So I went out to do some photography with my roomie, who is a generally good looking guy. We had fun and were just heading back to a spot so I could get some last minute photos before we headed out of the park, and this cute girl walks past and looks at us. We get to the corner and she is looking towards my roomie, and I was encouraging him to go talk to her, I know she was interested in him, it is usually the way. So he does, and I go about my time taking photographs.
After we get back home, he is telling me about how she is a nice girl, and they talked for a while, and she told him she liked how he thinks and then gave him her phone number. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for the guy, it has been a while since he has dated, and had a really shit marriage. And he is finally starting to get out of "All women are controlling gossiping evil creatures!". He doesn't feel like that, but that is the hurt talking. So yeah, I am happy for him, even after my encouragement. And having to encourage someone feels like the salt on a very deep wound as it is...
Now, I am going to state, that I know that I am not thoroughly repulsive, and that women, eventually, find me attractive, but that is the problem, it is a case of EVENTUALLY. I haven't had a woman get all gushy over me instantly like women do with good looking straight backed guys. Or even guys for that matter. It would be nice, just for once, to be walking past a random hot individual, and have them start talking to me in the frame of mind of getting my number because I am gorgeous.
Also, saying that whole, "Well at least that way you won't have a shallow person around you" is an absolute pot of crap. If I didn't have a hump, I wouldn't have hot individuals being freaked out, pittying or just plain ignoring me for how I look. So yeah, that argument is a null and void.
There aren't a lot of times my hump and I have disagreements, but then it is also because I don't go out much or if I do, I go out with the expectations that I might make a friend or two. Just reading that, makes me want to vomit. I wouldn't have surgery, because I still like walking, as much as it pains me, but the chances of infection, the surgery failing etc, are just way too high, and these aren't risks I am willing to take. So... unless someone either accidentally finds me naked with a boner, or has known me for quite a few months, then I know that people won't be looking past my hump any time soon. Again, the idea of going to live in Northern India as a Buddhist monk still sounds very appealing.
Sorry hump, we won't be talking tonight. The only good things about my hump half the time, is that I look like Richard O'Brien as Riff Raff, but with a shaved head; or a cross between a human and a Krogan.
Feeling a lot like this guy right about now.
29 March 2015
Enough is Enough.
You know, I always try and give this world credit. No matter what compassionate, positive and empathetic people try to achieve for the greater good of the whole, there are always some well placed, paid and very bigoted arseholes there to block it.
It is getting to the point where this world needs to stand up to extremism, hatred, bigotry, shaming, bullying and other forms of suppression of the human identity. What are they trying to achieve? Archaic Abrahamic laws so they can discriminate at will? Are they trying to reintroduce Monarchic laws from the Middle Ages to have a world of serfs?
Where does it get to the point where the good have to start turning to the weapons of their oppressors? As a Bi and technically disabled human being, this is just getting irritating. I look at places that enact all these laws, and think, "Damn it, there is another place I won't go."
People, you have to start deciding where do you stand? Are you there with those of us trying to do good in the world, or are you there helping those who are going to turn their teeth on you after what THEY want is achieved. If you support extremism, if you support free speech, the freedom to love who you will, if you are a bully albeit a low level one in the scheme of things, they will turn on you when they are done, because you are the last piece of useless meat they see.
Someone only goes for those they despise first because they feel threatened. Those thugs that do their bidding are always left out in the cold or consumed in the fires when they have set the world ablaze. Don't believe me? Take a good long look at pictures of SS troops when the Reich was defeated. Look at the empty, soulless, rejected look in their eyes. Look at these thugs, all proud and strong the day before, crying for their leader. That will be you. You think that these extremists love you, that they care for your well being. You are wrong. You are the last one left to turn their soil and wipe their arses when they have finished shitting all over your freedoms. Good luck with that.
I might be a small, infinitesimal cog in a giant mechanism. I might break first, but I can assure you, there will be more to take my place.
There is just no point in trying to argue with delusions of idiots. I always get told that compassion is a weakness, well, as is eluded to in many works on Buddhism, especially in Shinto and other forms, compassion is also a form of strength in knowing when to be firm and unyielding. Sometimes, strength is needed to say no, to say enough. And after living in a very educational part of the world that I am, after having finally recovered many parts of life that I had put aside, or were left scattered in the sands of time, I know now, that was the final lesson I needed to understand.
So, I am going to continue to spend more time being active in things I put away a long time ago. And it starts with this. Stop the bullying of people for who they are, and grow up, and start to learn that while you may not like the differences between you and those you despise, more oft than not, your enemies are your better teachers.
Peace, love and compassion to all. And sorry for the long read.
It is getting to the point where this world needs to stand up to extremism, hatred, bigotry, shaming, bullying and other forms of suppression of the human identity. What are they trying to achieve? Archaic Abrahamic laws so they can discriminate at will? Are they trying to reintroduce Monarchic laws from the Middle Ages to have a world of serfs?
Where does it get to the point where the good have to start turning to the weapons of their oppressors? As a Bi and technically disabled human being, this is just getting irritating. I look at places that enact all these laws, and think, "Damn it, there is another place I won't go."
People, you have to start deciding where do you stand? Are you there with those of us trying to do good in the world, or are you there helping those who are going to turn their teeth on you after what THEY want is achieved. If you support extremism, if you support free speech, the freedom to love who you will, if you are a bully albeit a low level one in the scheme of things, they will turn on you when they are done, because you are the last piece of useless meat they see.
Someone only goes for those they despise first because they feel threatened. Those thugs that do their bidding are always left out in the cold or consumed in the fires when they have set the world ablaze. Don't believe me? Take a good long look at pictures of SS troops when the Reich was defeated. Look at the empty, soulless, rejected look in their eyes. Look at these thugs, all proud and strong the day before, crying for their leader. That will be you. You think that these extremists love you, that they care for your well being. You are wrong. You are the last one left to turn their soil and wipe their arses when they have finished shitting all over your freedoms. Good luck with that.
I might be a small, infinitesimal cog in a giant mechanism. I might break first, but I can assure you, there will be more to take my place.
There is just no point in trying to argue with delusions of idiots. I always get told that compassion is a weakness, well, as is eluded to in many works on Buddhism, especially in Shinto and other forms, compassion is also a form of strength in knowing when to be firm and unyielding. Sometimes, strength is needed to say no, to say enough. And after living in a very educational part of the world that I am, after having finally recovered many parts of life that I had put aside, or were left scattered in the sands of time, I know now, that was the final lesson I needed to understand.
So, I am going to continue to spend more time being active in things I put away a long time ago. And it starts with this. Stop the bullying of people for who they are, and grow up, and start to learn that while you may not like the differences between you and those you despise, more oft than not, your enemies are your better teachers.
Peace, love and compassion to all. And sorry for the long read.
12 February 2015
Dear King Abdullah,
So, I was reading about King Abdullah of Jordan doing something awesome, giving ISIS a quick stiff kick in the daddy bags. The article, though, written by a US Conservative was the usual vitriolic bullshit against how their President isn't a good president for being the global Fascist that they want him to be, don't get me wrong, he is still just that, but he has changed his domain from the Middle East to Eastern Europe.
Now, Jordan. I have always been generally impressed with King Abdullah, not that I follow the structure of Royalty much, but Jordan is one of the few Middle Eastern countries that maintain a monarch with a few brain cells up his sleeves. They have generally been pretty open to helping surrounding countries in need, and have generally been balanced in their views and dealings with the West. Not always a Yes man, but knows when something will benefit his Kingdom more than sticking the traditional line.
In the article, there was talk about how America should be doing everything to "help" the Middle East situation, and personally, I think this is a load of bullshit. For starters, the West is unable to fix many of the problems in its own back yard, pedophile priests and politicians, growing inequality in the divide between rich and poor, the disgusting treatment of disabled and LGBT communities and even their own middle class. I don't know how we can dictate foreign policy to someone when our own domestic policies are in tatters around us.
So, going forward, I am actually for King Abdullah. He has declared that ISIS is a serious threat to the stability of the Middle East, and unlike the rest of the region, excusing Syria, has started doing something about it. Sure, you can go on about all the abuses committed in Syria, but for nearly everyone you can point, there is a Western Equivalent happening in either their own country, or one they occupy. As of late, they have killed an estimated 7,000 ISIS troops, that is pretty good in about 2 weeks. They have pretty much stated that they will hunt them until they run out of jet fuel and bombs, which I am sure Russia will gladly supply, and I hope they damned do.
Why do I think this? Because every time the West gets involved, the citizens of the Middle East and other Muslims around the world, think that it is some plot from America. It also breeds a complacent attitude in that, "Well, we can't help ourselves, let the West help us." Kinda like that whole "It's better teaching a man to bomb his enemies than bombing his enemies for him" thing. It also will make the Middle East to look inwards at its own issues and realize that it is something that they have to deal with, and is not only an issue to the West, which some nations are happy about, but also that there are far more Muslims being killed by suicide bombers than any Westerner since the 9/11 attacks. Seriously, this is true. More Muslims have died from their own suicide bombers, than any Christian, Jew, Buddhist and Hindu. Think about that for a minute.
So King Abdullah, hats off to you sir. I may not agree with some of your attitudes in regards to domestic policy, but living in a country that has refused to put HSBC under investigation for off shore fraud, or closing up the books on Ministerial Pedophilia, I am in no right to tell you how to clean your house, but I am glad that finally, someone is taking the lead in this. Maybe, if the US would stop interfering in Syria for 5 minutes, and let you both clean house a bit, this little issue will be done in a month, and we can all go forward with a bit of new found respect. Also, if you could get Saudi Arabia to stop funding Radical preachers, that would be nice too. Thanks again.
Now, Jordan. I have always been generally impressed with King Abdullah, not that I follow the structure of Royalty much, but Jordan is one of the few Middle Eastern countries that maintain a monarch with a few brain cells up his sleeves. They have generally been pretty open to helping surrounding countries in need, and have generally been balanced in their views and dealings with the West. Not always a Yes man, but knows when something will benefit his Kingdom more than sticking the traditional line.
In the article, there was talk about how America should be doing everything to "help" the Middle East situation, and personally, I think this is a load of bullshit. For starters, the West is unable to fix many of the problems in its own back yard, pedophile priests and politicians, growing inequality in the divide between rich and poor, the disgusting treatment of disabled and LGBT communities and even their own middle class. I don't know how we can dictate foreign policy to someone when our own domestic policies are in tatters around us.
So, going forward, I am actually for King Abdullah. He has declared that ISIS is a serious threat to the stability of the Middle East, and unlike the rest of the region, excusing Syria, has started doing something about it. Sure, you can go on about all the abuses committed in Syria, but for nearly everyone you can point, there is a Western Equivalent happening in either their own country, or one they occupy. As of late, they have killed an estimated 7,000 ISIS troops, that is pretty good in about 2 weeks. They have pretty much stated that they will hunt them until they run out of jet fuel and bombs, which I am sure Russia will gladly supply, and I hope they damned do.
Why do I think this? Because every time the West gets involved, the citizens of the Middle East and other Muslims around the world, think that it is some plot from America. It also breeds a complacent attitude in that, "Well, we can't help ourselves, let the West help us." Kinda like that whole "It's better teaching a man to bomb his enemies than bombing his enemies for him" thing. It also will make the Middle East to look inwards at its own issues and realize that it is something that they have to deal with, and is not only an issue to the West, which some nations are happy about, but also that there are far more Muslims being killed by suicide bombers than any Westerner since the 9/11 attacks. Seriously, this is true. More Muslims have died from their own suicide bombers, than any Christian, Jew, Buddhist and Hindu. Think about that for a minute.
So King Abdullah, hats off to you sir. I may not agree with some of your attitudes in regards to domestic policy, but living in a country that has refused to put HSBC under investigation for off shore fraud, or closing up the books on Ministerial Pedophilia, I am in no right to tell you how to clean your house, but I am glad that finally, someone is taking the lead in this. Maybe, if the US would stop interfering in Syria for 5 minutes, and let you both clean house a bit, this little issue will be done in a month, and we can all go forward with a bit of new found respect. Also, if you could get Saudi Arabia to stop funding Radical preachers, that would be nice too. Thanks again.
Dear Ed. *Miliband that is*
In relation to a post on his facebook page.
Why don't you then follow what most of the Icelandic countries have done, and make University tuition free. People need to graduate and not be worried about whether they will get a job and be able to pay their debts back. It has worked in Norway, Iceland and others. It was working fine in Australia until the National/Liberal party returned to power and trashed it.
Highly educated people need to assisted into brightening the future for others. The one thing Labour must not do again, is make themselves the same mistake of over borrowing. Also trying to stay away from IMF borrowing would be another good thing. A lot of the rich in the country are more than willing to pay their proportionate share of taxes, but under a system where they don't need to, they generally won't.
I have traditionally been a Labour supporter when I was in Australia, and when I came here, I saw a very weakened version of it in operation. It was depressing as a Labour government needs a good strong leader. I have seen you write and seen you speak, and there is a huge difference. You have a good potential sir, so please, bring that out. Also, since the Greens have similar policies to Labour, might I suggest in ridings where Labour candidates are under pressure to back Green candidates on a policy equality idea. That way, you will have decent environmental and social minded input from those who would refuse to Vote either the Left or Right wing of the same bird.
I emailed you a few months ago, and I hope that you took what I said, if you got to read it, on board. I am still undecided, and have not seen anything that is going to make me switch from a Green vote at the moment. A better outline of what you are going to do, other than vaguely written two or three liners will sway me back. I would like to see a coherent thought out strategy of how the Labour party is going to reduce deficit while at the same time increasing spending back into Burroughs and Disability as well as increasing the military and education sectors.
One thing I learned from one of the most hated men in the Australian Labour party, and in my opinion, one of the best we have had since Gough Whitlam, Paul Keating, was that a strong fiscal stance, an "somewhat" honest and informative lead up to election time with details and figures, not just sentences, and the willingness to bite the bullet on a lot of issues and admit past mistakes, will give you a better rapport with voters who are sick of feeling like mushrooms. This is the internet age, where we can go check the numbers for ourselves that we don't see in the press. We can go read actual economic policies from the last few hundred years in books and online, and not just read page 3 of the Sun or whatever Murdoch inspired paper you want to read.
Give us the respect that we are all a thinking electorate, even though we may not show it, we have an interest in it. Also, UKIP is an indicator of the distrust in the system. They won't be a threat too much, some seats will be gained, but unless you don't learn the lessons from pre-Cameron power, then they may have a better chance. UKIP is the sign of cancer in the body that is the voting public. It is an indicator of what organs are starting to fail, and the why it is failing. Figuring that out will give you a better understanding of what the British electorate needs in a few months time. We need a fully consultative and honest talk on compassion inspired immigration, we need to have a talk about disability, education and a free press. We need to have discourse regarding the inability of Westminster to come clean with the skeletons in its closets on institutionalized pedophilia and other major scandals that are happening in the press to distract us from the election. We also need to talk about the eroding rights of citizens with the net, the corporate takeovers of the NHS, and other institutions to companies such as Boston Dynamics, Monsanto and other US companies that don't need to be hired when we have British and Commonwealth as well as EU ones that can do the same. Discourse on the trade relationship between the Commonwealth would be a great road to keep moving a fantastic and mutually beneficial institution alive and modernized.
These are things that we need to talk about. Things that the electorate need to be informed about. I could keep writing, but I am afraid that I will wear out my keyboard.
Best of luck to the Labour party, what are you going to do to win back my vote?
Why don't you then follow what most of the Icelandic countries have done, and make University tuition free. People need to graduate and not be worried about whether they will get a job and be able to pay their debts back. It has worked in Norway, Iceland and others. It was working fine in Australia until the National/Liberal party returned to power and trashed it.
Highly educated people need to assisted into brightening the future for others. The one thing Labour must not do again, is make themselves the same mistake of over borrowing. Also trying to stay away from IMF borrowing would be another good thing. A lot of the rich in the country are more than willing to pay their proportionate share of taxes, but under a system where they don't need to, they generally won't.
I have traditionally been a Labour supporter when I was in Australia, and when I came here, I saw a very weakened version of it in operation. It was depressing as a Labour government needs a good strong leader. I have seen you write and seen you speak, and there is a huge difference. You have a good potential sir, so please, bring that out. Also, since the Greens have similar policies to Labour, might I suggest in ridings where Labour candidates are under pressure to back Green candidates on a policy equality idea. That way, you will have decent environmental and social minded input from those who would refuse to Vote either the Left or Right wing of the same bird.
I emailed you a few months ago, and I hope that you took what I said, if you got to read it, on board. I am still undecided, and have not seen anything that is going to make me switch from a Green vote at the moment. A better outline of what you are going to do, other than vaguely written two or three liners will sway me back. I would like to see a coherent thought out strategy of how the Labour party is going to reduce deficit while at the same time increasing spending back into Burroughs and Disability as well as increasing the military and education sectors.
One thing I learned from one of the most hated men in the Australian Labour party, and in my opinion, one of the best we have had since Gough Whitlam, Paul Keating, was that a strong fiscal stance, an "somewhat" honest and informative lead up to election time with details and figures, not just sentences, and the willingness to bite the bullet on a lot of issues and admit past mistakes, will give you a better rapport with voters who are sick of feeling like mushrooms. This is the internet age, where we can go check the numbers for ourselves that we don't see in the press. We can go read actual economic policies from the last few hundred years in books and online, and not just read page 3 of the Sun or whatever Murdoch inspired paper you want to read.
Give us the respect that we are all a thinking electorate, even though we may not show it, we have an interest in it. Also, UKIP is an indicator of the distrust in the system. They won't be a threat too much, some seats will be gained, but unless you don't learn the lessons from pre-Cameron power, then they may have a better chance. UKIP is the sign of cancer in the body that is the voting public. It is an indicator of what organs are starting to fail, and the why it is failing. Figuring that out will give you a better understanding of what the British electorate needs in a few months time. We need a fully consultative and honest talk on compassion inspired immigration, we need to have a talk about disability, education and a free press. We need to have discourse regarding the inability of Westminster to come clean with the skeletons in its closets on institutionalized pedophilia and other major scandals that are happening in the press to distract us from the election. We also need to talk about the eroding rights of citizens with the net, the corporate takeovers of the NHS, and other institutions to companies such as Boston Dynamics, Monsanto and other US companies that don't need to be hired when we have British and Commonwealth as well as EU ones that can do the same. Discourse on the trade relationship between the Commonwealth would be a great road to keep moving a fantastic and mutually beneficial institution alive and modernized.
These are things that we need to talk about. Things that the electorate need to be informed about. I could keep writing, but I am afraid that I will wear out my keyboard.
Best of luck to the Labour party, what are you going to do to win back my vote?
05 February 2015
Lessons of life
I was just thinking about life, love etc, and I came to the following conclusion.
Love yourself before you love others. It is hard, but only you have the power to offer yourself unconditional love and support. There is too much beauty, creativity and life in the world to ignore it. Sure, we see a lot of hate on the news, but that is only what we are wanted to believe. The world in reality, can be a beautiful place, and if you are luck to have someone/several people, to do it with, then you are truly gifted.
People say life isn't about the end, it is about the journey. I say in a way it is true, and in a way it isn't. Life is too limited on what we can see to say that we have seen everything in life. We can't hear/see/smell as well as many of our other living things on this planet, so we will always have something out of our journeys that we miss. But I say it is more the fact that you even started the journey is even more important. Any fool can stumble along life and call it a journey, but at one point, someone chose to start that journey where others just sit and wait for things to come to them.
Waiting for things to happen is not a journey, it is a destruction of self. You must pledge to always grow and learn in your life, to love and be loved, to live and let live and to understand and come to peace with the fact that there is an end to your journey, and that point is the most important part of your journey. For it is in this final moments of life, that accepting and embracing the fact of death, will give you a more positive and calming reflection upon life. If you fear death, your life will be nothing but a list of regrets. If you embrace it, love it like you love life itself, then you will be able to look back on life and say that your not only survived all the ups and downs, the knocks and the achievements, but you can also say that you did the best you could with what you had.
I learned from a very young age that my time on this planet is not dependent on anything other than my ability to live it. I knew that as a toddler, that life stops, that it won't come back in any form that we can see or feel. That at the end, there is nothing but the embrace of the void, an end so to speak. Knowing that, gave me a drive to enjoy life. I fucked up a lot of things, I listened when I shouldn't have, and didn't listen when I should have, but I own those mistakes. I made them without help or hindrance, and thankfully, I was one of the lucky ones to learn from them.
What did I learn? I learned that gender is non-existent. You may look male or female, but you may not be inside. I learned that sometimes you look back on things and say I should have stood my ground when you retreated, and retreated when you should have stood there. I only have one, well it isn't even a regret, more of a lost opportunity, and that is I should have been more clear on this issue. I should have listened to myself. And this is where I think the 3 1/2 generations that passed after my knowing this, have it a lot easier in many ways. Yes the discrimination still exists, but there are a lot more lgbt groups for support when there were none during or before my time. Embracing who you are, and acknowledging that is wisdom. Ignoring it of your own volition is ignorance or denial.
I learned that there are many people in your life, that you are expected to trust, whether it be family members, or the government or even yourself at times, but trust is only best placed in oneself, and the ones that trust has already or is able to be established. Trusting in an entity, be it invisible or a government or a corporation, is throwing away commonsense. Growth is understanding that there are two types of selfishness. The one that you show to yourself because you give too much to others, or the type that others use to deny you your identity and life.
Many things in life are taught as being black and white. Sure there is good and evil, right and wrong, but at the same time, there are certain things that are either inverted or are in the grey area. Clinging to one extreme or the other is an imbalance. Embracing the both or the centre is a balance. Imbalance makes life a hell of a lot harder and more miserable.
Faith, there is only one thing I have faith in, and that is that I will at some point in time, die. It is the only sure thing that will happen to me. Everything else is either left to your own choice or common sense. I have faith in love to a degree, I have faith that I love things in this world, and maybe that there are some people insane enough to love me, but the thing with love, and it is the hardest thing, is that love is not 50/50. It is 100/100. If you are only giving 50/50, don't delude yourself that it is being equal, it is you being half arsed about love. Only giving everything you can, and the other doing the same, only that is love, and that is what someone who embodies it, my dear friend Kasturi, calls passion.
Passion is that 100% devotion to something, whether you have thought it through or not. Hey sometimes reckless passion can have good outcomes :-) . But if you are going to be passionate about it, do it for not only yourself, but for others (if that is appropriate. Masturbating yourself and doing it for others usually ends up landing you in jail for indecent exposure). When you are passionately doing something YOU love for OTHERS, you are bringing a small change to someone else in the world, and the only thing I have learned in life that makes the most sense other than we all certainly will die, is that you had best be doing something GOOD with it, otherwise you are wasting your time here.
Sure, we can all have likes/dislikes or even hates, but living in those states constantly deprives you of compassion and humanity. Compassion isn't about being a walking mat for everything that comes at you, it isn't that easy sorry. Compassion is hard work, for it starts with the compassion of self. If you can't have compassion for self, you can't really show it for others. That is empathy. Compassion is like walking through a thorny undergrowth on an amazing journey to somewhere beautiful. You will get scratched, hell you might break a bone or lose a contact lens. You might even be robbed or imbued with riches. But continuing towards that beautiful place/person/time or thing, will bring about happiness and unconditional love. When you are happy, and have unconditional love for yourself, then, and only then, are you ready to give it to others.
What did I learn? I learned that gender is non-existent. You may look male or female, but you may not be inside. I learned that sometimes you look back on things and say I should have stood my ground when you retreated, and retreated when you should have stood there. I only have one, well it isn't even a regret, more of a lost opportunity, and that is I should have been more clear on this issue. I should have listened to myself. And this is where I think the 3 1/2 generations that passed after my knowing this, have it a lot easier in many ways. Yes the discrimination still exists, but there are a lot more lgbt groups for support when there were none during or before my time. Embracing who you are, and acknowledging that is wisdom. Ignoring it of your own volition is ignorance or denial.
I learned that there are many people in your life, that you are expected to trust, whether it be family members, or the government or even yourself at times, but trust is only best placed in oneself, and the ones that trust has already or is able to be established. Trusting in an entity, be it invisible or a government or a corporation, is throwing away commonsense. Growth is understanding that there are two types of selfishness. The one that you show to yourself because you give too much to others, or the type that others use to deny you your identity and life.
Many things in life are taught as being black and white. Sure there is good and evil, right and wrong, but at the same time, there are certain things that are either inverted or are in the grey area. Clinging to one extreme or the other is an imbalance. Embracing the both or the centre is a balance. Imbalance makes life a hell of a lot harder and more miserable.
Faith, there is only one thing I have faith in, and that is that I will at some point in time, die. It is the only sure thing that will happen to me. Everything else is either left to your own choice or common sense. I have faith in love to a degree, I have faith that I love things in this world, and maybe that there are some people insane enough to love me, but the thing with love, and it is the hardest thing, is that love is not 50/50. It is 100/100. If you are only giving 50/50, don't delude yourself that it is being equal, it is you being half arsed about love. Only giving everything you can, and the other doing the same, only that is love, and that is what someone who embodies it, my dear friend Kasturi, calls passion.
Passion is that 100% devotion to something, whether you have thought it through or not. Hey sometimes reckless passion can have good outcomes :-) . But if you are going to be passionate about it, do it for not only yourself, but for others (if that is appropriate. Masturbating yourself and doing it for others usually ends up landing you in jail for indecent exposure). When you are passionately doing something YOU love for OTHERS, you are bringing a small change to someone else in the world, and the only thing I have learned in life that makes the most sense other than we all certainly will die, is that you had best be doing something GOOD with it, otherwise you are wasting your time here.
Sure, we can all have likes/dislikes or even hates, but living in those states constantly deprives you of compassion and humanity. Compassion isn't about being a walking mat for everything that comes at you, it isn't that easy sorry. Compassion is hard work, for it starts with the compassion of self. If you can't have compassion for self, you can't really show it for others. That is empathy. Compassion is like walking through a thorny undergrowth on an amazing journey to somewhere beautiful. You will get scratched, hell you might break a bone or lose a contact lens. You might even be robbed or imbued with riches. But continuing towards that beautiful place/person/time or thing, will bring about happiness and unconditional love. When you are happy, and have unconditional love for yourself, then, and only then, are you ready to give it to others.
28 January 2015
Brain Fluff, harder to see than belly button fluff, but just as useful.
You know what I love? Well if you follow or know me, then you will. But if you don't, the one thing I truly love is the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. I dunno, it is a form of oxygen for me, a way for life to come in through the pores of my soul or the electrical construct inside the human body, whatever you want to call it.
The most interesting thing in my pursuit, is that no matter where we come from in the world, there are those of us in every culture that want to learn for the sake of learning. If I was granted immortality tomorrow, I would start getting degree upon degree. I would go study with masters of different schools of thought in different parts of the world. I would try and finally get my head around maths, then get degrees in quantum physics and mechanics. I would haul myself off to distant places and learn ancient languages, live with tribes in many remote parts of the world.
Learning is not just all book based. No book will ever teach you about yourself. There is no instruction manual that says how you will function. Yet this is the most important piece of knowledge we have, and yet we neglect it so much. It is the equivalent of us knowing so much about the universe, yet we don't know what lies at the bottom of our own oceans. We have had ancient sharks being caught in recent months, and yet people will tell you that anything over a certain age is extinct.
What makes us do the things we do, what makes us different to those around us? I think primarily this question can be answered in a better way, what similarities do we have with those around us? One thing I have stumbled on in my search for understanding, is that trying to understand similarities, we want to learn what the differences are. Understanding the similarities first, will allow us to work on something that is different, and thus have more resources available to work on it. For example. 5 countries have the tech to go to Mars, and instead of them all looking for the same thing, their scientists knew what the others were working on, and decided to find something different to look at. We all know a lot of things about Mars already, so why would we waste time and look for the same thing again? This is a great example of different countries, working together, to create a better understanding in a more comprehensive way, than instead of all looking at the same thing. We all know that Mars has red soil/sand, so why would we have 5 different robots looking at the same thing?
And this is what we should be doing in our own lives. We all know that everyone of us has the same needs in life; food, clothing, love, shelter, a good living wage and peace. We know others want this, because we want it also, so why would we expect others not to want it. So what do we do if we know that we all want the same thing? Well, we find those things inside us, that sets us apart from someone, and start developing those skills. Someone may be a great swimmer, an opera singer, a composer or a scientist. But we would be wasting their talents if we were to ask them to go and get a plain job that they can handle with lower satisfaction ratings, and then expect them to be functioning. I have met many people in my life, who were brilliant beings, beautiful humans who were stuck doing things to make money because the country they live in didn't recognize education from elsewhere. As much as they are making money, they are truly not happy. A scientist driving a cab, is not putting his full all into their life, because their life has really been taken away from them. Sure, they are meeting the needs, those basic things we all crave, but we are wasting their talents out of jealousy? Spite? Anger at their Government? Prestige? Why are we not accepting these things, and letting them put their formidable sense of intellect to work for the betterment of humankind, instead of destroying that person at the most basic levels. There are always going to be some who don't want to produce, who don't want to be a productive member of society because they can't really be bothered to improve the whole, so why not put them to work in an area where they may actually gain some form of enlightenment? By putting these people into a position where they may be of help to others, will either give them a sense of belonging, which is what most human beings crave, and will look basically anywhere for it, or it will teach them a sense of compassion.
Sometimes I think too much, but when your disability is limiting your capacity for work, as are the medications they put you on, then you have a lot of time to do that. Beginning in February, I will be starting the writing of my first book. There will probably be 2 more to follow, depending on the path I decide to take with the second book. I am also looking into some side projects in relation to disability and am thinking of some other little things, as well as trying to get myself a place to live.
Anyway folks, I send my best wishes, love, friendship and compassion your way. May whatever path you walk, not only be beneficial to others, but also beneficial to yourself.
The most interesting thing in my pursuit, is that no matter where we come from in the world, there are those of us in every culture that want to learn for the sake of learning. If I was granted immortality tomorrow, I would start getting degree upon degree. I would go study with masters of different schools of thought in different parts of the world. I would try and finally get my head around maths, then get degrees in quantum physics and mechanics. I would haul myself off to distant places and learn ancient languages, live with tribes in many remote parts of the world.
Learning is not just all book based. No book will ever teach you about yourself. There is no instruction manual that says how you will function. Yet this is the most important piece of knowledge we have, and yet we neglect it so much. It is the equivalent of us knowing so much about the universe, yet we don't know what lies at the bottom of our own oceans. We have had ancient sharks being caught in recent months, and yet people will tell you that anything over a certain age is extinct.
What makes us do the things we do, what makes us different to those around us? I think primarily this question can be answered in a better way, what similarities do we have with those around us? One thing I have stumbled on in my search for understanding, is that trying to understand similarities, we want to learn what the differences are. Understanding the similarities first, will allow us to work on something that is different, and thus have more resources available to work on it. For example. 5 countries have the tech to go to Mars, and instead of them all looking for the same thing, their scientists knew what the others were working on, and decided to find something different to look at. We all know a lot of things about Mars already, so why would we waste time and look for the same thing again? This is a great example of different countries, working together, to create a better understanding in a more comprehensive way, than instead of all looking at the same thing. We all know that Mars has red soil/sand, so why would we have 5 different robots looking at the same thing?
And this is what we should be doing in our own lives. We all know that everyone of us has the same needs in life; food, clothing, love, shelter, a good living wage and peace. We know others want this, because we want it also, so why would we expect others not to want it. So what do we do if we know that we all want the same thing? Well, we find those things inside us, that sets us apart from someone, and start developing those skills. Someone may be a great swimmer, an opera singer, a composer or a scientist. But we would be wasting their talents if we were to ask them to go and get a plain job that they can handle with lower satisfaction ratings, and then expect them to be functioning. I have met many people in my life, who were brilliant beings, beautiful humans who were stuck doing things to make money because the country they live in didn't recognize education from elsewhere. As much as they are making money, they are truly not happy. A scientist driving a cab, is not putting his full all into their life, because their life has really been taken away from them. Sure, they are meeting the needs, those basic things we all crave, but we are wasting their talents out of jealousy? Spite? Anger at their Government? Prestige? Why are we not accepting these things, and letting them put their formidable sense of intellect to work for the betterment of humankind, instead of destroying that person at the most basic levels. There are always going to be some who don't want to produce, who don't want to be a productive member of society because they can't really be bothered to improve the whole, so why not put them to work in an area where they may actually gain some form of enlightenment? By putting these people into a position where they may be of help to others, will either give them a sense of belonging, which is what most human beings crave, and will look basically anywhere for it, or it will teach them a sense of compassion.
Sometimes I think too much, but when your disability is limiting your capacity for work, as are the medications they put you on, then you have a lot of time to do that. Beginning in February, I will be starting the writing of my first book. There will probably be 2 more to follow, depending on the path I decide to take with the second book. I am also looking into some side projects in relation to disability and am thinking of some other little things, as well as trying to get myself a place to live.
Anyway folks, I send my best wishes, love, friendship and compassion your way. May whatever path you walk, not only be beneficial to others, but also beneficial to yourself.
20 January 2015
I hate appointment days...
Not because I hate having to go to the appointments, but because I start getting anxiety, and thus find it very hard to sleep. I have to be up in about 3 hours, and I am just making my way to bed for a small power nap. Hopefully get a bit of meditation in there, that will help immensely.
Well on the good side, I had a great game of Civilization: Beyond Earth. Downloaded a mod and kicked some severe butt with it. I hate to say, that this version of Civ brings out the true ruler in me. I prefer the Supremacy victory. As much as my Buddhist and love of nature fill my mind with calm and clarity, when there is a lack of it most of the time, the Supremacy trait makes me think of what I want: to be implanted with as much tech as possible. Eyes: Multi function HD cameras, Ears: as good as a damned dog or bat, Heart: artificial and strong, Skeleton: Hybrid composite materials and bone where needed. Muscle: Augmented with nano-fibres for increased performance, Brain: Protected in a fluid of stem cells or something for constant regeneration, complemented with an advanced AI, high speed gps and internet. Lungs: Well they would be awesome to be able to breathe under water, so some sort of hybridization or mechanical conversion would be great. Food intake: Well it would be some form of vegan protein, so no different than what I am eating now really.
What would I do with it you ask? Well hell, enjoy life. Learn as many languages as I can, play the violin, become an Cosmonaut and go to Mars, because my body would be able to survive the environment. Setup a colony there, and look for signs of ancient life. Try not to run into any reapers or geth, that would suck.
But yes, folks I am a trans-humanist / bio-humanist. I think as much augmentation with whatever suits us, be it lungs and echo location of a dolphin and the speed on land of a cheetah, go for it. The one thing I have learned about the human body with my disabilities etc, is that whilst it is weak, it is also quite capable of repair or augmentation. I can't wait for the day when parts can be changed like cars, or upgraded. Body runs out, take the brain out, put it in a new one. Download your entire life into an AI and travel around the world in an instant. Man, I really wish I could live a few thousand years to see this all pan out. It would be beautiful. I never understand those who can't accept immortality. So what, you outlive people you love, find new ones to love. But just think of all the time you would have to spend living. The one thing that makes me regret life at times, is that there were things I so desperately wanted to do, that I needed to be a lot healthier for, and oddly enough they weren't military related, though that would have been a form of fun, but no, it was other things.
I would have loved to dive ancient wrecks, climbed Mount Everest (I might try that one still), would loved to have cycled around the world. Do the channel swim, go into space, so many things. So, what I am saying is, look after yourself, get fit, and enjoy your body if it is fully functional. If you are sitting, doing nothing with a good mobile piece of hardware, I feel sorry for you. I pity you, because you are wasting one of the most precious things in life, good health. Go, enjoy it, and blog about it, so that I can find out what you do with it.
Peace and love to my brothers and sisters around the world.
Well on the good side, I had a great game of Civilization: Beyond Earth. Downloaded a mod and kicked some severe butt with it. I hate to say, that this version of Civ brings out the true ruler in me. I prefer the Supremacy victory. As much as my Buddhist and love of nature fill my mind with calm and clarity, when there is a lack of it most of the time, the Supremacy trait makes me think of what I want: to be implanted with as much tech as possible. Eyes: Multi function HD cameras, Ears: as good as a damned dog or bat, Heart: artificial and strong, Skeleton: Hybrid composite materials and bone where needed. Muscle: Augmented with nano-fibres for increased performance, Brain: Protected in a fluid of stem cells or something for constant regeneration, complemented with an advanced AI, high speed gps and internet. Lungs: Well they would be awesome to be able to breathe under water, so some sort of hybridization or mechanical conversion would be great. Food intake: Well it would be some form of vegan protein, so no different than what I am eating now really.
What would I do with it you ask? Well hell, enjoy life. Learn as many languages as I can, play the violin, become an Cosmonaut and go to Mars, because my body would be able to survive the environment. Setup a colony there, and look for signs of ancient life. Try not to run into any reapers or geth, that would suck.
But yes, folks I am a trans-humanist / bio-humanist. I think as much augmentation with whatever suits us, be it lungs and echo location of a dolphin and the speed on land of a cheetah, go for it. The one thing I have learned about the human body with my disabilities etc, is that whilst it is weak, it is also quite capable of repair or augmentation. I can't wait for the day when parts can be changed like cars, or upgraded. Body runs out, take the brain out, put it in a new one. Download your entire life into an AI and travel around the world in an instant. Man, I really wish I could live a few thousand years to see this all pan out. It would be beautiful. I never understand those who can't accept immortality. So what, you outlive people you love, find new ones to love. But just think of all the time you would have to spend living. The one thing that makes me regret life at times, is that there were things I so desperately wanted to do, that I needed to be a lot healthier for, and oddly enough they weren't military related, though that would have been a form of fun, but no, it was other things.
I would have loved to dive ancient wrecks, climbed Mount Everest (I might try that one still), would loved to have cycled around the world. Do the channel swim, go into space, so many things. So, what I am saying is, look after yourself, get fit, and enjoy your body if it is fully functional. If you are sitting, doing nothing with a good mobile piece of hardware, I feel sorry for you. I pity you, because you are wasting one of the most precious things in life, good health. Go, enjoy it, and blog about it, so that I can find out what you do with it.
Peace and love to my brothers and sisters around the world.
19 January 2015
Just a collection..
There are often many things in the universe that make life in this small corner of the milky way, that people keep thinking that there is nothing out there. You look at the ancients here on earth, who were able to build long lasting testaments to their culture, yet we are lucky to keep things standing for a hundred years.
I have often wondered, how does the universe in all its own glory, create something as so narrow minded as modern man. We live in our lives, our own little dimensions for one part of the day, then there is the other little universe when they interact with others. These multiple universes that we create for ourselves are often at odds with the universe that we actually see in front of us. Just think, we are walking down the street, and we see a homeless person, who is unkempt, ostracised by those who have no understanding for the universe that they see. We walk past, often oblivious to the things around us, and then continue down the path that we have chosen to walk that day. Others, who live in the open universe, will often see that person and when able or not a charlatan, will help eachother, often improving the lives of both people that day.
Our universe, like the universe that we see around us, should be a constant one of life and death, rebirth, growth, decay and a constant environment of change. A majority, sadly live in a place that is more a description of a form of hell, rather than a paradise of personal growth and advancement up a rung of a ladder to true humanity.
What is true humanity? It is an understanding of one simple thing, that we are all a part of a whole, much bigger and more beautiful than us. I am not saying a deity here, I am saying that, this beautiful thing that we live in, that place where will find that love of life, perfecting ourselves to our greater being. There is no greater truth in learning that the true purpose of life is to live life. To love life. To move with life in a continuing advancement towards understanding. There is no need to understand with the levels of Stephen Hawking, Amadeus, Ramchandra and other great mathematicians, or artists, writers to understand. They all understand the mysteries of the universe in different languages, some math, writing, art, music or speech. But to understand the true meaning of the universe, is to do what these people have done, and that is to improve yourself. Whether it just be for your own good, or the good of others, growth will give you more understanding and thus more insight into your own daily living.
For years, I have tried to hide my understandings, the how I lives, the things I do from the outside world, just through a simple fear that I wasn't good enough to learn or to grow. I was marginalized, bullied and more often than not ignored. I had my voice taken away by being told to keep quiet, don't question, don't do anything that will rock the status quo. These things are what has institutionalized thought and academia for so long. By keeping just enough education into those to make intelligent human beings, but hiding a higher percentage of that knowledge away so we don't fully understand our universe.
For years, institutions have given us just enough feed to keep us consuming. Given just enough food to work for the honour of this ability to consume. We are kept as blind to the horizons beyond our blinded sight, as a cow in a feedlot pen is to fields where the green grass comes from. We both have the caging to stay inside a set of artificial lights, away from the nourishment that feeds us.
Nourishment, in this day and age is extensive. So many people have access to the internet, yet we still believe the lies, the hate, the fear that is spread on a daily basis by a select few in the news. Who is killing who, what celebrity X ate for dinner to make her skinnier, what pill will make your penis larger, what clothes not to wear in the time between Easter and May Day. What the news doesn't tell us, is that the vast majority of the world, wants basic things: Love, nourishment, a wage above the poverty line, to go to bed and not have to fear a bombing strike or to know that you can feed your family, and instead of spending 70hrs a week at work, you get to spend time with those you love, your friends and your family. Humans need to understand that this universe is vast, growing, and in a state of such beauty that we need to explore more of it. What if, all the countries and religions of the world said look, let's spread out into the solar system! How about we use all the budgets for war, for weapons and for hate, and turn it into a tool for growth of understanding? What global catastrophe is it going to take to stop this talk of tribes, religions, groups, collectives, and realize that the only collective that is important, is each and every single entity, 2 legged or 100 legged that lives on this beautiful earth? I often say, I want to go to Mars with the robots, because where they are, there are no suicide bombings, no slaughters, massacres, murders, rapes, religious wars, resource wars or fake wars to keep the population confused. There is just this beautiful silence, and somewhere waiting to be explored.
This is just a collection of random thoughts. I am think of doing a youtube channel. Thinking of doing a few things to get me on the road to where I am needed. I just want to say that I love each and every one of you in the world. You all have made it this far so far, and with cohesion of humanity, we can make it further. If you are reading this, please, love another person in your life, add a new friend, live life a little more free and open. Strip off the constraints that are used to bind you, and do what it is you want to do. I will love you for it, and you know you will always have my backing as long as you are not hurting another.
Peace to you all my friends.
I have often wondered, how does the universe in all its own glory, create something as so narrow minded as modern man. We live in our lives, our own little dimensions for one part of the day, then there is the other little universe when they interact with others. These multiple universes that we create for ourselves are often at odds with the universe that we actually see in front of us. Just think, we are walking down the street, and we see a homeless person, who is unkempt, ostracised by those who have no understanding for the universe that they see. We walk past, often oblivious to the things around us, and then continue down the path that we have chosen to walk that day. Others, who live in the open universe, will often see that person and when able or not a charlatan, will help eachother, often improving the lives of both people that day.
Our universe, like the universe that we see around us, should be a constant one of life and death, rebirth, growth, decay and a constant environment of change. A majority, sadly live in a place that is more a description of a form of hell, rather than a paradise of personal growth and advancement up a rung of a ladder to true humanity.
What is true humanity? It is an understanding of one simple thing, that we are all a part of a whole, much bigger and more beautiful than us. I am not saying a deity here, I am saying that, this beautiful thing that we live in, that place where will find that love of life, perfecting ourselves to our greater being. There is no greater truth in learning that the true purpose of life is to live life. To love life. To move with life in a continuing advancement towards understanding. There is no need to understand with the levels of Stephen Hawking, Amadeus, Ramchandra and other great mathematicians, or artists, writers to understand. They all understand the mysteries of the universe in different languages, some math, writing, art, music or speech. But to understand the true meaning of the universe, is to do what these people have done, and that is to improve yourself. Whether it just be for your own good, or the good of others, growth will give you more understanding and thus more insight into your own daily living.
For years, I have tried to hide my understandings, the how I lives, the things I do from the outside world, just through a simple fear that I wasn't good enough to learn or to grow. I was marginalized, bullied and more often than not ignored. I had my voice taken away by being told to keep quiet, don't question, don't do anything that will rock the status quo. These things are what has institutionalized thought and academia for so long. By keeping just enough education into those to make intelligent human beings, but hiding a higher percentage of that knowledge away so we don't fully understand our universe.
For years, institutions have given us just enough feed to keep us consuming. Given just enough food to work for the honour of this ability to consume. We are kept as blind to the horizons beyond our blinded sight, as a cow in a feedlot pen is to fields where the green grass comes from. We both have the caging to stay inside a set of artificial lights, away from the nourishment that feeds us.
Nourishment, in this day and age is extensive. So many people have access to the internet, yet we still believe the lies, the hate, the fear that is spread on a daily basis by a select few in the news. Who is killing who, what celebrity X ate for dinner to make her skinnier, what pill will make your penis larger, what clothes not to wear in the time between Easter and May Day. What the news doesn't tell us, is that the vast majority of the world, wants basic things: Love, nourishment, a wage above the poverty line, to go to bed and not have to fear a bombing strike or to know that you can feed your family, and instead of spending 70hrs a week at work, you get to spend time with those you love, your friends and your family. Humans need to understand that this universe is vast, growing, and in a state of such beauty that we need to explore more of it. What if, all the countries and religions of the world said look, let's spread out into the solar system! How about we use all the budgets for war, for weapons and for hate, and turn it into a tool for growth of understanding? What global catastrophe is it going to take to stop this talk of tribes, religions, groups, collectives, and realize that the only collective that is important, is each and every single entity, 2 legged or 100 legged that lives on this beautiful earth? I often say, I want to go to Mars with the robots, because where they are, there are no suicide bombings, no slaughters, massacres, murders, rapes, religious wars, resource wars or fake wars to keep the population confused. There is just this beautiful silence, and somewhere waiting to be explored.
This is just a collection of random thoughts. I am think of doing a youtube channel. Thinking of doing a few things to get me on the road to where I am needed. I just want to say that I love each and every one of you in the world. You all have made it this far so far, and with cohesion of humanity, we can make it further. If you are reading this, please, love another person in your life, add a new friend, live life a little more free and open. Strip off the constraints that are used to bind you, and do what it is you want to do. I will love you for it, and you know you will always have my backing as long as you are not hurting another.
Peace to you all my friends.
12 January 2015
Why the world needs more critical thought....
So, you know what I have discovered. There are some real sick people in this world. I mean, more than the usual amount. Today whilst in Google + Land, I found a video, Atheists React to Suicide and Eric Hovind. After watching it, I kinda feel it TO should have been OF.
This particular video was of an episode of a show call Creation Today. No, no, I am not going into a rant against creationists or religion, no, this is a rant against this particular channel. This show, this piece of slimy, crappy, scummy "television", had dared to use the Suicide of Robin Williams as a premise that Atheism leads to Suicide, and that if Robin had the love of Jesus, he wouldn't have committed suicide. Eric Hovind, I hope you go to jail. I will find a charge, somewhere, and get you sent there.
Firstly, I will choose the point of suicide. I have been suicidal most of my life, and personally am not afraid to share it. I know it is a combination of many things in my life, from bullying, to pain, to a chemical imbalance to not living up to societal expectations etc. It isn't because I choose not to believe in Jesus or a God. I am absolutely content knowing that I am a finite, insignificant yet important part of the cosmos, which without me, would lose another perspective of its own existence. That is the only thing most of the time that stops those thoughts from going further than they do. Robin Williams, such a beautiful human being, such a tortured, sad, pain filled, troubled human being that he was, was much more a messiah to the masses than the one this show presents. He made us laugh in the face of his own pain, even though he received millions of thank yous throughout his life, none of this could bring him out of his pain. If adoration from millions of people can't help you in life, then it is an imbalance.
Ok, secondly, Atheism being the cause of suicide. What a load of horse sprog. I mean that is like half a litre or so folks. How can you say, that the lack of belief in a divinity can leave you so empty in life, so miserable that you have to kill yourself. Well, I will answer you thus. Because I don't believe I will be living in heaven, or burning in hell, I take every damned second I can as being precious. Whether that second be the most painful second I can think of, I am thankful for it. I know that each second I have, is one that allows me to learn more about the world, where I come into it. This video states that because we have no concept of purpose (what a fucking joke) because we don't believe in God, therefore, we have nothing that gives us joy. Well you know what gives me joy, knowing that I am sitting here, typing this thought up, knowing that you will either agree with me, or disagree bitterly, but yet, I live in a place in the world, where I can say my thoughts. The fact that I am critical of the things I do, is not a sign of a belief in a deity, it is because I try not to harm others. I choose to follow Buddhism, not because it tells me that my electrical energy will come back again in another life, I choose to follow it, because it gives me the tools neccessary to function in a state of peace with my life.
Finally, I call myself a socialist humanist, because it gives others the understanding that I, as an human being, care equally about others as I do myself. What these fools try to do on this programme, is to charge Atheists with a lack of love, insight, spirituality *or how one behaves*. But the abhorrent part, is using the death of a great man, for their own sick purposes. Oh and the best part, wait for it, that Europe has 13/20 countries that offer assisted suicide, and that basically doctors give you a glass of water and poison. Also, their math is great too. Did you know, that 800,000 and not 91,000,000 is 1.3% of 7billion? Yah, me neither.
Highlights to watch for on the video: The reference to a Christian motto being on the belt buckles of SS soldiers in WWII, the cute blue hoody lady, the very cute pierced and tattooed couple, Citation Needed guy. The cute computer steampunk fox/husky thing, nerf gun guy and cool Maori looking guy with sunnies.
Yeah, it is an hour long, but so worth it just for a good neck exercise. Don't come to me if you hurt your neck from shaking your head, or if you find your palm of your hand sticking out the back of your head from too much face palming, write to Eric Hovind instead.
Watch the video Here!
This particular video was of an episode of a show call Creation Today. No, no, I am not going into a rant against creationists or religion, no, this is a rant against this particular channel. This show, this piece of slimy, crappy, scummy "television", had dared to use the Suicide of Robin Williams as a premise that Atheism leads to Suicide, and that if Robin had the love of Jesus, he wouldn't have committed suicide. Eric Hovind, I hope you go to jail. I will find a charge, somewhere, and get you sent there.
Firstly, I will choose the point of suicide. I have been suicidal most of my life, and personally am not afraid to share it. I know it is a combination of many things in my life, from bullying, to pain, to a chemical imbalance to not living up to societal expectations etc. It isn't because I choose not to believe in Jesus or a God. I am absolutely content knowing that I am a finite, insignificant yet important part of the cosmos, which without me, would lose another perspective of its own existence. That is the only thing most of the time that stops those thoughts from going further than they do. Robin Williams, such a beautiful human being, such a tortured, sad, pain filled, troubled human being that he was, was much more a messiah to the masses than the one this show presents. He made us laugh in the face of his own pain, even though he received millions of thank yous throughout his life, none of this could bring him out of his pain. If adoration from millions of people can't help you in life, then it is an imbalance.
Ok, secondly, Atheism being the cause of suicide. What a load of horse sprog. I mean that is like half a litre or so folks. How can you say, that the lack of belief in a divinity can leave you so empty in life, so miserable that you have to kill yourself. Well, I will answer you thus. Because I don't believe I will be living in heaven, or burning in hell, I take every damned second I can as being precious. Whether that second be the most painful second I can think of, I am thankful for it. I know that each second I have, is one that allows me to learn more about the world, where I come into it. This video states that because we have no concept of purpose (what a fucking joke) because we don't believe in God, therefore, we have nothing that gives us joy. Well you know what gives me joy, knowing that I am sitting here, typing this thought up, knowing that you will either agree with me, or disagree bitterly, but yet, I live in a place in the world, where I can say my thoughts. The fact that I am critical of the things I do, is not a sign of a belief in a deity, it is because I try not to harm others. I choose to follow Buddhism, not because it tells me that my electrical energy will come back again in another life, I choose to follow it, because it gives me the tools neccessary to function in a state of peace with my life.
Finally, I call myself a socialist humanist, because it gives others the understanding that I, as an human being, care equally about others as I do myself. What these fools try to do on this programme, is to charge Atheists with a lack of love, insight, spirituality *or how one behaves*. But the abhorrent part, is using the death of a great man, for their own sick purposes. Oh and the best part, wait for it, that Europe has 13/20 countries that offer assisted suicide, and that basically doctors give you a glass of water and poison. Also, their math is great too. Did you know, that 800,000 and not 91,000,000 is 1.3% of 7billion? Yah, me neither.
Highlights to watch for on the video: The reference to a Christian motto being on the belt buckles of SS soldiers in WWII, the cute blue hoody lady, the very cute pierced and tattooed couple, Citation Needed guy. The cute computer steampunk fox/husky thing, nerf gun guy and cool Maori looking guy with sunnies.
Yeah, it is an hour long, but so worth it just for a good neck exercise. Don't come to me if you hurt your neck from shaking your head, or if you find your palm of your hand sticking out the back of your head from too much face palming, write to Eric Hovind instead.
Watch the video Here!
An update, and then some thoughts.
Hey there folks, just thought I would shuffle a quick update on the last post. The spasms got to a point last week where I had 10hrs of continuing spasms and had to go to A&E. Well that was a waste of time, 2hr wait for an ambulance, 7hrs in A&E being sat in a very painful wheelchair as there were no beds. Ever tried having spasms in your ribcage while sat up? No? I don't recommend it at all. At 3am, I was finally seen to by a doctor, and this was how the conversation pretty much went.
Dr: Hi, so what are you in for?
Me: Had 10hrs worth of spasms in my body. It started 3 months a go when my multifidus and trapezius on my right side got rigid and wouldn't move. It calmed down, but to recall, I have always had minor spasms here and there since the surgery, but these were made worse by my old job.
Dr: And that was?
Me: I was a personal trainer, so I was having to pick up *has spasm in chest* weights and stuff after lazy clients.
Dr: *grabs leg and tries very poor active release on the inside of the thigh* So, this is something that is just a little too complicated for us to deal with here at A&E, but have you tried seeing a physiotherapist?
Me: Doc, I was an injury specialist PT, I know what I need to do, and I do the exercises that I would prescribe my clients that are weight free and low impact.
Doc: How about swimming?
Me: Um, *gives demonstration of neck rotation* I can't breathe water if I freestyle or do breast stroke. *Shows shoulder mobility which is significantly reduced now*, and as you can see, I can't even make a large windmill action.
Doc: Well I am sure a physio would help out.
Me: So, I was told "off the record" by a few people, that mother nature's leafy pain killer might be a good idea, since it is a joint and neurological issue, thoughts?
Doc: Well, "off the record" it is good for pain and neurological issues, but physio is the best thing.
Me: Doc, again, I do the physio, I do the muscle adjustments, and if I could afford it, I would try. I can hardly walk without having a hard time breathing due to my rib cage pressing against my organs, my breathing suffers due to the position of my lungs in my chest, and the chronic muscle cramping with the forward extension of my neck makes head turning, let alone eating half the time a complex method.
Doc: As I said, this is too complex. So, here is a stronger muscle relaxant, ask your GP to give you a prescription, and catch a cab home.
Me: Ah, yeah, thanks doc.
So a week later, and I still feel like I have been hit by the 12th SS panzer regiment in full swing a few times. My nerve impulses feel as though they are swimming through maple syrup. The muscles feel like have been hit by the above panzer regiment and all I can do is sleep. Thanks to a good mate of mine, I have had the concept of neural fatigue explained to me in a rather concise and relatively complex but easy to understand way. To be honest, this hasn't done my mental health state any good at the moment. It has also made me lose a hell of a lot of trust in my body, so much to the point that I now have to look at long term viewpoints. Things I never really had to before, or I should say, things I never wanted to put to the forefront of my mind.
Thoughts
This last few weeks of December, and the first fortnight of January have been a pretty bad place for the world. I am sure most of you know what has happened, and if you haven't, basically, radical terrorists are making sure that the religion they proclaim to love so much, and that brings so much peace, has an even more tarnished name. I have to admit, for my liberal Muslim friends, I feel pretty bad for them, in a way quite similar to them. The reason I bring this up, is that I had made a comment on Facebook about a person's summary of the solidarity protests in France. Whilst this is great, beautiful and happy puppy and kitten cuddling, it is also deeply flawed.
No, don't worry, I am not hating on the process, but what I am disagreeing with, is why. Muslims are being forced by the west to have to distance themselves from the actions of a minority bunch of idiots, not even a percentile point of dickheads, who through slaughter, hate, violence and divide and conquer, and some funding by Eastern and Western governments, are creating an atmosphere of division and hate. We are all mature enough, well, hopefully those who are reading this are, to know that we don't expect Christians to justify the actions of abortion clinic bombers and the KKK, Buddhists aren't forced to verbally condemn Marxist Buddhists in parts of SE Asia. Israeli's aren't, to a degree, expected to apologize to Palestinians for what they have done in the last 60 years since the creation of Israel. And even now, you won't hear of the straight community being forced to condemn the actions of homophobes who kill or force LGBT children, teens and adults into suicide. So why are we expecting the Muslim community to the same.
I have an immense distrust about religions and countries who are very anti LGBT. Being a bi male, it is even worse because male friends automatically now think you are going to be checking them out when you are with them, or that they may think you are only friends with them because you are attracted to them, or that you have designs on getting them drunk and into bed.
And at the moment, this is how one of the most homophobic religions on earth, is being treated. I have no tolerance for a religion, or sub-sect of a religion that thinks I should be stoned to death for who I am, and had no choice in being. Yet at the moment, I understand well the way they are being treated. Westerners are now automatically thinking that any brown skinned person with a beard, wearing a hijab, or full veil and abaya, or the traditional male clothing are automatically planning to commit violent acts. In an article I was reading, and I dislike defending homophobic beliefs here, but those who are more religious, have less of a propensity for being fundamentalists. A majority of Muslims generally follow the Quran, which like the Christian Bible, has a whole great section of punishments for women adulterers, homosexuals, people who commit apostasy and anyone who puts reason above faith, are peaceful human beings, but yet are intelligent enough socially and ethically to disregard these, or at least keep these thoughts private, much like your everyday westerner. The problem starts when you have the Hadith, Shariah and Wahhabi thought being given to those who are lost, ethically, emotionally, spiritually or out on the fringe groups of society by firebrand preachers who use the sytem that they hate, to live and thrive, and recruit from. How do you answer the fact that young men (idiots) are answering the call of an insane and politically/religiously dangerous sect of Islam, to go fight a war in Syria and Iraq, and then bring it back to their home countries. In general, it isn't poverty, lack of upbringing by parents or the community. It is more of a disconnect from modern society through lack of opportunity, lack of a future or the fear of such, or a lack of guidance by respectful Priests, Imam's, Monks, Community Leaders or role models. Youth these days are being taught greed over the good of all, money over compassion and understanding, self-empowerment over the empowerment of all. It is also a lack of education, the continuous degradation of thought being eroded by religious pressure to teach religion in school as a priority above history, arts, language and understanding or critique of thoughts of others or history.
It is when we are taught that faith is more tantamount, more spiritually important than the ability to discern it for ourselves, to critically think what is good for us, is when you start seeing fundamentalist behaviour. It is very evident in the US with the Tea Party, with the Creationist Sciences *shakes head*, with young earth Christians all demanding that their belief be taught as a science. Thought, is the antithesis of faith. With faith, you have people believing in something without proof other than something written down centuries ago. with thought, you have a series of processes which can be verbally or expressed scientifically with additional proof. When you start removing these processes from education, and start giving doctrines of faith an equal measure as proven things like electricity, wireless connectivity, physics, things which faith has no answer for, you start breeding a generation of people who are lost, confused and thus vulnerable to radicalization.
In all of this, I hope that people who read this, truly understand that the way they are being treated by the other religions, is how they treat women and LGBT community members. When you treat someone with suspicion, fear and you start minimizing their ability to interact in society, you are creating the exact same conditions for them, that fundamentalists create for your own religion.
I hope we all, as John Lennon wished for, live in a world without fear, hunger, without the need for religion, a giant mass of consciousness moving for a better world. Star Trek also indicated a world that had come together, through all of the trials we have today, as a strong, intellectual mass capable of exploring space. Mass Effect showed that even with differing cultural and religions, homosexuality, bisexuality or asexuality, that a united mass of humanity is capable of great feats in itself. Maybe we should all listen to John, watch futuristic sci-fi and play videogames more, and hopefully come to an understanding that only a unified humanity, is going to solve the current crisis of interference by a select few over the sleeping majority. Be it the political elite, or the fundamentalist terrorists of all faiths, a united, cohesive humanity is needed right now. NOW, not tomorrow, not next week or next generation, if we are to have a next generation, we need to act now.
With love to all of you who read this, please, think about what you read and hear in the news, please think about how you treat your LGBT, religious or non-religious friends, or like me, bi-disabled-Buddhist/Atheist male friends *woohoo, almost a 5 minority, if I was a woman and not white I would hit the jackpot of minorityness*. But most importantly, don't let anyone take away your power of thought, self respect and belief. When you start letting people absolve you of those, you basically are two legs short of being tomorrow's dinner.
Dr: Hi, so what are you in for?
Me: Had 10hrs worth of spasms in my body. It started 3 months a go when my multifidus and trapezius on my right side got rigid and wouldn't move. It calmed down, but to recall, I have always had minor spasms here and there since the surgery, but these were made worse by my old job.
Dr: And that was?
Me: I was a personal trainer, so I was having to pick up *has spasm in chest* weights and stuff after lazy clients.
Dr: *grabs leg and tries very poor active release on the inside of the thigh* So, this is something that is just a little too complicated for us to deal with here at A&E, but have you tried seeing a physiotherapist?
Me: Doc, I was an injury specialist PT, I know what I need to do, and I do the exercises that I would prescribe my clients that are weight free and low impact.
Doc: How about swimming?
Me: Um, *gives demonstration of neck rotation* I can't breathe water if I freestyle or do breast stroke. *Shows shoulder mobility which is significantly reduced now*, and as you can see, I can't even make a large windmill action.
Doc: Well I am sure a physio would help out.
Me: So, I was told "off the record" by a few people, that mother nature's leafy pain killer might be a good idea, since it is a joint and neurological issue, thoughts?
Doc: Well, "off the record" it is good for pain and neurological issues, but physio is the best thing.
Me: Doc, again, I do the physio, I do the muscle adjustments, and if I could afford it, I would try. I can hardly walk without having a hard time breathing due to my rib cage pressing against my organs, my breathing suffers due to the position of my lungs in my chest, and the chronic muscle cramping with the forward extension of my neck makes head turning, let alone eating half the time a complex method.
Doc: As I said, this is too complex. So, here is a stronger muscle relaxant, ask your GP to give you a prescription, and catch a cab home.
Me: Ah, yeah, thanks doc.
So a week later, and I still feel like I have been hit by the 12th SS panzer regiment in full swing a few times. My nerve impulses feel as though they are swimming through maple syrup. The muscles feel like have been hit by the above panzer regiment and all I can do is sleep. Thanks to a good mate of mine, I have had the concept of neural fatigue explained to me in a rather concise and relatively complex but easy to understand way. To be honest, this hasn't done my mental health state any good at the moment. It has also made me lose a hell of a lot of trust in my body, so much to the point that I now have to look at long term viewpoints. Things I never really had to before, or I should say, things I never wanted to put to the forefront of my mind.
Thoughts
This last few weeks of December, and the first fortnight of January have been a pretty bad place for the world. I am sure most of you know what has happened, and if you haven't, basically, radical terrorists are making sure that the religion they proclaim to love so much, and that brings so much peace, has an even more tarnished name. I have to admit, for my liberal Muslim friends, I feel pretty bad for them, in a way quite similar to them. The reason I bring this up, is that I had made a comment on Facebook about a person's summary of the solidarity protests in France. Whilst this is great, beautiful and happy puppy and kitten cuddling, it is also deeply flawed.
No, don't worry, I am not hating on the process, but what I am disagreeing with, is why. Muslims are being forced by the west to have to distance themselves from the actions of a minority bunch of idiots, not even a percentile point of dickheads, who through slaughter, hate, violence and divide and conquer, and some funding by Eastern and Western governments, are creating an atmosphere of division and hate. We are all mature enough, well, hopefully those who are reading this are, to know that we don't expect Christians to justify the actions of abortion clinic bombers and the KKK, Buddhists aren't forced to verbally condemn Marxist Buddhists in parts of SE Asia. Israeli's aren't, to a degree, expected to apologize to Palestinians for what they have done in the last 60 years since the creation of Israel. And even now, you won't hear of the straight community being forced to condemn the actions of homophobes who kill or force LGBT children, teens and adults into suicide. So why are we expecting the Muslim community to the same.
I have an immense distrust about religions and countries who are very anti LGBT. Being a bi male, it is even worse because male friends automatically now think you are going to be checking them out when you are with them, or that they may think you are only friends with them because you are attracted to them, or that you have designs on getting them drunk and into bed.
And at the moment, this is how one of the most homophobic religions on earth, is being treated. I have no tolerance for a religion, or sub-sect of a religion that thinks I should be stoned to death for who I am, and had no choice in being. Yet at the moment, I understand well the way they are being treated. Westerners are now automatically thinking that any brown skinned person with a beard, wearing a hijab, or full veil and abaya, or the traditional male clothing are automatically planning to commit violent acts. In an article I was reading, and I dislike defending homophobic beliefs here, but those who are more religious, have less of a propensity for being fundamentalists. A majority of Muslims generally follow the Quran, which like the Christian Bible, has a whole great section of punishments for women adulterers, homosexuals, people who commit apostasy and anyone who puts reason above faith, are peaceful human beings, but yet are intelligent enough socially and ethically to disregard these, or at least keep these thoughts private, much like your everyday westerner. The problem starts when you have the Hadith, Shariah and Wahhabi thought being given to those who are lost, ethically, emotionally, spiritually or out on the fringe groups of society by firebrand preachers who use the sytem that they hate, to live and thrive, and recruit from. How do you answer the fact that young men (idiots) are answering the call of an insane and politically/religiously dangerous sect of Islam, to go fight a war in Syria and Iraq, and then bring it back to their home countries. In general, it isn't poverty, lack of upbringing by parents or the community. It is more of a disconnect from modern society through lack of opportunity, lack of a future or the fear of such, or a lack of guidance by respectful Priests, Imam's, Monks, Community Leaders or role models. Youth these days are being taught greed over the good of all, money over compassion and understanding, self-empowerment over the empowerment of all. It is also a lack of education, the continuous degradation of thought being eroded by religious pressure to teach religion in school as a priority above history, arts, language and understanding or critique of thoughts of others or history.
It is when we are taught that faith is more tantamount, more spiritually important than the ability to discern it for ourselves, to critically think what is good for us, is when you start seeing fundamentalist behaviour. It is very evident in the US with the Tea Party, with the Creationist Sciences *shakes head*, with young earth Christians all demanding that their belief be taught as a science. Thought, is the antithesis of faith. With faith, you have people believing in something without proof other than something written down centuries ago. with thought, you have a series of processes which can be verbally or expressed scientifically with additional proof. When you start removing these processes from education, and start giving doctrines of faith an equal measure as proven things like electricity, wireless connectivity, physics, things which faith has no answer for, you start breeding a generation of people who are lost, confused and thus vulnerable to radicalization.
In all of this, I hope that people who read this, truly understand that the way they are being treated by the other religions, is how they treat women and LGBT community members. When you treat someone with suspicion, fear and you start minimizing their ability to interact in society, you are creating the exact same conditions for them, that fundamentalists create for your own religion.
I hope we all, as John Lennon wished for, live in a world without fear, hunger, without the need for religion, a giant mass of consciousness moving for a better world. Star Trek also indicated a world that had come together, through all of the trials we have today, as a strong, intellectual mass capable of exploring space. Mass Effect showed that even with differing cultural and religions, homosexuality, bisexuality or asexuality, that a united mass of humanity is capable of great feats in itself. Maybe we should all listen to John, watch futuristic sci-fi and play videogames more, and hopefully come to an understanding that only a unified humanity, is going to solve the current crisis of interference by a select few over the sleeping majority. Be it the political elite, or the fundamentalist terrorists of all faiths, a united, cohesive humanity is needed right now. NOW, not tomorrow, not next week or next generation, if we are to have a next generation, we need to act now.
With love to all of you who read this, please, think about what you read and hear in the news, please think about how you treat your LGBT, religious or non-religious friends, or like me, bi-disabled-Buddhist/Atheist male friends *woohoo, almost a 5 minority, if I was a woman and not white I would hit the jackpot of minorityness*. But most importantly, don't let anyone take away your power of thought, self respect and belief. When you start letting people absolve you of those, you basically are two legs short of being tomorrow's dinner.
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